Horsephotos

Candy Ride soundly defeats the formidable Medaglia d'Oro in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

In Sunday's $980,000 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, Candy Ride easily defeated top older horse Medaglia d'Oro to remain undefeated after six starts. The victory confirmed his status as a candidate for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Oak Tree at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, if owners Sid and Jenny Craig pay an $800,000 supplemental fee.

Ridden by Julie Krone, who replaced an injured Gary Stevens, Candy Ride ($6.40) scored by 3 1/2 lengths over Medaglia d'Oro, setting a track record of 1:59.11 for 1 1/4 miles.

"How good a horse is he?" said Krone. "Amazing. He is a rocketship."

The win marked the first success in the track's richest race for the Craigs, Krone and trainer Ron McAnally.

Essentially, the Pacific Classic was a match race. As expected, Medaglia d'Oro and Candy Ride ran close to the pace, with former claimer Fleetstreet Dancer and two-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Milwaukee Brew running from off the pace. The richest race at Del Mar, the Pacific Classic drew only four starters after the withdrawal on Friday of Kudos because of injury.

Medaglia d'Oro, unbeaten in three major stakes this year, was sent off as the 3-5 favorite.

Ridden by Jerry Bailey, he took the lead shortly after the start, but was closely tracked by Candy Ride, who bobbled at the start. Medaglia d'Oro set early fractions of 23.40 and 46.82 seconds but was never farther than a length in front of Candy Ride.

Approaching the final turn, Candy Ride was within a half-length of Medaglia d'Oro, with Milwaukee Brew a length behind. On the final turn, Medaglia d'Oro and Candy Ride quickly put distance on Milwaukee Brew and Fleetstreet Dancer

Candy Ride, racing on the outside, took the lead entering the stretch and stretched a one-length advantage at the eighth pole to a convincing win. He received a rousing reception when he returned to the winner's circle.

"He's unreal. He's a push-button horse," McAnally said. "I told Julie this morning, 'Let him have it but don't let him get too far in front.' The horse he beat is probably the best horse in the country."

Medaglia d'Oro finished seven lengths clear of Fleestreet Dancer, a former $40,000 claimer who finished two lengths in front of Milwaukee Brew.

The Pacific Classic was the first loss for Medaglia d'Oro since a runner-up finish to Volponi in the 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic at Arlington Park. "He got outrun," trainer Bobby Frankel said.

Candy Ride, 4, won three times in Argentina in 2002. A winner of $749,145, Candy Ride has won three times since being acquired last winter by the Craigs and sent to McAnally. The Craigs, who live in nearby Rancho Santa Fe, ranked the win above victories by Dr. Devious in the 1992 Epsom Derby and Paseana's win in the 1992 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

"It's probably the most exciting moment of my racing career, bigger than the Epsom Derby or the Breeders' Cup," Sid Craig said. "It doesn't get any better than winning in your own backyard."

Since then, he had won five times in 11 starts, and had come tantalizingly close to winning a graded stakes. He waited until Sunday, though, in the 30th running of the Grade 1 Eddie Read, to run the race of his life.

In a dominating, front-running performance, Special Ring led every step of the way and cruised home a five-length winner while smashing Del Mar's course record for 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Del Mar's turf is much shorter and firmer than in year's past, and Special Ring was the greatest beneficiary during the first week of the meet. He was timed in 1:45.87, wiping Al Mamoon's 1986 record of 1:46.60 from the books.

Special Ring ($8.20) set fractions of 23.90 seconds, :47.46, and 1:11.03 for the first six furlongs of the $400,000 race. When he turned on the jets and ran his final three furlongs in less than 35 seconds, his five rivals had no chance.

The other five were within a half-length of one another at the wire. Decarchy was second, a neck in front of Irish Warrior. They were followed by Fateful Dream, Mister Acpen, and finally Redattore, the 6-5 favorite and the winner of the Read in 2001.

What a difference two years made.

"You don't know what I went through with this horse," said Julio Canani, who trains Special Ring. "For six months after we gelded him, he didn't realize he was a gelding. He's got so much ability."

Special Ring now owns two turf course records at Del Mar. He set the mile mark of 1:32.72 in last year's Wickerr Handicap, his lone previous stakes win. He was second in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile, and Grade 2 American Handicap, at Hollywood Park earlier this year.

