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Mambo Meister scores in Miami Mile

Mambo Meister powered home to take his second graded win at Calder (Jim Lisa Photos) Quantum Racing Team #1 LLC's MAMBO MEISTER (King Cugat) just got up in Sunday's $100,000 Miami Mile H. (G3) to score by a head under jockey Manoel Cruz. The Philip Gleaves-trained five-year-old was sent off the 5-1 fourth choice in the eight-horse field and returned $13.60, $5 and $3.40 for finishing up in 1:35 over the firm Calder turf. "Mr. Gleaves told me that it was up to me to decide where I wanted this horse to be positioned in this race," Cruz said. "I appreciate that because I know the horse and in my opinion the pace doesn't matter because whether it is fast or slow up front, he has the same strong late kick. I just waited and let him get in stride and tell me when he was ready to move." Pinckney Hill (A.P. Indy) appeared to have the win in upper stretch, but wasn't able to hold off the late dash of Mambo Meister. Forced to settle for second, the 8-5 favorite paid $3.40 and $2.40 while ending the $44.60 exacta. It was another three parts of a length back to Pleasant Strike (Smart Strike), who gave $3 at 5-1 and concluded the $169.20 trifecta. March to Victory (Dixieland Band) finished out the 9-4-6-11 superfecta that totaled $809.80 and was followed under the wire by Fearless Eagle (Invisible Ink), who set the early pace in splits of :23, :47 3/5 and 1:11 1/5.

Storm Caller (Stormy Atlantic), Stones River (Monarchos) and Jet Propulsion (Double Honor), who won this event in 2007, rounded out the order of finish. Motovato (Proud Citizen), Dream Maestro (Concerto) and Gentleman James (Yankee Gentleman) were all scratched.

Mambo Meister finished first or second in six of his 10 starts last season, including scores in the Spend a Buck H. (G3), Big Bubble S. and grassy Blazing Sword S. at Calder. From three prior starts this year, the bay gelding was third in the Ft. Lauderdale S. (G3), fourth in the Donn H. (G1) and a tiring eighth in the Canadian Turf S. (G3). With this win to improve his record to 27-8-4-5, the five-year-old's career earnings stand at $421,645.

"We've given him breaks before, but this time we sent him to Plumley Farm (Ocala) for 30 days and I think it did him a world of good," Gleaves said. "This field came up tougher than I would have thought, so I'm very pleased with him. In his last race (Canadian Turf) I think the turf was a little harder than he prefers. We've already talked it over and decided that he'll stay here for the (May 31) Memorial Day (G3) on the main track next. He loves it here."

Bred in Kentucky by J.R. Cavanaugh, Mambo Meister is a half-brother to the multiple stakes-placed Captain Canaveral (Cape Canaveral). His dam, Bleu'slittlesecret (Desert Secret [Ire]), is a half-sister to stakes winners Bleu Victoriate (Victoriate), Nothingbutbluesky (Best of Both) and Bleu's Apparition (Silver Ghost). This is the family of 1977 Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) winner Olwyn (Relko).

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