In Summation goes long in sweep try

MIAMI - Never take a short price on a horse being asked to do something for the first time. That handicapping adage will be tested Saturday at Calder when local 2-year-old kingpin In Summation attempts to complete a sweep of the Florida Stallion Stakes series in the $400,000 In Reality Stakes.

The 1 1/16-mile In Reality is one of eight stakes worth $1.6 million on a Festival of the Sun program, which also features Running Lass in her quest to sweep the filly division of the Stallion series in the $400,000 My Dear Girl Stakes. The In Reality and My Dear Girl will be part of an all-stakes pick four with the $200,000 Calder Derby and the $200,000 Calder Oaks.

is perfect in six starts, including easy wins in the opening two legs of the series, the six-furlong Dr. Fager and seven-furlong Affirmed stakes. But the In Reality will be his first attempt to stay two turns.

Trainer Frank Gomez, who is seeking an unprecedented third Stallion series sweep, is cautiously optimistic In Summation can handle the added distance.

"He can't do any more than we've already asked," said Gomez. "Whether he can go a distance of ground is another question, but he has proved he can rate, which is one thing in his favor."

In Summation drew post 7 in a field of 11 2-year-olds with regular rider Manoel Cruz back aboard.

If In Summation cannot handle the distance, Gomez could still end up in the winner's circle with First Movement, one of only two members of the field to have already won a race beyond a mile. Blazing Rate is the other.

"He's my secret weapon," Gomez said of First Movement, who won his maiden at a mile then overcame a very rough trip to capture a first-level allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 24.

will attempt on Saturday to avenge his only setback, a 2 3/4-length loss at the hands of In Summation in the Affirmed. Blazing Rate bounced back from the loss and overcame a very wide trip to register a two-length win in the mile and 70-yard Foolish Pleasure Stakes.

Kentucky invader will garner plenty of support breaking from the rail under jockey Jerry Bailey while equipped with blinkers for the first time. Cab enters the In Reality off a third-place finish as the 8-5 favorite in Turfway Park's Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile.