Guillotine looks sharpest of all

MIAMI - Four weeks ago, Guillotine, Wander Mom, Platinum Tiara, and Jennasietta were running for a $35,000 purse in split divisions of the Powder Break Handicap. On Saturday the same quartet will vie for a decidedly larger payday when they match strides in the $150,000 Calder Breeders' Cup Handicap going 1 1/16 miles over turf.

Guillotine and Jennasietta won their respective divisions of the Powder Break, although Jennasietta was awarded the victory in her split via the disqualification of Wander Mom.

Guillotine is one of three horses trainer Marty Wolfson has entered in the Calder Breeders' Cup, along with Banderia and Bail Money. All three are expected to start. Wander Mom is part of an uncoupled entry from trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.'s barn, along with Sara's Success. Bill Kaplan also has two in the field, the entry of Multiplicity and Castlebrook. Aviate'em and Kelly Bag round out the starting lineup.

Guillotine rallied to upset odds-on favorite Bloomy in the opening division of the Powder Break and looks to be the horse to beat in her current form.

The victory was the second in the last three starts for Guillotine, whose lone setback during that span was a fifth-place finish in Gulfstream Park's Grade 2 Orchid Handicap.

Jennasietta was forced to take up sharply near the eighth pole before finishing three-quarters of a length behind Wander Mom in the second and faster division of the Powder Break. The late-running Jennasietta was seventh in the Orchid after finishing second in the Grade 3 The Very One Handicap earlier this winter.

Wander Mom is a multiple graded stakes-placed filly on turf who has been the victim of tough luck on several occasions over the last two seasons. She had the misfortune of drawing post position 11 on Saturday, although it is expected the field will scratch down to 10 or fewer horses if the race remains on the grass.

Sara's Success seeks to bounce back on two weeks' rest from a poor showing as the 4-5 favorite over the main track in the Nancy's Glitter Handicap. She came out of that race with a badly bruised foot, according to Plesa.

Platinum Tiara will race without blinkers for the first time since fall 2001, perhaps in the hope of keeping her from engaging in the type of speed battle that saw her finish a game but tiring third in the second division of the Powder Break.

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