Bailey Has Winning Hand

On his way to another Eclipse award as the nation’s top jockey, Jerry Bailey had won 11 Grade I stakes in four states--Florida, Maryland, New York and Kentucky.

After Saturday, make it an even dozen and add California to the list of locations.

Visiting HoIlywood Park for the weekend and looking to increase his sizable advantage over John Velasquez in the money standings--his mounts had earned nearly $22.4 million through Friday--Bailey directed 8-5 second choice Siphonic to an easy victory for trainer David Hofmans in the $460,750 Hollywood Futurity.

For good measure, he and Hofmans also made off earlier with the $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap, winning with heavily favored Starrer.

Making his first start since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 27 at Belmont Park, Siphonic was just off the early pace set by longshot Labamta Babe, took the lead around the turn, then kicked away in the stretch.

At the finish, he had 31/2 lengths on 12-1 shot Fonz’s and completed the 11/16 miles in 1:42.

Owned by John and Jerry Amerman, Siphonic has won three of four and is clearly no worse than second choice in the Kentucky Derby future book. The other top contender at this early stage would be Johannseburg, who is seven for seven after his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“He’s the reason I came out here and he lived up to my expectations,” said Bailey, who now has 58 stakes wins in 2001. “He broke on the lead and I probably could have gone on with him had I elected. I eased him back, and every time a horse came to him, I opened my hands and he made another little move.

“That’s what you want. It makes my job easy. He showed another dimension today. It was very encouraging. It’s what you want to see.

“Now, if he develops and matures a little bit, which they all need to do to do good things as a3-year-old, we’ll be in business.”

While Siphonic’s stock rose, Officer’s continued to decline. The California-bred, who was the even-money favorite, lost his third in a row after beginning his career with five wins.

Reserved off the pace by new rider David Flores, Officer was angled outside at the top of the stretch, but was unable to get by Fonz’s and had to settle for third, a half-length behind Fonz’s.

This left the $700,000 purchase winless in three races beyond seven furlongs and trainer Bob Baffert, who was trying for his third Futurity win in a row and fourth in five years, said the colt will focus on sprints.

“It’s just too far for him,” said Baffert. “I won’t do that again. We had to know for sure. David rode him nice, he relaxed. He could have sent him to the lead, but we know that’s not going to work.

“We’ll just keep him around one turn for now. I’m not going two turns with him. Maybe when he gets older, but not right now.

“He was in a good spot to really kick it in gear. David said he made a big run, then he just hung the last part. He should have gone by [Fonz’s]. It’s that distance limitation. Still, he is a fast horse and we are going to have some fun with him.”

Hofmans, who finished second behind Point Given in last year’s Futurity with Millennium Wind, was confident before the race and said he is looking forward to the coming months with Siphonic, who was purchased for $210,000 last September at Keeneland.

“I thought the horse was doing very well and I knew he was going to be fresh and strong,” said Hofmans. “I was hoping I had him tight enough and it looks like we did.

“I want a fresh horse for next year. We’ll start with the first Saturday in May [the Kentucky Derby] and work backward [in planning his schedule]. I’d like to run him three, maybe four times, before then, but I’m not sure. I think we’ll keep him in California because we don’t have a Point Given to worry about.”

Labamta Babe finished 21/2 lengths behind Officer, then came Publication, Yougottawanna, who had upset Officer in the California Cup Juvenile, Mountain Rage and Brigadier Jones, the longest shot in the field at 76-1.

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A softer spot was all Verruma needed to become a winner in her second start for trainer and co-owner Jim Chapman.

Well-beaten at 38-1 in the Matriarch, a Grade I in her California debut last month, the 5-year-old, Brazilian-bred mare rallied strongly along the rail under jockey Garrett Gomez to win the $150,000 Dahlia Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Purchased by Chapman after she won consecutive races at Belmont Park, Verruma, the 4-1 second choice, earned her ninth win in 15 starts, completing the 11/16 miles on turf in 1:431/5. She won by a half-length over 4-1 third choice Vencera, and 9-10 favorite Heads Will Roll was third.