Monday, Nov. 8, 2004 | 9:24 a.m.
Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.
Last week's Breeders' Cup signaled the end of competition for many equine racing stars this year. Unfortunately, it also ushers in the annual retirement brigade.
So it was with great pleasure that racing fans, and racing marketers, greeted the news that handlers of seven of the eight Breeders' Cup winners were planning a return to the racing wars next year.
Although Smarty Jones led the way earlier this year with his September retirement, other marquee thoroughbreds have had their racing careers cut short with the recent discoveries of injuries.
Trainer Richard Mandella, who won a record four Breeders' Cup races last year, was hit the hardest. Halfbridled, who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2003, was retired due to another setback in her return to the races. Last year's Eclipse Award-winning filly suffered a bone injury after recently resuming training from a six-month layoff due to another stress fracture. She retires with earnings of $959,400 from four wins in six lifetime starts.
Earlier in the week, Mandella informed the racing world that last year's Breeders' Cup Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect would be retired. The Dubai World Cup and Pacific Classic winner injured his left hind ankle while finishing third to Ghostzapper at Lone Star Park on October 30 in this year's Classic. Although his injury cut short a trip to Japan to compete in the Japan Cup Dirt, the son of Pleasant Colony retires with earnings of $7,789,880 from 18 lifetime starts. Of his half-dozen graded stakes wins from nine career victories were a trio of Grade I wins. Purchased for $725,000 as a yearling, he will now stand at stud for a stallion fee of $40,000.
Birdstone, the horse who stopped Smarty Jones' quest for the Triple Crown, also injured himself during the running of this year's Breeders' Cup Classic. The Belmont and Travers Stakes winner suffered an ankle injury while finishing seventh in the Classic. His feast-or-famine record of five wins in nine lifetime starts also included a Grade I victory as a juvenile in the Champagne at Belmont Park. He retires with earnings of $1,575,600.
Although 2003 Breeders' Cup Distaff winner and Horse of the Year Azeri finished fifth in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic, she is expected to retire at the end of this year -- again. A final start at Churchill Downs this month could be her finale.
Of the eight Breeders' Cup winners this year, only Sprint winner Speightstown -- the oldest Cup winner this year at age 6 -- has retired and will not return next year. The Todd Pletcher trainee finishes his racing career with five wins in six starts this year and has an overall career record of 10 victories in 16 starts. He retires with earnings of $1,258,256.
Of course, maybe the most important comebacker is Classic winner Ghostzapper. The Bobby Frankel trainee shipped back to New York after his Lone Star Park victory and will be heading to Florida soon. Plans are to train the son of 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again at Gulfstream Park this winter and then head back to the Big Apple for an early objective in the Metropolitan Mile on Memorial Day at Belmont Park. Although it is chic these days to ship American racing stars to Dubai and Japan, owner Frank Stronach plans to keep Ghostzapper campaigning in the United States with an ultimate goal of a repeat win in the 2005 Breeders' Cup Classic at Ghostzapper's favorite track -- Belmont Park.
The most exciting return prospects from the Breeders' Cup are the juvenile winners.
Juvenile Fillies winner Sweet Catomine is certain to raise speculation about running against the boys in next year's classics after her impressive victory over fillies. She finished this first racing year of her career with three wins in four starts, which also included victories in the Del Mar Debutante and Oak Leaf Stakes. Trainer Julio Canani, who will keep her training in California, may elect to stay the course against her own sex with the Kentucky Oaks as the first objective next year.
The upset victor in the Juvenile is definitely heading to the Kentucky Derby trail. Wilko, who took the measure of the best juveniles in training at Lone Star Park, was purchased by his American owner J. Paul Reddam specifically for next year's classics. Also a son of Awesome Again, he will spend the winter in California with new trainer Craig Dollace preparing for the Derby run.
Filly and Mare Turf winner Ouija Board returned to Europe for a breather before her 4-year-old campaign. The sensational sophomore filly capped a 4-for-5 2004 season with the Breeders' Cup victory and her connections have plans to defend the title next year at Belmont Park.
Another sophomore filly, Ashado, will race at 4 next year. The Distaff winner ended the year with five wins in eight starts. In addition to the Breeders' Cup victory, she won the Coaching Club American Oaks, the Kentucky Oaks and Fair Grounds Oaks this year. The Todd Pletcher trainee will get a rest before her 4-year-old debut.
Turf winner Better Talk Now will winter in Florida at Gulfstream Park while his connections map out the 5-year-old gelding's 2005 dance card.
Mile winner Singletary isn't quit done this year. While most Breeders' Cup winners have had a full year of competition leading up to Cup day, Singletary was making only his second start since May when he won the Mile. His connections are looking at the Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park later this month for his next start.
All in all, this year's post-Breeders' Cup attrition rate is at an all-time low. That's good news for next year's racing calendar.
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