David Flores rode Special Ring, a 6-year-old son of Nureyev who races for Art and Jack Preston's Prestonwood Farm LLC.

* Earlier in the day, Tucked Away ($26.80) rallied from last to first to beat eight rivals in the $100,000 Fleet Treat Stakes, for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs. Tucked Away was timed in 1:23.34 on a fast main track. Gary Stevens rode the daughter of Unusual Heat for trainer Paddy Gallagher.

"I'm a 2-year-old trainer," the Hall of Fame trainer said, partly in jest.

As if to put an exclamation point on the season, Mandella also finished second in the Futurity with Minister Eric. Earlier in the meet, he won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante with Halfbridled. Mandella teamed with jockey Julie Krone to win both the Debutante and Futurity.

Krone is going to cause the track's three paddock lawn jockeys, all of which resemble males, to be updated. The lawn jockeys are adorned with the silks of the winners of the season's three biggest races, and Krone swept them all, including the Pacific Classic with Candy Ride. She won nine stakes at the meet, more than any other rider.

As she did with Halfbridled, Krone brought Siphonizer through along the rail. He squeezed through inside of pacesetter Gulf of Mexico, was up by one length at mid-stretch, and was all out to prevail by a half-length over Minister Eric. He paid $12.80.

Perfect Moon, who won the Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 17, was another two lengths back in third.

Cooperation, the 2-1 favorite of the crowd of 16,006, finished fourth, ending Baffert's record Futurity win streak at seven. Gulf of Mexico faded to finish last in the field of five.

Gulf of Mexico led through fractions of 22.26 seconds and :44.51 for the first half-mile. Siphonizer had the six-furlong split of 1:09.42, and he completed seven furlongs in 1:23.10.

Siphonizer has now won twice in three starts. He won his debut here on Aug. 2, then finished fifth as the favorite in the Best Pal, a race in which he was trapped behind horses at a critical point. "He just could not get out," Mandella said.

Siphonizer, a son of Siphon, is owned by B. Wayne Hughes. Mandella said he would be pointed to the Norfolk Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting.

* Also on Wednesday, Fancee Bargain rallied powerfully in the late going to win the CERF Handicap, a restricted sprint for older fillies and mares. Frank Alvarado rode the winner for trainer Art Sherman.

Horsephotos

Came Home (far left) makes a four-wide sweep into the stretch on way to a 3/4-length upset victory in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Sunday at Del Mar.

Came Home ($23) beat 13 others including War Emblem, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner. The even-money favorite, War Emblem led briefly in early stretch, but finished sixth, fading in the final furlong.

Came Home ran 1 1-4 miles in 2:01.45 for his sixth stakes win of 2002, all in California. Trained by Paco Gonzalez, Came Home's only loss this year was a sixth in the Kentucky Derby.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Came Home was always within four lengths of the front.

For the first half of the race, Came Home was fifth, chasing pacesetters Bosque Redondo and Sky Jack, who set fractions of 22.52; 45.48 and 1:09.82, and stalkers War Emblem and Momentum.

On the final turn, War Emblem made the first move on the leaders, with Came Home reacting quickly with a four-wide rally.

"I knew we'd win at the three-eighths pole," said co-owner Trudy McCaffery.

"Mike had him under wraps the whole way."

Turning for home, there were four horses across the track within a span of 1 1/2 lengths. War Emblem led for a few strides, but was quickly caught by Came Home.

"Everything went my way," Smith said. "I had a wonderful trip, the best."

Through the final furlong, Came Home was hard ridden to hold off an unlucky Momentum, who was blocked between the quarter-pole and the eighth pole.

Momentum closed ground in the final furlong, but finished three-quarters of a length behind Came Home. Milwaukee Brew closed from 13th to finish third, followed by Pleasantly Perfect, Bosque Redondo and War Emblem, who finished 4 1/4 lengths behind Came Home.

Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza said War Emblem was not prepared at the start. War Emblem was taken out of the gate with a few horses yet to be loaded and was loaded last.

"The back door to the gate wasn't even closed when they opened the front one," Espinoza said. "He wasn't ready to break and we came away a little too slow."

Bosque Redondo was stricken a few strides after the finish. A winner of 7 of 17 starts and $949,267, the 5-year-old Bosque Redondo suffered fractured sesamoids and a condylar fracture to his right foreleg, according to Gonzalez. Flores was unseated when Bosque Redondo broke down and took off the rest of his mounts.

