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Don't forget me Tiznow now in running for Horse of the Year honors
Updated: Wednesday November 08, 2000 9:39 PM
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Tiznow, Kona Gold and Perfect Sting cast votes for themselves for Horse of the Year after Fusaichi Pegasus and Lemon Drop Kid failed to clinch the honor in the Breeders' Cup Classic. "We certainly complicated the issue and it's wonderful for us to be involved in the situation," co-owner Michael Cooper said when asked Sunday if Tiznow's victory in the $4.77 million Classic would be enough to win Horse of the Year. "When it's all said and done, I'm sure the best horse will get it." Tiznow, supplemented to the 1 1/4-mile Classic for $360,000, won by a neck over England-based Giant's Causeway. Lemon Drop Kid and Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, both racing for the last time before going to stud, finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Scotty Schulhofer, Lemon Drop Kid's trainer, believes his 4-year-old colt deserves to be Horse of the Year despite two straight losses after four consecutive victories in graded stakes. Fusaichi Pegasus' trainer, Neil Drysdale, also trainer of Mile winner War Chant, returned to California Saturday night. Even if Tiznow is not voted an Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year, he likely will be champion 3-year-old colt. He has won three straight graded stakes and has two wins and a second in three races involving older horses. Fusaichi Pegasus lost two of three starts since the Derby on May 6. Kona Gold clinched the sprint championship with a half-length win over the filly Honest Lady in the six-furlong Sprint. He won in 1:07 3/5, a Churchill Downs track and Breeders' Cup record. "I have to say his consistency and breaking a 14-year-old track record makes a case for him," trainer Bruce Headley said when asked about Horse of the Year. The 6-year-old gelding, third in the 1998 Sprint and second a year ago, has won five of six starts and four in a row. Perfect Sting probably won the female grass championship by winning the 1 3/8-mile Filly & Mare Turf by three-quarters of a length over Tout Charmant. It was the fifth victory in six starts for the 4-year-old filly who, since May, has had a least one race a month except in August. "I think it [Horse of the Year] should go to someone who's been there all year and shows up at every race, which is something she has done," said Joe Orseno, who also trains Macho Uno, likely the champion 2-year-old colt after his nose victory over Point Given in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile. Jerry Bailey rode Macho Uno and Perfect Sting, both owned by Frank Stronach. On Sunday, authorities said that Spanish Fern, injured at the start of the Filly & Mare Turf, has died from hemorrhaging. Trainer Bobby Frankel said his horse apparently fractured her pelvis just after leaving the gate. Spain and Surfside ran 1-2 for trainer D. Wayne Lukas in the 1 1/8 mile Distaff, and Spain paid $113.80. Their performances could earn consideration for the 3-year-old filly title. Riboletta, supplemented by owner Aaron U. Jones for $400,000, finished seventh in the Distaff, but Lukas thought she had earned the older filly and mare championship. "She's done everything they've asked her to do," Lukas said of the 5-year-old Brazil-bred mare. Trained by Eduardo Inda, Riboletta had won six straight stakes, four of them Grade I, before the Distaff. Caressing got into what appears to be a wide-open race for the 2-year-old filly title with a half-length victory over Platinum Tiara in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile Fillies. She returned $96. The only European-based horse to win was Kalanisi, who scored by a half-length over Quiet Resolve in the 1 1/2-mile Turf. "I hope people will do some considering because he's a good horse," said jockey John Murtagh when asked if the England-based colt owned by the Aga Khan deserved to be champion turf horse off just one race in the United States. Daylami was voted the grass championship last year after winning the Turf in his only U.S. start.
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