Pressure Was Just Too Great for Filly

By BILL CHRISTINE

June 6, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

ELMONT, N.Y. —

Trainer Bob Baffert, still without that elusive first Belmont Stakes win, felt that Charismatic’s early pressure on Silverbulletday took his filly out of the race Saturday.

Chris Antley, riding Charismatic, was never far behind Silverbulletday and jockey Jerry Bailey.

“I didn’t think he would do that,” Baffert said. “I figured somebody was going to be close, but Jerry said he was with her the whole way. They would not let her take a breather. Our only advantage was to go out [front]. They just gave her too much respect.”

Silverbulletday, who finished seventh, had been withheld from the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness before Baffert decided to run her in the Belmont. Before Saturday, the filly had won 11 of 12 starts and was fourth in her only defeat, in the Del Mar Debutante.

“We were taking a shot,” Baffert said. “If she could slow them down and get the first half-mile in about 0:49, she would have had something left to kick home. But when they turned for home after a mile in [1:36 2/5], they were just tired. Especially when you’re hooking up like that. That’s different than if you’re just out there cruising.”

Baffert’s first Belmont starter, Cavonnier, broke down in the race in 1996. The last two years, after winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Baffert finished second in both Belmonts, with Silver Charm and Real Quiet.

On the track right after Saturday’s Belmont, Baffert offered Wayne Lukas, Charismatic’s trainer, his condolences.

“Can you imagine that I had to go through this [losing the Belmont with the Triple Crown on the line] the last two years?”

“No, I can’t,” Lukas said.

Lukas and Antley spent an hour Saturday discussing race strategy.

“We thought the pace would be moderate,” Lukas said. “We wanted to make sure we were in range. We thought we had the fittest horse in the race.”

Baffert said that Silverbulletday will get a rest before returning to the filly division to race. The year-end goal is the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Gulfstream Park in November.

Said Baffert of Silverbulletday: “Thank God she can’t talk, or she’d be yelling and screaming at me [for running her in the Belmont.] But I’m going to give her a lot of kisses and a lot of love.”

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Belmont Fillies

Fillies who have raced in the Belmont Stakes:

Year: Horse, finish

1867: Ruthless, first

1868: Fanny Ludlow, third

1869: Invercauld, third

1869: Viola, seventh

1870: Midday, third

1870: Nellie James, fourth

1870: Stamps, sixth

1871: Nellie Gray, fourth