The injury cast a pall on the second Pacific Classic win for owners McCaffery and John Toffan, who won with Free House in 1998. They share ownership of Came Home with Bill Farish and John Goodman.

"It just kind of takes the wind out of your sails," McCaffery said.

Came Home has won 9 of 11 starts and $1,835,940. Toffan mentioned the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita on Oct. 6 as a possible prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Arlington Park on Oct. 26.

Beat Hollow had won 3 of 4 starts in this country to be ranked as the nation's best turf horse, and he was the 1-2 favorite against five rivals in the Grade 1 Eddie Read. But he raced in a pocket for the first mile of the 1 1/8-mile grass race, and by the time jockey Alex Solis was able to extract him, Sarafan and jockey Corey Nakatani were long gone.

Sarafan knifed between horses on the turn to get first run on Beat Hollow. He rallied from last to first in a quarter-mile, opened a daylight advantage with a sixteenth of a mile to go, and was not hard pressed to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths. Beat Hollow rallied furiously once clear and got up for second, a neck in front of the race's pacesetter, Redattore, who won the 2001 Eddie Read.

Sarafan, the second choice at 4-1, paid $10.80 after covering 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:46.77. The victory, the seventh in 25 lifetime starts for Sarafan, was his first since upsetting Beat Hollow in the Explosive Bid Handcap at Fair Grounds in March. The 5-year-old gelding is owned by Gary Tanaka.

"This horse has got a tremendous turn of foot," said Neil Drysdale, Sarafan's trainer. "The key is to use it at the correct time. Corey rode him well."

Drysdale said Sarafan has been prone to pull himself up when he makes the lead, but "he went right about his business today."

Frankel was not at Del Mar because he has been at Saratoga. That spared Solis a certain dressing down. Solis never got Beat Hollow out until it was too late.

"I didn't want to be in that pocket, but the way the race came up, I didn't have much choice," Solis said.

* Earlier on the card, the talented 3-year-old filly Bear Fan ran her record to 3-for-3 with an overpowering, 7 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for California-breds. She was bred and is co-owned by her trainer, Wesley Ward. Bear Fan, with Mike Smith up, was timed in 1:22.72 for seven furlongs on the fast main track. She paid $2.80.

Skimming won the Pacific Classic by 5 1/2 lengths, giving trainer Bobby Frankel a record sixth winner in the 11-year history of the race. Skimming became the second horse to win two runnings of the Pacific Classic, joining the Frankel-trained Tinners Way, who won in 1994 and 1995. Skimming and Tinners Way are owned by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms.

Sunday's race was the most impressive win of Skimming's career. A 5-year-old, Skimming ran 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.96 and beat a solid field that included 2001 Dubai World Cup winner Captain Steve, and the multiple stakes winners Futural and Dixie Dot Com.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Skimming ($5.20) used his effective speed to lead throughout, daring the others to challenge.

Around the first turn, Skimming had a one-length advantage over Dig for It through fractions of 22.91 and 45.97 seconds. At the end of the backstretch, following six furlongs in 1:10.03, Alex Solis, aboard Dig for It, urged his mount, but could not sustain the bid. Skimming shook off that threat and was not challenged by the other five starters through the stretch.

"In the first quarter-mile, the outside horse was putting some pressure on me," Gomez said of Dig for It. "I was a little worried. On the turn, I felt more comfortable about my position.

"At the three-eighths pole, Alex moved up and Skimming was into the bridle. When he did that, my heart tripled in size and I'm sure his did, too. When he was asked the question by the rest of the field, he responded and ran them into the ground."

Dixie Dot Com finished second, a head in front of Dig for It, who finished a half-length in front of Captain Steve. Until Sundown and Futural, the 8-5 favorite, completed the order of finish.

Dixie Dot Com was expected to challenge Skimming but was fifth for the first six furlongs. He rallied wide to edge Dig for It.

"The way it unfolded, we were probably farther back than I expected," said Bill Morey, Dixie Dot Com's trainer. "Maybe it unfolded to our advantage, because second is good money. It looked like Skimming always had it in control."

The disappointment of the race was Futural, who was second to Skimming in the San Diego Handicap on July 29. Trained by Craig Dollase, Futural was out of contention on the final turn and finished 22 1/2 lengths behind Skimming.

