MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (July 25, 2008) – Owner-breeder-trainer Wesley Ward is busy with horses campaigning at major racing centers coast-to-coast this summer, including a division at Calder Race Course, and shipped 2-year-old filly My Sweet Natalie in earlier this season with apparent designs on the $75,000 Georgia Juvenile Filly Turf Dash on Sat., Aug. 2, a race he won last year.
Ward brought Excessive Heat to Calder last summer after his homebred daughter of Bring the Heat had made her first two starts in California where she was bred, and she won the Georgia Juvenile Filly Turf by 4 ¾ lengths in her grass course debut, later selling her privately to Chicago-based trainer Larry Rivelli and partner Richard Ravin.
Also nominated for the Georgia Juvenile Filly Turf is Streamin Heat, another daughter of Bring the Heat bred in California by Ward but now listed as owned by Richard Ravin and trained by Larry Rivelli. A full-sister to Excessive Heat, Streamin Heat made her first three starts in California with Ward as co-owner and trainer, including her victory in the $100,000 CTBA Stakes at Del Mar on July 18 after breaking her maiden at Hollywood Park.
Trainer David Brownlee won the 2006 edition of the Georgia Juvenile Filly Turf with J D Farm’s Dantrelle Light and has a trio of homebreds eligible for this renewal, all three maiden daughters of Colony Light after two starts at the meet. Whatta Light has shown the best so far, finishing second in both of her outings while Avalon Light has finished third in each of her appearances.
Cruz & Lopez Tied for Lead in Calder Standings Going into Weekend
The rivalry between veteran jockey Manoel Cruz and apprentice Paco Lopez for leading rider honors at Calder Race Course this season has become a day-to-day affair, and the two will go into this weekend’s action tied with 63 victories apiece after Cruz posted a pair of winners on Thursday’s program and Lopez one.
Newcomer Javier Santiago is still in touch with the two leaders in third only 10 back with 53 tallies, followed by Eduardo Nunez in fourth at 41 and Ariel Smith fifth with 40.
Defending Calder Meet leading trainer Kirk Ziadie continues to hold a clear lead over his rivals sending out 28 winners at the session, eight more than veteran Dan Hurtak second with 20. Eddie Plesa, Jr. ranks third with 19, followed by Marty Wolfson fourth at 17.
Plesa also maintains a full division this summer at Monmouth Park and ranks in a tie for seventh in the standings there with 11 winners and stable star Gottcha Gold set to run in Saturday’s $75,000 Skip Away Stakes. The Centaur Farms’ 5-year-old boasts a 10-5-4-0 career record over the Monmouth track, including a runner-up performance behind Corinthian in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last fall.
‘Summit of Speed’ Veteran Black Seventeen in A.G. Vanderbilt at Spa
Trainer Brian Koriner shipped 4-year-old Black Seventeen from California last summer to Calder Race Cousre to capture the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes (G2) with Teuflesburg second on ‘Summit of Speed’ day, and has sent the colt east again for Saturday’s renewal of the $250,000 A.G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G2) at Saratoga, a designated ‘Win and You’re In’ test for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Division.
A Florida-bred son of Is It True, Black Seventeen did not run again last year after the Carry Back and has made only one start this season, finishing second in the Oakland Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on June 14 with the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita in late October the goal.
Black Seventeen will not have to face IEAH Stable and partners’ Sprint Division leader Benny the Bull in the A.G. Vanderbilt as he is being reserved for a start next in the $250,000 Forego Stakes (G1) at the Spa on Aug. 30 after his imposing victory in the $400,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (G2) on Calder’s ‘Summit of Speed’ day this year on July 12 for trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr.
Benny the Bull is on track to make his next appearance after the ‘Summit’ in a Grade I race at Saratoga as are two of the other three winners of the ‘Big Four’ Graded stakes on this year’s ‘Summit’ card at Calder.
J. Paul Reddam’s 4-year-old filly Mistical Plan captured the $400,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (G1) by 5 ¾ lengths for trainer Doug O’Neill and she is expected to run back in the $250,000 Ballerina Handicap (G1) on Aug. 24.
M375 Thoroughbreds and Suarez Racing’s 3-year-old Golden Spikes won the $250,000 Carry Back for Calder-based trainer Marty Wolfson and has the $250,000 King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) on Travers Day, Aug. 23 next on his schedule if all goes well.