Calder: Pace, surface should set up Frolic's Revenge's late move

Frolic’s Revenge couldn’t catch Awesome Belle in the Three Ring at Calder last month, but that scenario is unlikely to play out on Saturday when they are rematched at the Miami track in the Crystal Rail Stakes. The Crystal Rail, for 3-year-old fillies, is one of two $75,000, 7 1/2-furlong turf stakes on the card, along with the Naked Greed Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Frolic’s Revenge has two big advantages on Saturday that she didn’t have in the Three Ring: The Crystal Rail is on turf, perhaps her best surface, and the overload of fast fillies in the field should make things tough on Awesome Belle but set up Frolic’s Revenge for a late run.

Trained by Stanley Gold, Awesome Belle has been well beaten in her two starts on grass, and she runs best on the lead. With five of the 12 in the field coming off a sprint and with speedsters Montessa G and Refining likely to be in the mix early, Awesome Belle and jockey Fernando Jara will have their hands full, even from her inside post 2.

Frolic’s Revenge, however, should get the stalking trip that has led to much of her success. She came from seventh place to win the Calder Oaks on the turf in April and wore down Montessa G to take the one-mile Sweetrickydancer on July 4, the last time she ran on grass. The main concern for jockey Luis Saez and trainer Milt Wolfson is the possibility of a wide trip for Frolic’s Revenge, who breaks from post 11.

Imperial Strike has a chance to turn the tables on Frolic’s Revenge and Montessa G in the Crystal Rail. Imperial Strike used a potent late kick to finish a nose and a head back of those two in the Sweetrickydancer, and should have every chance to get up in the Crystal Rail.

The picture for the Naked Greed isn’t as clear. Among the leading contenders are Bellefire and Argentine Tango, who finished one-three in a one-mile allowance on the Calder turf last month; Mr. Espresso, who has won both his starts on turf; Harrison Bay, a 25 1/4-length maiden winner last out, albeit in the slop; and Empire Builder, who comes off a last-place finish in the El Kaiser but who won two straight stakes before that and is 2 for 4 on grass.