Friday, February 03 2012
Calder Casino & Race Course Announces 2012 Stakes Schedules
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Feb. 3, 2012) – Calder Casino & Race Course announces its stakes schedules for the 2012 Calder and Tropical meets as it prepares to start this year’s live racing season on April 9. Calder hosts two consecutive meets: the 85-day Calder Meet from April 9 to Aug. 31; and the 65-day Tropical Meet from Sept. 1 to Dec. 2.
The Calder Meet will be jump-started with three exciting stakes in the month of April, including the return of the Calder Derby (April 14) and Calder Oaks (April 28) after a one-year absence. The Calder Derby, for 3-year-olds going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf, has a $150,000 purse and the Calder Oaks carries a $100,000 purse for 3-year-old fillies, also going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. The $125,000 Miami Mile Handicap (G3) at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds and up will be run on April 21.
Saturday, December 03 2011
Calder Concludes 2011 Tropical Meet
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2011) – Calder Casino & Race Course concluded its 45-day Tropical Meet on Friday, Dec. 2, but year-round simulcasting, slot games, and live poker action at Studz Poker Club all continue seven days and nights each week.
The “Simulcast Season” at Calder from Dec. 3 through April 8, 2012 offers local horse racing fans the opportunity to enjoy their favorite wintertime tracks all in the comfort of Calder, with easy and free parking and admission.
Casablanca Smile Returns Triumphantly in La Prevoyante (G3) on Calder’s closing Day
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2011) – Green Hills Farm’s 5-year-old mare Casablanca Smile returned from an 11-month layoff to win the $100,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (G3) at Calder Casino & Race Course on the closing day of the 2011 Tropical Meet on Friday. Interestingly, Casablanca Smile’s last race before this afternoon was the La Prevoyante Handicap (G3) at Calder during the final days of the 2010/11 Tropical Meet, in which she finished second behind Changing Skies.
Sent out by trainer Shug McGaughey, Casablanca Smile dominated all the pace in the 1 ½ miles La Prevoyante, covering the distance in 2:31.51 over firm turf with jockey Javier Castellano in the irons. Castellano won the co-feature earlier on the card, the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (G3), aboard Silver Medallion.
Silver Medallion Scores in Tropical Turf Handicap (G3)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2011) – Black Rock Stable’s 3-year-old Silver Medallion took command in the upper stretch of $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (G3) Friday, closing day at Calder Casino & Race Course, and held a safe margin of 1 ¾ lengths at the finish under jockey Javier Castellano in his third start since being placed with trainer Todd Pletcher.
Brushwood Stable’s 4-year-old Mr. Ryder finished second as the 1.90-to-1 favorite in the field of nine that went to the post for the 1 1/8 miles grass course test with Robert Harvey’s 4-year-old gelding Hollinger third as the winner was timed in 1:48.84 over the ‘firm’ course and paid $13.20 for $2 to win.
Monday, November 28 2011
Senada & Cheetah Get Rematch in La Prevoyante Friday
Lael Stable’s 4-year-old filly Senada posted a hard-fought 17-to-1 upset victory last out in the Dowager Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 23 for trainer Barclay Tagg with Robert Scarborough’s 4-year-old English-bred filly Cheetah third as the favorite for trainer Christophe Clement, and they will clash again Friday in the $100,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (G3) at Calder Casino & Race Course.
The 40th edition of the La Prevoyante is run over the same 12-furlong distance on turf as the Dowager with a wide-open field of 11 fillies and mares drawn for the race that will share top billing on Calder’s closing day program with the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
Saturday, November 26 2011
Former Claimer Jimanator Winner of Hooper
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Nov. 26, 2011) – Three Diamonds Farm’s 5-year-old gelding Jimanator won the $100,000 Fred W. Hooper Handicap at Calder Casino & Race Course on Saturday, defeating Mambo Meister by three-quarters of a length in an exciting stretch duel. The two were clear ahead of the others as it was 5 ¼ lengths back to Stimulus Plan in third.
