Grand Slam II Card Taking Shape
December 9th, 2007Miami Gardens, Fla. (December 8, 2007) —
Next Saturday’s Grand Slam II program at Calder Race Course with four Graded stakes worth a total of $600,000 promises to rank among the best cards of the Florida racing season with one of the highlights to be a highly-anticipated rematch between Live Oak Plantation’s remarkable 9-year-old gelding Revved Up and Herman Heinlein’s 3-year-old gelding Soldier’s Dancer in the $200,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2).
Trained by Christophe Clement, Revved Up was all out to hold off Soldier’s Dancer by a nose to win the $150,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup on Nov. 10 for the third year in a row, pushing his career earnings past $1.5 million with a highly consistent record of 41-19-9-1.
A roan homebred by Sultry Song, Revved Up lost a photo decision to Grade 1 winner Meteor Storm in the 2005 edition of the 12-furlong McKnight. Soldier’s Dancer is a son of Lost Soldier and won the Calder Derby (G3) by six lengths for trainer Dave Vivian prior to the Bonnie Heath.
While the two rivals will get plenty of attention in the McKnight, Zabeel Racing International’s 6-year-old Irish-bred Stream of Gold should also attract support after the son of Rainbow Quest finished second to division leader English Channel in the Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont Park in late September and a close-up fourth in the Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine on Oct. 21 for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
Also listed as possibles for the McKnight by Calder racing officials are Trillium Stable’s Dreadnaught, winner of the 2004 McKnight for Maryland-based horseman Tom Voss; Paul Dixon and partners’ Ascertain, Drumlanrig Farm’s Crown Point, Phipps Stable’s Dancing Forever, Elliot Mavorah’s Interpatation, Equirace.com’s Love Dubai and Stronach Stable’s Royal Challenger.
Expected to lead the cast for the $200,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (G2), companion event to the McKnight for fillies and mares, is Andrew and Marina Stone’s 3-year-old English-bred filly Dalvina. Trained by Graham Motion, the daughter of Grand Lodge won the 12-furlong Long Island Handicap (G2) over the Aqueduct course on Nov. 11 in her American debut after racing competitively in some of Europe’s best races for her division.
An intriguing prospect expected for the La Prevoyante is Joseph Higgins’ 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly Reform Act, who will be flying in from trainer Dermot Weld’s training center in Ireland. The daughter of Lemon Drop Kid has won three of 15 career starts in Ireland and England.
Also listed probable for the La Prevoyante are Robert S. Evans’ Dance Away Capote, G. Watts Humphrey, Jr.’s Jive, Corey Johnson’s Oh Deanne O and one of three fillies trained by Michael Matz—Lael Stable’s Eres Magica, Amelie Ehrnrooth’s Herboriste or Helen Groves’ Tejida.
Padua Stable’s 4-year-old Electrify, Lewis Pell and Michael Eigner’s 3-year-old Imawildandcrazyguy and Greg Besinger’s 6-year-old Summer Book, geldings that finished one-two-three, respectively, in the $200,000 Carl Rose Classic last out here on Nov. 10, are expected to meet again in the $100,000 Fred W. Hooper Handicap (G3) at 1 1/8 miles next Saturday.
The trio will face a fresh challenge from Leo-Sag Stable and partners’ 3-year-old gelding Actin Good, game winner of the $250,000 Pegasus Stakes (G3) to launch the Breeders’ Cup weekend at Monmouth Park on Oct. 26. Trained by Bobby Dibona, the son of Yes It’s True defeated Now A Victor in that race with the latter coming back to capture the Discovery Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct a month later.
Other likely to line up for the Fred Hooper are Dan Hurtak’s Big Lover, Gainesway Farm and Joseph Cornacchia’s Golden Strategy, Hardacre Farm’s Indy Wind, J. Robert Harris, Jr.s’ Rehoboth, World Thoroughbred Racing’s Wayzata Bay and Lewis Family Stables’ Whos Crying Now.
Completing the Grand Slam II stakes menu is the $100,000 Kenny Noe, Jr. Handicap (G3) at seven furlongs with Rolbea Thoroughbred Racing’s durable 3-year-old colt Finallymadeit expected to make his 19th start of the year and add to his season bankroll of nearly $350,000 for trainer Javier Negrete.
Others possible for the Kenny Noe, Jr. include Veranda Farm’s Guapeton, Edmund Gann’s Olympic, Millenium Farms’ Santana Strings, Teresa and David Palmer and partners’ Storm in May, Joel Sainer and Dave Braddy’s Yes He’s the Man and Richard Averill’s Paradise Dancer and/or D’Artagnans’spirit.
