Collazo says Carey's Gold can handle outside post

MIAMI, Fla. - Trainer Henry Collazo could have been down in the dumps and bemoaning his luck after Carey's Gold drew post position 14 for Saturday's $400,000 In Reality Stakes at Calder. But Collazo acted confident that Carey's Gold, his undefeated 2-year-old, would overcome the handicap and complete a sweep of the open division of the Florida Stallion Series.

The In Reality shares the spotlight on Saturday's $1.5 million Festival of the Sun program with its counterpart for fillies, the $400,000 My Dear Girl Stakes, which drew a field of nine juvenile fillies. Both races will be decided at one mile and one-sixteenth.

Carey's Gold won divisions of the Dr. Fager and Affirmed Stakes to put himself in a position to become only the sixth horse to win all three legs of the Stallion Series. And despite breaking from the extreme outside Collazo says he'll be surprised if his colt doesn't also win the In Reality.

"Post positions are overrated situations," said Collazo. "Believe me I'd rather be closer in but this doesn't fluster me. My horse has tactical speed, he's versatile, and very intelligent. And with Chop Chop [jockey Jorge Chavez] riding it's going to be Katie bar the door."

While Carey's Good had a poor post position draw, his chief rival in the In Reality, the graded stakes-placed Booklet, had no such problem pulling stall number four for his local debut.

"I'm very pleased," trainer Steve Klesaris said. "He's a versatile colt, can do whatever he needs to and Coa [jockey Eibar Coa] is riding with great confidence right now. I wouldn't trade places with anybody."

Booklet has won three of four starts, his only loss coming against Jump Start and Heavyweight Champ in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

Among other key In Reality contenders are: O'Rocky, winner of a division of the Dr. Fager; Bog Hunter, who won a division of the Affirmed; the stakes-placed pair of Mountain Forum and Thiscannonsloaded as well as the undefeated Cosmic Sea.

In the My Dear Girl, Ms. Brookski will likely be favored over Bold World and Pharmstar. Ms. Brookski scored a game win in the Brave Raj Stakes on Sept. 22. An improving filly, she has won both her starts around two turns.

Ms. Brookski will break from post six in the My Dear Girl, just outside Bold World, who won the middle leg of the filly division of the Stallion Series when rallying to a 1 3/4-length victory over Pharmstar in the Susan's Girl Stakes.

A daughter of Fortunate Prospect, and a $475,000 purchase at this year's Ocala April Stales, Bold World finished a tiring fifth, making her two-turn debut in the Brave Raj.

"She needed that last race, and I'll be really surprised if she does not win Saturday," said trainer Ron Taylor, who will have regular rider Calvin Borel back in the saddle for the My Dear Girl.