Calder: Switch to main track no problem for Where's Sterling in Mecke

Coady Photography

Where's Sterling, ridden by John Delgado, splashes his way to an easy victory in the off-the-turf Mecke.

MIAMI - It’s time for Where’s Sterling to start looking for greener and drier pastures.

Despite appearing not to handle the wet going well and getting hung wide throughout, Where’s Sterling asserted his class to register a 3 1/4-length victory over pacesetter Oligarch in Saturday’s $55,000 Mecke Stakes. Numb Lips finished third.

The Mecke was originally scheduled to be run at 1 1/8 miles on the grass but was moved to the same distance on a sloppy main track.

Where’s Sterling, a 5-year-old son of Northern Afleet  trained by Luis Ramirez for owner Frank Calabrese, finished a troubled fourth in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap in his 2012 debut. He was an easy 7 1/2-length winner of the Memorial Day Handicap four weeks ago over virtually the same competition he faced in the Mecke..

Where’s Sterling seemed to be climbing during the early stages of the Mecke while hung wide around the opening bend under jockey John Delgado. Oligarch, who had finished off the board in his only two previous starts on dirt, set an uncontested pace and remained well clear into the stretch. But Where’s Sterling was just too good, rallying widest leaving the final turn before readily running down the leader to win going away.

Where’s Sterling completed the distance in 1:52.85 and paid $3. Calabrese said his ultimate goal for Where’s Sterling this year will be the Breeders’ Cup Marathon.