Calder's big money attracts outsiders

MIAMI, Fla. - The Florida Stallion Series has been a virtual closed shop through the first two rounds, with local-based juveniles making up nearly the entire starting lineups in both divisions.

But with $400,000 up for grabs in each of the finales, the In Reality for colts and geldings and the My Dear Girl for fillies, that figures to change.

In fact, an invasion already began earlier this week, with the arrival of Booklet for the In Reality.

The Florida Stallion Series finales are the highlight the

$1.5 million Festival of the Sun program on Oct. 13. Booklet has won three of four starts, including Delaware Park's Dover Stakes by nearly five lengths going a mile on Sept. 22. His lone setback was a third-place finish in the Saratoga Special. Trainer Steve Klesaris shipped Booklet to town on Thursday.

"I wanted to get him acclimated to both the heat and the racetrack," Klesaris said. "Calder is a tricky type of racetrack and I definitely wanted my horse to get a chance to gallop and breeze over the course."

Booklet will take on a full field for the In Reality, led by the locally based Carey's Gold who is unbeaten in three starts including wins in both the Dr. Fager and Affirmed divisions of the Stallion Series.

"The money is good, that's why we've come," said Klesaris, who also shipped Splendid Splinter to town well in advance of his victory in the 1996 Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap.

"I just want to do the proper thing. Get him here early and give him his best opportunity to win."

Unlike Carey's Gold, who has not run beyond seven furlongs, Klesaris has little concern about Booklet getting the 1 1/16-mile distance of the In Reality following his easy win in the Dover.

"He got pressed through a 46-second half mile, shook off the challenge, and drew off to win pretty impressively so it looks like he can handle the route," Klesaris said.

Eibar Coa, who rode Booklet in the Dover, will return home to ride the colt in the In Reality.

Coa, who won the Calder riding title four of the last five years before switching his tack to New Jersey this summer and becoming the runaway leader at Monmouth Park, is also booked to ride Rest of the Rest, for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., in the $100,000 Spend a Buck Stakes on the Festival Of The Sun undercard.

It is a race that is also expected to attract Sir Bear.

Trainer Ralph Ziadie has landed Jerry Bailey to ride Sir Bear, as well as Pharmstar in the My Dear Girl.