Stan Fulton's Roll Henessy Roll and Hector Garcia's King Robyn ship in from California and are the favorites among 11 3-year-olds entered in the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. III), part of the Summit of Speed at Calder Race Course at six furlongs Saturday.
Victor Espinoza rides the well-traveled Roll Henessy Roll for trainer Rafael Becarra after a disappointing fifth-place finish last out in a turf allowance at Hollywood Park. But his overall record on dirt is impressive.
The son of Hennessy emerged from minor stakes victories in New Mexico last summer to win the Hollywood Prevue (gr. III) at Hollywood in November. Prior to the turf allowance last out, the chestnut ran a big race to finish second in the Lafayette Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland in early April behind Posse, widely regarded as the best 3-year-old sprinter in the country at this point in the season.
Jockey Alex Solis gets the return call on King Robyn, who raced at Calder as a juvenile last year for trainer Angel Salinas before being sent to Jeff Mullins at Santa Anita last winter. The son of Robyn Dancer has thrived in California, winning stakes at Santa Anita and Hollywood and the turf allowance in which Roll Hennessy Roll was fifth in his last start.
Shipping in from New Jersey for the Carry Back is Mack Fehsenfeld's highly accomplished Valid Video with 'Jersey Joe' Bravo flying in from Monmouth Park for the mount for trainer Dennis Manning.
Valid Video won the Sapling Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth last summer, the Sunshine Millions Dash at Gulfstream Park in January and the OBS Sprint in Ocala in March. The son of Valid Wager comes off a useful second going five furlongs in the Gilded Time at Monmouth on May 24.
$300,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. III), 3-year-old colts & geldings, 6 furlongsPP. Horse, Weight, Jockey Name
1. Savoy Special (KY), 117, Eibar Coa
2. Roll Hennessy Roll (KY), 119, Jose L. Espinoza
3. Halo Homewrecker (VA), 119, Jerry D. Bailey
4. Cajun Beat (KY), 117, Gary Boulanger
5. Lawbook (FL), 119, Cornelio H. Velasquez
6. Awesome of Course (FL), 117, Manoel R. Cruz
7. Sweet Devil (KY), 112, Manuel Aguilar
8. Coach Jimi Lee (KY), 122, Marlon St. Julien
9. Super Fuse (KY), 117, Patrick A. Valenzuela
10. Valid Video (FL), 122, Joe Bravo
11. King Robyn (FL), 117, Alex O. Solis
