2-Year-Olds Face Breeders' Challenge - AP Online

00-00-0000
[image omitted]

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) _ As if the Breeders' Cup Juvenile wasn't demanding enough for unpredictable 2-year-old colts, they'll have to run even farther this year.

The race is stretching out to 1 1-8 miles, a sixteenth of a mile longer than it was in 15 of the previous 18 World Thoroughbred Championships. The event was contested at a mile in three of its first four years.

None of the 14 starters Saturday at Arlington Park has run more than 1 1-16 miles.

"You're going to see horses staggering at a mile and an eighth," trainer Bob Baffert said. "It's going to look like Mardi Gras."

Baffert and Irishman Aidan O'Brien will saddle three horses apiece in the race whose winner is traditionally tagged as the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

Baffert has never won the Juvenile; O'Brien did last year with Johannesburg, who finished eighth in the Derby.

All of the colts in the Juvenile are lightly raced and still learning how to handle themselves in the noisy paddock, the starting gate and on the track. An expected sellout crowd of 45,000 on Saturday could jangle fragile nerves, too.

"It's going to be tough on all the juveniles. They're not ready to go this far," Baffert said. "A lot of it has to do with pace, the track itself, how it's playing. I've heard that some horses don't like this surface. You just don't know until that day."

Of the eight Breeders' Cup races, the Juvenile usually attracts a full field because trainers are eager to test their young prospects on the biggest day of racing outside the Kentucky Derby. The $1 million purse is attractive, too.

"The Juvenile every year is the best race of the day because you have all these young talents, they're all fresh and all in good health," said trainer Patrick Biancone, who is running Whywhywhy and Zavata. "It's a tough race to win."

Sky Mesa, undefeated in three career races, was made the early 3-1 favorite.

"He's won some big races and he comes in with the best credentials, so definitely he's the horse to beat," Baffert said.

"The draw looks good to me," trainer John Ward said of Sky Mesa's No. 9 post. "I think our competition seems to have a bit of a problem. Whywhywhy drew the one hole, and I think he's one of the main guys in there."

Based on appearance, Sky Mesa stands out among his 13 rivals.

"He is a big animal for a 2-year-old, and you really don't realize it until you walk some of the 4-year-olds past him," Ward said. "He's a very big, strong animal, and as far as maturity goes, I don't think you'll see him get much bigger."

Vindication, one of Baffert's three horses, also has a 3-0 record. The 4-1 second choice will break from the outside of No. 5 Bull Market, trained by Baffert. Kafwain is Baffert's other starter.

Baffert said Vindication's temperament isn't as aggressive as most of the offspring sired by Seattle Slew, the 1977 Triple Crown winner.

"He's the kind of horse that could be very exciting," he said. "He shouldn't have a problem with the distance. I think he'll gut it out. Usually the cream rises to the top when you're going that far."

O'Brien's trio is comprised of Hold That Tiger, Tomahawk and Van Nistelrooy. None has gone longer than seven furlongs while racing in England, France and Ireland.

"They all have dirt pedigrees," said Mike Dillon, an associate of O'Brien, who didn't attend Wednesday's draw. "Hold That Tiger was very impressive in his last start. He came from last to first easily."

Meanwhile, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem was made the early 3-1 favorite for the $4 million Classic over 7-2 choice Medaglia d'Oro.

"Why shouldn't he be the favorite? He's got the best credentials," Baffert said.

Bobby Frankel, who trains Medaglia d'Oro, disagreed.

"I thought my horse should have been the favorite," he said. "War Emblem matured faster. I think mine's a late-developing 3-year-old and he keeps on improving. He looks like the man among the boys right now."

The eight Breeders' Cup races, with $13 million in purses, drew a total of 92 horses _ 12 fewer than were pre-entered last week.

Buffet, Franked and O'Brien have the most horses with seven apiece, giving them nearly 23 percent of the entries. However, their combined Breeders' Cup record is four winners in 85 starters.

O'Brien entered his star 3-year-old, Rock of Gibraltar, in the $1 million Mile rather than the 1 1/4-mile Classic, and will send out Hawk Wing in the Classic. The Rock, as he's called by his handlers, was the even-money favorite to extend his winning streak to eight.

Image Caption: War Emblem, led by assistant trainer John Good, walks around the barn shortly after arriving at Arlington Park Racecourse on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2002 in Arlington Heights, Ill. War Emblem is the favorite to win the $4 million Classic Division of the 2002 Breeders Cup World Thoroughbred Championships to be held next Saturday at Arlington Park Racecourse. (AP Photo/Brian Kersey)