Good year for 2-year-olds

MIAMI - Last year's crop of Calder-based 2-year-olds was very good. This year's may be even better.

The class of 2002 included Trust N Luck, Supah Blitz, and Ivanavinalot. Trust N Luck went on to capture the Grade 1 Fountain of Youth and finish second behind Empire Maker in the Grade 1 Florida Derby before being retired to stud during the fall. Supah Blitz was graded stakes-placed and earned himself a berth in the 2003 Kentucky Derby, where he finished 13th. Ivanavinalot, clearly the class of her division here in 2002, was slated to compete in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies before being withdrawn. She went on to win Gulfstream's premier race for 3-year-old fillies, the Grade 2 Bonnie Miss.

This year's juvenile division is deeper and could go on to even bigger and better things at 3.

At the head of the class are Silver Wagon, winner of Saratoga's Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, and Sir Oscar, who completed an undefeated campaign by outfinishing the previously unbeaten Wynn Dot Comma in last Saturday's Jack Price Juvenile.

Silver Wagon recently returned to training after missing several weeks due to a respiratory infection and could run once more at 2, though his long-range goal is the 2004 Fountain of Youth. Sir Oscar has been taken out of training for the year and will return this winter at Gulfstream, where his main goal is the Florida Derby.

Right behind the leaders are Wynn Dot Comma, Stolen Time, Charming Jim, and Second of June.

Wynn Dot Comma lost for the first time in five starts when second in the Jack Price. Stolen Time finished third in the Jack Price but is already a stakes winner around two turns and may prove better the farther he goes. The graded stakes-placed Charming Jim came the closest to defeating Sir Oscar when he missed by a neck after a stretch-long battle in the Criterium Stakes. Charming Jim is expected back in action shortly, according to trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.

Second of June, a close second behind Stolen Time in the What a Pleasure Stakes, has since returned with an impressive allowance victory, and is another who figures to only get better with experience and distance.

Chatter Chatter is following in Ivanavinalot's footsteps as the dominant 2-year-old filly on the grounds. She has won three straight, including the My Dear Girl Stakes by 19 lengths, and could make one more start this year, against the boys, in the $1 million Delta Jackpot on Dec. 5 at Delta Downs.

French Village, who was unbeaten and had dominated the division until she was decisively beaten in the My Dear Girl, came out of the race with an injury that will likely keep her sidelined until the spring.

Funny Cide arrives in Florida

Funny Cide arrived safely at Gulfstream on Wednesday morning following a long van ride from New York. He will remain at Gulfstream under the care of assistant trainer Robyn Smullen until the opening of the Palm Meadow training center in Boynton Beach on Nov. 29.

Funny Cide could make his 4-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Hal's Hope Handicap on Jan. 3, opening day at Gulfstream.

What a Price runs for a tag

What a Price, stakes placed on three occasions earlier this season, including a troubled second in Gulfstream's Grade 3 Suwannee River Handicap, will be the odds-on favorite when she drops into optional claiming company for Friday's feature race. Despite all her success, What a Price will be offered up for a $40,000 claiming price in the race.

Vidlocity, who chased What a Price home on several occasions this season, also takes a class drop and should be the one to beat.