It's War Emblem, but Just by a Nose

By Bill Christine

Oct. 24, 2002 12 AM PT

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Times Staff Writer

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- Trainer Bobby Frankel was surprised War Emblem, one of the roadblocks for his two horses in Saturday’s $4-million Breeders’ Cup Classic, would be installed as the morning-line favorite for the 1 1/4-mile race.

“As far as current form is concerned, my horse [Medaglia d’Oro] should be the favorite,” Frankel said. “War Emblem’s form hasn’t been that good lately.”

War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but there have been gaping chinks in his reputation since May. He ran eighth in the Belmont, missing a sweep of the Triple Crown, then beat up on mostly second-rate competition while winning the Haskell and finished sixth in the Pacific Classic, his first start outside the 3-year-old division. Trainer Bob Baffert blamed bad starts for the losses in the Belmont and the Pacific Classic, and on Saturday at Arlington Park, with 12 horses entered and a crowd of almost 49,000 expected, swift loading and clean breaks are no guarantees.

Still, longtime linemaker Mike Battaglia, almost apologetic, made War Emblem the 3-1 favorite when post positions were drawn Wednesday, and listed Medaglia d’Oro, a 13 1/2-length winner of the Jim Dandy and a narrow winner over Repent in the Travers, as the second choice at 7-2.

“This race was almost as tough as this year’s Kentucky Derby,” said Battaglia, who also writes the line at Churchill Downs. “There were four horses that I could have made the favorite.”

Besides War Emblem and Medaglia d’Oro, Battaglia was referring to Came Home, who’s 4-1 after winning the Pacific Classic, and Hawk Wing, from Ireland, who’s 5-1.

“It’s good to talk about, but it really doesn’t make much difference, does it?” Frankel said.

In fact, a horseman might not want to be favored in the Classic, a race in which only five favorites have won in 18 years, and just one -- Skip Away in 1997 -- in the last six runnings. If War Emblem -- or any other contender -- goes off at 3-1, it will be the highest price on a Classic favorite since Tabasco Cat closed at 7-2 while running second to Concern in 1994.

“I’m not surprised War Emblem is favored,” Baffert deadpanned. “He’s got the best trainer. Seriously, I think he deserves to be favored. He has the best credentials of anybody in the field.”

While Baffert expects War Emblem and his jockey, Victor Espinoza, to be setting the pace, the way the colt won the Derby and the Haskell, the trainer is concerned that a well-rested E Dubai, while a 12-1 longshot, has the early speed to possibly keep War Emblem from getting away unfettered. In his last start, on July 6 at Belmont Park, E Dubai was a gate-to-wire winner in the Suburban Handicap, which was run at the same distance as the Classic.

“I don’t like to see E Dubai running,” Baffert said. “He’s a pretty fast horse, and he could probably hurt us up front. We’ll need racing luck and we need to get out of the gate all right.”

Before the late Ahmed bin Salman, the Saudi Arabian prince who died in July, spent $900,000 for 90% of War Emblem less than three weeks before the Derby, the colt was a Chicago-based horse. Under his original trainer, Bobby Springer, War Emblem broke in at Arlington last October, beating maidens in his first start and running seventh the only time he has been on grass. Chicago bettors helped pound War Emblem down to 4-5 when he won in March at Sportsman’s Park in suburban Cicero. Three weeks later, just days before the prince made his move, War Emblem won the Illinois Derby at Sportsman’s in his last start for Springer.

Frankel’s other Classic starter is Milwaukee Brew, the Santa Anita Handicap winner but winless since June and an uninspiring 15-1 on the morning line. Frankel, like Baffert, will send out seven horses in all on the eight-race, $13-million Breeders’ Cup card. A fast track is likely, but the temperature is not expected to get much above 50 degrees, which would still be a high for the week.

Although Frankel, with one title, and Baffert, with three, have dominated the national purse list in the last four years and are 1-2 in the current standings, they have not blown the doors off the opposition in the Breeders’ Cup. Frankel, who was elected to the Racing Hall of Fame in 1995, ran 38 horses in the year-end series before saddling Squirtle Squirt to win the Sprint last year. Baffert, who has won eight of the last 15 Triple Crown races, has two Breeders’ Cup wins, but he has failed to win with 17 starts since Silverbulletday gave him a victory in the Juvenile Fillies in 1998.

“This is the first Breeders’ Cup where I’m feeling as confident as I am this time,” Baffert said.

Favorites in the other races are:

* High Chaparral, at 8-5 in the $2-million Turf. The scratch of Blazing Fury, because of a tendon injury, reduced the field to eight, smallest in history.

* Azeri, 6-5 in the $2-million Distaff, which has an intriguing West-East matchup between the favorite and Take Charge Lady.

