(Edited Calder release)
Oscar Novo's 2-year-old colt Sir Oscar and Eugene and Laura Melnyk's juvenile filly French Village are undefeated early in their careers and will face their biggest tests yet Saturday at Calder as the probable favorites in the $125,000 Affirmed and $125,000 Susan's Girl Divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes.The two seven-furlong events, Round Two of the FSS series, highlight the first ever 'Baby Day' program at Calder with all 13 live races carded for 2-year-olds, including four $50,000 overnight stakes.Jockey Julio Garcia gets the return call on Sir Oscar in the Affirmed. Trained by veteran horseman Manny Azpurua, the homebred son of Halo's Image has won all three of his starts, including the Dr. Fager Division of the FSS by four lengths three weeks ago.Sir Oscar leads a large field of 14 entered in the Affirmed with Francis McDonnell's Kipper's Night and Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Kentucky invader Perpetual Peace expected to attract a following.Kipper's Night shipped in from New England to finish second to Sir Oscar in the Dr. Fager with some trouble in the race. Trained by George Handy, the son of Kipper Kelly had finished second in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park in his previous start and his connections are bringing jockey Jorge Chavez in from New York for the mount.Perpetual Peace is a Montbrook colt trained by Ronny Werner who won his only start at Ellis Park July 12. Purchased for $90,000 at the OBS Winter sale last year, he will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano.Completing the bulky field are Sky Missile, Gambling Native, All True, X Be Thy Name, Taiwan Charley, Baronage, Count Montbrook, Fantastic Wager, Sea Clip and the entry of Meadow Soldier and It's Awesome Baby.Only six other fillies will line up against French Village in the Susan's Girl. The daughter of Jules has won both of her starts for trainer Bill White and will be ridden by Gary Boulanger.Purchased for $100,000 at the OBS April 2-year-old sale, French Village won her debut on July 12 by nearly eight lengths and the Desert Vixen Division of the FSS as the 1-to-2 favorite.Shipping in for the Susan Girl is Gilbert Campbell's One Smart Lady with leading rider Manoel Cruz getting the mount. A homebred daughter of West Acre, One Smart Lady finished second in her first two starts and broke her maiden last out--all at Monmouth this summer for trainer Ed Allard.One Smart Lady is now in the care of trainer Kathleen O'Connell, who developed star filly Ivanavinalot here last summer for Campbell. Also a homebred daughter of West Acre, Ivanavinalot won the Susan's Girl by 10 lengths and the My Dear Girl by almost 14 lengths.Francis McDonnell's Family Favorite shipped here from New England with stablemate Kipper's Night and she finished second in the Desert Vixen behind French Village. The daughter of freshman stallion Family Calling also will have Jorge Chavez aboard.Completing the field for the Susan's Girl are Rey-Wan Racing's Outstanding Lady, John Franks' Chatter Chatter, Kinsman Stable's Sweet Serenade and Carlota Stable's Prohibido Olividar.Three of the four overnight stakes drew overflow fields. The $50,000 Seacliff Stakes for 2-year-olds at one mile attracted 13 with only 10 to start, led by Jaime Carrion's Charming Jim.A son of the highly regarded freshman sire Silver Charm, Charming Jim is trained by Eddie Plesa, Jr. and was beaten a neck by Sir Oscar in the Dr. Fager. The roan/gray colt shipped to Monmouth Park for his last start, finishing third in the Sapling Stakes (gr. III) after chasing a torrid early pace.The companion event to the Seacliff for fillies is the $50,000 Lindsay Frolic at one mile with nine entered. Peter Fuller's Jules for A.J., Lillian and Murray Durst's Pick of the Pack and Pennston Farm's Velma Kelly look like the ones to beat.The $50,000 Herecomesmybaby overnight is for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on turf with 15 entered and 12 to start. Trainer Marty Wolfson may have the favorite in Martin Cherry's Wynn Dot Comma, a son of Struggler who has won both of his starts as the favorite.The $50,000 Catcharisingstar overnight is the filly companion test with 16 entered and 12 to start. There is a shipper for this one with Robert Leonard‚s Peace Symbol to be ridden by Rosemary Homeister Jr. The daughter of Dove Hunt won her only start by seven lengths on turf at Colonial Downs in June.