Calder Summit of Speed: Grade II Smile Sprint Handicap and Grade I Princess Rooney Stakes

LeBron isn’t the only one rushing to Miami! A lot of fast horses are running there too!

That somewhat forgotten racetrack in Miami, Calder Racecourse, showcases sprinters this Saturday at the Calder Summit of Speed.

The two biggest races on their card are the Grade II Smile Sprint Handicap and the Grade I Princess Rooney Stakes.

Calder Summit of Speed – Saturday

Calder – Race 10

Where: Miami, FL

When: July 10 th, 2010 at 5:13 pm EST

TV: HRTV

$350,000 Grade II Smile Sprint Handicap

For Three-Year-Olds And Upward

6 furlongs over dirt

With all of the speed lined-up in this race, it makes sense to look for a presser or closer. That presser or closer figures to be either Mambo Meister or Congressional Page. I’m going to bet on Congressional Page because he’s listed at 8 to 1 on the morning line meaning that he might be a serious overlay once the gates open. The Michael Trombetta trainee has a record of 6-2-1 out of 11 lifetime races. He’s 5 for 5 at the 7-furlong distance and should get a perfect trip a few lengths behind the speed. Unless the track is “juiced” on Saturday, this guy could win. Mambo Meister drops out of a 1 1/6 th miles race to this 6-furlong distance. My prediction is that he’ll go off as the favorite right before the gates open. For that reason, and that reason alone, I’m not going to bet on him to win. This race is too tough to take a short price on a horse. Go Go Shoot figures to face a lot of other early speed in this but he should go off at a fair price and trainer Todd Pletcher doesn’t enter them unless they can win. He’ll take down the other speed and has a shot to possibly hang on for 3 rd.

1. Congressional Page
2. Mambo Meister
3. Go Go Shoot

Calder – Race 11

Where: Miami, FL

When: July 10 th, 2010 at 5:41 pm EST

TV: HRTV

$350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap

For Fillies and Mares Three-Year-Olds And Upward

6 furlongs over dirt

What a difficult race to handicap! After looking at this thing for about 2 hours, I’ve settled on Mother Ruth. Trainer Bob Baffert must feel like he’s got a winner on his hands or he wouldn’t have sent this gal all the way to Miami. Besides having a record of 4-3-1 out of 9 lifetime races, Mother Ruth is coming off of a sensational victory in a restricted stakes at Lone Star Park where she won by 7 lengths. Once Baffert gets them good, a lot of times they stay good and I’m not going to complain about those 6 to 1 morning line odds. Hour Glass is coming out of a victory in the Grade II Vagrancy where she beat Rightly So. Rightly So came back to win a graded race last week. Hour Glass is 4-1-0 out of 5 races at the distance and 5-3-0 out of 9 lifetime races overall. All of the speed in this really sets it up for her. Jessica Is Back may be a much, much better horse going a distance of ground, but she’s not a bad sprinter either. In fact, she’s won 3 races at this 6-furlong distance and is 6-5-1 out of 17 races over Calder’s main track. She could surprise.

1. Mother Ruth
2. Hour Glass
3. Jessica Is Back

Good luck!

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