Harry Aleo's brilliant 3-year-old Lost in the Fog, the marquee attraction on Saturday's $1.9 million Summit of Speed at Calder Race Course, was the first to arrive of more than 20 invaders expected from racing centers coast-to-coast.
Lost in the Fog is based at Golden Gate Fields near San Francisco and trained by veteran horseman Greg Gilchrist. Lost in the Fog arrived in Miami Saturday evening on a cargo flight and the trainer followed early Sunday as they prepare for the colt's start as odds-on choice in the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. II).
"He settled in fine. Shipping hasn't been a problem for him, and he's had plenty of experience this year," said Gilchrist Monday morning. "I guess this is his fifth trip east. He came twice to Florida for the Sunshine Millions and then back again for the Swale (gr. II), and twice back and forth to New York for the Bay Shore (gr. III) and the Riva Ridge (gr. II).
"He galloped this morning, and that's pretty much what he'll do all week. He won't have anything like a recorded workout. We're very happy to have Russell (Baze) back to ride him. He's been cleared to ride three mounts a day starting Wednesday. (Edgar) Prado rode him perfect in the Riva Ridge, but this has been Russell's horse from the beginning. He worked him last Thursday."
Baze rode Lost in the Fog to his first six victories when the Florida-bred son of Lost Soldier was basically unchallenged, but missed the ride in the Riva Ridge Breeders' Cup on Belmont Day after suffering a broken collarbone in a spill at Golden Gate on June 8.
As for Lost in the Fog's future, Gilchrist said, "If things go well Saturday, we'll stick with the plan for him to run in the King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga (Travers Day, Aug. 27) and maybe only once more this year, maybe the Breeders' Cup (Sprint), but not necessarily. We'll get through these next two and then decide.
"At some time, he'll obviously need a long rest because we plan to race him as a 4-year-old."
Will Lost in the Fog be tried over a distance at some point? "That will happen, possibly in his last start this year or next year. We just weren't going to try that this spring (Triple Crown)."
