Friday, March 24, 2000
Antley pulled off Spiral favorite
Archer City Slew top choice for Saturday's Derby prep
BY GEORGE RORRER
Enquirer contributor
FLORENCE, Ky. — One of horse racing's most inspiring stories of 1999 took a sharp U-turn Thursday when jockey Chris Antley was taken off favored Archer City Slew for Saturday's $600,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.
Last spring, Antley climbed back into the saddle after a two-year battle with personal and weight problems. He nearly won the Triple Crown, riding Charismatic to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and a third-place finish in the Belmont.
Trainer Vladimir Cerin was expecting Antley to ride Archer City Slew in Saturday's nationally televised Derby prep race, but at Thursday's
post-position draw Cerin switched to Garrett Gomez, a rising California star.
Antley has ridden for only two weeks this year, and Cerin said Antley's agent, John DeSantis, told him he would be better off to get another rider for Saturday.
“He did not give me a clear answer (about Antley's plans),” Cerin said. “I hope all is well with Chris. He is my friend, and I wish him the best.”
Cerin said he hired Gomez for only Saturday's ride, making it possible for Antley to return for the Triple Crown races.
“I don't want to commit to more than one race,” Cerin said. “But if they click, it wouldn't take a real bright person to ask Garrett to stay on the horse.”
Handicapper Mike Battaglia made Archer City Slew a 5-2 favorite in the 11-horse field; Elite Mercedes was next at 3-1, and Rollin With Nolan was third at 9-2.
Cerin said the No.4 post position should work well for Archer City Slew.
“It lets the speed clear in front of us,” he said. “Then we can settle in behind them.”
Archer City Slew finished second by a half-length to unbeaten War Chant in his last start, the March 4 San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
“That was probably a better race than anyone else in this field has run,” Battaglia said.
Trainer Elliott Walden's Elite Mercedes won two of his five starts in 1999, including the Rhythm Stakes at Gulfstream Park Nov.7, but was a well-beaten eighth in the Florida Derby on March 11. Battaglia said he disregarded that race because Elite Mercedes dis placed his palate.
Pat Day will ride Elite Mercedes in an attempt to win his sixth victory in the Spiral and its other incarnations as the Jim Beam Stakes (from 1984-98) and the Gallery Furniture.com Stakes (1999).
Nick Zito, who trained 1999 Gallery winner Stephen Got Even, will try to repeat with Rollin With Nolan, the winner of a Gulfstream Park allowance race in his last outing Feb.19.
Rollin With Nolan is owned by Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey of Nicholasville, Ky.
Among other interesting contenders, Battaglia said, are Cincinnati-owned Deputy Warlock and Gateman, an English horse trained by Walden.
Deputy Warlock, owned by Jerry and Faye Bach, was third in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile last year and won the Cradle Stakes at River Downs.
“Gateman can be dangerous if he can handle running on dirt. He's a strong horse, and he proved he can hold up for a distance,” Battaglia said.
Saturday's race will be the first Spiral to be staged by Turfway's new ownership group — Keeneland Association, Harrah's Entertainment and Dreamport. It will be televised by ABC.
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