Atticus Kristy topweight at 120 for Turf Sprint

MIAMI - Racing secretary Mike Anifantis released his weights for next weekend's $250,000 Turf Sprint Championship and its filly counterpart, the $250,000 Distaff Turf Sprint Championship on Friday, and is expecting the highweights in both races to ship to south Florida for the big day.

Anifantis assigned Atticus Kristy top weight of 120 pounds for the five-furlong Turf Sprint Championship, one more than trainer Patrick Biancone's Australian-bred Man of Illusion.

Nicole's Dream will shoulder high weight of 121 pounds in search of her 24th career victory in the five-furlong Distaff Sprint, with Gilded Gold next in line at 120 pounds.

Atticus Kristy, winner of the Grade 3 Shakertown at Keeneland on April 14, has been narrowly beaten in each of his last three starts, including Woodbine's Grade 3 Highlander on June 25 when he finished second behind Marco Be Good. He is one of three Kentucky-based grass specialists expected to ship in for the race, along with Justice for Auston (116) and Sgt. Bert (114).

Other prospective starters listed by the racing office as of Friday for the Turf Sprint Championship include Top Commander (115), Gin Rummy Champ (116), and Blue Pepsi Lodge (112). Trainer Kirk Ziadie could run either Kaufy Machine (113) or Marley's Revenge (113), while Marty Wolfson has nominated recent Smile Sprint Handicap runner-up Pomeroy (115) and Chandtrue (113). Pomeroy would be the starting highweight under 118 pounds if weather were to cause the race to be moved to the main track.

Along with Nicole's Dream, other likely starters for the Distaff Sprint include Gilded Gold, Unbridled Sidney (119), Very Vegas (118), Pretty Jane (116), Jabalski Princess (113), Running Bocats (115), and possibly Whenthedoveflies (117).

Magic Mecke likely choice in The Vid

Magic Mecke, who made a smashing return from an eight-month layoff to win the Mecke Handicap on July 4, will likely be favored in Sunday's $50,000 The Vid Stakes carded at one mile on the turf.

Magic Mecke had been idle since mid-November but was well prepared for his return by trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., rallying from last to a 2 1/4-length victory over Keep Cool. The victory was the first for the 6-year-old Magic Mecke since he won the Pete Axthelm Stakes in December of his 3-year-old campaign.

Magic Mecke will pick up what could be a significant nine pounds off his Mecke win and tote 123 pounds under the allowance conditions of The Vid. The shift in weights and turn-back in distance from 1 1/8 miles to a mile could enhance the chances of Lord Robyn, who finished a tiring fourth as the even-money favorite in the Mecke. In his previous start, Lord Robyn overcame a very poor start in a last-to-first 2 3/4-length win in the 7 1/2-furlong Blazing Sword Stakes.

The Vid also attracted Keep Cool and Bob's Proud Moment, second and third, respectively, in the Mecke.

Knight in Flight - trained by Wolfson, who trained The Vid into one of the nation's top middle distance turf stakes horses in the country in the mid-1990's - also figures to be a key contender coming off an easy third-level optional claiming and allowance win.