Columnist Ralph Siraco: High drama in racing, even without Triple Crown

Ralph Siraco

Monday, May 23, 2005 | 9:53 a.m.

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

There will be no Triple Crown winner in 2005, but if you think this year's three-race classic series hasn't gained the attention of John Q. Public, then it is obvious you have been out of the country -- maybe in Siberia -- for the past month.

There is no Smarty party. There is no Funny Cide school bus. There is no War Emblem entourage.

There is, however, theater.

Giacomo, the upset Derby winner who finished third in the Preakness, and the acrobatic Preakness victor Afleet Alex, who finished third in the Derby, have produced a pair of spectacular victories that have put the sport of horse racing at the center of water cooler conversation.

The rubber match of the unlikely pair is setting up at Belmont Park in the third jewel of the Triple Crown on June 11 in New York.

At the moment Afleet Alex may be the greatest horse on the planet -- based, at least, on his heroic and athletic victory in the 130th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday.

Although Afleet Alex has always been a consistent runner and had several solid victories in significant races at both 2 and 3, his Preakness victory will go down in the annals of sports as miraculous.

Sent off as the favorite in the 1 3/16-mile Baltimore centerpiece, Afleet Alex began from the difficult post 12 in a capacity field of 14 that included 10 Derby runners. As they left the starting gate, jockey Jeremy Rose quickly angled Afleet Alex from the outside to an inside position heading into the first of two turns.

The team -- which had won six of 10 career starts -- was rolling along in 10th while saving ground at the rail.

As Going Wild and High Limit continued to set the early tempo, Scrappy T -- a non-Derby runner -- sat in the catbird seat right behind the pacesetters. First Going Wild, then High Limit were spent, as Scrappy T assumed the lead. Both Derby winner Giacomo and Afleet Alex, along with a quick move by Greeley's Galaxy, picked up momentum as the field made its way around the final turn in the $1 million race.

As Greeley's Galaxy retreated, Afleet Alex continued his run at the rail while Giacomo -- who didn't have a straw in his winning path at the Derby -- sat behind fading traffic.

Then it happened. The fine line between tragedy and triumph.

Scrappy T, reacting to a stinging strike of jockey Ramon Dominguez's whip to the left flank, shifted out suddenly into the path of Afleet Alex. Rose could not react quickly enough from the momentum of Afleet Alex to avoid colliding with Scrappy T.

Afleet Alex clipped heels with Scrappy T and buckled to his knees as Rose grabbed for the mane. In an instant, the roar of 115,318 became a gasp of horror as Afleet Alex's nose was inches from the track.

As Rose amazingly managed to stay atop, Afleet Alex, amazingly, stayed the course. As he gathered his stride and regained his balance, Afleet Alex set sail, for the second time, after Scrappy T.

By mid-stretch, Afleet Alex collared Scrappy T and drew away to capture the Preakness Stakes by almost five jaw-dropping lengths. Giacomo shook free from traffic to finish almost 10 lengths behind the winner in third.

The rest of the field was outrun and outclassed, scattered in the aftermath of the moment.

"I held onto the mane and he (Afleet Alex) picked himself right up," Rose said.

The unbelievable trip even had his trainer, Tim Ritchey, in awe.

"I've never seen a horse stumble that badly and lose his momentum that much to come back on and win in a Grade I race like this," the 30-year veteran said.

There was indeed, a special karma to this victory. A portion of the earnings by Afleet Alex goes to the "Alex's Lemonade Stand" children cancer charity.

Named after Alexandra Scott, who was diagnosed with cancer by her first birthday, the charity has been an inspiration to the owner Cash Is King Stable through the breeder of Afleet Alex, 60-year-old John Silverstand, who was also diagnosed with cancer.

A terminal condition, he was given three months to live in 2002, but was able to watch Afleet Alex triumph at Pimlico. Alexandra passed away in August.

The numbness of the Derby upset gave way to the spine-tingling chill of the Preakness, both leading to the thrill of victory. Two distinct emotions that have put this Triple Crown series in a state of its own.

The drama of the victories, separate in their circumstances, have made this two-thirds of the Triple Crown much more interesting than the actual quest of a single horse for the Crown itself.

And the final act is yet to come.