Grand Slam I features Tropical Turf, My Charmer

BALLAST (Ire) (Desert Prince [Ire]) will pursue his second consecutive

victory in the Tropical Park H. (G3) on Saturday. One of four $100,000 stakes on

Calder's Grand Slam I program, the 1 1/8-mile Tropical Turf drew an overflow of

15 entries, including three also-eligibles. The Graham Motion-trained Ballast

will be seeking his first victory since posting a 1 1/4-length decision in the

2006 edition of the Tropical Turf, and the six-year-old gelding will get a new rider in Kent Desormeaux.

GO BETWEEN (Point Given) is a top contender for Bill Mott. The four-year-old

colt will bring a two-race winning skein into the Tropical Turf, winning the

Fayette S. (G3) over Polytrack last out and the grassy Louisiana Breeders' Cup

H. two starts back. A Grade 2 hero, Go Between owns five overall stakes wins and

has earned more than $1.2 million. Cornelio Velasquez will guide the 122-pound

highweight.

Grade 1 victor HOST (Chi) (Hussonet) finished a respectable fifth in the

Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) and will make his first start for conditioner Tom

Albertrani. Eddie Castro will pilot the seven-year-old. FISHY ADVICE (Woodman)

also merits respect. The David Donk-conditioned horse exits a one-length score

in the Knickerbocker H. (G3), and the runner-up from that event, Thorn Song

(Unbridled's Song), posted an impressive win in the River City H.. (G3) next

out.

Host will lead the post parade under a 118-pound impost. Next comes

MINISTER'S JOY (Deputy Minister), Manoel Cruz, 116; Ballast, 115; NATIONAL

CAPTAIN (SAf) (Captain Al), Jose Lezcano, 114; MAGIC MECKE (Mecke), Elvis

Trujillo, 116; Go Between; PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem), Jorge Chavez, 117;

Fishy Advice, Javier Castellano, 118; GIANT WRECKER (Giant's Causeway), Jose

Velez Jr., 117; SALINJA (Boundary), Rebecca Homeister Jr., 114; BARON VON TRAP

(Pleasant Tap), Manny Aguilar, 115; and TOUCHED BY MADNESS (Sword Dance [Ire]),

Roberto Alvarado Jr., 116.

The also-eligibles are IMAWILDANDCRAZYGUY (Wild Event), Cruz, 114; REHOBOTH

(Wagon Limit), Velasquez, 113; and BALLONENOSTRIKES (Lost Soldier), Pedro Cotto

Jr., 113.

Five-time stakes queen J'RAY (Distant View) is among 11 distaffers in the My

Charmer H. (G3), which will also take place at nine furlongs on the grass.

Winner of last year's Tropical Park Oaks, the Todd Pletcher-trained filly ran

well earlier this season, easily capturing the Bayou Breeders' Cup H. (G3), but

J'ray will attempt to rebound from a pair of unplaced effort versus New

York-bred rivals. Cruz will pick up the mount,

ANNABILL (Outflanker) will bring a three-race, stakes-winning streak at

Calder into the My Charmer, and the speedy BAYOU'S LASSIE (Outflanker) also owns

a trio of stakes victories at the South Florida oval. Four-time stakes heroine

REDASPEN (Bianconi) is another contender. FANTASTIC SHIRL (Fantastic Light), a

half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Shakespeare, is a stakes victress this

year for Kiaran McLaughlin.

The complete cast is MS. LYDONIA (Labeeb [GB]), Aguilar, 114; LA DOLCE VITA

(Quiet American), Castellano, 117; COZZI CAPITAL (Cozzene), Jeffrey Sanchez,

114; Redaspen, Clifford Dooley, 116; GADOLINIUM (Greenwood Lake), Luis

Gutierrez, 112; SHAPIRA (Chi) (Hussonet), Castro, 115; BEAUTIFUL DANIELE (A.P.

Indy), Desormeaux, 115; Bayou's Lassie, Trujillo, 116; Fantastic Shirl,

Velasquez, 116; Annabill, Chavez, 116; and J'ray, 120.

The

What a Pleasure S. and

Three

Ring S., for two-year-olds and two-year-old fillies, respectively, round out

the Grand Slam I program. COAL PLAY (Mineshaft), a smart 1 3/4-length maiden

special weight winner at Belmont Park last out, figures to be a heavy favorite

for Nick Zito in the What a Pleasure. The bay colt will face only four rivals in

the 1 1/16-mile event on the main track. Six fillies will contest the Three

Rings, which will also be held at 8 1/2 furlongs. Unbeaten INDY'S ALEXANDRA

(Flatter), a 13 1/4-length winner over allowance/optional claiming rivals last

out, will make her stakes debut for Marty Wolfson. Stakes winners SILK RIDGE (Eltish)

and CALICO BAY (Three Wonders) are also in the field.

Calder will give away a Grand Slam T-shirt to patrons with paid admission,

while supplies last.