Stumble Is a Costly One for Siphonic

Those who took 10 cents on the dollar weren’t too thrilled, but trainer Dave Hofmans and jockey Jerry Bailey were not dismayed after Siphonic was beaten in the $150,000 Santa Catalina Stakes Saturday at Santa Anita.

The consensus favorite in the future book for the Kentucky Derby, the 3-year-old had a legitimate excuse for his 51/2-length defeat to 5-1 second choice Labamta Babe in his first race of 2002.

A little more than a month after his authoritative victory in the Hollywood Futurity, Siphonic, who had $846,155 of the $889,753 wagered in the show pool, stumbled badly at the break, surrendering several lengths to his five opponents.

After Bailey became certain Siphonic had not injured himself, the son of Siphon began to rally wide and got to within about a length of the eventual winner, but was no match in the final eighth of a mile.

To say Siphonic would have won had he left cleanly would be unfair to Labamta Babe. A Skywalker colt trainer Bobby Frankel has been high on since he arrived in California last fall, he responded to a more patient ride and was powerful in the run to the wire and galloping out past the finish.

Purchased privately by owner Ed Gann after winning one of three starts in Kentucky, Labamta Babe earned his first victory in this state. Previously, he had been third in the Hollywood Prevue, then fourth in the Hollywood Futurity after setting the early pace.

In receipt of eight pounds from the 123-pound highweight and favorite, Labamta Babe, who was ridden by Kent Desormeaux, completed the 11/16 miles in 1:42 2/5 and paid $13.20.

Frankel indicated afterward that Labamta Babe could return in the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 17, and that’s also the likely destination for Siphonic.

“That’s an awful thing when horses do that at the gate,” said Hofmans. “Sometimes, they [hurt] themselves, but fortunately it looks like he didn’t.

“I’m happy with the way he ran. I thought he ran great. I’m glad Jerry didn’t ask him to run until he did. Jerry said he could have been closer early, but he kept him back. He made the one run, but he had too much to do. I wish we could have won it, but I thought it was a great race.”

Bailey, the country’s leading rider in 2001 and many other years, said everything was fine with Siphonic before the start and in the gate.

“He was standing great,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked him to stand any better, but he broke so hard that the ground broke out from under him. His rear end slipped first and he tried to regain himself and then he stumbled in front.

“By the time he got himself righted, I was eight or 10 lengths behind. I wanted to give him three-eighths of a mile to see if he was OK because a lot of times they can strain their back or their belly when something like that happens. I thought it was a tremendous race.”

Even before the incident at the start, Frankel thought he had a chance to turn the tables on Siphonic.

“I thought with the weight shift [all horses carried 121 pounds in the Futurity] I had a chance,” he said. “I thought the change in tactics would help, too, because the last time [Labamta Babe] got lost on the lead.

“It didn’t hurt that Siphonic got left. I don’t know that we would have beat him if he hadn’t gotten left, but my horse finished really well. Considering what happened, Siphonic ran a miraculous race.”

*

Even though 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos was third in his return to the races, Saturday still turned out well for owner John Oxley and trainer John Ward.

Four races after Monarchos, the 1-2 favorite, was beaten by nearly nine lengths by Mongoose, the 5-2 second choice, in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park in Florida, Booklet, who was making his first start for Oxley and Ward, won the $100,000 Holy Bull Stakes under jockey Eibar Coa at Gulfstream Park.

Purchased privately after he had won for the fourth time in five starts last Oct. 13 at Calder, Booklet, a son of Notebook and the 7-2 third choice Saturday, led every step of the way and held off 9-10 favorite Harlan’s Holiday to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:46 for the 11/16 miles.