* Sky Mesa, winner of all three starts and 3-1 in the $1-million Juvenile. The potential spoilers are Baffert and Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, with three starters apiece.

* Storm Flag Flying, even money in the $1-million Juvenile Fillies.

* Orientate, winner of four straight, at 5-2 for the $1-million Sprint.

* Rock Of Gibraltar, even money in the $1-million Mile.

* Golden Apples, 5-2 in the Filly and Mare Turf.

O’Brien, who has seven starters, toyed with running Rock Of Gibraltar in the Classic instead of the Mile. Sanity set in. The 3-year-old colt has won a record seven straight Group One races in Europe and is five for five at a mile.

For Battaglia, Rock Of Gibraltar’s place in the Mile was only a matter of a number or two. “I was going to make him 7-5,” he said. “But then I took another look at his last two races and made him even lower.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

BREEDERS’ CUP

*--* DISTAFF Distance: 1 1/8 Miles

*--*

*--* PP Horse Jockey Odds 1. Two Item Limit Rene Douglas 30-1 2. Summer Colony John Velazquez 5-1 3. Farda Amiga Pat Day 12-1 4. Azeri Mike Smith 6-5 5. Imperial Gesture Jerry Bailey 4-1 6. Mandy’s Gold Jose Santos 12-1 7. Starrer Pat Valenzuela 30-1 8. Take Charge Lady Edgar Prado 3-1

*--*

Trainers (by post position): 1. Stephen DiMauro. 2. Mark Hennig. 3. Paulo Lobo. 4. Laura De Seroux. 5. Saeed bin Suroor. 6. Michael Gorham. 7. John Shirreffs. 8. Kenneth McPeak.

Owners (by post position): 1. Joseph Graffeo. 2. Edward Evans. 3. Old Friend’s Inc., Winner Silk Inc. & Jose de Camargo. 4. Allen Paulsen Living Trust. 5. Godolphin Racing Inc. 6. Steeplechase Farm. 7. George Krikorian. 8. Select Stable.

Weights: Farda Amiga, Imperial Gesture, Take Charge Lady, carry 119 pounds; Others 123 pounds.

*--* JUVENILE FILLIES Distance: 1 1/8 Miles

*--*

*--* PP Horse Jockey Odds 1. Santa Catarina Jerry Bailey 4-1 2. Ivanavinalot Manuel Cruz 10-1 3. Composure Mike Smith 5-1 4. Storm Flag Flying John Velazquez Even 5. Humorous Lady Alex Solis 20-1 6. Ruby’s Reception Terry Thompson 15-1 7. Sea Jewel Pat Valenzuela 50-1 8. Buffythecenterfold Matt Garcia 12-1 9. Atlantic Ocean Victor Espinoza 20-1 10. Westerly Breeze Robby Albarado 12-1 11. Appleby Gardens Richard Migliore 50-1

*--*

Trainers (by post position): 1. Bob Baffert. 2. Kathleen O’Connell. 3. Bob Baffert. 4. Shug McGaughey. 5. James Chapman. 6. Larry Jones. 7. John Shirreffs. 8. Melvin Stute. 9. Bob Baffert. 10. Carl Nafzger. 11. Todd Pletcher.

Owners (by post position): 1. Robert & Beverly Lewis. 2. Gilbert Campbell. 3. Robert & Beverly Lewis. 4. Ogden Mills Phipps. 5. Classic Star LLC. 6. Oasis Racing Stable. 7. Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Moss. 8. Stronach Stables & Allen Brian. 9. The Thoroughbred Corp. 10. A. Stevens Miles. 11. Eugene & Laura Melnyk.

Weights: 119 pounds each.

*--* MILE Surface: Turf

*--*

*--* PP Horse Jockey Odds 1. Forbidden Apple Corey Nakatani 15-1 2. Beat Hollow Jerry Bailey 6-1 3. Medecis Alex Solis 15-1 4. Good Journey Pat Day 8-1 5. Domedriver Thierry Thulliez 15-1 6. Green Fee John Velazquez 50-1 7. Aldebaran Jorge Chavez 15-1 8. Del Mar Show Pat Valenzuela 20-1 9. Boston Common Rene Douglas 50-1 10. Rock of Gibraltar Michael Kinane Even 11. Touch of the Blues Kent Desormeaux 20-1 12. Dress To Thrill Patrick Smullen 30-1 13. Landseer Edgar Prado 8-1 14. Nuclear Debate Gary Stevens 30-1

*--*

Trainers (by post position): 1. Christophe Clement. 2. Robert Frankel. 3. Christiane Head-Maarek. 4. Wallace Dollase. 5. Pascal Bary. 6. Daniel Peitz. 7. Robert Frankel. 8. William Mott. 9. Michael Pino. 10. Aidan O’Brien. 11. Neil Drysdale. 12. Dermot Weld. 13. Aidan O’Brien. 14. Darrell Vienna.

