Nominations for Grand Slam I at Calder Released

Calder Race Course Wednesday released nominations for the four stakes comprising Grand Slam I on Dec. 8. Each race is worth $100,000.

Arthur Appleton's Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) runner-up Forbidden Apple is prominent among 31 3-year-olds & up nominated to the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. III) to be run at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Trained by Christophe Clement, Forbidden Apple held a clear lead in mid-stretch of the Mile at Belmont Park and gave way grudgingly to finish second, less than two lengths behind Val Royal.

Clement also nominated Appleton's 4-year-old homebred Broadway Snowman, a son of Frosty the Snowman that finished third over the course here last year in the Pete Axthelm Handicap and won an allowance at Aqueduct in his last start. Clement sent out Moyglare Stud's Hibernian Rhapsody to capture the 1999 edition of the Tropical Turf.

Also prominent among the nominees for this race are J. Mack Robinson's Crash Course, C. G. Connors' Eltawaasul, Sheikh Mohammed's Spindrift, Rich Meadow Farm'' Slew Valley and Gary Tanaka's Tijiyr.

Helen Groves' 5-year-old mare Batique, runner-up last out in the Athenia Handicap (gr. III), is among 30 fillies and mares nominated for the $100,000 My Charmer Handicap (gr. III) at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Trained by Michael Matz, Batique is a daughter of Storm Cat and captured the Vinery Matchmaker Handicap (gr. III) at Monmouth Park this summer.

Clement finished one-two in the 1995 My Charmer with Danish and Cox Orange. For this renewal, Clement has nominated six
distaffers, including Lael Stable's promising 3-year-old filly Sheppard's Watch. The English-bred daughter of Night Shift has the benefit of a race over the course after finishing third as the favorite last out in the Calder Oaks on Oct. 13.

David Hutson's Rulebook, runner-up last out in the $400,000 In Reality division of the Florida Stallion Stakes, and Starlight Stable's Notable Editor, a sharp maiden winner at Keeneland for trainer Kenny McPeek, are among 15 2 year olds named for the $100,000 What A Pleasure Stakes. The race is contested at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Rulebook is a son of Notebook trained by Marty Wolfson and appears to be moving forward as his races have gotten longer. He came from last of 14 in the In Reality to finish second behind highly regard Booklet.

Notable Editor was very impressive breaking his maiden last out at Keeneland by nearly three lengths on Oct. 11. McPeek has high hopes for the son of Editor's Note, but will likely remain in the shadow of McPeek-trained stablemate Repent for the immediate future.

Stride Rite Stable's Stormy Frolic and Phil Combest's Ms Brookski have been among the best juvenile fillies developed at Calder this summer and are among 13 nominations to the $100,000 Three Ring Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Stormy Frolic is a daughter of Summer Squall out of graded stakes winner Lindsay Frolic. Trained by Milt Wolfson, the Kentucky homebred has romped to two-turn victories
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Ms Brookski has blossomed for veteran trainer Reed Combest since stretching out to two-turn races in early September when she won a one-mile allowance by more than 11 lengths. Since then, the daughter of Montbrook has won the Brave Raj Stakes and finished a game second in the $400,000 My Dear Girl division of the Florida Stallion Stakes. She finished an even fourth last out in the Lulu's Ransom when trying turf for the first time.