"On the backside, when he didn't make that move, I was concerned," Dollase said. "He was real flat."

Frankel, who watched the race from Saratoga, says he cannot pinpoint why Skimming is perfect in four starts at Del Mar.

"I don't know if it's the footing, or the turns, or the short stretch," he said. "Whatever it is, I'm happy for him."

Rancho Bernardo: Kalookan Queen rules

Kona Gold already had secured Del Mar's male sprint title last month. On Sunday, stablemate Kalookan Queen wore the crown among this track's female sprinters, winning the $150,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap to give trainer Bruce Headley a sweep of Del Mar's sprint divisions.

Kalookan Queen had to outrun her division's pro tem leader, Go Go, in a stirring stretch duel. They hooked up at the top of the stretch, but Go Go never could get past Kalookan Queen, who held on bravely to win by a head. It was another three lengths back to third-place Warren's Whistle.

Kalookan Queen covered 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast main track in a swift 1:15.52. As the 8-5 second choice in the field of six, she paid $5.20.

Go Go was hampered by a slow start, and she also had to carry a career-high weight package of 125 pounds, six more than Kalookan Queen. After her tardy start, she advanced steadily and was lapped on Kalookan Queen entering the far turn.

"She took a step back, but she gathered herself pretty quickly," said Eddie Delahoussaye, who rode Go Go. "The 125 pounds might have made a difference. It does when horses are pretty equal."

Go Go lost for only the second time in her last nine starts. Kalookan Queen had been defeated twice by Go Go earlier this year at Hollywood Park, but came into this race off a victory here July 23 in the restricted Fantastic Girl Stakes. The 5-year-old daughter of Lost Code, who was ridden by Alex Solis, has now won six times in 16 starts for owner Louis Asistio.

* Frankel and Juddmonte Farms also captured Sunday's $76,425 Finlandia Cup Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf. Tates Creek, a daughter of Rahy, won for the third time in four starts. She is unbeaten on turf. Kent Desormeaux rode Tates Creek, who paid $6 as the 2-1 second choice.

- additional reporting by Jay Privman

Ridden by Alex Solis, Redattore tracked pacesetter Special Ring to the final turn when he took command. Sent off as the second betting choice, Redattore ($7.40) ran 1 1-8 miles on turf in 1:47.16, finishing two lengths in front of Native Desert.

Special Ring led by as many as 12 lengths on the backstretch, setting fractions of 24.49 and 47.07 seconds with the other five bunched together within five lengths. Redattore was always in front of the chasing pack.

"When we got to the half-mile pole, I though we were going slow," Solis said. "I felt I better move it now."

Super Quercus finished third, a half-length in front of Timboroa, the even-money favorite who was wide on the backstretch. National Anthem and Special Ring completed the order of finish.

Redattore won the Grade 2 San Francisco Mile at Bay Meadows in late April, but missed the first half of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting due to a minor foot injury. Trained by Richard Mandella for Luis Taunay, Redattore prepped for the Grade 1 Read with a fourth-place finish in the Triple Bend

Breeders' Cup Handicap on dirt at Hollywood Park.

A 6-year-old, Redattore was a Group 1 winner in Brazil in 1999. He has won 3 of 5 starts since arriving in the United States.

"I thought Alex, knowing the horse, would be able to get him off the lead," assistant trainerGary Mandella said. "I think the sky is the limit for potential."

Irish Prize, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, was scratched on Saturday morning after trainer Neil Drysdale said he was not happy with the way the 5-year-old was training. Drysdale said Irish Prize will be pointed for the Atto Mile at Woodbine on Sept. 9.

Gary Mandella said Redattore may be pointed for the Atto Mile as well.

*Live Your Dreams won the $65,075 Sandy Blue Stakes, an allowance race/optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies. Ridden by Gary Stevens, Live Your Dreams ($2.60) ran 1 1-16 miles on turf in 1:44.14, finishing a half-length in front of Alinga. She will make her next start in the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 18, Drysdale said.

With jockey Garrett Gomez taking full advantage of a track that had favored inside speed all day, Skimming went to the front right at the start and never was caught. Skimming was timed in 2:01.22 for 1 1/4 miles on the fast main track, paid $11.40 as the 9-2 third choice, and earned a winner's share of $600,000.

