Bit of trouble can't stop 'Affair'

MIAMI - Nightmare Affair earned himself a trip back to the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap on July 15 with a convincing 3 1/4-length victory over Universal Form in Saturday's $45,000 Champali Stakes at Calder.

Nightmare Affair, who finished a troubled third behind Woke Up Dreamin in the 2005 Smile, extricated himself from tight quarters between horses leaving the backstretch and overtook the leaders entering the stretch run of the six-furlong Champali. He quickly drew clear passing the furlong grounds and was never threatened while kept under a drive by jockey Jeffrey Sanchez.

Universal Form lagged back early, angled wide leaving the turn, and outfinished B. B. Best by a head for second. B. B. Best had to steady several times near the inside during the opening half-mile.

Nightmare Affair covered the distance in 1:10.31 over a fast track and paid $4. He is trained by Manny Azpurua for the Timber Side Stables.

* Jabalski Princess held off a bid from 2-5 favorite Whenthedoveflies around the turn, drew off, then withstood a run from Formal Miss to register a three-quarter-length victory in the $45,000 No Winking Stakes. Whenthedoveflies finished a well-beaten third.

Jabalski Princess, a daughter of Jeblar, has won 3 of 7 starts since being re-claimed by trainer Freddie Hyatt for $4,000 at Suffolk Downs in May of 2005. The No Winking was the first stakes victory for the 6-year-old Jabalski Princess, who finished second in the Lightning City Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in her previous start on May 6.

Jabalski Princess covered five furlongs over a firm course in 56.38 seconds and paid $16.60.

Whenthedoveflies, the undisputed leader of her division and the course record holder at five furlongs, broke a step slowly and never could get past the winner after rushing to contention down the backstretch. Formal Miss, who also broke slowly, had to check briefly into the far turn and finished well once angling widest into the stretch.