GOLDEN GLIMPSES #209

April 18, 2000

By ED GOLDEN

FUSAICHI PEGASUS MAKES HIS BID TO BE SPECTACULAR

Move over, Secretariat.

Fusaichi Pegasus opened on Broadway Saturday to rave reviews.

Under an impeccable ride by Kent Desormeaux, the $4 million yearling breezed to a dominating 4 1/4-length victory in the Wood Memorial, coming from third place on an Aqueduct track that favored speed all day.

Fusaichi Pegasus thus solidified his role as Kentucky Derby favorite and should become the first Derby choice to win since Spectacular Bid in 1979.

In the past 20 years, there have been pretenders that seemed to be legitimate favorites to win the Derby, namely Holy Bull, Arazi and Easy Goer. But they couldn�t carry Fusaichi Pegasus� bridle.

After the Wood victory, Desormeaux had all he could do to maintain perspective in his praise of the colt, who could give the 30-year-old jockey his second Derby winner. He won on Real Quiet in 1998.

"This was a major, major step," said an elated Desormeaux, who probably could have flown back to California without a plane.

"In all of these races, you�re trying to find out about horses. I know a lot of horses that can get seven furlongs, but can�t get a mile. Can this one get a mile and a quarter? I think so, but it�s a question we�ll have to answer on the first Saturday in May. He did a lot: he handled a wet track--he loved it--and he handled a big field. We had some anxious moments, especially on the backstretch when they slowed things down on us all of a sudden. I thought we might run over somebody. But then, we were able to split horses, and that picked up the pace and we were able to settle.

"The horse showed me the capability of being able to sprint to a spot, go on cruise control, sprint to a spot later on, go back on cruise control and then really stretch out when you ask him for his life late in the race.

"I gave him some underhand slashes under the girth, but that was just to get his attention and keep him focused. I niggled on him a little, and he took right off. I wanted him to keep reaching late and to keep reaching until after we said, �okay, big fella, you�ve done enough.�"

If Fusaichi Pegasus had any misstep in an otherwise flawless performance, it was his behavior before and after the race.

"He impressed me more than he had before," admitted syndicated handicapper Jeff Siegel, who also is part owner of likely Derby second choice, The Deputy. "He had to come between horses, make a second move coming to the far turn, and he ran very fast (1:47.92. The track record is 1:47, set by Riva Ridge under 130 pounds in 1973. Fusaichi Pegasus� time was about a full second faster than Saturday�s winners of the Blue Grass Stakes and the Arkansas Derby). He ran down a good horse (previously unbeaten Red Bullet, who was second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Aptitude). He was very powerful.

"His basic problem now, if he�s going to have one, is his mental state. He refused to go into the gate. They won�t be waiting around for him in the Derby--or maybe they will--he�ll be the favorite. I don�t really care what he does after the race, but he�s tough. He�s a big, strong, powerful, improving horse and if he stays sound, he�s obviously going to be a very heavy favorite, and deservedly so."

Trainer Neil Drysdale put a different spin on his wonder horse�s antics.

"He justified himself as the Kentucky Derby favorite," said Drysdale, who also will saddle the blinkered War Chant in the Derby. "He handled a different track surface and large field. I could not have asked for a better performance. Just look at him as he is coming back. He just adores looking around."

Joe Orseno, who trains Red Bullet, offered Fusaichi Pegasus a restrained compliment. It was as generous as any of Drysdale�s rivals would get.

"Will my horse move up from this race?," Orseno asked. "I think he will, but the question is how much, because the winner ran a very big race."

That�s an understatement. Face it. Barring anything unforeseen, no matter what post position he draws or how many horses run, Kentucky Derby 2000 on May 6 is Fusaichi Pegasus� to lose. This is the Year of the Favorite. It�s man against boys. All the others are running for second.

But as dim as chances might seem for foes of Fusaichi Pegasus, consider the plight of one forlorn bettor, who went to the Imperial Palace race book last December to make a Future Book bet on the current Derby favorite, who was then 90-1.

The guy bought the wrong number.

THE HOMESTRETCH: Dream race: Fusaichi Pegasus vs. Dubai Millenium in the Breeders� Cup Classic . . . An apprentice jockey who could make a name for himself is scheduled to make his riding debut shortly. He�s Osman Cedeno, a 24-year-old Panamanian who hopes to follow in the footsteps of countrymen Laffit Pincay Jr. and Alex Solis, who have taken him under their wings. "He�s worked for Mel Stute about three years," says his agent, former trainer Chuck Marikian. "He went to the same jockey school in Panama as Laffit and Alex and they have him at their cubicle in the jocks� room. He has the same valet as they do. This kid has a look in his eye that shows he means business." Cedeno, who tacks 108 pounds, has worked horses for several trainers, including Jack Van Berg. "He works horses well and he looks good on a horse," says the Hall of Fame trainer . . . Desormeaux on what winning the Santa Anita riding title would mean to him: "When I wake up in the morning, one of my goals is to be leading jockey, wherever I am riding. I take great pride in being leading rider. I�m as hungry as ever and have a great desire to win. Tony (his agent, Tony Matos, who also books mounts for third-leading rider Victor Espinoza) and I realize we can�t do it without the support of the horsemen. We can know the right horse to get on, but if they don�t want you, that�s another thing. When you can gain their acceptance, it�s a sign of being a desired commodity and that makes you feel good inside. You know that people want you." . . . When Pincay was tossed from Puffthewhitedragon in Saturday�s second race at Golden Gate, the first person to call the Santa Anita press box to inquire about his condition was his friend of more than 35 years, Bill Shoemaker.

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