Momentum Will Sit Out Cup Classic

While one Breeders’ Cup Classic participant was completing his major preparation for the $4-million race, another has gone to the sidelines.

Before War Emblem worked seven furlongs in 1:24 2/5, Momentum, the runner-up in three consecutive graded stakes in California, was declared out of next Saturday’s Classic because of an injury to his right foreleg.

Owned by J. Paul Reddam and trained by Craig Dollase, the 4-year-old Nureyev colt, who had been scheduled to work Saturday morning at Hollywood Park, will be sidelined the rest of 2002.

“We noticed it Friday and he was scheduled to work Saturday,” Dollase said of the soft tissue injury. “It looks like he’ll be out a few months, then we’ll re-scan it and see where we are.”

A winner of three of seven racing exclusively on the turf in England, Momentum has only one victory -- the 2001 Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park -- in nine starts in this country. In his last three races, the Kentucky-bred was second by a nose to Sky Jack in the Hollywood Gold Cup, second to Came Home in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar and second to Pleasantly Perfect in the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Santa Anita.

Owned by the Thoroughbred Corp. and trained by Bob Baffert, War Emblem, who came to prominence with his surprising victory in the Kentucky Derby more than five months ago, worked about 30 minutes before Saturday’s first race at Santa Anita.

With exercise rider Dana Barnes aboard, the 3-year-old, who will be retired after the Classic, started slowly, working the first quarter of a mile in 25 1/5 before picking it up. He went the half in 49 4/5, six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 before completing the final eighth of a mile in 11 3/5 seconds. He galloped out a mile in 1:37 1/5.

*

Heavily favored Gander held off 8-1 shot Compelling World to win the $250,000 Empire Classic Saturday at Belmont Park. The Classic was the seventh and final event of a day showcasing New York-breds.

Ridden by Richard Migliore, the 4-5 favorite paid $3.60 and completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 4/5.

Other stakes winners on the Belmont Park card were: Beautiful America in the $100,000 Maid of the Mist, Funny Cide in the $100,000 Sleepy Hollow, Dat You Miz Blue in the $125,000 Iroquois, Well Fancied in the $125,000 Hudson, Rhum in the $150,000 Ticonderoga and 45-1 shot Quiet Ruler in the $150,000 Mohawk.

*

Only The Best, the 4-1 third choice, quickly opened a clear lead in the $96,600 Sunny Slopes Stakes and kept on going all the way to the wire at Santa Anita.

Owned and bred by Alvin Toffel and trained by Brian Lynch, the 2-year-old Smokester gelding won his second in a row and third in five starts, completing the six furlongs in 1:09.

Domestic Dispute, a 7-1 shot, was two lengths back in second and Roll Hennessy Roll, who was making his California debut after winning his first three starts in New Mexico, was third. Spensive, the 5-2 favorite, finished fourth.

*

Churchill Downs, which had expected to host the Breeders’ Cup in 2005, will have to wait a year. That weekend, a Future Farmers of America convention, which will be attended by an estimated 50,000, has booked many of the hotel rooms in Louisville.

Breeders’ Cup officials were unable to move their racing date because NBC, which has the TV contract, is committed to carrying a Notre Dame football game a week later.

The 2005 Breeders’ Cup probably will be run at Belmont Park. Next year’s races will be run at Santa Anita, followed by Lone Star Park near Dallas in 2004.

*

Perfect Drift, one of the horses heading for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, had a workout postponed because of a foot infection but is still expected to run.... Gygistar, undefeated in five starts this year, is out of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint after cutting his foot in a stall accident. Thunderello will move up off the also-eligible list.

*

Staff writer Bill Christine contributed to this report.