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CALDER NOTEBOOK JULY 16, 2010 Bulk of Summit money stays home at Calder A formidable contingent of 16 stakes horses shipped into steamy South Florida to run in five of the seven stakes run on the $1.35 million Summit of Speed program at Calder Casino & Race Course last Saturday, but went home with only minor awards as home team sprint stars swept to victory in all four graded events on the program. The invaders struck first as trainer Rudy Rodriguez sent out seven-year-old gelding TAHOE WARRIOR (Carson City) to capture the $100,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint in his first start since being claimed for just $20,000 at Belmont Park out of his previous race on June 2, but it was all Calder-based horses in the winner's circle in the next six stakes races. Kentucky-based trainer Eddie Kenneally was on hand to saddle BUCKLEUPBUTTERCUP (Najran) to finish second in the $150,000 Azalea S. (G3) and WARBLING (Unbridled's Song) to finish second as the favorite in the $350,000 Princess Rooney H. (G1), while D' FUNNYBONE (D'wildcat) was upset finishing second at odds of 1-10 in the $200,000 Carry Back S. (G2) shipping in from New York for trainer Rick Dutrow. Trainers Marty Wolfson and David Fawkes led the way for the Calder home team sending out the winners of two stakes each -- Wolfson with COFFEE BOY (Yonaguska) in the Carry Back and JESSICA IS BACK (Put It Back) in the Princess Rooney. Fawkes scored with BIG DRAMA (Montbrook) in the $350,000 Smile Sprint H. (G2) and his two-year-old half-brother LITTLE DRAMA (Burning Roma) breaking his maiden in the $100,000 Frank Gomez Memorial. PICA SLEW (Pico Central [Brz]) remained perfect in three starts at the meet for trainer Joe Calascibetta, drawing clear rather easily of her three-year-old filly rivals in the Azalea, and could be Saratoga-bound for her next start in the Test S. (G1) on August 7. Jockeys flying in for the day fared much better than the horses, including several former Calder champions, notably Eibar Coa winning aboard the 'Drama' brothers, Jermaine Bridgmohan atop Coffee Boy and Elvis Trujillo in the saddle for Jessica is Back's mild upset. Edgar Prado rode Tahoe Warrior in the Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint. Weather conditions for the three-day race week, Friday-Sunday, were steamy hot with highs in the mid-90s, high humidity and no rain with early speed effective. However, as Wolfson noted after Jessica is Back scored in the Princess Rooney, despite the fact that the weather up North had been equally hot the previous week for the shippers, higher humidity in South Florida contributed to a decided home team advantage. HORSES TO WATCH Saturday (7/10) 7TH -- GRANDE SHORES (Black Mambo) was co-second choice in the Frank Gomez Memorial despite being a maiden after two starts, but the half-brother to Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil) stumbled when bumped between rivals early in the backstretch run, losing his rider. Apparently none the worse-for-wear, he breezed five furlongs in 1:02 3/5 on Wednesday morning (7/14). 8TH -- RAPPORT (Songandaprayer) shipped in from California and opened up a seven-length lead down the backstretch in the Azalea, but the trip and weather conditions obviously took their toll in the stretch as she tired to fourth. She'll carry that speed and ability farther under better conditions. 11TH -- FIRST PASSAGE (Giant's Causeway) broke from far outside post 11 in the Princess Rooney, raced four wide into the stretch, but was left with too much to do as she finished seventh. She has demonstrated better in the past. Sunday (7/11) 9TH -- LADY LOUSHE (Black Minnaloushe) was in tight and shuffled back to last early in the race and didn't get the best trip for her second race in a row, finishing fifth. With a slightly softer spot and clean trip, she'll get back to the winner's circle.
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