Calder: Wolfson targets another sweep in Ema Bovary

MIAMI – Ten months ago, trainer Marty Wolfson sent out the first four finishers in Calder’s Ema Bovary Stakes. On Sunday, he’ll attempt to repeat the relatively unique feat when sending out four of the seven starters in the 5 1/2-furlong overnight stakes for fillies and mares that serves as a prep for the $75,000 U Can Do It Handicap on the June 11 Summit Preview card.

Wolfson won the 2010 Ema Bovary, decided last year at 6 1/2 furlongs, with Saratoga Tango, the longest-priced of his four starters in the event at 8-1. She was followed by Saintly Rose, the 3-5 First Passage, and Boleyn.

Saintly Rose has not started since and is the only member of Wolfson’s quartet from a year ago who will return Sunday. She’ll be joined by stable mates Jehan, Indulgence, and Bella Moneta. Both Jehan and Bella Moneta are owned by Farnsworth Stables LLC but will compete as separate betting interests in the Ema Bovary. Wolfson named different riders on each of his four entrants, an indication all four will likely start.

The non-Wolfson participants in Sunday’s main event are Don’ttalktome, Musical Romance, and Omi’s Vindication.

Saintly Rose set a contested pace, drew clear on the turn, but could not stay with Saratoga Tango through the final furlong of last year’s Ema Bovary, ultimately dropping a 1 3/4-length decision. She has had just four recorded works since returning to training here this spring, including a bullet half-mile in 48.80 seconds Monday.

Jehan has made just three starts since transferring to Wolfson’s barn last fall, the last of which resulted in a third-place finish in a one-mile optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park on April 10. She was beaten a nose for second money that day by the multiple Grade 1 winner Life At Ten. Jehan is winless since capturing a three-other-than optional claimer at Monmouth in July.

Indulgence returns to the main track off a popular 2 3/4-length entry-level allowance win going five furlongs on the turf earlier in the meet. The daughter of Macho Uno has yet to win over dirt.

Wolfson haltered Bella Moneta for $32,000 earlier this spring at Gulfstream and was quickly rewarded with an easy second-level allowance victory for which she received a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure 11 days later. Bella Moneta has failed to run back to that effort in two subsequent starts, including a second-place finish behind the red-hot Bessie M under starter-allowance conditions here May 7.

Musical Romance is entered in Saturday’s Sara’s Success Stakes, but trainer Bill Kaplan said when he heard the Ema Bovary was coming up light on numbers, he decided to put her in and take a look.

“I hadn’t thought too much about running her here, but when I found out there were only six others in the field and four were Marty Wolfson’s, I figured it might come up a shorter field and an easier spot than the race on Saturday,” Kaplan said.

Musical Romance is better known for her prowess around two turns and on grass, but she has won twice on dirt and can sprint as indicated by her fast-closing fourth-place finish behind Aegean in the six-furlong Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint.

“She’s faster than people think and should be running at the end, if I decide to go in the sprint,” Kaplan said.

Omi’s Vindication could prove the one to catch coming off a career-best performance when wiring a field of lower-level optional claimers at Gulfstream on April 22, but she must avoid a potential early battle with Bella Moneta.

Don’ttalktome is perhaps the biggest question mark, having been idle since September when finishing ninth behind the likes of Informed Decision and Dubai Majesty in a Grade 3 stakes at Presque Isle Downs.

◗ The $75,000 Memorial Day Handicap closed earlier this week with 14 nominations, among them Wolfson’s Motovato, along with Jackson Bend and Mambo Meister. Jackson Bend tuned up for a possible start in the Memorial Day by working five furlongs in 1:00.80 and galloping out six panels in 1:13.40 here Friday.