Saturday’s Grand Slam II program features four stakes at Calder — the
$200,000
La Prevoyante H. (G2), $200,000
W.L. McKnight H. (G2), $100,000
Fred
Hooper H. (G3) and $100,000
Kenny Noe Jr. H. — and all four events have drawn
talented horses.
The La Prevoyante, which kicks off the festivities in the 8TH race, drew a
field of 12 fillies and mares for 1 1/2 grassy miles, and Grade 1 queen FILM
MAKER (Dynaformer) is the 119-pound highweight. Runner-up in the 2004 Breeders’
Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), the Graham Motion-trained five-year-old exits a
third in this year’s event at Belmont Park and has earned more than $1.2
million. Edgar Prado will ride the classy mare. Grade 2 winners SPOTLIGHT (GB)
(Dr Fong) and MOSCOW BURNING (Moscow Ballet) are among her top challengers.
NOBLE STELLA (Ger) (Monsun), winner of this year’s Dance Smartly H. (Can-G3)
and a close sixth in the E.P. Taylor H. (Can-G1) most recently, will lead the
post parade under a 114-pound impost that includes Eddie Castro. Next comes LA
SAMI (Per) (Laubali), Alfredo Clemente, 112; Spotlight, Brice Blanc, 116;
MILWAUKEE (Fr) (Desert King), Chris DeCarlo, 115; SISTER SWANK (Skip Away),
Manoel Cruz, 113; A LULU OFA MENIFEE (Menifee), Rafael Bejarano, 113; Film
Maker; Moscow Burning, David Flores, 117; MISS NASHWAN (Ire) (Nashwan), Joe
Bravo, 113; VERY VERY (Royal Academy), Julio Garcia, 112; KATE WINSLET (Signal
Tap), Shaun Bridgmohan, 115; and JOYFUL CHAOS (Rahy), Javier Castellano, 113.
Grade 1 conqueror METEOR STORM (GB) (Bigstone [Ire]), who is scheduled to
head to Australia for stud duty next year, will make his final U.S. appearance
in the McKnight. Runner-up in the Canadian International (Can-G1) last out for
conditioner Wally Dollase, Meteor Storm is seeking his first win this year but
has also recorded runner-up finishes in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1),
Belmont Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) and San Luis Rey H. (G2). His rivals on Saturday
include Grade 1 winners PELLEGRINO (Brz) (Nugget Point [Ire]) and REQUEST FOR
PAROLE (Judge T C).
An overflow of 16 have been entered for the 12-furlong turf affair, but only
12 will be allowed to start in the McKnight. The entrants, from the rail, are
ROUSING VICTORY (Victory Gallop), Prado, 115; SCOOTER ROACH (Mi Cielo), Bravo,
114; Pellegrino, Bridgmohan, 115; FRANKLIN’S TOWER (Cape Town), DeCarlo, 113;
Request for Parole, Castro, 114; DEMETEOR (Dehere), Jorge Chavez, 114;
DREADNAUGHT (Lac Ouimet), Jean-Luc Samyn, 116; REVVED UP (Sultry Song), Blanc,
117; NOBLE MASTERPIECE (Regal Classic), Flores, 114; SILVERFOOT (With Approval),
Bejarano, 117; Meteor Storm, Castellano, 118; and WILD BUDDY (Line in the
Sand), Corey Nakatani, 115. The also-eligibles are GO DEPUTY (Deputy Minister),
DeCarlo, 113; RAMAZUTTI (Honor Grades), Cruz, 112; RUMOR HAS IT (Awesome Again),
Cruz, 112; and SUPERVISOR (Skip Away), Aurelio Toribio Jr., 112.
The Fred Hooper, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, has a
field of 11, including Carl G. Rose Classic H. victor WHOS CRYING NOW
(Concerto), Belmont S. (G1) runner-up ANDROMEDA’S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus) and
Supervisor, who is cross-entered to the McKnight but much more proven on the
main track, winning the Spend a Buck H. (G3) two starts back and finishing
second by a head in the Carl Rose last out.
In post position order, the contestants are Whos Crying Now, Cruz, 117;
DAZZLING DR. CEVIN (Cutlass Fax), Castro, 114; ITSAWONDERFULIFE (Skip Away),
Rajiv Maragh, 113; NIIGON (Unbridled), Cornelio Velasquez, 113; GRAND CANYON
(Chi) (Crary), Jose Rivera II, 114; MILITARY MAJOR (Rahy), Jose Ferrer, 114;
SEEK GOLD (Touch Gold), Prado, 113; Andromeda’s Hero, Bejarano, 114; Supervisor,
Toribio, 117; SIR JACKIE (Sweetsouthernsaint), Eddie Nunez, 113; and MISTER
FOTIS (Diligence), Chavez, 112.
Andromeda’s Hero and Seek Gold will run coupled for trainer Nick Zito.
Grade 1 king SILVER WAGON (Wagon Limit), runner-up in this year’s Met Mile
(G1), is the top draw for the seven-furlong Kenny Noe. The four-year-old gray
will spot weight to six opponents as the 118-pound highweight, and the Ralph
Ziadie charge will start from the rail with Velasquez. To their outside come
CHAMPAGNE ACCOUNT (Top Account), Nunez, 112; UNIVERSAL FORM (Formal Dinner),
Cruz, 114; STORM SURGE (Storm Cat), Bejarano, 113; TAINT SO (Silver Deputy),
Castellano, 112; Mister Fotis, Chavez, 114; and KENNEL UP (Joyeux Danseur),
Castro, 114.