Skimming, a 4-year-old colt by Nureyev, was bred and owned by the Juddmonte Farms of Prince Khalid Abdullah. Juddmonte also teamed with Frankel to win the Pacific Classic with two-time winner Tinners Way. Frankel also has won the race with Missionary Ridge and Bertrando.

Skimming prevailed by two lengths over the 3-year-old Tiznow, who was 1 1/4 lengths in front of Ecton Park. General Challenge, the defending champion in the race and the 4-5 favorite, got as close as third at the top of the stretch but flattened out and finished fourth, a half-length behind Ecton Park.

Euchre, Forty One Carats, and River Keen completed the order of finish in the seven-horse field.

Laffit Pincay Jr. replaced Corey Nakatani, the scheduled rider on General Challenge, after Nakatani was injured in an accident in Saturday's sixth race. Nakatani was taken to a local hospital complaining of soreness near his collarbone. Results of X-rays were not available as of press time, but Nakatani took off his three remaining mounts on the card.

Pincay never had been on General Challenge previously. He and Nakatani share the same agent, Bob Meldahl.

Skimming set fractions of 22.79 seconds, :45.53, 1:09.86, and 1:35.13. He needed more than 26 seconds to run the final quarter-mile, but on a track on which closers took the worst of it, he could not be caught.

Skimming won this track's San Diego Handicap on Aug. 6. He has now won 5 of 12 starts. The Pacific Classic marked his first victory in a Grade 1 race, and his first victory at a distance beyond 1 1/16 miles.

The Pacific Classic is this track's richest and most-important event for older horses.

On Wednesday, for a record fifth consecutive year, Baffert won the Grade 2 Del Mar Futurity when Flame Thrower held off the stretch-long rally of Street Cry, who is trained by Eoin Harty, Baffert's assistant until January. The two finished a nose apart after seven furlongs in 1:22 as Flame Thrower joined a group of Baffert-trained Futurity winners that includes Silver Charm, Souvenir Copy, Worldly Manner and Forest Camp.

Wednesday's result gave Baffert a record 13th stakes win at the meeting, exceeding by two a mark he set in 1998 and last year.

Flame Thrower, the even-money favorite who was ridden by Jerry Bailey for owner Gary Garber, led throughout, but was always challenged.

A Saint Ballado colt, Flame Thrower led by a head over the Baffert-trained Arabian Light after a quarter-mile in :22.08 seconds, a margin he widened to a half-length after a half-mile in :44.32.

Flame Thrower was clear of Arabian Light turning for home, but Street Cry, who rallied three-wide, was within a half-length at the eighth pole - and closing. The two colts ran together for the final sixteenth.

"He showed exceptional courage in the stretch," Bailey said.

Street Cry, who was making his stakes debut, finished 3 1/2 lengths in front of Arabian Light, who won the Graduation Stakes for Cal-breds on Aug. 2. Learing at Kathy finished fourth, followed by Revelling, Glorious Bid, Squirtle Squirt and High Cascade.

Flame Thrower remains unbeaten in three starts, having won a maiden race on July 26 and the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 23.

"He's probably the best horse I've ever had," Garber said.

Flame Thrower's performance gave Baffert a reason to recall his first Del Mar Futurity winner.

"He reminds me a lot of Silver Charm with his guts," Baffert said. "That kind of heart is something you can't see when you buy them."

On Sunday at Del Mar, General Challenge won the most important race of his career in the $1 million Pacific Classic, a race Best Pal won in 1991, the inaugural running.

Sunday's race was a 1-2 finish for trainer Bob Baffert with Bel Air Handicap winner River Keen finishing three lengths behind General Challenge, who ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.57. It was the fourth time a trainer has finished 1-2 in the nine-year history of the Pacific Classic.

Malek, the 6-5 favorite, finished fifth, 11 3/4-lengths behind General Challenge, after reaching contention on the final turn. After the race, he was found to have bled, trainer Richard Mandella said.

Like Best Pal, General Challenge won the Pacific Classic in a style suggesting he will play an important role in major stakes at 4. Best Pal, who died earlier this year, had his best season at 4,and finished his career with 18 wins in 47 starts and earnings of $5,668,245.

With his win Sunday, General Challenge has won 6 of 9 starts and $1,517,900, and is likely to be pointed for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park Nov. 6, a race that eluded Best Pal.

