Columnist Ralph Siraco: Fusaichi Pegasus on fast track to run for roses

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Friday on the scoreboard page. Reach him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 800 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107.

A clear-cut Kentucky Derby favorite emerged from the talented crop of sophomores who competed over three different time zones in a trio of final major preps for the first Triple Crown race of this century.

The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, N.Y., the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, Ky., and the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park comprised the Big 3 Pick 3 of Kentucky Derby preps on Saturday, and although each individual winner has punched a ticket to Louisville on the first Saturday in May, only one is the one to beat for the roses.

His name is Fusaichi Pegasus, a $4 million wonder horse owned by Fusao Sekiguchi, and is pronounced: FEW-SAH-EE-CHEE Pegasus. The name combines the first syllable of the owner's name with the Japanese word for number one, followed by the mythological winged horse.

He is appropriately named. Fusaichi Pegasus flew like he had wings in the Wood Memorial and raced right to number one for the Kentucky Derby in the process.

The Grade II $750,000 Wood Memorial was run as the first of the three races in a national wager called the Big 3 Pick 3. Fusaichi Pegasus was installed the 4-to-5 favorite in the field of a dozen going 1 1/8 miles over a wet-fast racing strip and lived up to all the hype surrounding the California invader.

The Neil Drysdale trainee had reeled off three straight victories, after a debut runner-up effort, that included a win over eventual Santa Anita Derby winner The Deputy in his last start.

The only anxious moments came before and after the race, when Fusaichi Pegasus refused to partake in the usual warm-up routine -- instead waiting at the head of the stretch and then walking to the starting gate -- and took his own sweet time returning to the winners circle ceremony following a sensational victory.

But the strapping son of Mr. Prospector was a push-button Cadillac during the race. Twice jockey Kent Desormeaux asked his partner for acceleration to move into position and each time Fusaichi Pegasus gave him what he wanted like a polished veteran.

When they turned into the home stretch and moved three-wide to the leaders, it was just a matter of how far and how fast. The how far was 4 1/4 lengths over the Gotham pair of Red Bullet and Aptitude. The how fast was 1:47:92 while he paid the exact morning line price of $3.80 to win.

The victory supplied the answers to many serious questions for a lightly-raced horse heading to the Kentucky Derby experience.

"He handled a different track surface (wet track), and a large field. I could not have asked for a better performance," said Drysdale.

The conditioner went on to say that although Fusaichi Pegasus will try to become the first favorite to win the Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979, "he justified himself as the Kentucky Derby favorite."

Wood winners have been 0-for-14 in the Derby since Pleasant Colony turned the Wood-Derby double in 1981.

Desormeaux put it all in perspective when he said, "He's a rebel. But, he's a rebel with a cause."

Another favorite won leg 2 of the Big 3 bet when High Yield prevailed in a hard-fought decision while capturing the Grade I $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes over More Than Ready.

The Fountain of Youth winner turned back the challenge of the Hucheson winner by a head and Tampa Bay Derby winner Wheelaway by three lengths in front of a record Keeneland crowd of 29,687.

High Yield, who just missed winning the Florida Derby by his same winning margin on Saturday, is owned by a partnership that includes Bob and Beverly Lewis and Michael Tabor. The Lewises won last year's Derby with Charismatic and their first in 1997 with Silver Charm. Tabor won the 1995 Derby with Thunder Gulch.

Jockey Pat Day used track bias for victory as he secured the rail position going into the first turn of the 1 1/8 miles race when he slipped High Yield through an opening inside Florida Derby winner Hal's Hope.

From that point, High Yield never gave up the lead as he stopped the clock in 1:48:79 over a fast track and paid $5.80 to win.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who won last year's Derby, was elated with the win.

"You can always smell the roses at Keeneland," Lucas said. Asked how his chances stack up against Fusaichi Pegasus and company, the four-time Derby winner replied, "We're going to go over there (Churchill Downs) with great optimism."

About 20 minutes later, the final Big 3 piece of the puzzle was fit into place. A crowd of 53,336 saw a field of 14 horses contest the Grade II $500,000 Arkansas Derby.

The 1 1/8-mile test turned into a procession as Graeme Hall popped the gate from post 10 and became an elusive target under a crafty ride by jockey Robbie Albarado.

Although it was the third victory for the son of Dehere, it was the first stakes win for the surprise winner. Trained by Todd Pletcher, who also conditions More Than Ready and Flamingo Stakes winner Trippi, Graeme Hall returned $38.40 to win as he covered the trip in 1:49:08 -- the slowest of the Big 3 clockings.

The Big 3 Pick 3 payoff for numbers 5-4-8 returned $249.50.

* PINCAY AT 8,900 AND COUNTING: Jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. continues going and going and going like the Energizer bunny. Pincay registered his 8,834th career victory to become the winningest jockey of all time on Dec. 10 at Hollywood Park.

Since then the 53-years-young rider has continued to rack up winners. On the heels of leading the Hollywood Park fall race meet, Pincay is currently fourth in the jockey standings at Santa Anita with 53 wins.

However, he ventured out of town this weekend in quest of another career milestone. After a scary spill at Golden Gate on Saturday, Pincay bounced back to keep an engagement to ride at Emerald Downs in Washington on Sunday.

Laffit wasted no time in capturing career victory 8,900 as he won on his first ride of the day with Crossatyourownrisk in the sixth race. The plateau victory was worth a $3.80 souvenir payoff to win.

The racing Adonis started right after his next goal -- 9,000 wins -- as he guided Wagul to win the seventh race. He returns to Santa Anita when racing resumes on Thursday.

There is no Wednesday racing card this week at the Southern California track.

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