Mambo Meister to have a half-dozen rivals in Fred W. Hooper

MIAMI - A field of seven is shaping up for next Saturday’s Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper Handicap. Topping the list is Mambo Meister, who captured the Grade 3 Memorial Day and the Miami Mile Handicap here earlier this year. Manoel Cruz will again have the mount on Mambo Meister, who will carry high weight of 120 pounds.

Among the others expected to start in the 1 1/18-mile Hooper are Cash Rules (113 pounds), Chirac (118), Dream Maestro (115), Golden Moka (115), St. Maximus Gato (113), and Tackleberry(114).

Paco Lopez has picked up the mount on Chirac for trainer Jane Cibelli. Chirac, who won the Grade 3 Iselin in his 2009 finale, has finished second or third in his three starts this year, all stakes, including a third-place finish behind Etched and Musket Man in the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup.

◗ Eibar Coa, who will be aboard Cash Rules in the Hooper, continued to wield a hot hand this week. Coa won three races on Thursday and came back with a riding double Friday. Steve Dwoskin, the leading owner and trainer during the 2010 Calder meet, also had a big day Friday when he sent out three winners to move within two victories of David Fawkes, who sits atop the standings at the Tropical session.