Reappeal looks like a summer rerun
MIAMI - What's the difference between the eighth race at Calder on May 31, a second-level optional $25,000 claiming event, and Saturday's Reappeal Stakes? Not much more than $26,000, the amount of extra purse money in the Reappeal.
Virtually the same field will compete in the $55,000, five furlong, overnight turf stakes which serves as a prep for the $100,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint Handicap here on July 10.
The starting lineup for the Reappeal is a very familiar one to local horseplayers, who have already had to sort out pretty much the same gang on a couple of occasions earlier in the meet. Under Contract rallied from mid-pack at odds of 32-1 to come out on top when the group last met on May 31, outfinishing a hard-luck Ifitwasn'tfor Texas by a half-length with Chihulykee just another head back in third. Bidham and Carte Blanche, who were all within 2 1/2 lengths of Under Contract at the finish, are also back from the May 31 race.
Ifitwasn'tfor Texas has turned in a series of big efforts sprinting on the grass dating back to a four-length conditioned claiming victory on April 10. His only poor effort in four subsequent starts came on May 2 when he broke awkwardly, then was forced into the inside rail after catching the pack on the turn.
Chihulykee has turned in a series of big races himself since returning to the turf early last winter but has yet to be rewarded with a victory, having finished second or third in five of his last six starts by margins ranging from a nose to one length.
Rusty Charlie could prove the key to the Reappeal. He outsprinted Ifitwasn'tfor Texas to win a $16,000 starter allowance race on the grass closing day at Gulfstream Park before switching to the main track for each of his last two tries. He will wheel back on just one week's rest after being outdueled for the lead by the odds-on Big Drama and fading to finish third last Saturday in the Ponche Handicap.
Short rest no problem for Americanrevolution
Americanrevolution had gone more than a year without a victory. Now he has won two races in a span of just 11 days after cruising to an easy win over an overmatched field of starter allowance rivals on Thursday. The tally was the sixth in eight local starts for the 7-year-old Americanrevolution, who has enjoyed the majority of his success throughout an injury-plagued career whenever returned to the barn of trainer Bill White.
Americanrevolution ($2.60), a homebred owned by Donald Dizney, was again ridden to victory by jockey Manoel Cruz.
* Apprentice Sixto Ribera enjoyed a big day on Thursday, booting home a pair of winners, beginning with Winaway ($19.20) in the third race for trainer Shaffique Khan. Ribera, who rides with a seven-pound allowance, completed the double aboard the Jerry Bozzo-owned and -trained For Carole ($22.80) in the sixth.