"The original was something special with Best Pal," John Mabee said. "Maybe there's a little less joy and tears, even though Mrs. Mabee cried and I shed a tear or two myself. I did tell Bob I'd rather win this race than the Kentucky Derby."

There are striking similarities between Best Pal and General Challenge. Both were 3-year-old geldings when they won the Pacific Classic, were owned and bred by John and Betty Mabee, lost the Kentucky Derby, and were trying older horses for the first time in the Pacific Classic.

General Challenge, ridden by David Flores, ran the best race of his career Sunday, overcoming minor trouble on the first turn and early on the backstretch.

His win was worth $600,000, plus an additional $100,000 from a bonus paid to participants in the NTRA Champions on Fox Series. River Keen earned $48,000 from the bonus pool, while third-place finisher Barter Town picked up $24,000 and Malek earned $8,000 from points earned from a third in the Hollywood Gold Cup earlier in the series.

Breaking from the rail in the eight-horse field, General Challenge ($7.20) stayed inside around the first turn, while racing in traffic behind Smile Again and Barter Town, who set a pace of 22.96 seconds and 46.86.

On the backstretch, General Challenge was two wide between Barter Town and Smile Again but was running smoothly, Flores said.

"I didn't rush him," he said. "I tried to let the horse get in a comfortable situation and not to fight him. At the three-eighths pole, I let him open up."

General Challenge emerged with the lead at the half-mile pole, after six furlongs in 1:11.19. He was not challenged through the stretch despite switching late, near the sixteenth pole.

River Keen, claimed for $100,000 last December by Hugo Reynolds, closed along the rail to take up the chase entering the stretch but was never a threat. "He wasn't disgraced," jockey Chris Antley said. "General Challenge ran his race. I was very happy with second."

River Keen, sent off at 7-1, finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Barter Town, who was followed by Lazy Lode, Malek, Smile Again, Jack Grandi, and Such Charisma. The Pacific Classic was the fifth stakes win for General Challenge and first over 1 1/4 miles. He won the Santa Anita Derby in April but finished a troubled 11th in the Kentucky Derby.

"What you saw today was the tip of the iceberg," Baffert said. "I think he wasn't ready for the Kentucky Derby. He's settled down and he was relaxed today in the paddock. The older he gets, the better he'll get."

Joe Who, a 6-year-old Brazilian-bred trained by Bob Baffert, gave Helzer his richest win in Thoroughbred racing in the Grade 1 Eddie Read, annually a prep for West Coast horses bound for the Breeders' Cup.

The Read was Joe Who's second stakes win at Del Mar. Last year, he won the restricted Wickerr Handicap over a mile on turf, setting a course record which was broken last Friday by Crystal Hearted in this year's Wickerr.

After Sunday's race, Helzer, of Arlington, Texas, said Joe Who will have to earn a start in the Breeders' Cup.

"If he was on top of his game, we'd look at it," Helzer said. "But we wouldn't do anything stupid."

The Read was Joe Who's second stakes win of the year, preceded by the Grade 3 Firecracker Breeders' Cup Handicap at Churchill Downs June 27.

Dismissed at 6-1 in the 10-horse field, Joe Who was always close to the pace under Chris Antley, racing outside of pacesetter Bouccaneer through fractions of 25.48 seconds, 50.36, and 1:14.15.

Turning for home, Bouccaneer and Joe Who were joined by Ladies Din, who was fourth for the first half of the race. Joe Who did not take the lead until the final furlong and was pressured to the finish by Ladies Din, who lost by a neck.

Bouccaneer finished third, followed by Brave Act, Native Desert, Hawksley Hill (the 2-1 favorite), Kirkwall, Martiniquais, Takarian, and Montemiro.

Joe Who, a winner of 14 of 31 starts and $684,533, returned $15.40 and ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.75.

"I told Chris he'd probably be close to the front," Baffert said. "Put him where he'll feel comfortable and when you turn for home, he'll fight. Chris Antley is a very strong rider. For the last 100 yards, he's probably the strongest finisher around."

There was Cigar, winner of 16 straight, running an uncharacteristic race. Instead of pulling away for one of his devastating victories, the 1995 Horse of the Year appeared vulnerable on the lead.

