Skip Away, Silver Charm, Gentlemen in showdown

THE SCENE IS SET at Hollywood. The stars are set to perform. Then, the direction is given, "Take three!"

And so, the summer blockbuster is released.

But this blockbuster isn't set for the silver screen. It's set for Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., for the showdown the sport has been waiting for -- and waiting, and waiting and waiting for -- finally the handicap "Race of the Year."

We've been down this path before -- twice, and it has come full circle, right back to the Southern California racing emporium where it started, or at least where it tried to start. Maybe.

If all goes well in final training preparations Tuesday in New York for Skip Away and in California for Silver Charm, Sunday's Hollywood Gold Cup will be one for the ages, and record books.

What started out last week as an East vs. West rematch between Skip Away and Gold Cup defending champ Gentlemen turned into a showdown of three with the surprise announcement by trainer Bob Baffert that last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes victory, Silver Charm, will challenge for the winner's share of the $1 million pot.

Let's hope the third time is the charm.

Last year after a grueling Triple Crown campaign, Baffert withstood the temptation of gearing up Silver Charm for a Breeders' Cup Classic assault and decided that his stable star had done enough for the year. A fresh Silver Charm was needed for 1998.

So, while Silver Charm skipped a chance to wave the banner for his generation, Skip Away and Gentlemen were on a Classic collision course for the Breeders' Cup.

Trainer Sone Hine convinced the owner of Skip Away, who just happens to be his wife, to ante up a $480,000 supplemental fee to allow Skippy a chance at the $4 million Classic and revenge on Gentlemen for an earlier Pimlico Special defeat.

Gentlemen had annexed the Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic at a million a copy since his hard-fought win in the Pimlico Special.

All systems were go until Gentlemen was drubbed in his final BC Classic prep at Woodbine in the Woodbine Mile, then suffered an ailment just days before the Classic that scrapped the first attempt at the showdown.

Skip Away went on to capture the Breeders' Cup Classic at Hollywood Park in impressive fashion.

Then came the Santa Anita Handicap.

There was movement afoot that the granddaddy of handicap races could be the vehicle for the second attempt at the showdown.

Skip Away had continued his winning ways at Gulfstream Park in Florida while Silver Charm, after stubbing his toe in his comeback, was reeling off the Stub series at Arcadia and was pointing for the Big 'Cap. Gentlemen had returned to the races with a decisive stakes win to set the stage.

Hine was persuaded to stay in Florida and take the easier spot in the Gulfstream Handicap, which he won, so it was Charm vs. Gentlemen.

Days before the Big 'Cap Silver Charm came up with a bruised hoof that couldn't heal before that race, thus canceling the built-up showdown. Adding insult to injury (literally) Gentlemen lost a Big 'Cap to forget.

Now we come to the third attempt at the showdown.

And, while fans were reveling in the news of Silver Charm's entrance into the Gold Cup, another attempt at fate was unraveling at Belmont Park. It seemed Skip Away had thrown his exercise rider during a morning gallop when he successfully missed a fallen horse on the track and was dangerously running loose for almost 20 minutes before he could be corralled. That led to some anxious moments and some filling in his legs that has reportedly subsided in recent days. The Tuesday workout will be the deciding factor for a Thursday plane ride to Hollywood.

Silver Charm needs to report he is ready, after a recent loss at Churchill Downs, with a sharp work at Santa Anita on Tuesday to stay in the game as well.

Gentlemen has been tearing up the track in his morning preparations and seems to have his physical problems behind him now. His trainer, Richard Mandella, will try and keep his unbelievable streak of million-dollar victories going. He will attempt a seventh straight win in a regularly scheduled Southern California race with a million-dollar purse.

Gentlemen will have the home-track advantage. He has won 13 of 19 career starts, is four for six at Hollywood Park and has banked nearly $3 million. With jockey Gary Stevens slated to ride Silver Charm now, Corey Nakatani is the strong rumor to get the assignment.

Widely regarded as the best horse in training right now, Skip Away comes back to the Golden State and the scene of his finest triumph. He is closing in on Cigar's all-time earnings record of $9,999,815 and is sitting on a six-race win streak with an overall record of 15 wins from 33 lifetime starts. Jerry Bailey again will ride.

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