Lost in the Fog certain to be toast of the town

MIAMI - Since its inception in 2000, Calder's Summit of Speed has lured some of the fastest horses in the country, including Xtra Heat, Orientate, and Caller One. But none of them generated the excitement that the undefeated 3-year-old Lost in the Fog is sure to bring to town when he arrives next weekend to prepare for the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes.

The Grade 2 Carry Back is one of eight stakes worth $1.9 million that will be run here July 9 on the Summit of Speed card.

Lost in the Fog won for the seventh time in as many starts when he survived several challenges before defeating Egg Head by 1 3/4 lengths in the seven-furlong Riva Ridge Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard. The race marked the first time Lost in the Fog had been tested - he won his first six races by a combined 45 3/4 lengths.

"We knew that kind of race would come sometime," trainer Greg Gilchrist said from his home base at Golden Gate on Friday. "We knew he wouldn't win them all by eight or 10 lengths."

Lost in the Fog returned to northern California immediately after the Riva Ridge and continues to do well, according to Gilchrist.

"He bounced out of that race quicker than I expected and as well as he has out of any of his previous races," said Gilchrist. "I will probably work him just once prior to the Carry Back. He's been running about once a month, so he's pretty fit at this point, and he'll be turning back from seven furlongs to six for this next start."

Gilchrist said that he has booked a flight for Lost in the Fog to south Florida next Saturday and that he would likely only gallop him three or four times over the local strip following his arrival.

The main question at this point is who will ride Lost in the Fog. Russell Baze was the colt's regular rider for his first six starts but had to sit out the Riva Ridge after suffering a fractured collarbone in a riding mishap at Golden Gate three days before the race. Edgar Prado subbed for Baze in the Riva Ridge.

"Right now Russell is about 50-50 to make it back in time for the Carry Back," said Gilchrist. "He told me he'll give me a definite answer on Tuesday afternoon. If he can't make it, Edgar will get the first call, and if he can't come for some reason then Jerry Bailey will ride."

The presence of Lost in the Fog should be a huge plus at the box office on Summit of Speed Day but won't make it easy for racing secretary Bob Umphrey to put together a large field for the Carry Back.

"He's a drawing card, but the general response from most people is that they don't want to face him," Umphrey said. "There's an old adage in racing that you never should be scared of one horse in any race, and I'm sure I'll find some guys who wouldn't mind even finishing second for a $300,000 purse."

Entry should fare better on turf

Dansetta Light and Wise Briana, major disappointments as an even-money entry over the main track in the Office Queen Stakes, will likely be favored to make amends if Sunday's $40,000 Lu Lu's Ransom Stakes goes as scheduled at a mile on the turf.

Dansetta Light and Wise Briana finished nearly 20 lengths behind Snug Harbour in the Office Queen, but both fillies have been more productive on turf than dirt.