Columnist Ralph Siraco: March toward Derby set to kick into gear

Ralph Siraco

Monday, March 31, 2003 | 9:11 a.m.

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

The rite of spring is upon us, and in horse racing that is the march to the Kentucky Derby.

It was a quiet weekend for Derby aspirants. The newly inaugurated WinStar Derby at Sunland Park, N.M., and the UAE Derby at Nad Al Sheeba race course in Dubai were the only important Derby preps. Although both races boasted huge purses, neither was a graded event for Kentucky Derby criteria.

The UAE Derby, contested at the Kentucky Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles, featured Godolphin Racing's Inamorato. The $2 million race turned out to be a nightmare trip for Inamorato, who managed a much-troubled third. His connections have every intention of sending the son of Tale of the Cat to Kentucky for what has to turn out to be a better Derby trip.

The $500,000 WinStar Derby saw Excessivepleasure duel through fast fractions with Apalachian Thunder. The California invaders matched strides while posting splits of 22, 44:1 and 6 furlongs in 1:08:2 before Apalachian Thunder seemingly put away his pace rival. But, when the field hit the finish of the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42:4, jockey Pat Day had rallied Excessivepleasure, passed Apalachian Thunder and held off a closing charge by Spensive.

If Excessivepleasure's connections develop Derby fever, they will add to a logjam of speed for "the fastest two minutes in sports."

This weekend's Kentucky Derby prep races include the Aventura Stakes at Gulfstream Park, the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Park and the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park.

Although the Illinois Derby produced last year's Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem, this year's field lines up less attractive. The Grade II status, however, will give the winner immediate clearance for a Derby berth. Gotham Stakes winner Alysweep heads up the Chicago feature.

The Aventura is a newly formed race that takes the place of the historic Flamingo Stakes on the Florida calendar. Because most serious sophomores competed in the Florida Derby in mid-March, those playing "catch-up" will fill the Aventura field. Without a Graded status, the 1 1/16 mile event will serve as a stepping board to the victor. A Kentucky Derby start for the Aventura winner would be an outside chance.

The Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby is the big Derby prep of the week and may produce multiple starters to the Bluegrass State.

The first three finishers at Arcadia on Saturday will qualify for Kentucky Derby participation, if they choose. In recent years, the Santa Anita Derby has sent 2001 Derby favorite Point Given and Came Home to Kentucky.

In 65 races, starters in the Santa Anita Derby have gone on to win the big one in Kentucky 14 times and have accounted for 34 Triple Crown events. And, it is not essential to win the Santa Anita Derby for Kentucky Derby success.

Eight have parlayed the Santa Anita chapeau into a Kentucky Derby-double victory while a half-dozen failed in the Santa Anita Derby only to be victorious in Kentucky.

In 1997, Free House beat Silver Charm only to have the tables turned in Louisville and Real Quiet was also runner-up the following year before his Kentucky Derby victory. Silver Charm and Real Quiet went on to bid for the Triple Crown after Preakness Stakes wins.

Atswhatimtalknbout is pointing to the run at Santa Anita. The peculiarly named son of 1992 Horse Of The Year A.P.Indy just missed in the San Felipe Stakes at the Arcadia oval March 16. The photo-finish winner of that race, Buddy Gil, returns in the Santa Anita Derby. The first two finishers of Golden Gate's El Camino Real Derby, Ocean Terrace and Ministers Wild Cat, will head south along with San Felipe fourth-place finisher Logican.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who has won three of the past five derbies at Santa Anita, will saddle two this year. Domestic Dispute, a disappointing fifth in the San Felipe, and San Vicente winner Kafwain will try to give Baffert his fifth Santa Anita Derby trophy.