Calamity Kate likely to be put on lead in Oaks
Calamity Kate has had the bulk of her success on the front end and seems poised to return to that style of racing as the probable favorite Wednesday in the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks.
“I think she’ll be forwardly placed,” said Kelly Breen, who trains Calamity Kate for George and Lori Hall. “That’s where she’s run her best races.”
The 1 1/16-mile Oaks is the centerpiece of a program of eight stakes worth a total of $1.28 million. Others in the seven-horse field include Sweet Opportunity, the runner-up in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, and Never Ends, who invades from Southern California for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Key contenders
Calamity Kate (Last 3 Beyers: 86-92-94)
* Calamity Kate has come to hand over the second half of the year, winning the Grade 3 Delaware Park Oaks in July and finishing a big second to I’m a Chatterbox in the Grade 1 Cotillion in September at Parx. She arrived Friday at Zia, and Breen said there were several reasons to make the trip to New Mexico.
“It’s one of the last 3-year-old filly races of the year, and it’s $300,000,” he said.
* Calamity Kate faced older rivals last out when ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Oct. 30 at Keeneland.
“We didn’t make the lead,” said Breen. “She tried to make a run down through the top of the stretch and just didn’t have that extra gear. Maybe she didn’t like being that far back.”
* Calamity Kate will break from post 2 under jockey Edgar Prado.
“I think with her post, she’ll be in front or be right there,” said Breen. “The track here seems to be playing forwardly.”
Sweet Opportunity (Last 3 Beyers: 77-81-75)
* She defeated older horses last out in an optional $50,000 claimer Oct. 23 at Remington Park and was flattered when the runner-up from that race, Talkin Taylor, returned to win at the same level with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 83.
* Sweet Opportunity will break from post 3 under Luis Quinonez and could get a tracking trip. Donnie Von Hemel trains for Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch.
Never Ends (Last 3 Beyers: 86-92-76)
* She is making her stakes debut off back-to-back optional-claiming wins at Santa Anita.
* Hollendorfer, who has other starters on the card, was sitting at 6,999 training wins in North America as of Monday.