Columnist Ralph Siraco: Real Quiet makes a lot of noise

And that especially applies to the Kentucky Derby. Just ask trainer Bob Baffert.

Ever since Indian Charlie won the Santa Anita Derby in early April, this year's run for the roses was ticketed for Baffert. The 45-year-old conditioner was sending the undefeated son of In Excess to the bluegrass, ready to knock out a second consecutive victory at Louisville.

But along with the stable star came a useful little horse that had eaten his more famous barnmate's dust while finishing second in the aforementioned Santa Anita Derby.

He walked silent and carried a big stick.

On Saturday, he took a big swing with that stick and, to the roar of the third-largest crowd in Derby history, the 143,000-plus watched Baffert's avis horse win the Derby loud and clear.

Real Quiet is his name and, as of Saturday, he resides in stall No. 1 in the Baffert shedrow.

Baffert learned from another famous trainer who moved from quarter horses to thoroughbreds -- get as much insurance as possible when it comes to the Derby. D. Wayne Lukas, who held the previous Mr. Kentucky Derby title, sent out a record five Derby starters in 1995 and is the all-time leader when it comes to Derby entrants. Ironically, it was in the '96 renewal that Baffert suffered a heartbreaking defeat with Cavonnier -- who lost by a slim nose -- to Grindstone when Lukas represented more than 25 percent of the starters in the 19-horse field.

So this year, unlike last year when he sent out the winner Silver Charm as his only runner, Southern California's leading trainer came to Churchill with an insurance policy that cashed in at the Downs.

Real Quiet is no stranger to America's most legendary race track and his experience over the track may have proved the useful difference in the Derby. The son of Quiet American had started at Churchill Downs three times as a juvenile and managed a pair of third-place finishes. A troubled third in the Kentucky Jockey Club last November set him up for a victory in the Hollywood Futurity in mid-December.

Real Quiet's Derby chances got real muddy in his first start as a 3-year-old, when he was beaten by more than 22 lengths in the Golden Gate Derby on a sloppy track. He returned to Southern California to rebound with a just-miss second to Artax (who he beat soundly in the Derby) in the San Felipe at Santa Anita. The Derby ticket was punched after his runner-up effort in the Santa Anita Derby.

His fondness for the Churchill oval was evident in workouts leading up to Saturday's race. Three drills at the Down produced two bullets (fastest horse of the day) and a second-best of the day in preparation for the Derby. Baffert, although preoccupied with the big gun Indian Charlie, declared that Real Quiet was ready to run the best race of his life "and that could be good enough to win it."

He was ready, and it was good enough to win it.

Fifteen made their way to the Derby starting gate for a 2:29 p.m. post time and all the usual Derby participants were represented in the 1 1/4-mile classic.

Old Trieste, Chilito and longshot Rock and Roll set a fast pace as the field raced under the trademark twin spires for the first tie. Indian Charlie was stalking in fourth, with reigning Horse-of-the-Year Favorite Track alongside and Real Quiet lagging in eighth position. As the field rolled around the clubhouse turn and into the backstretch, Old Trieste had spurted out to a three-length lead with Indian Charlie in hot pursuit. At this point, Read Quiet was starting to move from eighth to sixth and gaining, while Bluegrass winner Halory Hunter, trainer Nick Zito's and owner Rick Pitino's hope, was rolling from last place with Team Lukas' Cape Town, trying to muster a rally. Arkansas Derby winner Victory Gallop, who had vied with Halory Hunter for last, was also starting a closing run.

As they made their way around the far turn, it was evident that Favorite Trick, Cape Town and the majority of the others would be this year's also-rans. Just as Indian Charlie had wrested the lead from a fading Old Trieste, Real Quiet, with Kent Desormeaux aboard, rolled right on by. Having measured his stablemate, Real Quet had only the long Churchill homestretch and a ground-eating Victory Gallop to handle. Under Alex Solis, who finished second with a photo finish to SIlver Charm last year with Captain Bodgit, Victory Gallop could not catch the Derby winner in time. The margin of victory was a dwindling half-length, and Real Quiet gave Baffert a second consecutive Derby score, with a first for jockey Kent Desormeaux and owner Mike Pegram. Indian Charlie, with Gary Stevens aboard, held third over Halory Hunter. The time of 2:02:1 was relatively slow, considering the fast opening fractions, as testament by the final quarter-mile clock in harness horse time of :26:3.

Like the Sports Illustrated magazine cover, several of the Derby jinxes continued. With the defeat of Favorite Trick went the Juvenile Champion, Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and Kentucky Derby future-book favorite jinx. Indian Charlie took down the Derby-favorite jinx. But the infamous Derby Dosage concoction went down in flames as Real Quiet had the highest count a 5.26, which is over the acceptable limit of 4.00.

For Desormeaux, the Derby marked an emotional high in the resurgence of the 28-year-old rider's career. It was also nice to see Baffert win a big once for the very person responsible for his thoroughbred racing career. Pegram got Baffert started in the Sport of Kings, and the owner of 21 McDonald's franchises in Washington can now down a big Derby Big Mac with plenty of suds.

Baffert has become the new Mr. Kentucky Derby and, although he missed chance at a record three consecutive Derby victories by a trainer with his first Derby starter in Cavonnier, he is still eligible for the milestone if he can repeat the Derby story next year.

I'm sure he's got a call into his State Farm agent for a 1999 Derby policy renewal.

Although competitive, this Derby will not be remembered as the Event of the Year.

RALPH SIRACO is turf editor of the SUN. His column appears Mondays and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Friday.

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