Imperial Hint, unraced since mid-February, made an emphatic return Saturday when he rocketed up the rail coming off the final turn en route to a 4 3/4-length victory in the Smile Sprint Stakes (G3).
Handicappers of all persuasions will find something to sink their teeth into Saturday, as we turn the calendar page to July and officially begin the second half of the 2017 racing season.
Veteran graded stakes winners Delta Bluesman and Awesome Banner, who each also have a history of success at Gulfstream Park, return to the South Florida track July 1 intent on getting back to their winning ways in the Smile Sprint Stakes (G3).
Rated R Superstar closed from the clouds and snuck wide down the lane, surprising 2-5 favorite Awesome Banner to win the $150,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. III) July 2 at Gulfstream Park.
Already a winner in four of five starts at Gulfstream Park, including three stakes, topped by a five-length score in this year's Swale (gr. II), Awesome Banner will try to add to that list July 2 in the $150,000 Carry Back (gr. III).
Gulfstream Park sets increases in purses and number of stakes for 2016, as it aims to draw top horses and large fields to its spring-summer meet.
One of the least experienced horses in the Carry Back Stakes (gr. III) field at Gulfstream Park July 5 pulled off the upset when Grand Bili fought off favored Barbados for a one-length victory under Javier Castellano.
Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) winner Barbados will waste no time getting back to business July 5, when he makes his first start off the layup in the $150,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.
Gulfstream Park announced a record $4.7 million summer stakes schedule March 1. The schedule will feature five graded stakes starting April 25 with the Miami Mile (gr. III) on the turf.
Calder Casino & Race Course said June 16 it has canceled its "Summit of Speed" program scheduled for July 5 because of its pending racing-dates deal with nearby Gulfstream Park.
Fort Loudon, a Calder Race Course specialist, wrested the lead from favored Trinniberg and prevailed by a neck to take the gr. III Carry Back Stakes July 7.
Shivananda Racing's Trinniberg, who has returned to sprinting after a dismal effort in the Kentucky Derby, could be trying for his fourth graded stakes win if he takes on six foes in the Carry Back at Calder.
Indiano, last year's champion 2-year-old in Panama, earned his first U.S. graded stakes victory with a decisive win in the Carry Back (gr. II) July 9 at Calder. One race earlier, Devilish Lady captured the Azalea Stakes.
Coffee Boy slipped through along the inside for jockey Jermaine Bridgmohan in the stretch and upset 1-9 choice D' Funnybone in the $194,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. II) Calder Casino & Race Course July 10.
Remarkable 3-year-old sprinter D'Funnybone, entering off an authoritative victory last month, will be an overwhelming favorite in a short field entered for the $200,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. III) July 10 at Calder.
Battling saddlecloth-to-saddlecloth with Fabulous Strike through the final yards, a determined Black Seventeen, the longest shot in the field at 23-1, got a head in front at the wire to take the $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) over a sloppy Belmont Park surface in New York Sept. 27.
Calder Race Course announced May 9 that it will cut purses for eight upcoming stakes races, including the July 12 Summit of Speed card, blaming a continuing dispute with the Florida horsemen's association.
California invader Black Seventeen overcame a stumble at the start but managed to wire the field in the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds on "Summit of Speed" day at Calder Race Course.
Teuflesberg aims to win his second consecutive grade II race when he heads to post for the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs at Calder Race Course July 7.
Too Much Bling made a three wide move on the turn and took command in the final furlong to post a two-length win as the prohibitive 1-2 favorite in Saturday's $300,000 Carry Back (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Calder Race Course's Summit of Speed.
After Lost in the Fog invaded from California to win the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. II) in 2005, the six-furlong Summit of Speed test has a strong California presence once again in this year's renewal. Too Much Bling and Northern Soldier are the probable favorites in the field eight 3-year-olds.
Harry Aleo's brilliant 3-year-old Lost in the Fog, the marquee attraction on Saturday's $1.9 million Summit of Speed at Calder Race Course, was the first to arrive of more than 20 invaders expected from racing centers coast-to-coast.
Jockey Joe Bravo booted home Valid Video to win the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. III) at Calder Saturday to earn his second stakes win on the Summit of Speed card.
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.
Saturday's $1.75 million Summit of Speed program at Calder Race Course will have top sprinters from coast-to-coast flying in to face a solid home defense team of speedsters in the six stakes races.
Michael Tabor's Zavata will be among the high profile invaders flying in for Calder Race Course's $1.75 million Summit of Speed program on July 12 and may well be the favorite in the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds.
Bob and Beverly Lewis' Orientate jumped out to the early lead and never looked back as the 4-year-old son of Mt. Livermore posted a decisive five-length triumph in the $400,000 Smile Sprint Stakes that was part of Calder Race Course's "Summit of Speed" card on Saturday.
Seven fillies are entered to run in the $400,000 Princess Rooney Handicap, the feature race of Saturday's $1-million Summit of Speed program at Calder Race Course.
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