Calder's Summit of Speed gets a few surprise entrants

MIAMI – There were plenty of surprises when entries were drawn Monday for Saturday’s Summit of Speed program, Calder Race Course’s marquee event featuring four graded sprint stakes.

Two horses were unexpected supplements to the Grade 3 Azalea, which drew a field of only six 3-year-old fillies: the undefeated Just Louise, trained by Dale Romans, and May Day Rose, from the barn of trainer Bob Baffert.

The other surprise was the addition of Cal Nation to the Grade 2 Carry Back. Late last week, trainer Todd Pletcher said it was unlikely he would be shipping any of his nominees for the Summit of Speed to south Florida after entering Cal Nation for the Grade 3 Jersey Shore at Monmouth Park. But Pletcher had a change of heart, scratching Cal Nation on Sunday for what appears to be an easier spot in the six-furlong Carry Back.

The Azalea and Carry Back are among four major stakes to be run at Calder on Saturday, along with the Grade 1 Princess Rooney and the Grade 2 Smile Sprint.

As expected, Sassy Image was entered as the likely favorite for the Princess Rooney, the only Grade 1 race on the Calder stakes schedule. Sassy Image is trained by Romans, who indicated last week that she would be supplemented for the Princess Rooney. Sassy Image, winner of the Grade 1 Humana Distaff earlier this spring, will carry high weight of 124 pounds in the six-furlong Princess Rooney with Mike Smith to ride. She will face a field that includes one other Grade 1 winner, Champagne d’Oro, who is looking for her first victory since capturing the Grade 1 Test last summer at Saratoga.

Trainer Marty Wolfson, who won the 2010 Princess Rooney with Jessica Is Back, entered four in the Princess Rooney – Stephanie Got Even, Indulgence, Bella Moneta, and Jehan. The remainder of the field consists of invaders Cosmo Girl and Derwin’s Star along with locals Musical Romance and Don’ttalktome.

The Smile Sprint, the lone Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup event on the card, lured a field of seven, topped by 120-pound highweight Noble’s Promise and the Grade 1-placed Apriority. Baffert will send Irrefutable in from the West Coast off a pair of recent allowance victories while This One’s for Phil returns to his roots after finishing a distant second behind Trappe Shot in Belmont Park’s Grade 2 True North Handicap.

Rounding out the field are New York-bred Giant Ryan, who is riding a four-race win streak, Royal Tricon. and How’s Your Halo.

A quartet of locals – Devilish Lady, My Pal Chrisy, Beso Grande, and White Merlot – will join May Day Rose and Just Louise in the starting gate for the Azalea.

Cal Nation figures to have his hands full with the Wolfson-trained Grade 2-placed Indiano in the Carry Back. Baffert-trained Smash and the Calder-based trio of Close It Out, Bulaga, and Silver Cloud complete the field.