Owners (by post position): 1. Arthur Appleton. 2. Juddmonte Farms. 3. Wertheimer & Frere. 4. Flaxman Holdings Ltd., Gary Margolis, Michael Jarvis et al. 5. Niarchos Family. 6. Robert & Lawana Low. 7. Flaxman Holdings, Ltd. 8. Allen Paulsen Living Trust. 9. Richard Englander. 10. Sir Alex Ferguson & Mrs. John Magnier. 11. Gainsborough Farm LLC. 12. Moyglare Stud Farm. 13. Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Trabor. 14. Herrick Racing LLC.

Weights: Dressed To Thrill carries 119 pounds; Boston Common, Landseer, Medecis, Rock of Gibraltar carry 122; Others 126.

*--* SPRINT Distance: 6 Furlongs

*--*

*--* PP Horse Jockey Odds 1. Thunderello Edgar Prado 50-1 2. Kalookan Queen Mike Smith 8-1 3. Disturbingthepeace Victor Espinoza 15-1 4. Carson Hollow John Velazquez 20-1 5. Touch Tone Jorge Chavez 30-1 6. Xtra Heat Harry Vega 5-1 7. Wake At Noon Emile Ramsammy 50-1 8. Bonapaw Gerard Melancon 6-1 9. Kona Gold Alex Solis 6-1 10. Orientate Jerry Bailey 5-2 11. Crafty C.T Pat Valenzuela 15-1 12. Swept Overboard Corey Nakatani 5-1 13. Day Trader Pat Day 20-1

*--*

Trainers (by post position): 1. Scott Lake. 2. Bruce Headley. 3. Darrell Vienna. 4. Richard Dutrow Jr. 5. Ronny Werner. 6. John Salzman Sr. 7. Abraham Katryan. 8. Norman Miller III. 9. Bruce Headley. 10. Wayne Lukas. 11. Howard Zucker. 12. Craig Dollase. 13. Wayne Lukas.

Owners (by post position): 1. Charles Mady. 2. Luis Asistio. 3. Rita & David Milch & Herrck Racing LLC. 4. Stronach Stables, Hemlock Farms et al. 5. Tom Durant. 6. Kenneth Taylor, Harry Deitchman & John Salzman Sr. 7. Bruno Schickedanz. 8. Jimmy & Dennis Richard. 9. Bruce Headley, Irwin & Andrew Molasky. 10. Robert & Beverly Lewis. 11. C.T. Grether, Inc. 12. J. Paul Reddam. 13. Overbrook Farm.

Weights: Carson Hollow carries 120 pounds; Day Trader, Kalookan Queen, Xtra Heat, Thunderello 123 pounds; Others 126 each.

*--* FILLY AND MARE TURF Distance: 1 1/4 Miles

*--*

*--* PP Horse Jockey Odds 1. Riskaverse Mark Guidry 15-1 2. Islington Kieron Fallon 9-2 3. Turtle Bow Christophe Soumillion 15-1 4. Dublino Kent Desormeaux 12-1 5. Banks Hill Jerry Bailey 3-1 6. Golden Apples Pat Valenzuela 5-2 7. Gossamer Jamie Spencer 15-1 8. Zenda Richard Hughes 12-1 9. Chopinina Emile Ramsammy 15-1 10. Owsley Edgar Prado 50-1 11. Starine John Velazquez 12-1 12. Kazzia Jorge Chavez 5-1

*--*

Trainers (by post position): 1. Patrick Kelly. 2. Michael Stoute. 3. Francois Rohaut. 4. Laura De Seroux. 5. Andre Fabre. 6. Ben Cecil. 7. Luca Cumani. 8. John Gosden. 9. Alec Fehr. 10. Randy Schulhofer 11. Robert Frankel. 12. Saeed bin Suroor.

Owners (by post position): 1. Fox Ridge Farm. 2. Executors of the Late Lord Weinstock. 3. Andrew Crichton. 4. Robert Geringer, Michael Klein, Liberty Road Stables & San Gabriel Investments. 5. Juddmonte Farms. 6. Gary Tanaka. 7. The Leigh Family. 8. Juddmonte Farms. 9. Knob Hill Stable. 10. Arthur Hancock III. 11. Robert Frankel. 12. Godolphin Racing Inc.

Weights: Banks Hill, Chopinina, Owsley, Starine carry 118 pounds; Others 123.

