Clear skies cloud Calder feature
MIAMI, Fla. - The rains which left Calder's main track
a sea of slop for several days last week and has
closed the turf course indefinitely are gone, dampening the spirits of the
connections of I Love Chicago and Link to Jimmy, a
pair of wet-track specialists who may still vie for
favoritism in Monday's $28,000 optional-claiming-allowance feature.
I Love Chicago has posted his two most recent
victories over sloppy tracks including an impressive 2
3/4-length decision over Golden Concorde here on July
15. The homebred, who has not been worse than second
in six starts on wet surfaces, will be making just his
second start in seven weeks and is taking a decided
drop in class Monday.
Link to Jimmy comes off the turf and back to the main
track after leading throughout before dropping a head
decision under similar conditions going a mile on the
grass. He is seeking his first victory since winning
the Carterista Handicap by seven lengths over I Love
Chicago on a sloppy track here in July of 2000.
Dan's Report, the king of Gulfstream Park's
long-distance starter handicap series last winter,
makes his first appearance since April 8 for owner
trainer Fred Warren and appears to be training well
for his return.
*A pair of track records were set here on Saturday.
Castlebrook established the new course record for 1
1/16 miles covering the distance in 1:36.68 winning
the $50,000 Noble Royalty Handicap. Three races later
High Ideal set the new mark of 1:36.25 for a mile
defeating allowance company, shattering the old
standard of 1:37.40 held jointly by Crafty Chris and
Cutandthrust.
*Stormy Frolic led a large contingent of hopefuls to
work Saturday for next weekend's $100,000 Brave Raj
and $100,000 Foolish Pleasure Stakes. Stormy Frolic
worked a mile in 1:43.20 in preparation for the Brave
Raj. Other Brave Raj hopefuls to work included Sweep
Princess (six furlongs in 1:13.80), Ms Brooksi (five
furlongs in 1:02.80) and Harry'sbestpromise (six
furlongs in 1:17.60).
*O'Rocky, winner of the opening leg of the Florida
Stallion Series but fourth as the 8-5 favorite in the
Dr. Fager Stakes, worked five-eighths in 1:04.40 for
the Foolish Pleasure.