Speed will be the order of day going into Saturday’s Carry Back Stakes (gr. II) at six furlongs at Calder Race Course, and looming largely in the field of eight 3-year-olds are Lantana Mob, winner of his last two races, both stakes at the six-furlong distance, and Golden Spikes, winner of the Unbridled Stakes at six furlongs at Calder in mid-June.
A son of Posse owned by Vinery Stables, Lantana Mob won the Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April and the Hirsch Jacobs Stakes (gr. III) at Pimlico in May. In another effort at six furlongs, he took the Sapling Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park last year. Lantana Mob made all his previous starts for trainer Steve Asmussen, and recently was transferred to trainer Michael Trombetta.
Golden Spikes, a local favorite trained by Marty Wolfson, eked out a head victory in the Unbridled over Carry Back contestant Gentleman James in his first start at six furlongs after four straight at 1 1/8 miles. A son of Seeking the Goldowned by M375 Thoroughbreds and Suarez Racing Stable, Golden Spikes won two of three last year at Calder.
Gentleman James, by Yankee Gentleman , goes into the Carry Back off a strong three-furlong workout of :35.60 for owner Timothy O’Toole and trainer Myra Mora. His last win was just two races back in an allowance event at six furlongs at Calder.
Another Calder runner, Hypocrite, is fresh off a two-length win June 28 at 6 1/2-furlongs at the South Florida track. Trained by Emanuel Tortora and raced by his family in partnership, the son of Outofthebox sports an earlier sprint win at the track.
Successful Love is another who boasts a Calder stakes win. The son of Successful Appeal captured the Naked Greed Stakes at six furlongs two races back in early May. He also raced in the Unbridled Stakes, but was no match for the first two. He is owned by M. S. M. Stable and trained by Manuel J. Azpurua.
Salute the Sarge, who shares top weight of 122 pounds with Lantana Mob, has done his share of racing at major races. He sports sprint wins at Hollywood Park, Del Mar, and Oak Tree at Santa Anita and will be making his first start at Calder. The son of Forest Wildcatis owned by Southern Equine Stable and is trained by Eric J. Guillot.
Carson’s Legacy, by Carson City, won the Dixieland Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Oaklawn in January and has placed in three stakes since then. Owned by Padua Stables and trained by Asmussen, he started his career at Calder and won two of four races there last year.
Make Me Zach is another who enjoyed earlier success at Calder. The son of First Tour won twice there last year and last won at Gulfstream in February for the Rose Family Stable. Barry R. Rose trains.
Carry Back Stakes (gr. II), Race 8, Time 3:58
Post Horse Weight Jockey
1 Salute the Sarge 122 Corey Nakatani
2 Golden Spikes 119 Elvis Trujillo
3 Successful Love 115 Juan Leyva
4 Gentleman James 115 Manuel Aguilar
5 Carson’s Legacy 115 Edgar Prado
6 Hypocrite 115 Jamie Theriot
7 Lantana Mob 122 Eibar Coa
8 Make Me Zach 115 Javier Santiago