Notes on the Saturday Program
December 12th, 2008By Jude T. Feld
Put on your Tommy Bahama…Summer is back at Calder!
The Grand Slam card at Calder and the Hollywood Starlet (G1) at Hollywood Park give Saturday a summer-like feel in the midst of the cold Midwest December. Check the weather at Hollywood before wagering as showers are predicted.
CALDER’s 7TH RACE is the Kenny Noe, Jr. (G3). HOW’S YOUR HALO has shown steady improvement in his last three starts since returning to the Brian Pritchard stable. A repeat of his Radar Love Stakes victory puts him right back in the winners’ circle today.
Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard is having a banner year. He will saddle PALMILLA in the La Prevoyante (G2), CALDER’s 8TH RACE. The daughter of Crowd Pleaser ran a bang-up second to fellow entrant Herboriste in the Rood and Riddle Dowager at Keeneland’s fall meeting and can turn the tables on that one today with a patient ride from Elvis Trujillo.
The Fred W. Hooper (G3), CALDER’s 9TH RACE, has a speed-laden field. With a quick pace expected, it would seem TRUTH RULES should benefit most. The son of Vindication, from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, always gives his best. Having underrated jockey Jeremy Rose in the saddle only enhances his chances.
CALDER’s 10TH RACE is the William McKnight (G2). Lightly-raced SUMMER PATRIOT seems like the “now†horse in a group of jaded runners. He runs well fresh, can get the marathon distance and will have jockey Javier Castellano to guide him. It all adds up to a big performance.
Trainer Jeff Runco ships his stable star, RESEARCHER, to New York for the Queens County (G3), AQUEDUCT’s 8TH RACE. The Virginia-bred gelding has won his last three starts – all with triple-digit Brisnet speed figures. He gets in with a feather and draws the advantageous rail in a very short field.
The Hollywood Starlet (G1) is HOLLYWOOD PARK’s 9TH RACE. Winner of the Jessamine at Keeneland’s fall meeting, LARAGH finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in her next start. The grey daughter of Tapit, bred in Kentucky by Mike Ryan, should like the speed-favoring Hollywood cushion track and there isn’t much pace entered to push her.
