(from Calder report))
Waterford Farm's In Summation and William Condren and Michael Sherman's Running Lass will be aiming to sweep their respective Florida Stallion Stakes series Saturday at Calder Race Course, highlighting the $1.6 million Festival of the Sun program.Accomplished stakes runners from California, Kentucky, and New York have invaded to challenge the best Calder-based runners in a number of the eight stakes races on the outstanding card. In Summation has been the leading light of the Calder season. The 2-year-old has raced through his five starts undefeated and virtually unchallenged. However, his imposing record did not discourage the connections of ten other juvenile colts from entering the $400,000 In Reality Division of the FSS, including two shippers from Kentucky.Manoel Cruz, who has ridden In Summation in all of his five previous starts, will be aboard for Saturday's 1 1/16 miles test. The son of freshman sire Put it Back is trained by veteran horseman Frank Gomez, the leading all-time winner of Florida Stallion Stakes divisions during the 23-year-year history of the event with 14.In Summation, purchased for $130,000 at the OBS March 2-year-old sale, won the Dr. Fager and Affirmed Divisions of the FSS in his last two starts, but must answer the two-turn question on Saturday. Gomez's Stallion Stakes total includes previous sweeps of the 'open' divisions with Smile (1984) and Naked Greed (1991).Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's Cab and Silverton Hill Farm's Bacetto have shipped in from Kentucky with jockeys Jerry Bailey and Jon Court, respectively, getting the mounts. Cab is a son of freshman sire Trippi trained by Steve Asmussen, who handled two turns well enough when third last out to Stream Cat in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile (gr. III) at Turfway Park Sept. 17.Bacetto is a son of Kissin Kris trained by Darrin Miller and has been keeping some tough company in his three starts. He finished third in his debut at Churchill Downs behind First Samurai, the unbeaten favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). After finishing third in his second start going one mile at Arlington Park, Bacetto broke his maiden last out at Turfway Park.Among the seven other Calder-based 2-year-olds in the In Reality, Ralph Sessa's Blazing Rate would appear to have the best chance with jockey Cecilio Penalba aboard for trainer Richard Root. The chestnut son of freshman sire Exchange Rate has run only three times, finishing a respectable second to In Summation in the Affirmed and winning the Foolish Pleasure Breeders' Cup around two turns in his last start.The $400,000 My Dear Girl Division of the FSS drew 11 fillies. Bailey rides Running Lass for the first time as she bids for her sweep after victories in the Desert Vixen and Susan's Girl in her last two starts.Trained by Angel Salinas, Running Lass is a daughter of Running Stag, a freshman sire who was best going a distance of ground when he raced. However, Running Lass faces her first test around two turns and was all out to win the Susan's Girl by a nose. The speedy chestnut showed two wins, a second, and a third in four starts prior to the Desert Vixen.Running Lass' biggest challenge may come in the form of Charles Cono's California invader Mystery Girl with Court aboard for trainer Christopher Paasch. The daughter of Stormy Atlantic was purchased for $130,000 at the OBS March 2-year-old sales and became a leader in her division out west, finishing second last out in the Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) on Aug. 27.The other top contenders are Rose Family Stable's Mia's Reflection, Buckingham Stable's A Sea Trippi, and Herb and Ione Elkins' Prospect of Love -- one-two-three, respectively, last out in the Brave Raj Breeders' Cup going one mile and 70 yards on Sept. 24.$400,000 Florida Stallion My Dear Girl Stakes (Race 10, 5:00 p.m.), 2-year-old fillies who are progeny of Florida stallions, 1 1/16 miles
PP. Horse, Jockey
1. Stolen Prayer (FL), Eddie Castro
2. Najibes Stag (FL), Eduardo Nunez
3. Mystery Girl (FL), Jon Court
4. A Sea Trippi (FL), Sebastian Madrid
5. Consider Thesource (FL), Richard Bracho
6. Amadamprez (FL), Julio Garcia
7. Running Lass (FL), Jerry Bailey
8. Mia's Reflection (FL), Manoel Cruz
9. Siren Cove (FL), Jose Lezcano
10. Pyrite Beauty (FL), Daniel Coa
11. Prospect of Love (FL), Juan Leyva
All carry 120 pounds.$400,000 Florida Stallion In Reality Stakes (Race 11, 5:31 p.m.), 2-year-old progeny of Florida stallions, 1 1/16 miles
PP. Horse, Jockey
1. Cab (FL), Jerry Bailey
2. Bacetto (FL), Jon Court
3. D. J. Best (FL), Jose Velez, Jr.
4. First Movement (FL), Eduardo Nunez
5. Full In (FL), Juan Leyva
6. Lucky Chief (FL), Eddie Castro
7. In Summation (FL), Manoel Cruz
8. Blazing Rate (FL), Cecilio Penalba
9. Lil Diazo (FL), Aurelio Toribio, Jr.
10. Old Town Pond (FL), Manuel Aguilar
11. He's a Lumberjack (NY), Daniel Coa
All carry 120 pounds.
