Summit of Speed Charter Flights Schedule to South Florida Set

Led by 2008 Eclipse champions Benny the Bull and Indian Blessing, a large contingent of the nation's leading sprinters in all divisions are due to be flown into South Florida next week to compete in the rich races to be run on the $1.45 million Summit of Speed program at Calder Race Course.

IEAH Stables and partners' 6-year-old Benny the Bull will lead the New York-based invaders set to depart Farmingdale Airport on Long Island Tuesday morning on a Tex Sutton Forwarding charter direct into nearby Opa Locka Airport in Miami. Benny the Bull sealed his Eclipse title last year winning the Smile Sprint Handicap (G2) on Summit day for trainer Rick Dutrow.  

The Tex Sutton plane will then be bound for Southern California where Hal and Patti Earnhardt's 4-year-old filly Indian Blessing, trained by Bob Baffert, will be the star passenger on the Thursday morning flight from Ontario Airport near Santa Anita that will bring California-trained runners. The flight will stop over in Louisville to pick up a number of Kentucky-trained Summit runners on the way into Opa Locka that afternoon.

As many as 20 horses could be invading for five of the seven stakes on the Summit program, highlighted by Benny the Bull's title defense with regular rider Edgar Prado aboard in the $350,000 Smile Sprint and Indian Blessing as the likely favorite in the $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (G1) with jockey Mike Smith along for the ride.

Unbridled Prayer Takes Next Step in Saturday Allowance Feature

Three optional/allowance races will highlight Saturday's 13-race July 4 holiday program at Calder Race Course, and leading trainer Marty Wolfson sends out Elite Racing Company's 3-year-old filly Unbridled Prayer as the likely favorite against six rival fillies and mares in the 12th race after she broke her maiden over the track last out by 11 lengths.

Jockey Javier Santiago gets a return call on Unbridled Prayer in the one-mile main track test after her easy score going one mile and 70 yards on a ‘good' track on May 31 in her first start since joining the Wolfson barn earlier that month.

A daughter of Songandaprayer, Unbridled Prayer finished second, third and fourth in three races sprinting on the main track at Gulfstream Park early this year to begin her career for trainer Christophe Clement. She then finished a game second going a mile on turf over the Calder course for Clement on May 1 and was left with Wolfson at Calder as Clement shipped back to New York from his Payson Park winter quarters.

Completing the field are Arilda Barroso's Blue Rage, Jesus Rios and Northbound Express; Elsaida and Easton De Souza's Another Fast Cat, Jose Verenzuela; Kay Hale's Imelda Oh, Luis Arango; Rose Family Stable's Lady Lori, Luis Colon; and Los Aquacates' Silkily, Manoel Cruz.

Calder Favorites in Action at Belmont & Monmouth over Holiday Weekend

It's a Bird, Finallymadeit, Dry Martini, Smooth Air, Presious Passion, Spice Route and Wesley have won Graded stakes at Calder Race Course, and all seven are entered in action in Graded stakes Saturday, July 4 at Belmont Park or Monmouth Park.

Edmund Gann's 6-year-old It's a Bird remains based at Calder with trainer Marty Wolfson and is listed as the morning line favorite for Saturday's $400,000 Suburban Handicap (G2) at Belmont. The son of Birdonthewire has won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in Arkansas and Lone Star Handicap (G3) in Texas in his last two starts shipping out of Calder.

It's a Bird's rivals in the Suburban include Rolbea Thoroughbred Racing's 5-year-old Finallymadeit, winner of the last two renewals of the Memorial Day Handicap (G3) at Calder; and Carol Nyren's 6-year-old gelding Dry Martini, winner of the Memorial Day in 2007 for trainer Harry Benson, but now based in New York with trainer Barclay Tagg.

One of the most celebrated stars developed and based at Calder in recent years has been Mount Joy Stable's Florida homebred 4-year-old Smooth Air, runner-up in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont last out on May 25 for veteran trainer Bennie Stutts, Jr. The son of Smooth Jazz won the Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) in his previous start.    

After the Met Mile, Smooth Air was left on at Belmont with trainer Chad Brown to prepare for his summer schedule in the northeast, beginning with the $250,000 Salvator Mile (G3) Saturday at Monmouth Park and possibly the Whitney Handicap (G1) at Saratoga thereafter.

More names familiar to Calder fans will be lining up at Monmouth one race after the Salvator Mile led by Patricia Generazio's 6-year-old gelding Presious Passion, winner of the last two editions of the W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2) at Calder. Trained by Mary Hartmann, the chestnut son of Royal Anthem will bid for a repeat victory in the $750,000 United Nations (G1).

Presious Passion's rivals include Harlequin Ranches and partners' 5-year-old gelding Spice Route, winner of the Tropical Turf Handicap (G3) at Calder in early December for trainer Roger Attfield; and J. Paul Reddam and Willmott Stable's 4-year-old Wesley, winner of the Miami Mile Handicap (G3) in late April for trainer Mark Hennig before shipping north for the  summer.