Columnist Ralph Siraco: What a wild week in racing

Ralph Siraco

Monday, March 10, 2003 | 8:47 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

Sunday's Louisiana Derby signaled the end to a week of up-and-down racing for human and equine competition. Added to the thrills of some great races were the chills of some nasty spills.

A superstar equine passed on and two former Hall of Fame jockeys began new careers after life in the saddle. Two more began a period of healing that may lead to early retirement. And there were two important races from both the sorority and fraternity houses that are certain to lead to Louisville on the first weekend of May.

Hall of Fame riders Julie Krone and Laffit Pincay Jr., are the latest to join the injury list from racing-related accidents over the last two weeks at Santa Anita. Jockeys Omar Berrio, Felipe Martinez and Victor Espinoza -- twice -- along with Joe Steiner also found themselves recovering from spills.

Steiner underwent two surgeries to repair injuries from a Feb. 26 spill. Jockey Matt Garcia was tagged with a 10-day suspension for interference in the incident.

On March 1, Pincay was thrown from Trampus Too in the fifth race when Rainman's Request, ridden by Tony Farina, drifted into his path. Pincay got to his feet shortly after the spill and walked into the ambulance then was released from the track's first aid station.

Last Wednesday, after Pincay complained of lingering neck pain and discomfort, the 56-year-old rider was taken to the hospital where x-rays disclosed two fractures to a cervical bone in his neck. The diagnosis required Pincay to be fitted with a halo, which he will have to wear up to eight weeks.

The world's winningest jockey -- with 9,531 victories -- was second in the Santa Anita jockey standings. The injury was the first to sideline Pincay since the summer of 1998.

Then Saturday Julie Krone was tossed when her mount, Sublet, stumbled badly at the break of a downhill race. The Hall of Fame rider suffered vertebrae fractures and will be out indefinitely.

Krone, 39, the world's winningest female rider, had returned to action in November following 3 1/2 years in retirement.

Recently retired jockey Eddie Delahoussaye has launched his second career in racing as a bloodstock agent. He'll begin buying yearlings for clients later this year.

Delahoussaye, 51, has not ridden since last August when he suffered head and neck injuries from a spill at Del Mar. In his 34 years as a jockey, Delahoussaye won 6,384 races -- including back-to-back Kentucky Derby victories with Gato Del Sol in 1982 and Sunny's Halo in '83.

Delahoussaye will be in Las Vegas at the Orleans race book for a special retirement appearance March 24 at 9 a.m.

Chris McCarron, who retired from riding last June, has been appointed general manager of Santa Anita Park. McCarron, 47, will take his new position March 31.

The first big showdown of Kentucky Derby heavyweights came Sunday at The Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

The Grade II Louisiana Derby featured leading candidates Kafwain and Badge Of Silver along with new shooter Peace Rules from the field of 10. Badge Of Silver came into the 1 1/16th mile event off a smashing daylight score in the Risen Star Stakes, extending his perfect lifetime mark of three wins.

Kafwain rolled into the Big Easy off a solid win in the San Vicente at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert. But it was Broadway Bobby who took the prize.

Eclipse Award-winning trainer Bobby Frankel passed the El Camino Real Derby in Northern California for a shot at the big boys with Peace Rules. Making his sophomore debut, Peace Rules fought back the challenges of Badge Of Silver (off-the-board) and Kafwain (2nd) to win the $750,000 Derby in the Bayou.

Frankel, who has never won a Triple Crown race, now has two major Kentucky Derby threats. His Empire Maker is set to start in Saturday's Grade I Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

On Saturday, Golden Gate Fields presented the El Camino Real Derby. The Grade III event showcased Kentucky Derby hopefuls at 1 1/16th miles.

Ocean Terrace chalked his first stakes victory under Mike Smith while beating favorite Ministers Wild Cat. Unbeaten in three lifetime starts, the son of Saint Ballado moves into the Derby picture.

Although trainer Baffert didn't win the Louisiana Derby and his future book favorite of Vindication is sidelined and won't make the spring classics, he may have his best Derby chance this year with a filly.

Saturday's Grade I Santa Anita Oaks featured the rubber match between Elloluv and Composure. Elloluv took the measure of Composure in the Hollywood Starlet last December. Composure repaid the favor with a hard-fought neck victory over Elloluv in the Las Virgenes in early February.

The Santa Anita Oaks provided another battle of the pair with Composure taking the tiebreaker. Baffert has indicated he may try his daughter of Touch Gold against the boys in May. While Composure may go to the Derby in Louisville, Elloluv may have a new challenger in The Fair Grounds Oaks winner Lady Tak for the Kentucky Oaks. Lady Tak extended her unbeaten streak to five in New Orleans, but, has a pair of wins at Churchill Downs.

Finally, the great race mare Lady's Secret died at 21. The famous daughter of Secretariat won 25 of 45 lifetime starts that included victories in the Grade I Whitney Handicap -- against the boys -- and the Breeders' Cup Distaff on the way to Horse of the Year honors in 1986. She earned more than $3 million and was trained by D. Wayne Lukas.

Whew, what a week.