Monday, April 16 2012

Trinniberg Likely to Pass Derby; Derby Trial New Target

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (April 15, 2012) – With the final round of major prep races for the Kentucky Derby completed on Saturday, the Calder-based multiple graded stakes winner Trinniberg sits in 17th place in the latest graded-stakes earnings list. But even with his spot in the Derby starting gate seemingly assured, owner Shivananda Parbhoo has indicated that his colt is likely to pass the race.

“Right now I’m 85 percent not going to the Derby,” Parbhoo said on Sunday morning. “But I could reach 100 percent pretty soon. The way the horse is feeling right now, he’s doing so well, I don’t want to run him over his head. He’s a nice three-year-old with so many options the rest of the year. I don’t want to ruin him.”

Sunday, April 15 2012

Good Morning Diva Captures Calder Derby

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (April 14, 2012) – George J. Kerr’s Good Morning Diva turned back the persistent challenges of Dogwood Stable’s Big Screen to prevail by a neck in the 40th running of the $150,000 Calder Derby, covering the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:46.96 over a track listed as ‘good.’ The race, originally scheduled for turf, was moved to the main track following heavy morning rains in the area.

Trained by David Braddy, and ridden to victory by Fernando Jara, Good Morning Diva broke sharply from post two, charging to the front for the first 50 yards before yielding the lead to an eagerly handled Late Night Action.

Wednesday, April 11 2012

$150,000 CALDER DERBY ATTRACTS FULL FIELD OF 3-YEAR-OLDS

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (April 11, 2012) – After a one-year absence from the Calder Casino & Race Course stakes schedule, the $150,000 Calder Derby will make a strong return on Saturday as a competitive field of 12 3-year-olds will take to the Calder turf course for the 40th running, headed by Bruce Hollander and Cary Shapoff’s Csaba, recent third-place finisher in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Phil Gleaves, Csaba was a two-time winner on the Calder main track last year before closing out his 2-year-old season with a fifth-place finish in the $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes on the Gulfstream turf where he was beaten just over two lengths for everything.

Monday, April 09 2012

Parboo Stars Return to Calder with Big Plans Ahead

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (April 9, 2012) – Grade 2 Bay Shore winner Trinniberg, along with stablemate and Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen fifth-place finisher Giant Ryan, have begun their journey back to their home base at Calder where each will take steps toward an ambitious campaign set by owner Shivananda Parbhoo and trainer Bisnath Parboo.

“Both horses got on a van (in New York) at 4 a.m. this morning and we expect them to arrive some time early Tuesday morning,” Parbhoo said. “I had the option of flying both of them, but they both travel so well by van, and that’s really the way I prefer to ship my horses.”

Sunday, April 08 2012

Kentucky Derby Still in the Plans for Reveron

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (April 7, 2012) – One week after his surprising second-place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, where he was beaten just a length at 31-1, Stipa Racing Stable, Inc.’s Reveron walked the Barn 76 shedrow at Calder Casino & Race Course Saturday morning with the watchful eye of trainer Agustin Bezara following his every move.

“I never would have entered the race if I didn’t think he’d run like that,” Bezara said, speaking through interpreter Isaac Jimenez. “I knew going into the race that we had him ready, and he ran just like I knew he would. He came back from the race in excellent shape. He’s eating well, and everything has been perfect.”

Thursday, April 05 2012

Summer Front Tops List of Calder Derby Nominees

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (April 5, 2012) – A strong April stakes schedule at Calder Casino & Race Course will commence with the return of the $150,000 Calder Derby, a 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds on turf that was last held in 2010. Unbeaten Summer Front, from the barn of two-time Calder Derby winning conditioner Christophe Clement, tops the list of 36 nominations received for the 2012 running, to be contested Saturday, April 14.

Owned by Waterford Stable, Summer Front exits a winning performance in the $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park on December 18 where the colt overcame a poor start to post a 1 ½-length victory over last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf favorite Finale and Juvenile Turf runner-up Excaper. Prior to that effort, the son of War Front captured the $60,000 King Cugat at Aqueduct in November and a maiden race at Belmont Park in September.

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.