Calder Casino & Race Course will host a special holiday program of live racing on Wednesday, July 4, with the $55,000 Sweettrickydancer Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf to highlight the Independence Day card.
Stride Rite Racing Stable, Inc.’s homebred filly Frolic’s Revenge, never better than when a 17-length winner of the Regal Gal Stakes in her last, looks the likely favorite in the one-mile turf test, which drew a field of 10.
Trained by Milt Wolfson, Frolic’s Revenge is a three-time stakes winner at Calder and has won both of her starts at the meet, adding a grassy victory in the $100,000 Calder Oaks to her Regal Gal triumph.
The only other turf-stake winner among the Sweettrickydancer field is Tracy Pinchin’s Sinister Brew, winner of the John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes last year. Beaten over 20 lengths by Frolic’s Revenge in the Regal Gal, the daughter of Sinister Brew has since returned with a commanding four-length victory against upper-level claiming rivals.
An intriguing option in the race is Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson’s lightly-raced filly Boldy, a maiden winner on the Tampa turf in her last start back on April 4. The daughter of Forest Wildcat starts for trainer Curtis Garrison, who has won with each of his last four starters at Calder, and will be ridden by Manoel Cruz.
SUMMIT OF SPEED PREP WORK CONTINUES
Several horses pointed towards a start in next weekend’s Summit of Speed program littered the morning work tab at Calder on Saturday, including a half-mile breeze from Smile Sprint hopeful Apriority, who covered the distance in :49 for trainer Dave Fawkes.
“The work went well and everything is a go for the Smile,” Fawkes confirmed Saturday afternoon.
Also working a half-mile on Saturday was possible Smile Sprint starter Indiano, who posted a four-furlong move in :49.40. Trained by Marty Wolfson for Stud El Aguila, the son of Indian Charlie was a Summit of Speed day hero in 2011 when a three-length winner of the Grade 2 Carry Back. Indiano was last seen finishing third in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes in late December, a race won by Apriority.
Wolfson also worked possible Hollywood Wildcat starter Speak Easy Gal on Saturday. The daughter of West Acre, a graded stakes winner that exits a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 All Along Stakes at Colonial Downs, logged a half-mile in :50.
Two-time Calder stakes winner Angelica Zapata worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 as the Ron Pellegrini trainee prepares for the Hollywood Wildcat, while likely Azalea Stakes participant Citizen Advocate went a half-mile in :49.60 for trainer Dave Vivian and Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint and Smile Sprint nominee Determinato blasted a bullet half-mile in :47.40.
CHAMAFI TALLIES FIRST U.S. WIN
Apprentice rider Jilver Chamafi, who arrived at Calder earlier this month from his native Panama, notched his first win in the United States on Saturday when prevailing in the first race of the day aboard Our Plum Putting for trainer Kirk Ziadie.
From the province of Darién, Chamafi is a December 2011 graduate of the acclaimed Laffit Pincay, Jr. Jockey School at Presidente Remon Racetrack. During a four-month span from February through May, Chamafi dueled with veteran rider Luis Arango for top honors at the track.
JOCKEY ANGEL CASTILLO A VISITING WINNER
Jockey Angel Castillo, in town from Parx Racing in Philadelphia to ride Salamera in Saturday’s $100,000 J J’s Dream Stakes, visited the Calder winner’s circle on Friday after guiding Sheik Polis to a 3 ¼-length victory in the fourth race for trainer Jesus Prada.
Castillo, currently tied for 11th in the Parx jockey table, will return north following Saturday’s races.