Frankel has two good shots in Slam II

MIAMI - Bobby Frankel has had a year other trainers only dream about. And it's not over yet.

Frankel figures to add to his already imposing graded stakes winning total for 2001 campaign when he makes a rare visit to south Florida for Saturday's Grand Slam II program. Frankel will send out multiple Grade 1 winner Super Quercus in the $150,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap and The Seven Seas in the $150,000 La Prevoyante Handicap. The two California invaders will be the starting highweights and likely favorites in the Grade 2 races.

Frankel will visit Calder for the first time since shipping Interim here to win the La Prevoyante in 1995.

"I think I sent two horses down that day but I can't remember who the other one was," Frankel said from Hollywood Park on Sunday morning. "Other than those two I can't recall the last time I ran a horse at Calder."

The Seven Seas could add her name to the impressive roster of past La Prevoyante winners that includes Interim, if she is able to bounce back from a disappointing performance in the Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon Handicap on Sept. 29, when she finished a well-beaten seventh.

"I really thought she'd win the race that day, especially coming off such a big effort in the Beverly D., so when I got the results in New York and heard she'd run poorly I was surprised and disappointed," Frankel said. "But then I found out she had suffered an entrapped epiglottis. So we operated on her. Right now she is doing well and I expect her to come back to her form for this race."

Super Quercus comes off two straight victories, including a last-to-first two-length triumph in the Grade 1 Hollywood Turf Cup earlier this month. He also won the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby in his 3-year-old finale before being sidelined 11 months.

"He came up sore after the Hollywood Derby so we gave him time off," said Frankel. "Then after four starts we had to stop on him again to take a chip out of his ankle. But he's obviously back at the top of his game again right now. I decided to send him to Calder because he just won going a mile and a half and there really isn't much for him in California for the next two or three months."

Win or lose here Saturday, Frankel is the favorite to capture his second straight Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding trainer.

"It's been a really good year, but there are still a few more races to go," said Frankel who last week was named the winner of the Fourstardave and Woody Stephens awards by the New York Turf Writers Association. "This has definitely been the best year I've ever had and I guess as far as an Eclipse award I'd have to be the most confident going in of winning one this time."

Former Calder riding champion Alex Solis will return to ride Super Quercus and The Seven Seas on Saturday. Solis won the 1984 Calder title and the 1982 and 1984 Tropical-at- Calder crowns.

Super Quercus will carry 119 pounds in the 1 1/2-mile McKnight, two more than Honor Glide and three more than Mr. Pleasentfar. Among the others expected to start are Eltawaasul, Deeliteful Irving, and Crasha Course.

The Seven Seas was also assigned 119 pounds for the La Prevoyante and will concede three pounds apiece to Moon Queen and Queue and four to Krisada. Other prospective starters include Lady Dora and Summer Solstice.