Spatz takes two shots at series

MIAMI - That a full gate of 14 colts and geldings is expected to contest Saturday's $400,000 In Reality Stakes is testimony that nobody is ducking the undefeated Carey's Gold or northern invader Booklet. The In Reality is the final leg of the open division of the Florida Stallion Series.

One of those 14 In Reality hopefuls is Mountain Forum, a late-runner who earned his berth in the race with a third-place finish in the Foolish Pleasure Stakes here on Sept. 22.

"I said if he hit the board in the Foolish Pleasure we'd give him a shot in the big one, and he ran good enough to get that chance," said trainer Ronald Spatz. "These horses get only one opportunity in their lives at a race like this, so you've got to try it. He's doing really well and should improve off the Foolish Pleasure, which was his first start around two turns, although my gut reaction is that he'll eventually be a better turf horse than dirt horse. My biggest fear Saturday is the big field. With his running style that could be the killer."

Spatz, who has not won a Stallion Series race, also sends out Midnight Charmer in the fillies Stallion Stakes finale, the $400,000 My Dear Girl Stakes, on Saturday's $1.5 million Festival of the Sun card.

"I don't know much about Midnight Charmer," said Spatz. "She was purchased privately after breaking her maiden here last month and I've only had her a few weeks. Naturally it would be a great thrill to finally win a Stallion Series race, especially one of the big ones."

The My Dear Girl figures to lure nine juvenile fillies, led by Ms Brookski, Pharmstar, and Bold World. Suave Queen became the latest to have her hat tossed into the ring after breaking her maiden in Sunday's final race.

Bold World shipped in to Calder over the weekend from her home base on an Ocala farm and has her trainer, Ron Taylor, brimming with confidence.

"Calvin [Borel] will be in to ride her, and if she moves forward like I expect, I'm confident she'll win the race," said Taylor.

* Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr., who will ride Ms Brookski in the My Dear Girl, escaped serious injury when her horse Leagleyeser clipped heels and fell during Monday's fourth race. Homeister, the meet's second leading rider, suffered some bumps and bruises on the left side of her face, but bounced back to win the ninth race aboard Eternal Look.

* Jockey Jose Ferrer has returned home after another successful summer on the New Jersey circuit and will begin riding here on a regular basis Thursday.

"It was a good year up north," said Ferrer, who is married to Homeister. "I won 11 stakes, 10 at Monmouth and one opening day at The Meadowlands on City Zip. It might be a little tough at first to get my business going back down here, and I'm still not sure what a lot of my New Jersey outfits are doing this winter since many of them are usually stabled at Hialeah, which won't be opening its barn this season."