Live Oak Plantatation’s 9-year-old Revved Up, Lewis Pell and Michael Eigner’s 3-year-old Imawildandcrazyguy and J D Farm’s 2-year-old Wise Answer are prominent among the Florida-bred stars young and old nominated for the eight stakes races worth a total of $1.2 million to be run on the Florida Million program at Calder Race Course Nov. 10.
Revved Up is a top class winner of more than $1.4 million for trainer Christophe Clement and is bidding for a third consecutive victory in the $150,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup at 1 1/8 miles on grass on Florida Million day. The homebred roan/grey gelding by Sultry Song finished sixth last out as the favorite in the Sky Classic Stakes (gr. II) at Woodbine Sept. 23, although beaten only 3 ¼ lengths for it all by Cloudy’s Knight.
Revved Up could face an old and talented rival in the race with Peter Vegso’s 7-year-old Silver Tree a possibility for trainer Bill Mott. The homebred chestnut horse by Hennessy was never better than winning the Fourstardave Handicap (gr. II) at Saratoga and boasts career earnings of just under $1.5 million. He finished second to Revved Up in the 2005 edition of the Bonnie Heath.
Imawildandcrazyguy has been a high-profile performer all season for trainer Bill Kaplan since finishing fourth behind Street Sense in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands(gr. I) in May, and has run very well when third and second in his two most recent starts on turf. The roan/grey gelding by Wild Event is nominated for the Bonnie Heath as well as the $200,000 Carl Rose Classic to be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.
Another top prospect for the Bonnie Heath is Herman Heinlein’s 3-year-old gelding Soldier’s Dancer, five-length winner of the Calder Derby (gr. III) on turf last out over Imawildandcrazyguy for trainer Dave Vivian. The son of Lost Soldierhas raced with 3-year-old division leaders nationally this season, including a third-place effort in the $1 million Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Colonial Downs in July.
In addition to Imawildandcrazyguy, prominent on the roster for the Carl Rose Classic are Padua Stable’s 4-year-old Electrify and Bea Oxenberg’s 5-year-old B.B. Best from trainer Eddie Plesa, Jr.’s stable, Joel Sainer and trainer Dave Braddy’s Yes He’s the Man and Greg Besinger’s Summer Book.
Yes He’s the Man is a 4-year-old homebred by Yes It's Truethat posted a 20-to-1 upset last out in the Spend a Buck Handicap (gr. III) over a ‘good’ track on Festival of the Sun day Oct. 13 at Calder, going wire-to-wire to win by 4 ¾ lengths over Electrify with Kentucky invader Summer Book third for trainer Frank Brothers.
Completing the line-up of four stakes open to older horses on the Florida Million card are the $200,000 Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles and the $150,000 Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs, both races on the main track.
An intriguing prospect for the Elmer Heubeck is J. Paul Reddam and Rockin BB Ranch’s 4-year-old filly Peach Flambe, seven-length winner of the Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies as a 2-year-old in 2005 on Florida Million day for previous connections. The daughter of Flying Chevron was sold privately to Reddam after that race and placed with trainer Mark Hennig. She was a sharp allowance winner on turf last out at Delaware Park Oct. 1.
John Dillon’s 4-year-old Like Now, winner of the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) last year as a 3-year-old for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, may be ready to return to his best form after a good tune-up when fourth last out in the Eillo Stakes at Meadowlands Oct. 5. The son of Jules was overmatched when tiring to 10th behind Midnight Lute in his previous start in the Forego Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Sept. 1.
Wise Answer emerged as the top 2-year-old developed this season at Calder after sweeping to dominating victories in the Affirmed Division of the Florida Stallion Stakes series, Foolish Pleasure Stakes and 10-length romp last out in the In Reality finale of the FSS on Festival day.
Trained by David Brownlee, Wise Answer is a homebred son of Wised Up and tops the nominations for the $150,000 Jack Price Juvenile to be run at seven furlongs. The $150,000 Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies is the companion event for fillies and Ione and Herb Elkins Calico Bay and Karen Keen’s Silk Ridge are the marquee names on that list after finishing one-two last out in the My Dear Girl finale of the FSS on Festival day.
Completing the Florida Million card stakes line-up are the $100,000 Arthur Appleton Juvenile Turf and $100,000 John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf, companion events for 2-year-olds on grass at 1 1/16 miles. Trainer Bill Mott has a pair nominated for the former and Todd Pletcher two fillies for the John Franks.