"When I pulled up next to Cigar, I just kept riding," Solis said. "I knew he was there, but I was just riding, riding, riding. When my horse pulled out about a length on him, I knew I was going to win it. It felt terrific. It was one of the best feelings of my life."

Dare and Go, who was supposed to have met Cigar five months ago in the $4 million Dubai World Cup, pulled a tremendous upset in the Grade I Pacific Classic, winning by 3 1/2 lengths over Cigar, who was followed by Siphon, Dramatic Gold and Luthier Fever. Tinners Way was pulled up on the turn.

Dare and Go, who suffered from ankle injuries earlier this year, paid $81.20 as the second-longest shot in the six-horse field.

Owned by Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's La Presle Farm and trained by Richard Mandella, who also saddled third-place finisher Siphon, the Pacific Classic was the biggest triumph in Dare and Go's career, which includes seven victories in 20 starts and earnings of $1,547,536.

The 5-year-old Alydar horse was announced as a runner Aug. 5, the day after Helmsman was declared from the race because of a minor injury. Mandella had been considering the $100,000 Escondido Handicap Friday as a potential start.

Cigar, the 1-9 favorite, suffered his first loss since having finished third in an allowance on turf at Belmont Park in October 1994, the last race prior to his popular winning streak. Saturday's race was Cigar's second loss in 19 starts on the main track, with the first coming in his debut, when he was seventh of nine in a maiden race in February 1993 at Santa Anita.

Owned by Allen Paulson and trained by Bill Mott, Cigar earned $200,000, pushing his lifetime earnings to $9,019,815 from 18 victories in 30 starts. Mott mentioned the $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park Sept. 18 as a possible next start for Cigar.

As expected, Hollywood Gold Cup winner Siphon took the lead in the mile and a quarter race, but Cigar, under Jerry Bailey, was never far behind. When they crossed under the wire with a mile remaining, Siphon led by a length over Cigar with Dramatic Gold and Dare and Go chasing.

Siphon set fractions of :23 and :45 4/5 through the first half-mile, and Cigar, who'd been close to the pace in many of his previous races, was only a length behind.

On the backstretch, Dramatic Gold, second to Cigar in the Arlington Citation Challenge last month in Chicago, ranged up three-wide, leaving him within a half-length of Siphon and Cigar through six furlongs in 1:09 1/5.

But Dramatic Gold faltered quickly, and on the final turn Cigar passed Siphon, leading by a head after a mile in 1:33 3/5. He led at the top of the stretch, but Solis, who'd been fourth down the backstretch, saw his perfect trip unfolding. He took the lead outside the eighth pole and was timed in 1:59 4/5, two-fifths of a second off Bertrando's 1993 track record set in this race. He received a Beyer Speed Figure of 115.

"I was really happy with the way the race set up early," Solis said. "I got myself a really good spot down on the rail and saved lots of ground. I was riding to save my position, and it was working out great."

Dare and Go was Mandella's first Pacific Classic winner after he finished second in the previous two years with Soul of the Matter and Bet Pal. Soul of the Matter was considered his best chance to upset Cigar, but the horse was withdrawn and retired last week after suffering a ligament injury.

"I'm fortunate that I can have two others to back me up," he said.

Bailey was critical of his ride on the final turn, blaming himself for letting Cigar race that close to the pace.

"I knew I was running out of horse," he said. "I knew if anyone was coming on strong, I'd be in trouble. I'm disappointed, but not disappointed in Cigar. Maybe it's my fault, letting him into the race too soon. He had done everything I've asked of him, and maybe I expected too much of him."

Everyone knew Siphon would be the principal challenger. The Brazilian horse was a smashing winner of last month's Hollywood Gold Cup at the Pacific Classic distance of a mile and a quarter. As good as he was in winning the Gold Cup on the lead, after a first mile in 1:35 3/5, he was even better in the Pacific Classic, to the credit of trainer Dick Mandella. Siphon ran the mile in 1:33 3/5, and wasn't slowing down.

Cigar had to come and get him, and he did. They matched strides into the stretch, briefly, and then Cigar put Siphon away and went about his business. But the victory was achieved at a prohibitive expense, and when Dare and Go came to him in full flight, he had nothing left to withstand the bid. Suddenly, one of racing's greatest streaks came to an end.