*--* JUVENILE Distance: 1 1/8 Miles

*--*

*--* PP Horse Jockey Odds 1. Whywhywhy Pat Day 6-1 2. Kafwain Victory Espinoza 12-1 3. Hold That Tiger Kieron Fallon 12-1 4. Listen Indy Alex Solis 30-1 5. Bull Market Jerry Bailey 12-1 6. Vindication Mike Smith 4-1 7. Van Nistelrooy John Velazquez 15-1 8. Lone Star Sky Mark Guidry 15-1 9. Sky Mesa Edgar Prado 3-1 10. Zavata Gary Stevens 20-1 11. Tomahawk Michael Kinane 15-1 12. Most Feared Pat Valenzuela 30-1 13. Wando Richard Migliore 15-1 14. Toccet Jorge Chavez 6-1

*--*

Trainers (by post position): 1. Patrick Biancone. 2. Bob Baffert. 3. Aidan O’Brien. 4. Richard Mandella. 5. Bob Baffert. 6. Bob Baffert. 7. Aidan O’Brien. 8. Thomas Amoss. 9. John Ward Jr. 10. Patrick Biancone. 11. Aidan O’Brien. 12. Ronny Werner. 13. Michael Keough. 14. John Scanlan.

Owners (by post position): 1. Fabien Ouaki & Patrick Biancone. 2. The Thoroughbred Corp. 3. Michael Tabor & Mrs. John Magnier. 4. Wertheimer Farm. 5. James McIngvale. 6. Padua Stable. 7. Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Stonerside Stable LLC. 8. Walter New. 9. John Oxley. 10. Michael Tabor. 11. Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor. 12. Tom Durant. 13. Gustav Schickedanz. 14. Daniel Borislow.

Weights: 122 pounds each.

*--* TURF Distance: 1 1/2 Miles

*--*

*--* PP Horse Jockey Odds 1. Denon Edgar Prado 5-1 2. Ballingarry Kent Desormeaux 5-1 3. Falcon Flight Pat Valenzuela 12-1 4. Golan Kieron Fallon 3-1 5. High Chaparral Michael Kinane 8-5 6. Perfect Soul John Velazquez 50-1 7. With Anticipation Pat Day 6-1 8. The Tin Man Mike Smith 15-1

*--*

Trainers (by post position): 1. Robert Frankel. 2. Laura De Seroux. 3. Donald Burke. 4. Michael Stoute. 5. Aidan O’Brien. 6. Roger Attfield. 7. Jonathan Sheppard. 8. Richard Mandella.

Owners (by post position): 1. Flaxman Holdings, Ltd. 2. Sydney Port Trust, Liberty Road Stables & San Gabriel Investments. 3. Gary Tanaka. 4. Executors of the Late Lord Weinstock. 5. Michael Tabor & Mrs. John Magnier. 6. Charles Fipke. 7. Augustin Stable. 8. Ralph & Aury Todd.

Weights: Ballingarry, High Chaparral carry 121 pounds; Others 126.

*--* CLASSIC Distance: 1 1/4 Miles

*--*

*--* PP Horse Jockey Odds 1. E Dubai Jorge Chavez 12-1 2. Volponi Jose Santos 50-1 3. War Emblem Victory Espinoza 3-1 4. Dollar Bill Pat Day 30-1 5. Perfect Drift Robby Albarado 20-1 6. Macho Uno Gary Stevens 20-1 7. Medaglia d’Oro Jerry Bailey 7-2 8. Evening Attire Shaun Bridgmohan 8-1 9. Harlan’s Holiday John Velazquez 10-1 10. Hawk Wing Michael Kinane 5-1 11. Came Home Mike Smith 4-1 12. Milwaukee Brew Edgar Prado 15-1

*--*

Trainers (by post position): 1. Saeed bin Suroor. 2. Philip Johnson. 3. Bob Baffert. 4. Dallas Stewart. 5. Murray Johnson. 6. Joseph Orseno. 7. Robert Frankel. 8. Patrick Kelly. 9. Todd Pletcher. 10. Aidan O’Brien. 11. Paco Gonzalez. 12. Robert Frankel.

Owners (by post position): 1. Godolphin Stable. 2. Amherst Stable & Spruce Pond Stable. 3. The Thoroughbred Corp. 4. Gary & Mary West. 5. Stonecrest Farm. 6. Stronach Stables. 7. Edmund Gann. 8. Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Grant & Thomas Kelly. 9. Starlight Stables LLC. 10. Mrs. John Magnier. 11. William Farish, John Goodman, John Toffan & Trudy McCaffery. 12. Stronach Stables.

Weights: Came Home, Harlan’s Holiday, Hawk Wing, Medaglia D’Oro, Perfect Drift, War Emblem carry 121 pounds; Others 126 each.

Facts

* What: Breeders’ Cup

World Thoroughbred Championships

* Where: Arlington Park

* When: Saturday

* TV: Coverage begins at 10 a.m. PDT

on Channel 4

THE RACES

Post Race Purse

10:20 a.m. DISTAFF $2 million

10:55 a.m. JUVENIILE FILLIES $1 million