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Breeders' Cup sprint could affect Afleet Alex Saturday, Oct 29, 2005 By Harry King LITTLE ROCK - There is a strength of schedule argument brewing in thoroughbred racing and it could affect Arkansas Derby winner Afleet Alex. Victorious in the Preakness and the Belmont, Alex would seem to be a lock for the Eclipse Award as the top 3-year-old thoroughbred of 2005. He took on the best in the division and beat them all, particularly at the stamina-testing distance of 1 1-2-miles in the final leg of the Triple Crown. The fly in the ointment is a sprinter named Lost in the Fog, unbeaten in 10 races. He goes for No. 11 today in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Belmont. Lost in the Fog has won at eight racetracks from coast to coast, but his opposition has been inferior. The only time he faced older sprinters was at Bay Meadows on Oct. 10 and that was a race created for him so he could stay in San Francisco to prepare for the Sprint. A week prior to that race, the question of competition came up and trainer Greg Gilchrist said, "Anybody who has wanted to run against us has been able to find us." Today, he lines up against 10 sprinters, including Battle Won, Lion Tamer and Wildcat Heir, all 5-year-olds with quality wins. Afleet Alex could have settled the debate with a victory in today's Breeders' Cup Classic, but he had surgery on his left front foot in July and is still on the mend. In college football, there have been various arguments about strength of schedule, including 1984 when Brigham Young finished unbeaten and was named national champion. BYU coasted through the Western Athletic Conference before finishing the year with a victory over Michigan in the Holiday Bowl. Meanwhile, Washington, No. 1 for more than a month, wound up No. 2. The Huskies lost to Pac-10 rival Southern Cal in November, but rebounded by closing the season with a victory over Washington State and defeating Oklahoma 28-17 in the Orange Bowl. Whether or not Lost in the Fog is 11-0, the approach of his people is to be admired. Owner Harry Aleo, who is in his mid 80s, and Gilchrist were inoculated against Derby fever - extremely contagious for horsemen with a speedy 3-year-old thoroughbred. They realized Lost in the Fog was a sprinter and never asked him to run more than seven furlongs. Aleo has turned down at least $2 million for the colt. At one time he was quoted as saying that if he sold Lost in the Fog, he would simply buy more horses. At even money, Lost in the Fog is the shortest price morning line favorite in the eight Breeders' Cup races. Anybody who has ever bought a $2 win ticket will tell you that no horse is invincible. Also, mistakes are magnified in the Sprint, where there is less time to recover. Little known outside northern California, Russell Baze will ride Lost in the Fog. He's won more than 9,100 races, but never a Breeders' Cup race or a Triple Crown event and that's a stigma to some. With this colt, he may only be a passenger. Even if Lost in the Fog disposes of the veteran field, Afleet Alex deserves the Eclipse. Like BYU, the sprinter cranked up for one shot. Alex should have won last year as the best 2-year-old in the country for his body of work, but the prize went to Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko - an indication of the high esteem for the Breeders' Cup races. The Juvenile is closely watched because of what it portends for the Triple Crown races and this year the favorite is First Samurai, unbeaten in four races. Patrick Byrne has won with three of six horses he has entered in Breeders' Cup races and he says Sorcerer's Stone is the most talented young horse he has had since Favorite Trick. Just because Steve Asmussen is a training wizard, Private Vow is to be considered. At 12-1 and 8-1 on the morning line, they could combine for a tidy exacta. ----- Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media Group's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com. |
