SEARCH NEWS:

 

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Las Vegas Partners Try for Repeat Saturday

But it is not the first Saturday of May, nor is it the big race that Churchill Downs is famous for that Bernie dreams of winning. It's the Breeders' Cup Mile, and it's on the first Saturday in November -- this Saturday to be exact.

Bernie is willing -- with his partner J. Terrence Lanni -- to pay $120,000 plus expenses in supplemental fees to realize that dream. It's a price that he thinks is a bargain.

But wait, didn't Schiappa and Lanni win the Breeders' Cup Mile last year?

Yes, Virginia, they did. So what's this dream all about anyway, Bernie?

Schiappa and Lanni did win the Breeders' Cup Mile last year at Gulfstream Park with their talented French-bred Silic. And, even though it was their first starter in Breeders' Cup competition, this year's color bearer, Ladies Din, is the one that Bernie wants to win with most.

It is, as he says, "an American dream." And should the dynamic duo pull it off again, then next year's NTRA commercial campaign should have Bernie and Terry as the sport's banner boys.

But, we're getting a little ahead of our story here.

Schiappa came to Las Vegas from Plainfield, New Jersey, in 1978 while still an owner of standardbred horses. He had enjoyed success with the jugheads for almost a decade, along with his partner, harness racing Hall of Famer Herve Fillion.

After two years of the Las Vegas lifestyle, Bernie hooked up with Fletcher Jones auto sales and quickly rose to head the dealership's import division.

It was during a 1989 car-buying junket to Carlsbad, Calif., that Bernie decided to switch breeds. While in Southern California, a friend took Schiappa to the races at Del Mar, and, as Bernie put it, "I fell in love with the place and the thoroughbred game."

Shortly after returning to Las Vegas, Schiappa sold a car to casino executive Lanni. From that 1990 sale, the two became friends through their mutual passion for racing.

In 1996, while at the track, Schiappa asked Lanni if he would like to sell an interest in a horse he owned in partnership with another Las Vegas casino executive Mike Slone. They agreed and Bernie became part-owner of Beau's 'n Bells.

The following year, Bernie ventured back to Del Mar at the request of his friend Jay Clark, who was a clocker at the track. Clark suggested Bernie observe a workout by a 2-year-old who had been beaten in his only lifetime start by more than 16 lengths. With the addition of blinkers, the youngster's morning move impressed Bernie. Both men thought the once-raced equine could have a future going long on grass.

On July 30, 1997, Bernie's dream would start taking shape.

The freshman runner was entered in the first race at Del Mar, a $32,000 maiden-claiming event at 5 1/2 furlongs. Bernie, as most wise married men would, left the details to what he terms "the better half of the entry" while he stayed in Las Vegas. His wife Sonya, his better half for 15 years, handled the paperwork for the claim.

Bernie handled the payment at Palace Station hotel-casino -- at least in theory. Schiappa scooted down the street from the dealership and placed a $500 win bet (at 17-1 odds), a $100 exacta and quinella and a $50 pick three tied up to his pony. When the newly equipped blinkered gelding came rolling into the winners circle, Bernie had a new mouth to feed and cleared $20 to boot. The claim, with taxes, totaled $34,480 while Bernie's score tipped out at $34,500.

That claim was Ladies Din.

Schiappa contacted his friend Lanni to offer a partnership that was quickly accepted by him and Slone.

Ladies Din started paying dividends on the investment immediately when he won his first start for the Las Vegas trio. It was on the grass and long. Although he changed barns after that victory from Ron Ellis to trainer Julio Canani, Ladies Din kept on winning. He has banked almost $1,550,000 with nine wins from 27 starts over the 39 months since the claim for the partnership (now limited to Schiappa and Lanni) and has certainly earned his way into this year's Breeders' Cup Mile field.

So it comes as no surprise that Schiappa is riding on cloud nine.

Bernie believes that Canani is the best trainer in the business at getting a horse ready off a layoff and discounts Ladies Din's recent Atto Mile prep at Woodbine in Canada as a race his horse needed.

He says his horse is a fighter.

"Ladies Din never gives up and he knows when he wins. And, he's mad when he loses," he said.

Lanni, chairman of MGM-Mirage and a lifelong horse owner and breeder, is also enjoying his partner's enthusiasm. Schiappa thinks Lanni is "the greatest partner."

And, that is a good thing, considering he thinks Ladies Din is also something special. It is hard for Schiappa to put into words what winning this year's Breeders' Cup Mile would mean to him.

"Ladies Din is like a son to me," he said. And he says his "son" is ready.

Churchill Downs is the right place, Saturday is the right time and the Breeders' Cup is the perfect stage for Ladies Din to sew a silver lining in Bernie's dream.

< Gaming News