Fusaichi Pegasus Is Breeders Cup Favorite
L O U I S V I L L E, Ky., Nov. 2, 2000 -- Fusaichi Pegasus, who had everyonestumbling over his name after a victory in the Kentucky Derby, ison the verge of retirement.
But like any big-timer close to the end, the 3-year-oldthoroughbred needs a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic to cap ashort, but spectacular career.
Fusaichi Pegasus will face older horses for the first time inSaturday’s race, worth a record $4.77 million purse. At stake isthe Horse of the Year crown and the 3-year-old championship.
“When he was purchased, the two races we wanted to win with himwere the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic,” trainerNeil Drysdale said. “He’s won the Derby, and he is a fresh horsefor the Classic. He is right where he is supposed to be.”
Multi-Million Dollar Retirement
The horse with the Japanese connections was made the 8-5 earlyfavorite today to win the Classic at Churchill Downs, althoughhe has raced only once because of minor hoof problems since beingupset in the Preakness on May 20.
It will be the last race for Fusaichi Pegasus, who will beretired to breeding under a deal valued at $60 million-$70 million.
Drysdale said he is pleased with how Fusaichi Pegasus is comingup to the race, “But, on paper, this looks like a severe test. I’malways nervous about everything. If you have been around longenough, you know the improbable can happen. I don’t take anythingfor granted.”
Fusaichi Pegasus won the one-mile Jerome Handicap on Sept. 23 atBelmont Park, his sixth victory in seven starts this year.
Five of Fusaichi Pegasus’ rivals in the 14-horse field also are3-year-olds — Albert the Great, Captain Steve, Tiznow,England-based Giant’s Causeway and Ireland-based Pine Dance. Twoother contenders are 1999 Classic winner Cat Thief and Lemon DropKid.
Lemon Drop Kid might have wrapped up Horse of the Year honorswith a victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on Oct. 14,which would have given him five consecutive wins, including threestraight in Grade I races. But he was bumped at the gate byBehrens.
Entries From Overseas Could Fare Well
The 1¼-mile Classic is one of eight Breeders’ Cup races onSaturday’s card, worth a total purse of $15.2 million.
While Giant’s Causeway, a winner of five Group I stakes inEngland this year and making his dirt-track debut, is a 5-1co-second choice with Albert the Great, Tiznow and Lemon Drop Kid,foreign invaders are favored in two other races.
Petrushka, winner of her last three starts in Ireland andEngland, is the 5-2 early choice to beat 13 rivals in the 1 3/8-mileFilly & Mare Turf. Her chief rival could be Perfect Sting, winnerof the Diana Handicap at Saratoga.
The 5-2 early pick in the 1½-mile Turf is Montjeu, winner of 11of 15 career starts in England, Ireland, France and Japan, but aloser of his last two. Among 12 rivals are Kalanisi, second in theJuddmonte International and winner of the Dubai Champion in Englandin his last two starts, and Manndar, winner of the Woodford ReserveTurf Classic at Churchill Downs and the Manhattan Handicap atBelmont Park.
Another race with possible Horse of the Year implications is the1 1/8-mile Distaff.
Riboletta, a supplemental entry for $400,000, is the odds-onfavorite to win her seventh straight stakes victory. Also in thefield of nine fillies and mares is Beautiful Pleasure, winner ofthe Distaff last year when she was champion older filly or mare.
“She is responding like she did at Gulfstream [in last year’sBreeders’ Cup],” trainer John Ward said of Beautiful Pleasure.“She is getting better and more intense, and doing everything thatyou are supposed to do going into this type of race.”
Kentucky Derby Preview in Juvenile
The 1 1-16-mile Juvenile offers a preview of next year’sKentucky Derby, with a strong field of 14 colts.
Flame Thrower, trained by Bob Baffert and unbeaten in fourstarts including three stakes, is the 3-1 early choice, although hedrew the No. 12 post. Three other leading contenders are A PValentine, winner of the Champagne at Belmont Park; Street Cry,beaten a head and a neck in two starts against Flame Thrower; andBaffert-trained Arabian Light, winner of the Breeders’ Futurity atKeeneland.
The 1 1-16-mile Juvenile Fillies drew 13 starters, with RagingFever, unbeaten in five starts including four stakes, the 7-2 earlyfavorite. Three of her rivals are Notable Career, winner of the OakLeaf at Santa Anita; Cindy’s Hero, winner of the Del Mar Debutante;and Freefourracing, who won the Indian Summer at Keeneland afterfour starts in England.
Top contenders in the 14-horse field for the six-furlong Sprintappear to be Kona Gold and Caller One, each the winner of threestraight stakes.
The third race on the grass is the 14-horse Mile. Leadingcontenders are War Chant, winner of Santa Anita’s Oak TreeBreeders’ Cup Mile, his only start on turf; Ladies Din, winner ofthe Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar; King Cugat, winner of theArlington Classic; Indian Lodge, winner of her last start inFrance; and Dansili, second to Indian Lodge in his last start.
A total of 106 horses will run in the eight races.