Chispiski's a specialist at this distance

MIAMI - Chispiski has been nearly unbeatable at 6 1/2 furlongs throughout her career, and she should be tough to catch, even in a formidable field of fillies and mares, when she seeks to defend her title in Saturday's $75,000 U Can Do It Handicap at Calder.

Chispiski has won 5 of 7 starts at the 6 1/2-furlong distance of the U Can Do It, with one of those two losses coming at the hands of trainer Bill Mott's multiple stakes-winning Slews Final Answer here last fall in the Birdie Belle Stakes. A daughter of Appealing Skier, Chispiski dominated the 2002 U Can Do It, leading throughout to post a 3 3/4-length decision over Fly Me Crazy.

Chispiski, whose most important career win came in the seven-furlong, Grade 3 Chasposa Springs Handicap in her 3-year-old finale, will be seeking to avenge her recent setback at the hands of the much-improved Honeymooner in the seven-furlong Going Up Stakes on Sept. 8. She will carry highweight of 119 pounds, including regular rider Julio Garcia.

Vision of Flight, who chased but fell a half-length short of Chispiski in the Kimscountrydiamond Stakes earlier in the session, should again prove the filly to beat. Vision of Flight shipped to Delaware Park, where she finished a game second behind the odds-on House Party in the Grade 3 Endine Handicap and has been the runner-up in each of her last five starts.

Honeymooner brings a modest two-race win streak into the U Can Do It and is in the best form of her career at the moment.

Petrina Above, a two-time stakes winner on turf earlier this season but effective on dirt as well, returns from a two-month layoff and should be an early pace factor stretching out off a series of shorter races.

"I'm a little concerned about the distance, especially since she's been away for a while," trainer Frank Carlisi said. "She's also a little more effective on turf than dirt."

Explosive Beauty, an easy winner of a pair of 3-year-old stakes at Oaklawn Park during the winter, will be making her first start since March 8 and first under trainer Bill White.

Barbara O'Brien finished second in the Goldarama Stakes here during the opening weekend of the meet before shipping north, where she was a stakes winner at Philadelphia Park on Labor Day.

Romancin Dixie, Sea Span, and Heavenly Miss complete the lineup.