Tropical Turf

Laura and Eugene Melnyk's HOST (Chi) (Hussonet) came wide turning for home in

Saturday's $100,000

Tropical Turf H. (G3) at Calder and just got up at the

wire to nip fellow 8-5 co-favorite Silver Tree (Hennessy) by a neck in the

nine-furlong grassy event.

Content to rate off fractions of :47 and 1:10 set by Keep Cool

(Frosty the Snowman), Host and jockey John Velazquez began edging closer to the

leaders after a mile in 1:33 4/5. Entering the stretch, the Todd Pletcher

trainee was asked for his best run and responded, with Silver Tree in an all-out

drive as well. But the four-year-old would prevail, getting a neck in

front at the line, while Eibar Coa and Silver Tree held second by a half-length

over 48-1 Demeteor (Dehere), who pressed the early lead. Mogador (Danzig)

closed well to complete the superfecta.

They were followed under the line by In

Hand (Belong to Me), Keep Cool, Private Scandal (Not for Love), Sea Pleasure (Mecke),

Bob's Proud Moment (Proud and True), Final Prophecy (World Stage [Ire]),

Colonial Bay (Pleasant Colony) and Pah (Saithor). Dependable Herbie (Robyn

Dancer), Sir Walter Rahy (Rahy), Twilight Road (Cahill Road) and Gold Dollar

(Seattle Slew) were all withdrawn.

The winner returned $5.40, $2.80, and $2.80 while keying a $13 exacta. Silver

Tree gave back $2.80 and $2.60, and Demeteor was worth $11.20 on the bottom of

the $288.80 trifecta. The 7-3-2-10 superfecta with Mogador paid $2,139.

This is Host's second graded stakes win after taking the Knickerbocker H.

(G2) last out, but he has also placed in the Cliff Hanger H. (G3) and Excelsior

Breeders' Cup H. (G3) this season. Prior to coming to the states, he was named

Horse of the Year in his native Chile last year. Host improved his mark to 12-7-2-3 to match earnings

of $255,119, and the chestnut is out of the winning Roy mare Colonna Traiana.

The victory gave Pletcher and Velazquez a sweep of both races graded races on

Calder's Grand Slam I program, following Something Ventured's (Cobra King) victory

in the My Charmer H. (G3).