Gomez has his colt set to fire

MIAMI - The Florida Stallion Stakes, the cornerstone of the local stakes schedule through the end of the current session on Oct. 16, kicks off Saturday with both the $75,000 Dr. Fager Stakes and its filly counterpart, the $75,000 Desert Vixen.

In Summation will be the overwhelming favorite to win the six-furlong Dr. Fager. Trained by Frank Gomez, In Summation is perfect in three starts, but was extended for the first time while capturing the Birdonthewire Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths over The Pharoah on July 10.

The main track was closed for training for three days last week because of the mid-summer break, but Gomez had In Summation ready to roll when the course re-opened Thursday. In Summation worked five furlongs in 1:03.40 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.80.

The Pharoah will not get a chance to avenge his Birdonthewire setback in the Dr. Fager, since he is ineligible for the Stallion series. B L's a Runner, who followed his fifth-place finish in the Birdonthewire with an impressive first-level allowance victory two weeks later, will be among In Summation's chief rivals in the Dr. Fager.

Fillies participating in the Stallion Stakes will have a tough act to follow this summer following Aclassysassy-lassy's sweep of the series a year ago. Running Lass, gate to wire winner of the G.T.O.B.A. Filly Turf Dash on July 23 will be one of the leading contenders for the six-furlong Desert Vixen.

Entries for both the Dr. Fager and Desert Vixen along with Saturday's entire 13-race program will be drawn Monday.

Cruz bites into Castro's lead

Tim Ritvo held a four-win margin over perennial champion Bill White in the trainer standings coming out of the mid-summer break. Eddie Plesa Jr. was third, followed by Kathleen O'Connell, David Fawkes, and Joe Calascibetta. White has captured the last eight Calder training titles.

Reigning champion Eddie Castro held a seemingly comfortable 12-win lead over M.R. Cruz when racing resumed Saturday, but that advantage diminished quickly after Cruz won 5 of the first 11 races on the card, including the Georgia Peaches Stakes aboard Chancey Light.

Scheen has a full Saturday

State steward Kevin Scheen had a busy day Saturday. Scheen, who replaced Hall of Fame jockey Walter Blum as Florida's state steward at the beginning of the year, worked all 13 races at Calder, then hopped in his car to make the 25-minute ride up the turnpike to Pompano Harness Track, where he would be in the judges' stand for another 13-race card later that evening.