MIAMI - Caller One, who has blossomed into a world-class sprinter since his smashing performance in the inaugural Summit of Speed two years ago, may return for this year's edition of the sprint festival.
That is, if trainer James Chapman can get him here.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Saturday's Dance Smartly Handicap will be the first clash between Canadian champions Dancethruthedawn and Sweetest Thing.
Dancethruthedawn, the Sovereign Award-winning 3-year-old filly last year, will be making her first start on turf. She is owned by Sam-Son Farm and trained by Mark Frostad.
The race is named for Dancethruthedawn's illustrious dam.
Sweetest Thing, the Sovereign Award-winning turf filly last year at 3, had also been under consideration for the July 4 New York Handicap.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Sweet Nanette will square off against Run for Little Bit and defending champion Miss Seffens in Friday's co-featured $125,000 Saylorville Stakes for fillies and mares at Prairie Meadows.
Sweet Nanette, a multiple stakes winner before being given a 10 1/2-month layoff to recuperate from a minor injury, appears to be nearing top form for trainer Dallas Stewart.
"She has been training well since her last start and I think the sky's the limit for this filly," said the trainer.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Rarely do two of the nation's leading trainers square off at Prairie Meadows, but that is what will happen in Friday's $250,000 Iowa Derby, when Bob Baffert sends out Danthebluegrassman against the Steve Asmussen-trained Easyfromthegitgo.
The Iowa Derby card also includes the $125,000 Saylorville Stakes for fillies at six furlongs.
Danthebluegrassman was Baffert's leading Kentucky Derby hopeful as late as early April, but he finished last of eight in the Santa Anita Derby and then was a late scratch from the Kentucky Derby.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Crousille makes her U.S. debut in Friday's $100,000 Flawlessly Stakes at Hollywood Park after a promising series of races earlier this year in France.
"If she runs the race she can, she'll kill them," new trainer Ian Jory said. Stakes placed earlier this year, Crousille has only a maiden win to her credit. When she was purchased by Derek Fisher, Jory wanted to start Crousille in Saturday's $500,000 American Oaks, but did not receive an invitation when the first batch was handed around, he said.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Cheap Talk, one of several talented 3-year-olds trained by Bob Tiller, will be a formidable opponent in Friday's eighth race at Woodbine, a $62,500 allowance/ optional claimer for 3-year-olds.
Cheap Talk, a New York-bred gelding, was a fast-closing second to the front-running Sir Fleet when he debuted in a five-furlong maiden dash on April 7. He graduated by three lengths as the favorite two weeks later, in a six-furlong maiden special weight affair.
EDMONTON, Alberta - There were three stakes run at Northlands last weekend, including the first of the meet for 3-year-olds. But the most interesting race came on Friday night when Viva Ruckus pulled an upset in a strong field in the $40,000 Wild Rose for older fillies and mares. It was her fifth win of the year.
In a field that included 2001 local champion 3-year-old filly Little Lolitta and Hastings Park import Grooms Derby, the 7-year-old Viva Ruckus showed she still has lots in the tank, beating Slewability and earning $25,200.
AUBURN, Wash. - An evenly matched field of seven older routers will test the skills of handicappers in Friday's featured eighth race at Emerald Downs, a 1 1/16-mile event for horses eligible to be claimed for $25,000 or $20,000.
If it isn't easy to say which horse is the one to beat, it can at least be surmised that Handsome Will Do is the one to catch. Handsome Will Do, a 4-year-old son of Slewdledo from the barn of Dave Forster, has established a clear early lead in eight of his last 10 races and faces minimal pace opposition on Friday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - While many 3-year-olds make names for themselves on the Triple Crown trail, there are far more who miss out on that opportunity. A lack of talent is the most common limiting factor, but there are also horses whose chances to shine are preempted for other reasons.
Keeneland Race Course released its fall stakes schedule Wednesday, and, as usual, the meet is front-loaded with prep races for the World Thoroughbred Championships.
Six graded races, all designed as final preps for the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup races at Arlington Park, will be run during the opening three-day weekend of the fall meet at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. The 17-day meet runs Oct. 4-26.