Breeders’ Cup : Split Showing in Theatrical’s Camp : Owners of Breeders’ Cup Turf Favorite Are Still at Odds

If Theatrical, as expected, wins the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Turf Stakes at Hollywood Park Saturday, owners Allen Paulson and Bert Firestone might be smiling in the winner’s circle, but not at one another.

There has been considerable friction between Paulson and Firestone over Theatrical, who, after not winning a race in 1986, has won five major races this year and six overall, earning $1.3 million and pushing his career total over the $2-million mark.

With the Breeders’ Cup just a few days away, Paulson and Firestone do not seem on the road to rapprochement. Paulson said recently that jockey Pat Day would be wearing his red, white and blue colors when Theatrical runs Saturday. On Tuesday, Firestone said that the 5-year-old son of Nureyev would continue to run in his colors.

The problem for these two strong-willed owners began when Paulson bought 50% of Theatrical from Firestone, the breeder, and signed an agreement that would allow Firestone to continue managing the horse’s career.

Paulson, who was hospitalized with a back injury at the time he signed the contract, says he was vulnerable and now regrets giving Firestone control.

Firestone reportedly retained a 25% interest in Theatrical, and since then has syndicated half of his share to other investors. Michael Smurfit of Ireland is said to own the remaining 25% of Theatrical.

Bobby Frankel, who prefers not to discuss his involvement with Theatrical, trained the horse last year when he ran second, beaten by a neck by Manila, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

After that, Theatrical was sent to Florida and trainer Bill Mott, Firestone’s stable trainer who according to one source makes a salary of $450,000 a year. Shug McGaughey, who trains for the Phipps family in New York, is probably the only conditioner who makes more, irrespective of purse money.

Paulson, who has a home in Encino, was not happy about Theatrical going East, where Firestone is based at his Catoctin Stud farm in Waterford, Va.

Paulson, who probably has spent more money buying yearlings than any other American in recent years, was also unhappy that Theatrical ran in the Budweiser-Arlington Million in Chicago Sept. 6.

“He had colic (stomach trouble), he was running a temperature and he doesn’t like to run on soft ground,” Paulson said.

Theatrical finished third, 4 3/4 lengths behind Manila, who won the race.

“Our horse wasn’t at his best,” Firestone said Tuesday.

Since then, Manila has been retired because of injury and Theatrical has won the Turf Classic and the Man o’ War in New York. Firestone said that Theatrical should be voted the country’s champion male turf horse and there is even support gathering for him as horse of the year, provided he wins in the Breeders’ Cup.

“Those five major races Theatrical has won is a good feat,” Firestone said. “And look who beat Manila at Saratoga.”

Facing an ordinary field of opponents in the Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga, Manila finished second to Talakeno for his only loss of the year.

Theatrical will be listed in Saturday’s program under the names of both Paulson and Firestone. But when he’s run in New York, only Firestone’s name has been listed.

That’s because under New York’s horse-responsibility rule, only one owner can be listed.

“I understand that,” Paulson said. “But Bert’s not even putting my name on the trophies that Theatrical’s won.”

Firestone has only one answer to all of this furor: “Part of the sale agreement was that I would manage the horse.”

Russ Hudak, the line maker at Hollywood Park, said he would make these horses the favorites Saturday:

Groovy in the Sprint; the four-horse, Gene Klein-owned entry of Blue Jean Baby, Dream Team, Lost Kitty and Over All in the Juvenile Fillies; Infinidad in the Distaff; Milligram in the Mile; Tejano in the Juvenile; the entry of Theatrical and Louis Le Grand in the Turf; and Ferdinand in the Classic.

Hudak said Groovy would be his shortest opening price, probably at 6-5. Ferdinand’s morning-line odds will be either 2-1 or 5-2.

Favorites won 5 of the 7 races in the first Breeders’ Cup at Hollywood Park in 1984. Overall, favorites have won 9 of the 21 races in the three-year series.

Scotty Schulhofer, who will be trying to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Cryptoclearance, has one win and two seconds in four previous starts in the series. Schulhofer won last year with Smile and finished second with Tappiano, and he ran second with Smile in 1985 at Aqueduct.

Cryptoclearance is one of five 3-year-olds who will be opposing seven older horses in the Classic.

“In the spring, they were saying that this year’s 3-year-old crop wasn’t much but I think it’s one of the best groups we’ve ever had,” Schulhofer said.

Winner of the Florida Derby last April and the Pegasus Handicap in September, Cryptoclearance will be a longshot Saturday. He couldn’t beat Alysheba in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Ferdinand, Alysheba and Skywalker--winner of last year’s Classic--are obvious horses in the race Saturday, but Schulhofer adds the name of Afleet, the Canadian 3-year-old who has six wins and two seconds in nine lifetime starts. Last month, Afleet missed by a nose against Creme Fraiche in the Meadowlands Cup, with Cryptoclearance finishing third.

“Afleet’s a good horse and I think he’ll be tough, too,” Schulhofer said.

Horse Racing Notes

The Hollywood Park season will open today with two stakes on the program--the Askmenow for 3-year-old fillies and the Moccasin for 2-year-old fillies. Post time is 1 p.m. for the 27-day meeting that runs through Dec. 24. Post time for the first race Saturday, Breeders’ Cup day, is 11 a.m. Besides the daily double, there will be a Pick Nine, the Pick Six, two daily triples and six exactas. . . . On Friday, Hollywood is running the $100,000 Hoist the Flag Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on the turf. . . . Entries will be drawn for the Breeders’ Cup this morning. . . . Russell Baze, who was on his way to a 15th straight riding title at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields, will be released from the hospital today. Baze suffered a broken vertebra when his mount broke her leg and had to be destroyed in a race at Bay Meadows Sunday. He is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks. Baze’s mount in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Flying Victor, now goes to Fernando Toro. . . . Chris McCarron, injured in a spill at Santa Anita late last year, said that he is going to have the 8-ounce steel plate removed from his left leg a few days after the Breeders’ Cup. A recuperation period of several weeks will follow. . . . Bold Smoocher was scratched from the Sprint when he came up lame Tuesday. . . . McCarron thought that Bold Second, an entrant in the Juvenile, might have been favoring his right front ankle after a workout Tuesday, but trainer Charlie Whittingham discounted the possibility.