Edited track reports
Entries for the six stakes races worth $1.75 million to be run on the "Summit of Speed" program Saturday at Calder Race Course will be taken on Wednesday and there are some late changes in the probable line-up after the weekend. David Hulkewicz, co-owner of Beau's Town, who was to be the starting highweight in the $500,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. III), called Monday morning to say that the 5-year-old son of Beau Genius would not be making the trip from trainer Cole Norman's Louisiana Downs barn. "Cole says he worked good (five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 Saturday)," said Hulkewicz, "but he thought he was only 90 percent of where he wanted him to be for a demanding race like the Smile after a hard race like the Aristides just three weeks ago. I'm disappointed, it's an honor to have the topweight in a $500,000, but I let Cole call the shot to do what‚s best for the horse. Our plan now is to send him to Del Mar for the Bing Crosby (Breeders‚ Cup on July 26). The extra two weeks should help him and he should like the cooler weather out there. If all goes well, we'll leave him there for the rest of the summer and hope to end up at Santa Anita for the Breeders‚ Cup (Sprint)." Two other accomplished stakes runners trained at Churchill Downs by Tom Amoss are now confirmed as probable starters. Richard Colton and Mast Thoroughbreds‚ 4-year-old filly Miss Lodi is expected for the $500,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. II) and Walter L. (Buddy) New's 3-year-old colt Lone Star Sky for the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. III). Miss Lodi is a daughter of Mr. Greeley who finished a disappointing fifth last out in the Chicago Breeders‚ Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Arlington Park, but her overall form is impressive with a 10-4-3-1 record. Winner of the Safely Kept Stakes (gr. III) at Pimlico last fall, she ran very well to finish third in the Humana Distaff Breeders‚ Cup Handicap (gr. I) on Kentucky Derby Day behind emerging star Sightseek. She was beaten only a head for second in the race by Gold Mover, the probable favorite for the Princess Rooney. Lone Star Sky is an interesting prospect in that he will be turning back to a sprint distance for the first time since finishing second to Zavata in the Saratoga Special (gr. II) last summer. The son of Conquistador Cielo did turn back to a one-turn mile for his last start when second to Champali in the Northern Dancer Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 14. Prior to the Saratoga race last summer, the $190,000 OBS February 2-year-old purchase won the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill. In good efforts later around two turns he won the Cradle Stakes at River Downs, finished second to Sky Mesa in the Lane‚s End Breeders‚ Futurity (gr. II) at Keeneland, and fourth in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at Fair Grounds early this year. Finishing a half-length ahead in third was Funny Cide as Peace Rules won.
Stronach Stable and Allen Brian's 3-year-old filly Buffythecenterold, one of the favorites for the $300,000 Azalea Breeders‚ Cup Stakes (gr. III), drilled a strong five furlongs in 59 4/5 at Santa Anita Monday morning. Trained by Mel Stute, the daughter of Capote won the Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita and Railbird Stakes (gr. III) at Hollywood Park sprinting earlier this year before stretching out to finish second last out in the Hollywood Breeders‚ Cup Oaks (gr. II) to Santa Catarina.