Monday, Oct. 25, 2004 | 10 a.m.
Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.
The die has been cast. A total of 101 horses have answered the call. The eyes of Texas will soon be upon them. And, probably a few more over national television and a racing world that spans the globe.
Pre-entries for the 21st Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships to be held Saturday at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, were taken last Wednesday. This Wednesday, the final declarations for those racing in the eight championship races will be taken, at which time the connections of six horses who were cross-entered in more than one Breeders' Cup event will make their decision on the race of choice. Balto Star was also cross-entered, but was scratched from the event when he sustained a tendon injury after pre-entries. Of the multiple-choice runners, Azeri and European stars Nebraska Tornado and Ouija Board will make impacts on their final assignments.
If Azeri goes in the Distaff rather than the Classic, she will become the favorite to take a race she won on her way to Horse of the Year in 2002. Ouija Board, who took on the best over the pond while finishing third in the prestigious Arc de Triomphe in her last start, would be an overwhelming favorite if she goes in the Filly & Mare Turf, but has first preference for the Turf, again against the boys. Nebraska Tornado will be a solid price in either the Distaff or Filly & Mare Turf.
Of the 101 pre-entries this year -- which equals the number of pre-entries from last year at Santa Anita -- only 11 who started their last races in Europe will ship in to the Lone Star State. Although the Euro quantity is one of the smallest for Breeders' Cup, the quality is definitely there.
Like any year-end championship sports event, some of the stars of the season will not be there. The most notable star missing this year is Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Smarty Jones, who was retired from racing in late summer. He would have been in the Classic field.
Although Smarty won't make this party, five previous Breeders' Cup winners and two Triple Crown race winners are ready for the Saturday showdown.
Pleasantly Perfect, who will attempt to be the second repeat Classic winner, comes to Texas off his victory in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar late August. Last year's Mile winner Six Perfections returns from France for a defense of the title but hasn't won a race in three starts this year. Cajun Beat, who won the Sprint last year, returns in that event under the tutelage of new trainer Bobby Frankel. Azeri will try to win a second Distaff for her new trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Storm Flag Flying, who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2002, will try to become the first horse to win two different Breeders' Cup events by upsetting Azeri in the that race.
Travers winner Birdstone will try to use that late August stakes prep for a victory in the Classic. If Birdstone pulls it off after beating Smarty Jones in the Belmont Stakes, he will bring a compelling case to oust Smarty Jones as best sophomore of the year.
Another Triple Crown race winner is back in peak form. Funny Cide, who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, comes into the Classic off a stunning victory in the October 2 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
While the Europeans have shied away from Lone Star Park because of the tight turns and short run to the wire on the track's turf course, the overall fields for the eight races are full and deep in contention. Japan will be represented this year in the Classic by the sophomore Personal Rush.
One race that came up uncharacteristically light was the Juvenile. Just eight promising freshmen will compete to see who becomes the immediate future book favorite for next year's Kentucky Derby. As no horse has parlayed a Juvenile victory into a Kentucky Derby win, the Juvenile-Derby jinx seems to be growing in racing lore.
Trainer Bob Baffert will start his top prospect in the Juvenile. Roman Ruler is a striking son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus.
And what about the Lone Star Park racing surface? When the suburban Dallas track was built, it was designed to accommodate 14-horse fields. The main track is 90 feet wide, making plenty of room for late runners, while the paddock has been enlarged from the original area for spacious surroundings during the saddling process.
On Saturday, Bush country will become Breeders' Cup country. The votes will be cast at the betting windows and that election will be won or lost in the debates on the track. Where it should be.
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