Mambo Meister rallies in Miami Mile

Mambo Meister returned to his favorite track and the winner's circle Sunday, when he rallied to a head victory over Pinckney Hill in the Grade 3, $100,000 Miami Mile Handicap at Calder. The Miami Mile highlighted the opening day program of Calder's 2010 racing season.

Mambo Meister won for the fourth straight time at Calder, his home track, and the first time anywhere since capturing the Grade 3 Spend A Buck Handicap over the main course Oct. 17. Sunday, he rallied from nearly five lengths off the lead turning for home and outfinished the 8-5 Pinckney Hill. Pleasant Strike finished willingly to be third, another three-quarter lengths behind Pinckney Hill.

Mambo Meister, a 5-year-old son of King Cugat owned by the Quantum RacingTeam, also won the grassy Blazing Sword and Big Bubble Stakes at Calder in 2009. He covered the distance in 1:35.04 over a firm course under jockey Manoel Cruz and paid $13.60.

"He loves it here," trainer Phil Gleaves said. "We've given him breaks before, but this time we sent him to Plumley Farm in Ocala for 30 days, and I think it did him a world of good. This field came up tougher than I thought, so I'm very pleased with him."

Gleaves said Mambo Meister would probably return in the Memorial Day handicap May 31.