The Fourth Summit of Speed
©
Greg Melikov
Jul 3, 2003
Speed is the name of the game at Calder Race Course on July 12. A half-dozen stakes, including four graded contests, are scheduled at the South Florida track with guaranteed purses of $1.75 million.
If the fourth edition of races are as exciting as last year's, racing fans around the country are in for a super treat. For example, Orientate cruised to a six-length victory in the Smile Sprint Handicap at six furlongs when the race was worth 20 percent less than the 2003 purse of $500,000. And he wasn't even the favorite.
Among the prominent nominees this year are Beau's Town, shipping in from New York, and Shake You Down, flying in from New York.
Tom Amoss trains Beau Town, a consistent campaigner with nine victories in 13 starts. The 5-year-old began the season with three consecutive stakes victories, two at Oaklawn Park and another at Fair Grounds, before losing by a head in the Aristides Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Shake You Down won his last four starts for trainer Scott Lake, including the Bold Ruler Handicap and the True North Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park. Lake might also bring the highly regarded My Cousin Matt.
Other possible starters in the Grade 3 event include Echo Eddie, second in 2002 to Orientate; Built Up, fourth that afternoon; and Wooden Phone, trained by Bob Baffert. Also nominated are Calder-based Tour of the Cat, Lord Abounding, Juggernaut and Swift Replica.
Then there was Gold Mover, who upset the odds-on champion Extra Heat by a half-length at six furlongs when the Grade 2 Princess Rooney Handicap was worth only $400,000. The Grade 2 event, bumped up a $100,000, remains the richest sprint in America for fillies and mares.
Gold Mover, a homebred daughter of Gold Fever, finished third to another possible starter, Shawklit Mint, in the Vagrancy last month over a sloppy Belmont surface. Other nominees include Forest Answer, trained by Bill Mott; and Harmony Lodge, from Todd Pletcher's barn.
The $300,000 Carry Back Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs could be the most competitive on the card. The contenders include Zavata, early season leader in the 2-year-old division last summer after victories in the Tremont Stakes at Belmont and the Saratoga Special before tailing off. The son of Phone Trick has regained his form with a recent allowance victory at Monmouth Park, zipping six furlongs in 1:08 4/5.
Other nominees include King Robyn, ranked high among California 3-year-old sprinters this year, winning stakes at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park for trainer Jeff Mullins, plus Calder-based runners Awesome Of Course, Hear No Evil, Lawbook and Super Fuse.
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