Supah Blitz heads Million card

MIAMI - The last time Supah Blitz raced at Calder he was beaten a dozen lengths in the Memorial Day Handicap. When he returns Saturday for the $200,000 Carl G. Rose Handicap, the onetime local hero will be the odds-on favorite in the main race on an outstanding 13-race Florida Million Day program worth nearly $1.3 million in purses.

The Carl G. Rose is one of eight stakes races on the Florida Million card, which will begin at noon. Four of the eight races are for 2-year-olds, and three will be run on the turf. Also on the card are two pick four wagers on the eight stakes.

was sold privately and transferred to trainer Doug O'Neill's barn on the West Coast in mid-August and returned quick dividends for his new connections when he outgamed Domestic Dispute to win the Grade 2 Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap. He returned four weeks later and ran third, beaten two lengths after a rough trip, in Santa Anita's Grade 2 Goodwood Breeders' Cup.

"He's doing awesome, and this looks like a good spot to get him back on his winning ways," said O'Neill, who entered four horses for the Florida Million card.

Supah Blitz, who finished 13th in the 2003 Kentucky Derby, will carry high weight of 119 pounds in the 1 1/8-mile Carl G. Rose, including jockey Jerry Bailey - and figures to be one of the shortest-priced favorites on the day. His cause will likely be aided by what figures to be an honest pace, thanks to speedsters Keep Cool, Hear No Evil, and Bob's Proud Moment being in the lineup.

Keep Cool has won his last two starts, both in wire-to-wire fashion, but both victories were on the grass. Bob's Proud Moment, who is also entered in the Bonnie Heath Turf Cup earlier on the card, is also coming off a strong effort on turf, when beaten a head by Eddington in the Grade 3 Calder Derby. Hear No Evil is rarely outrun for the early lead, although he found himself chasing the early leader before fading to fifth in the Grade 3 Spend a Buck Handicap.

The Judge Sez Who, once among the top handicap performers on the grounds, is winless in eight starts this year and has returned to trainer Milt Wolfson's barn after three mediocre showings in Canada. The richest member of the lineup, with career earnings of nearly $940,000, The Judge Sez Who turned in his best effort this year when he finished fourth in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap in April.