Monday, Jan. 12, 2004 | 9:44 a.m.
Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.
The big meets and the big boys are back.
Now that we are well into another year, and with the start of Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, the sport of kings is gearing up for another run at the Triple Crown, more personal milestone records and the return of those stars of last year that didn't retire to the breeding shed.
A look at the jockey colonies of Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park finds all the heavy hitters back in the swing.
Five of the top 10 highest money-earning riders of 2003 set up shop at Gulfstream Park this year. Jerry Bailey, who led the nation with $23,354,960 in earnings and runner-up Edgar Prado, who banked $18,475,582 for his mounts, along with fifth-place John Velazquez at $15,425,501, Pat Day with $13,378,392 in sixth and seventh-place Jose Santos at $11,472,287 will ride regularly at the track in Hallandale, Fla.
Only two in the top 10 list will ply their craft at Santa Anita this winter. Third-place Alex Solis with $16,304,252 and fourth-place Pat Valenzuela at $15,697,352 head the riding colony at the Great Race Place.
Of the top five money-earning trainers of 2003, leader Bobby Frankel with $19,143,289 splits his stable between Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park. Runner-up Todd Pletcher at $12,332,324 stables at Gulfstream, third-place Steve Asmussen with $11,709,262 winters at his Fair Grounds racecourse base, fourth-place Richard Mandella at $9,869,548 stables at Santa Anita and fifth-place Bob Baffert with $9,411,081 will spread out from Santa Anita to Gulfstream Park with sights set to Churchill Downs for the first Saturday in May.
Making news at the track early this year is controversial owner Michael Gill. He took Gulfstream Park by storm last year. So much so that he will not be able to defend his 2003 title, as the Florida track refused to give him stall space this year. Gill has now set his sights on the Southern California circuit. Since Oct. 24, Gill has claimed an astonishing 71 horses from such races at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and the recently opened Santa Anita meeting.
Southern California racing officials have been concerned of Gill's intentions to keep the circuit's dwindling horse inventory in tact. Gill has sent at least 30 of his new acquisitions out of state with the promise to replenish the stock with shippers from his other operations. Gill says he is still committed to California racing and intends to stay the course in the Golden State.
Jockey Pat Valenzuela has finally finished sitting out piled up suspensions from 2003. Serving consecutive days, P. Val hasn't ridden a full day's card at Santa Anita since its Dec. 26 opening. He returned to the saddle on Sunday and has given his rivals a dozen-day head start to defend his 2002-03 Santa Anita riding title.
Perennial Northern California titleholder Russell Baze, who won 410 races in 2003 before an injury sidelined him on Nov. 30, has targeted Jan. 22 for his return to the saddle. Baze, who has won at least 400 races per year 11 of the past 12 years, will resume riding at the current Golden Gate Fields meet.
Last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide made his 2004 debut a winning one on Saturday. The New York-bred put on an exhibition as he easily disposed of an ambitious allowance field of runners at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Barclay Tagg was, as usual, noncommittal for his stable star's next start, only to say that he plans on keeping the gritty gelding around for several seasons.
The most logical "next start" is the Feb. 7 Donn Handicap at the Florida track. The first Grade I race for the handicap division is coming up strong this year. In addition to the prospect of Funny Cide's return, Breeders' Cup runner-up Medaglia d'Oro may be heading that way. Trainer Bobby Frankel is waiting for the weight assignments before committing his runner, as well as trainer Bob Baffert with Congaree. Both horsemen said that the $500,000 purse and its Grade I status has them planning the trip from California. Puzzlement and Bowman's Band -- first and second-place finishers of the recent Hal's Hope Handicap respectively -- are expected to return for the Donn as well.
Finally, Nevada Gaming regulators have given local race books until Jan. 21 to comply with new rules involving horse race contests in the state's books. After that date, all race books that wish to conduct contests on the races must do so through a computerized system of accounting. No longer will books be allowed to grade or track contestants by hand. All contests must be conducted through the book's computer systems to comply with more stringent audit requirements.
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