Columnist Ralph Siraco: Countdown to Breeders’ Cup: A shakedown weekend

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Oct. 4, 2004 | 10:02 a.m.

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

Less that four weeks from now the mystery surrounding the World Thoroughbred Championships will be solved. The Breeders' Cup, as it is more commonly known, will be at Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie, Texas, on Saturday, Oct. 30.

Although the foursome of major players for the centerpiece Classic have completed their preps way before this past weekend's coast-to-coast Breeders' Cup finals, many who needed solid performances in the dozen or so races designed as a prelude to the big event squared off in an effort to punch their ticket to the Lone Star State on Halloween eve. Some did just that. Others turned into pumpkins.

Here is the outcome of the weekend Breeders' Cup prep action.

For the Classic, it started Friday night at The Meadowlands in north Jersey. The $300,000 Pegasus was contested for sophomores. Eddington, who has been all promise and no substance, was odds-on to take the race. However, trainer Nick Zito, who has Belmont Stakes and Travers winner Birdstone waiting in the wings, won with Pies Prospect, ending Eddington's Classic chances.

On Saturday, The $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park was won by 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide. Reunited with rider Jose Santos, the most famous New York equine now heads to Texas for the showdown. Although Lundy's Liability won the $500,000 Goodwood Handicap at Santa Anita, the Bobby Frankel trainee may not be heading to the Breeders' Cup. Frankel already has Ghostzapper tabbed for the race.

The most consistent runner-up in Grade I racing this year did it again at Hawthorne in Chicago on Saturday. Perfect Drift, sixth in last year's Classic, finished second -- for the fourth time in six starts this year -- to Freefourinternet in the $750,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup.

Although Perfect Drift may not go to the Classic this year, Freefourinternet (sixth in the Mile last year) is now a probable starter. On Saturday in Paris and early Sunday stateside, Bago won the 83rd Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp to punch his ticket to the Classic while runner-up Cherry Mix will not make the trip.

In the Turf, Star Over The Bay took the $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial over the Santa Anita grass on Sunday and Kitten's Joy captured the Joe Hirsch Invitational Turf on the Belmont Park carpet on Saturday. Star Over The Bay was claimed for $80,000 in May and has since won the Sunset and Del Mar Handicaps adding to the Hirsch. Trainer Mike Mitchell's bargain-basement purchase should be heading to Texas.

Kitten's Joy won the sixth race from seven starts this year and is certain to be at the Breeders' Cup. The grass specialist sophomore beat older horses Saturday and now boasts a better overall record this year than Smarty Jones.

The Filly & Mare Turf added Riskaverse and Light Jig to the line up with victories over the weekend. The $750,000 Flower Bowl on the Belmont Park green saw a blanket finish on Saturday. Reskaverse ran down Commercante and Moscow Burning to prevail for Lone Star while the $500,000 Yellow Ribbon, contested later in the day at Santa Anita, was won by Light Jig.

With stablemate Nebraska Tornado finishing third in Europe in her last start, Light Jig may carry the banner for the Juddmonte Farms here.

The Juvenile Fillies gained a solid contender when Sweet Catomine roared from off the pace to capture the $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Producing a carbon-copy run that yielded the Del Mar Debutante before, Sweet Catomine is heading to Lone Star in search of another barn-burning finish.

The Juvenile got back its marquee attraction when Roman Ruler disposed of an ambitious trio of window dressing to win the $200,000 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday.

After tarnishing his metal with a runner-up effort in the Del Mar Futurity, the Bob Baffert trainee is back on track for the Breeders' Cup.

In the Distaff, Ashado took a modest prep route in winning the $250,000 Cotillion Handicap at Philadelphia Park on Saturday. She now heads to Texas off a win. On Sunday at Santa Anita, Island Fashion won the $250,000 Lady's Secret to punch a Lone Star ticket.

In winning the Indiana Oaks on Friday at Hoosier Park, Daydreaming leaves the door open for trainer Shug McGaughey to enter here.

The Mile gained at least one more European when Cacique took the Group I Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp on Saturday. More Euros are expected.

The Sprint saw a real Breeders' Cup showdown when the top three sprinters in America squared off in the preliminary at Belmont Park on Saturday.

The $500,000 Vosburgh pitted Speightstown, Pico Central and last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Cajun Beat. They were abreast at the top of the stretch when Pico Central shifted into the winning gear. Cajun Beat, who faded, needed the outing badly and should be right on target for the rematch while Speightstown -- suffering his first defeat this year in five starts -- should come back off the bounce. All three are expected for the Breeders' Cup showdown.

Twenty-six days and counting ...