Stay Forever a filly taking on males in Bonnie Heath

MIAMI - Stay Forever will provide one of the most intriguing stories on Saturday's Florida Million card at Calder when she takes on males in the $150,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup Handicap.

The Bonnie Heath is one of four stakes - each worth $150,000 - that make up the undercard on Florida Million Day. The others are the Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap, the Jack Price Juvenile, and the Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies.

Stay Forever has won all four of her starts this year, including the Solo Haina and the Noble Royal Handicap, but has yet to face males or run beyond 1 1/16 miles in 2002. The Bonnie Heath will be run at 1 1/8 miles.

"Actually I like the distance for her," trainer Marty Wolfson said. "I think the farther she goes the better she'll like it. You always worry when running a filly against colts but I decided when the nominations came out that if the top four horses don't go that I'd take a shot with her. I think the [form is] spotty on some of the main contenders in here."

A key contender is Stokosky, who is trained by Bill Mott. Mott also runs the 3-year-old Miesque's Approval, who missed by a neck as the 8-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Calder Derby.

Other key contenders in the Bonnie Heath are Sir Brian's Sword and Marquette.

In the Jack Dudley Sprint at six furlongs, Tour of the Cat will carry 120 pounds as the starting highweight, although New York invader My Cousin Matt figures to be favored.

Tour of the Cat was the dominant local sprinter after he won three stakes here this summer, but hasn't raced since he captured the Groomstick Handicap Aug. 17.

My Cousin Matt brings a three-race win streak into the Jack Dudley. Entered but scratched from the Breeders' Cup Sprint due to illness, the former claimer has won three of four career starts at the distance and is in the best form of his career. Trainer Scott Lake claimed the 3-year-old My Cousin Matt for owner Richard Englander for $85,000 Sept. 25.

Other threats in the Dudley are Built Up, Royal Lad, Showmeitall, and California invader Mighty David.

In the Jack Price at seven furlongs, Trust N Luck will try to duplicate his easy 4 3/4-length victory going 1 1/16 miles in the In Reality Stakes - the finale of the Florida Stallion Series.

"He's got enough speed to handle the turn back in distance without any problem," trainer Ralph Ziadie said.

Trust N Luck is part of a well-matched field that includes Hear No Evil, True Enough, King Robyn, The Name's Bond, Supah Blitz, Little Swimmer, and Midwest invader Unleash the Power.

The Name's Bond and Supah Blitz could prove the beneficiaries of what figures to be an honest pace in the Price. Unleash the Power is the only member of the field who is graded stakes-placed, having finished third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity. Unleash the Power, who is trained by Tom Proctor, will race in blinkers for the first time on Saturday, as will The Name's Bond and True Enough.

The Joe O'Farrell should provide the toughest handicapping test on the Florida Million card. A full field of 12 juvenile fillies, led by Elegant Designer and her stablemate Heavenly Miss, was entered to go seven furlongs. Midwest invader Fabulous Brush also figures prominently.

Elegant Designer easily defeated first-level allowance company when shipped to New York last month, earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure which was her career best. Heavenly Miss gave futile chase behind local division leader Ivanavinalot in each of her last three starts after winning the J j'sdream Stakes here in August.

Fabulous Brush registered her most important victory when she posted a five-length decision over Moonlight Sonata in River Downs' Bassinett Stakes. That performance was flattered after Moonlight Sonata returned to win the Arlington-Lassie Futurity in her next start.

Fabulous Brush has been overmatched in each of her last two starts, both around two turns, finishing a well-beaten fifth behind Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Storm Flag Flying in the Grade 1 Frizette and then fourth in her turf debut in Keeneland's Green River Stakes.

Lavender Lass and Forever Diligent are a pair of lightly raced fillies who bear watching in the O'Farrell. Crimson and Roses makes her first start since finishing off the board in Saratoga's Grade 2 Adirondack and Schuylerville stakes.