Columnist Ralph Siraco: Racing’s fall classics are coming into focus

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Aug. 16, 2004 | 9:14 a.m.

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

Summertime racing can be frustrating and exciting. It can also be a time of anticipation for the fall classics and for some vacation tanning.

Here are some scribblings across my Racing Form from the dog days of August. ... For the second time in as many years the Arlington Million was decided in the stewards booth. On Saturday, at Arlington Park, the first $1 million thoroughbred race on the American continent was renewed for the 22nd time. Last year, Storming Home was on his way to victory when he suddenly ducked out and unseated jockey Gary Stevens in a dramatic and frightening finish. After reviewing the videotape of the race, although Storming Home had kept Stevens aboard until the finish line, the Arlington Park stewards had no recourse but to disqualify Storming Home and award the victory to Sulamani.

This year, Powerscourt kept his rider but may have been better served without him. The foreign invader, who finished second in Germany in his last start, veered inward several paths in the homestretch to interfere with Epalo, which caused a chain reaction involving Kicken Kris. Although Powerscourt won by daylight, stewards flagged rider Jamie Spencer for not keeping a straight course while vigorously whipping his mount right-handed, causing Powerscourt to shy inward.

Kicken Kris rallied after the incident to come in second while Epalo faded to fourth. Kicken Kris was kissed into the million-dollar win when Powerscourt was placed behind Epalo in the official order of finish. ...

While the turfers continued to mix it up, trainer Bob Baffert gave reason for another Derby-dreaming youngster at Del Mar. Baffert, who has used Del Mar to showcase Kentucky Derby winners Silver Charm (1997) and Real Quiet (1998) as promising 2-year-olds, has a son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus that has fans buzzing. Bought at the Keeneland September sales for $500,000, the brown colt from the mare Silvery Swan is a spitting image of old dad.

Roman Ruler is a temperamental specimen, and all racehorse. Baffert debuted the Fog City Stable star at Hollywood Park on June 19. Sent off as the 80-cents-to-the-dollar favorite, Roman Ruler sat fourth in the early stages of the five-furlong race before dispatching an ambitious group of nine classmates. He reported home four lengths to the good while not taking a deep breath.

His second career start came in the Best Pal Stakes on Sunday's Del Mar card. Sent off as the odds-on favorite, Roman Ruler broke awkwardly, was trailing all but one foe and looked as if he was beaten in the early stages of the 6 1/2-furlong freshman feature. However, Roman Ruler started to inhale rivals going into the far turn as though they had turned to stone.

One anxious moment played out in the middle of the turn, when Wetherly stumbled and unseated jockey Kent Desormeaux, just when Roman Ruler was rolling up behind him. A quick reaction by jockey Corey Nakatani averted what could have been a disaster before Roman Ruler disposed of his rivals with such ease it sent players rushing to the future books.

Breeders' Cup and Dubai World Cup winner Pleasantly Perfect will try to avenge his recent runner-up effort in the San Diego Handicap and Choctaw Nation, who won the San Diego, will return to try a repeat. Stephen Foster winner Colonial Colony ships in from the Midwest and may be joined by Perfect Drift, who just missed in the recent Whitney at Saratoga. Baffert will be represented by During in the Pacific Classic.

Saratoga stages the Travers on Aug. 28 and with the retirement of Smarty Jones, it looks as if Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone, the only horse to beat Smarty Jones, will head the lineup in the "Midsummer Derby." Recent Jim Dandy winner Purge and Haskell Invitational winner Lion Heart are looking at the Travers as well.

Wood Memorial winner Tapit recently underwent epiglottis surgery last week but may still make the Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day. Owned by Las Vegan Ron Winchell of Winchell's Pubs, Tapit's racing career has been on hold due to several setbacks since his dismal Kentucky Derby run. Now that Smarty Jones isn't going to run in the Sept. 6 race at his home track of Philadelphia Park, it seems a good spot for Tapit to return to the races.