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CALDER NOTEBOOK MAY 28, 2010 O'Connell Unveils Sharp Juveniles Trainer Kathleen O'Connell has developed a number of talented Florida homebred two-year-olds over the years for longtime client Gilbert Campbell, including millionaire Blazing Sword, the good filly Ivanavinalot, This Ones for Phil (Untuttable) and Fly by Phil (Act of Duty), the latter winner of the $100,000 Tropical Park Derby (G3) on New Year's Day this year. On Saturday, O'Connell sent out Campbell's two-year-old colt WATCH ME GO (West Acre) to capture his debut wire-to-wire by 1 3/4 lengths going 4 1/2 furlongs, with Jacks or Better Farms' Grande Shores (Black Mambo) second in the maiden special test, the latter a half-brother to Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil). Watch Me Go is a son of Campbell's home stallion West Acre, sire of Ivanavinalot. On Sunday, the same team was back in the winner's circle following the 5TH race after O'Connell sent out Campbell's homebred two-year-old filly BLUE EYED SWEETIE (West Acre) for a hard-fought neck victory in her career debut going the same 4 1/2 furlongs in maiden special company. She too is by the Forty Niner sire West Acre. O'Connell has finished in the top 10 in the trainer standings at more meets than not at Calder over the last decade, but won her first meet title here at the Tropical-at-Calder session that ended January 2 this year. She went on to finish in a tie for the championship at the long Tampa Bay Downs meet. As she has over the last several seasons, O'Connell will maintain a full division of 40 runners through the summer at Calder and another string when Colonial Downs in Virginia opens this weekend, where she finished third in the standings last year. Warren & Collazo post training triples As expected going into the meet, veteran jockey Manoel Cruz and 18-year-old apprentice Luis Saez continue to dominate the standings here a month into the session with Cruz holding a narrow lead of one at 25-24, but the top of the trainer's leader board provides a sharp contrast. Trainers Fred Warren and Henry Collazo each had a good day last week sending out three winners on a card, Warren on Friday and Collazo on Saturday. Warren and Steve DiMauro are tied for the lead at six apiece while Collazo, Chris Gatis and Dave Vivian are in a three-way tie at five apiece. Five others have saddled four winners each and 10 more have posted three wins. HORSES TO WATCH Friday (5/21) 4TH -- LETTIE'S RELIC (Relic Relic Relic) was pretty much eliminated early in the race when squeezed back between rivals as can often happen in a five-furlong turf sprint in a performance far below his usual consistent standard, checking in eight of nine. Throw that one out. Saturday (5/22) 7TH -- Grande Shores ran out of real estate going 4 1/2 furlongs, finishing second for the second time in as many starts. The half-brother to stakes winner and Preakness (G1) third-placer Jackson Bend may just need a little more distance after showing all indications of a potential good colt for trainer Stanley Gold. Sunday (5/23) 3RD -- DELINDA DELINE (Untuttable) moved forward in her second start after 17 months on the sidelines, finishing an even sixth following a no chance last of 12 at Gulfstream. She should be ready to cash maiden chip at this level. 9TH -- WICKED WOMAN OF NY (Alke) walked out of the gate and was not asked when hopelessly beaten in a race probably too tough for her to begin with after two-month freshening. A little easier spot in second start back and she should be competitive again.
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