Third Grand Slam added to stakes mix

MIAMI - Bob Umphrey, the racing secretary of Calder Race Course, has released his 2004 Calder and Tropical-at-Calder stakes schedules, and the emphasis has once again been placed on the track's popular multiple-stakes days.

The 126-day Calder meet runs from April 26 through Oct. 23. The 55-day Tropical meet opens Oct. 24 and continues until Jan. 2, 2005.

The fifth annual Summit of Speed, offering $1.75 million in sprint stakes on July 10, and the 13th renewal of the $1.55 million Festival of the Sun on Oct. 23 highlight the $5.6 million Calder Stakes program. The Florida Million on Nov. 13 and Grand Slams I, II and III will be the main focus of the Tropical-at-Calder stakes schedule, which will offer $2.7 million in purses.

Grand Slam III, to be run on Jan. 1, 2005, is the latest addition to the program and will feature the traditional New Year's Day headliners, the $100,000 Tropical Park Derby, a Grade 3, and Tropical Oaks, along with the Grade 3 Chaposa Springs Handicap, run earlier in the meet last year.

The Summit of Speed will again feature $500,000 Princess Rooney and Smile Sprint handicaps, as well as the $300,000 Azalea Breeders' Cup and Carry Back Stakes. All four are graded races.

The Festival of the Sun, Calder's marquee event for over a decade, is highlighted by the $400,000 In Reality and My Deal Girl stakes, finales of the open and filly divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes.