Mambo Meister's next still up in air

MIAMI - Like a good many of his fellow horsemen stabled locally during the current session, trainer Phil Gleaves has spent more than his share of time travelling in and out of town this summer. In Gleaves's case, his trips north are due to the exploits of Mambo Meister, who is stabled at Saratoga where he finished second behind Justenuffhumor earlier this month in the Grade 2 Fourstardave.

Gleaves returned to south Florida immediately after the Fourstardave but plans to depart for Saratoga again Friday to oversee final preparations for Mambo Meister's next start, which will come either in the Spa's Grade 2 Bernard Baruch on Aug. 28 or Monmouth Park's Red Bank the following weekend.

Mambo Meister hugged the rail under a heady ride by Jose Lezcano while finishing in front of such noteworthy turf specialists as Cowboy Cal and Kip Deville in the Fourstardave. Mambo Meister, a son of King Cugat, had posted stakes victories in his previous two starts at Calder, capturing the Big Bubble over the main track and the Blazing Sword on turf prior to shipping north for the Fourstardave.

"I thought that last race was tremendous for him," Gleaves said. "We tried to develop him slowly this summer, and obviously it was a big step up in class for him, but we thought he was ready for it and he proved us right. Some very good horses finished behind him that day. We are all very proud and pleased with the effort."

Gleaves said a choice between the Bernard Baruch and Red Bank will be made shortly after his return to Saratoga this weekend.

"Right now, he's at the top of his game," Gleaves said. "I'll wait until I get up there and we get a little closer to the two races before making a final decision. The Baruch is a mile and one-eighth, while the Red Bank is at a mile. He's never been nine furlongs on the turf, but his sire was a solid mile-and-one-eighth horse, so I don't think the distance will be out of his scope if we go for the Baruch."

Wolfson, Rose heading north

Like Gleaves, trainer Marty Wolfson also will be on the road to both Saratoga and Monmouth in the coming weeks. Wolfson said he'll be at Monmouth on Saturday to saddle You and I Forever in the Grade 3 Iselin. You and I Forever, second behind Tale of Ekati in the Grade 2 Jerome last year at 3, has made two starts since being transferred to Wolfson's barn earlier this year. In his most recent appearance, You and I Forever finished third after being virtually eliminated at the break as the 1-5 favorite in a high-level optional claiming race here July 25.

Wolfson said he also plans to be at Saratoga the following two weekends to run Icon Project in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign and It's a Bird in the Grade 1 Woodward.

Trainer Barry Rose has already spent some time at Monmouth and Saratoga this summer and will be back at the Spa on Aug. 29 to run Prince Joshua in the Grade 1 King's Bishop. Prince Joshua earned a spot in the King's Bishop by virtue of his recent victory in Monmouth's Select Stakes.

Wyatt's Women tops Friday feature

Wolfson also figures to have the favorite here in Friday's $25,000 allowance feature when he sends Wyatt's Women out against seven rivals in the 6 1/2-furlong optional claiming dash.

Wyatt's Women, privately purchased by Farnsworth Stables LLC earlier this summer, finished a tiring fourth after chasing the favorite and ultimate winner, stablemate Jessica Is Back, into the stretch of the Nancy's Glitter Handicap in her first start since being transferred to Wolfson's barn. Wyatt's Women is winless in 11 starts this season but did cross the finish line first in her 2009 debut at Aqueduct only to be disqualified from the purse money. She also finished third after contesting the pace to late stretch in Belmont's Floral Park Stakes.

* Sweetlalabye, upset winner of the Desert Vixen division of the Florida Stallion Stakes, worked four furlongs in 49.80 seconds over a good track Wednesday. Sweetlalabye is being pointed to the middle leg of the filly division of the Stallion Stakes, the seven-furlong Susan's Girl on Aug. 29.

* Abel Lezcano won his first race in North America when guiding Train to Glory to victory here Sunday for trainer Chris Gatos. Lezcano, the cousin of jockey Jose Lezcano, is a recent arrival from Panama and rides with a five-pound apprentice allowance.