Blazing Sword looks up for grabs

MIAMI - With most of the stronger members of the local 3-year-old division having competed last weekend on Florida Millions Day and the majority of the recently arrived northern invaders still settling into their winter homes, Saturday's $40,000 Blazing Sword Stakes at Calder has come up a wide-open event.

The local contingent includes the steadily improving Notgonagetem-today, minor stakes winner Sir Jackie, multiple stakes-placed Talented Prince, suddenly red-hot Bird of Paradise, and longshot Obsidian. The two new faces are Delaware invader Letterman's Humor and the late-developing Kilates Kiss.

Notgonagetemtoday, whose stablemate B. B. Best is among the best of the local 3-year-old division, makes his stakes debut in the 1 1/16-mile Blazing Sword. A son of D. J. Cat, Notgonagetemtoday has finished first in four of his last five starts, although he did lose one of those apparent victories because of a stewards' disqualification.

Trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., Notgonagetemtoday comes off a game neck decision over Frolic for Joy going a mile under optional claiming conditions The performance earned Notgonagetemtoday a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure, which has been matched only by Sir Jackie among the seven starters in the Blazing Sword.

Sir Jackie posted his 90 Beyer winning the Lord Juban overnight stakes on June 25, a race taken off the turf and moved to the main track. He has made just two starts since that victory, most recently finishing sixth following a slow start under allowance conditions on the turf.

Talented Prince has been stakes placed on three occasions, including a three-quarter-length setback behind Sir Jackie in the Lord Juban. Talented Prince earned his only win this season under a $75,000 claiming tag over the Gulfstream Park turf course.

Bird of Paradise has won his last two starts with both victories coming against $32,000 claiming opposition in races switched from the turf to the dirt.

Letterman's Humor won an overnight stakes at Delaware Park in June but has gone winless in five subsequent starts, including a pair of optional claiming races at Delaware.

Kilates Kiss finished a promising sixth after contesting the early pace in the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, but remains eligible for his entry-level allowance condition. His only victory came on the turf against maidens in early August.