The record Del Mar crowd of 44,181 was devastated. They came to see him win, to be part of a memorable moment they would cherish and recount forever. Cigar had arrived punctually for so long he was as dependable as death and taxes, and a good deal more fun.

He didn't let anyone down at Del Mar. He was as dependable as ever.

He had to run big because Siphon rose to the occasion, too. It wasn't misguided strategy, either, though (trainer) Bill Mott and (jockey) Jerry Bailey second-guessed themselves. If Cigar hadn't stayed as close to Siphon as he did, Siphon would have won. We have no doubt about that.

Dare and Go? He ran well to finish second in last month's Bel Air Handicap but Southern California fans, who knew him best, sent him off Saturday at almost 40-1.

Again to his credit, Mandella had Dare and Go honed to a sharp edge, and when Alex Solis asked him to go after Cigar in midstretch, the response was devastating. He may be able to duplicate his Pacific Classic form in races ahead, but if he does, it will mark a turn in his career.

It is Mandella's thinking to point Dare and Go for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Woodbine in late October and another meeting with Cigar.

Cigar appears to have come out of the Pacific Classic in good order and is likely to run in Belmont's Woodward in September and/or in the Jockey Club Gold Cup in early October. He is still the great horse he has been these past two magnificent seasons for he long ago proved his quality and courage.

In a way, it is fitting that his streak ended at 16 for he will forever be compared with Citation, an icon of his time. It is a comparison that flatters both horses.

They expected to witness one of the most one-sided contests ever held on the American turf, but saw a horse race such as has not been seen since Exterminator and Boniface staged their terrific duel on Maryland tracks. Seabiscuit and Ligaroti put on a great show Friday. Never again will Del Mar stage such a thrilling contest. A race like this comes but once in a decade.

For hard-running horses and hard-riding jockeys, the Seabiscuit-Ligaroti clash was a thriller. The only sour note in the whole affair was the fact that the jockeys, George Woolf and "Specs" Richardson, became overanxious and used questionable tactics which caused them to be suspended for the remainder of the meeting, and a suggestion be made to the California Horse Racing Board that they be grounded for the remainder of the year.

WINS BY A NOSE

Seabiscuit defeated Ligaroti by a nose in a mile-and-one-eighth race which was run in 1:49. Following the running of the event, jockey Richardson dashed into the stewards' stand and the "inquiry" sign was run up. Woolf was then called up, and after a session of several minutes the numbers were posted. The riders left the stand not talking to each other, and the bitterest of feelings seemed to prevail.

Several hours after the race, jockey George Woolf, one of America's leading riders, was still angry. He said that Seabiscuit should have won handily and seemed to hold his riding orders and some interference from Ligaroti's jockey responsible for Seabiscuit's failure to register a more clear-cut victory. Woolf said that he had orders to restrain Seabiscuit and "make a race out of it." Seabiscuit's trainer underestimated the ability of Ligaroti and it was nip-and-tuck at the wire.

NOTHING TO SAY

Richardson, rider of Ligaroti, had nothing to say when asked for a statement Friday night. We told him that we had heard Woolf's side of the story and would like to print his version, but he stated that he had been told not to talk.

As we have previously stated, the race was an old-fashioned thriller. The horses raced head-and-head for practically the entire distance and a couple of times in the stretch it appeared as if Ligaroti would be the winner. Richardson rode a rather strange race, but that may be accounted for by the fact that Ligaroti is a peculiar horse to ride. The South American likes to "run against the bit," or under a snug hold, which gave the impression that "Specs" was not riding hard enough.

Jockey Woolf will tell you that Richardson was doing some riding, however. He claims Richardson caught his whip in midair at the eighth post and roughed him through the final furlong. Richardson, on the other hand, claims that Woolf was at fault, and the stewards found them both guilty.

LOSES GROUND

Seabiscuit was on the inside all the way, which caused Ligaroti to take the worst of it in losing ground. But Ligaroti had Seabiscuit in close quarters several times, particularly in the stretch.

Although there was no wagering on the match, the race brought out a record crowd and resulted in a pari-mutuel handle of $238,485 for the day.

Despite the fact that the match race was one of the greatest contests ever staged in the West, it may be some time before the California Horse Racing Board will sanction another one. The scheduling of the event brought forth much unfavorable comment, and the aftermath, resulting in the suspension of two of America's most popular jockeys, does not sit so well with the public.