Tropical Turf, My Charmer top Calder Grand Slam

Warning Zone will make his first start off an extended layoff for new trainer Marty Wolfson (Benoit Photo) As a sign of the times, Calder’s Grand Slam I program on Saturday has been whittled down to the equivalent of a ground-rule double. Though the Frances Genter S. (G3) for three-year-old fillies is absent this year, bettors will be thrilled to see full fields populating both of the remaining graded stakes on the card, the Tropical Turf H. (G3) and My Charmer H. (G3) for fillies and mares. The nine-furlong grass tests each attracted a field of 12 in the main body with four also-eligibles in standby mode. There is no standout in the Tropical Turf, though many will be interested to see how WARNING ZONE (Chester House) fares off a layoff approaching 17 months. The five-year-old was last seen in July 2008 taking the Sunset H. (G2) at Hollywood Park, the same venue where he had previously won a division of the 2006 Generous S. (G3) and 2007 War Chant S. Though winless in stakes company outside Inglewood, California, the bay debuts Saturday for Marty Wolfson, whose strike rate with new acquisitions this year is 38 percent. Eddie Castro rides.

JET PROPULSION (Double Honor) owns a stellar 14-8-3-0 mark over the Calder
turf, including the 2007 Miami Mile H. (G3) and an easy 2 1/2-length allowance
score on October 10. Runner-up in the latter was PICKAPOCKET (Mecke), a strong
second to Soldier’s Dancer (Lost Soldier) in the Bonnie Heath Turf Cup November
14. Though Pickapocket has not won a stakes in more than three years, he is not
out of place against this field.

AMERICAIN (Dynaformer) won the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (Fr-G2) in his final
outing in France back in May, but the four-year-old has been an enigma for Todd
Pletcher, running far up the track in three U.S. appearances. A wake-up could
occur Saturday, or never. RADICAL SABBATICAL (Harlan’s Holiday) was third behind
recent Citation H. (G1) victor Fluke (Brz) (Wild Event) in an allowance/optional
claimer at Belmont two back, then landed an allowance over soft Keeneland turf
in mid-October.

The multiple Grade 3-placed MOTOVATO (Proud Citizen), runner-up in the Spend
a Buck H. (G3) at Calder last out, has never tried the turf before but does have
some grass influences from both his paternal and maternal sides. He obviously
becomes the favorite if the race gets switched to the main track, though
also-eligibles DREAM MAESTRO (Concerto) and TOO MANY TOYZ (Northern Afleet)
would also enter into the picture in that scenario.

BELLE ALLURE (Ire) (Numerous) could take most of the betting action in the My
Charmer off her solid 4-2-1-1 mark this season, the latest being a head
victory in the Athenia S. (G3) at Belmont, where she had to bull her way between
rivals to get up in time as the overwhelming 2-5 favorite. Trainer Christophe
Clement has won with three of his first four starters at the Tropical meet, and
national leader Julien Leparoux will be in for the riding assignment.

LEMONETTE (Lemon Drop Kid) cuts back in distance following second-place
efforts in the Long Island H. (G3) and Glens Falls H. (G3) over the last couple
of months, while QUIET HARBOR (Silver Deputy) seeks to prove her 10-1 upset of
the Violet S. (G3) at the Meadowlands last time was no fluke. CABLE
(Dynaformer), a very close third to Belle Allure in the Athenia, also goes for
Clement and will try and rebound from a wide-trip sixth in the Sabin S. at
Aqueduct.

LOMAKI (A.P. Indy) has a hit-or-miss record on turf, but enters off a closing
second in the River Memories S. at Woodbine. Hoping for a washout is the first
also-eligible JESSICA IS BACK (Put It Back), who has recorded three triple-digit
BRIS Speed ratings over Calder’s main track this season, including a sparkling
107 when taking the July 25 Nancy’s Glitter S. in the slop.