Lloyd Madison Farms' 4-year-old Champali is among the horses to beat in a wide-open field of 13 entered in the $500,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. III), part of the "Summit of Speed" series at Calder Race Course Saturday.
The Smile is at six furlongs. Jerry Bailey will be aboard the Kentucky shipper Champali for the first time.
Trained by Greg Foley, Champali was very impressive winning the Aristides Handicap (gr. III) at Churchill Downs by 3 1/4 lengths over Beau's Town in his last start. The son of
Glitterman finished a good third behind Cajun Beat in the Kentucky Cup Sprint at Turfway Park last year before the winner went on to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Santa Anita.
Kenneth English and Alan Braun's 4-year-old Alke is entered in the Smile to make his first start since finishing second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) on March 27. John R. Velazquez was named to ride.
The son of Grand Slam won both of his starts this year for trainer Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park, including the Deputy Minister Handicap (gr. III) over Cajun Beat. However, Alke's status for the Smile is not certain with Pletcher reporting Monday some concern over a quarter crack.
Overbrook Farm's 4-year-old gelding Clock Stopper is in with a solid chance under jockey Pat Day after a stunning allowance tally at Churchill Downs by five lengths, timed in a sparkling 1:08 3/5, in his last start.
A $110,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, the chestnut son of
Gilded Time finished second in the Kentucky Cup Sprint last fall behind Cajun Beat and ahead of Champali.
Another formidable contender in the Smile should be Mac Fehsenfeld's 4-year-old gelding Valid Video with jockey Joe Bravo. Trained by Dennis Manning, the son of
Valid Wager invaded Calder for the Summit last year and won the Carry Back Stakes over Cajun Beat.
Valid Video would go on to another major victory in the Kings Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga in his next start. He finished second last out in the James B. Moseley Breeders' Cup Handicap at Suffolk Downs on June 19.
Champali and Valid Video were assigned high weight of 117 pounds apiece.
$500,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. III), 3 & up, 6 furlongsPP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Champali (KY), 117, Jerry D. Bailey
2. My Cousin Matt (FL), 114, Ramon A. Dominguez
3. Super Fuse (KY), 113, Shane J. Sellers
4. Built Up (FL), 114, Sebastian O. Madrid
5. Clock Stopper (KY), 4 Gelding 115 Pat Day
6. Hombre Rapido (KY), 116, Russell A. Baze
7. Love That Moon (FL), 116, Julio A. Garcia
8. Super Frolic (KY), 113, Abdiel Toribio
9. Twilight Road (KY), 114, Phil Teator
10. Alke (KY), 116, John R. Velazquez
11. Valid Video (FL), 117, Joe Bravo
12. Gold Dollar (KY), 113, Jose E. Lopez
13. Aloha Bold (KY), 114, Cornelio H. Velasquez