Making his first start at Calder for trainer Michael Trombetta, Jimanator was ridden to victory by jockey Joe Bravo. He covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.56 and paid $7.00, $2.80, and $2.20.
Calder Barn Notes: 11-26-11
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (November 26, 2011) – Trainer Antonio Sano sent out a winner on Friday’s card at Calder Casino & Race Course to move into a tie with Nick Canani with 16 wins apiece, and Steve Dwoskin made two trips to the winners’ circle on the nine-race program to close to within one of the top two at 15 victories at the session with five days to go before closing on Friday.
Sano holds a numbers edge over Canani through the next three days’ cards that are drawn with runners entered in four races Saturday, one on Sunday, and two on Monday. Canani has no runners entered Saturday, one in Sunday, and none on Monday. Although trailing by one, Dwoskin is very much alive in this race as he sends out one Saturday, three Sunday, and four on Monday.
Friday, November 25 2011
Calder Barn Notes: 11-25-11
La Prevoyante & Tropical Turf Close Out Calder Season
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (November 25, 2011) – Renewals of the $100,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (G3) for fillies and mares at 1 ½ miles on turf and the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf will highlight the closing day program of the 2011 Tropical Meet next Fri., Dec. 2 at Calder Casino & Race Course.
The La Prevoyante is among the oldest and most prestigious fixtures in the 40-year history of Calder with winners over the years including Mairzy Doates, Just a Game II, Sabin (twice), Last Approach, Coretta (twice) Film Maker, and Changing Skies last year.
Thursday, November 24 2011
Oregon Lady Wins My Charmer by a Neck
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Nov. 24, 2011) – Harlequin Ranches’ 4-year-old Irish-bred filly Oregon Lady posted a mild upset in the $100,000 My Charmer Handicap (G3) at Calder Casino & Race Course on Thanksgiving Day, defeating Trip for A.J. by a neck. Snow Top Mountain was third with Denomination, the favorite, finishing fourth in a very close finish.
Ridden by jockey Paco Lopez for trainer Roger Attfield, Oregon Lady ran the 1 1/16 miles over a yielding turf course in 1:52.82 and paid $7.80, $5.00, and $3.20. The My Charmer was the filly’s first race over the Calder course.
W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2) & Fred Hooper Handicap (G3)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Nov. 24, 2011) – Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone’s 6-year-old Virginia homebred Winchester has ranked among North America’s best long-distance turf stakes performers for several seasons, and will be the favorite and horse to beat in Saturday’s $150,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2) at Calder Casino & Race Course.
Jockey Joe Bravo picks up the mount on Winchester for trainer Christophe Clement in the 40th edition of the 1 ½ miles turf marathon after he missed a second chance to run in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) early this month at Churchill Downs after an unsatisfactory endoscopic examination following a workout the weekend before at Belmont Park.
Tuesday, November 22 2011
Calder Barn Notes: 11-21-11
Trip for A.J. Set for My Charmer Thursday Rain or Shine
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (November 21, 2011) – Trainer Milt Wolfson is not particularly concerned for Peter Fuller’s 4-year-old filly Trip for A.J. whether Thursday’s $100,000 My Charmer Handicap (G3) at Calder Casino & Race Course goes as scheduled at 1 1/8 miles on turf, or wet conditions forced the race to the main track, although he has always felt she is better on grass than dirt.
Monday, November 21 2011
Denomination & ‘Snow Top’ Clash in My Charmer Thursday
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2011) – Ghislaine Head’s 5-year-old mare Denomination, winner of Graded stakes in each of her last two starts for trainer Christophe Clement, and Barbara Hunter’s Grade 1-placed 4-year-old filly Snow Top Mountain appear to be the horses to beat in a talented field of eight fillies and mares drawn for the $100,000 My Charmer Handicap (G3), highlight of Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day program at Calder Casino & Race Course. First race post time will be early at 11 a.m.
Jockey Joe Bravo will be aboard Denomination in the 1 1/8 miles turf test after winning the Violet Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park in late May and the Athenia Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park on Oct. 15 in her last two starts. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Smart Strike has won seven of 22 overall for earnings of $489,000.
