TROPICAL-AT-CALDER NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 10, 2010
Fresh players spice Tropical-at-Calder cards
The daily arrival into South Florida of horses, horsemen and even
horseplayers from the Northeast and Midwest for the winter season is apparent
on each program run at Calder Casino & Race Course this month, notably last week
when Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens made an appearance in the winner’s
circle following Monday’s 4TH race victory by Joseph V. Shields Jr.’s
four-year-old TARGHEE PASS (War Chant).
Jerkens has sent out runners to finish second and fourth earlier in the week to
get his winter campaign started with a modest stable. Other horsemen in action
last week after recently shipping into Gulfstream Park, Palm Meadows or Payson
Park included Todd Pletcher, Nick Zito, Christophe Clement, Angel Penna Jr.,
Rick Dutrow, Bill Mott, Seth Benzel, Patrick Biancone, Mary Hartmann and others.
Hartmann will be in the spotlight on Saturday as she sends out Patricia
Generazio’s remarkable seven-year-old gelding PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem) to
make his fourth consecutive appearance in the $150,000 W. L. McKnight H. (G2),
one of the Miami track’s most storied fixtures being run for the 39th time.
Presious Passion captured back-to-back editions of the 12-furlong W. L.
McKnight in 2007 and 2008, but his bid for a ‘three-peat’ last December was
foiled when he finished fifth after getting caught up in an unfortunate
speed duel with a run-off rival ridden by an apprentice with little experience
at the time. The race was won by Cloudy’s Knight (Lord Avie) with Spice Route
(GB) (King’s Best) second and
Winchester (Theatrical [Ire]) third.
A number of the nation’s leading jockeys who will be riding regularly in
South Florida this winter were on hand for the first time last Saturday for
mounts in the $100,000 Tropical Park Turf H. (G3) and $100,000 My Charmer H.
(G3), including John Velazquez, Kent Desormeaux, Edgar Prado and Joe Bravo,
although none will ride enough at Calder to hit the leader board for the
Tropical session.
Going into Thursday’s program (December 9), 39-year-old veteran jockey Daniel
Centeno maintained a narrow lead in the jockey standings with 30 wins, although
he will likely be bound for Saturday’s opener at Tampa Bay Downs, where he has been leading rider
or highly-ranked in recent years.
Three-time Tropical meet titlist Manoel Cruz would appear to be the favorite
to add another trophy to his collection as he currently is one behind Centeno
with 29 victories, followed by apprentice John Delgado still going strong
in third one more back with 28 tallies. Luis Saez, who led the Calder
spring/summer/fall standings, remains within striking distance in fourth with 25.
The Tropical trainer’s title chase often goes down to the final days and
appears headed in that direction again this season with David Fawkes and Steve Dwoskin currently atop the leader board with 12 wins apiece and Dave Braddy only
one back in third with 11. Bisnath Parboo continues to do well in fourth with 10,
while Antonio Sano and Chris Gatis are tied for fifth with eight each.
HORSES TO WATCH
Friday (12/3)
9TH — DIVA D’ORO (Medaglia d’Oro) made a big jump forward to finish third at
26-1 after prompting the early pace in her second start at Calder, second off
a lengthy layoff and second try for new connections. She will likely not be risked
for the $25,000 optional claiming tag in her next start.
Saturday (12/4)
9TH — MISS WORLD (Bernstein) finished an even fourth and appears ready to
regain the three-year-old form that makes her a lot bigger threat than the 21-1
she was in this race with plenty of opportunities ahead this winter at
Gulfstream or Tampa Bay Downs.
11TH — BIM BAM (Deputy Wild Cat) got all the worst of a four-wide trip in
his biggest test to date against proven older horses, finishing fifth, beaten
only 2 1/2 lengths for it all at 28-1. He showed that he was a stakes-quality turf
runner during the Gulfstream meet last winter.