Columnist Ralph Siraco: A big day for Mandella

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Oct. 27, 2003 | 10:15 a.m.

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

The World Thoroughbred Championships is a day when careers can made for the winners. Saturday's Breeders' Cup provided a career in a day for one Hall of Fame trainer who swept half of the eight-race series on a day of championship performances.

The 20th edition of the Breeders' Cup was presented at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, and trainer Richard Mandella was as hot as the wildfires that surrounded the foothill community. And, unlike the public transportation stoppage in Los Angeles, his equine vehicles were anything but "on strike" as they provided diamond-lane journeys for riders Julie Krone, David Flores and twice for jockey Alex Solis.

Mandella's four victories were Halfbridled in the Juvenile Fillies, Action This Day in the Juvenile, Johar in the Turf and the centerpiece Classic with Pleasantly Perfect.

Mandella was not only setting his own record, but also provided the equine talent helping two others. Krone became the first female rider to win a Breeders' Cup race when she guided the ultra-impressive Halfbrided to victory and Johar partook in the first deadheat when he tied High Chaparral to share the win.

It was also a blockbuster day for the customers. The bulging crowd of 51,648 was treated to "IRS signers" as only two of the eight divisional races were won by the favorites. The $1 superfecta returns ranged from a high of $39,233.10 to a low of $1,116.90 and the average win payoff for the eight races was $33 ranging from $83.40 to a low of $6.40. It was a record-breaking day for results and handle.

Summing up race-by-race:

Mandella's winners earned a combined Breeders' Cup one-day record of $4,564,040.