Tropical Turf

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Twelve turf specialists will challenge Saturday’s $100,000 Tropical Turf H.
(G3), which also includes two also-eligibles and two main-track only entrants, at Calder. The nine-furlong grassy event has drawn SILVER TREE
(Hennessy), who comes off a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1),
but we’ll give the nod to HOST (Chi) (Hussonet), who enters off a win at this
level and distance.

A 1 1/2-length victor in the 1 1/8-mile Knickerbocker H. (G2) last time, Host
was named Horse of the Year in his native Chile in 2003. In 11 lifetime
starts, the chestnut has not missed the board. After a six-month layoff this
summer, trainer Todd Pletcher brought the four-year-old back to the turf in the
Cliff Hanger H. (G3), where he finished third by 1 1/4-lengths. Previously a
front runner, Host now comes from the back and has developed a dangerous late
kick. John Velazquez gets the mount here, and we like the colt’s chances.

Silver Tree recorded a BRIS Speed rating of 113 in the Mile and a
105 at Saratoga when taking the Bernard Baruch H. (G2) earlier
this year. The latter of those two was run at nine furlongs over the yielding
turf, which
makes this four-year-old a dangerous contender. With Eibar Coa in the saddle,
this Bill Mott trainee looks to be the class of the field and tough to beat.

Conditioned by Douglas Potter, BOB’S PROUD MOMENT (Proud and True) showed an
affinity for the Calder turf two back when finishing second in the Calder Derby
(G3), run over this same distance and surface. That was the sophomore’s only
grass start, but it was a promising performance as the dark bay recorded a 100
Speed figure, and we’ll use him in the gimmicks.

MOGADOR (Danzig) has not missed the board in nine lifetime starts, touting a
record of 4-4-1. The four-year-old Christophe Clement trainee relishes eight
furlongs and this may not be the best spot for him. Still, we can’t leave the
bay out of the exotics. We’ll also use PRIVATE SCANDAL (Not For Love) in the
bottom of the gimmicks, as the bay ships down from New York and could be a bit
of a sleeper after recording a nose win in an allowance last out. He was also beaten
just a nose in the Maryland Million Turf S., an event run over this same
distance.

KEEP COOL (Frosty the Snowman) has had three starts in a row at this 1
1/8-mile distance, with the most recent a badly beaten seventh over the dirt.
The previous two, however, were here over this same surface and produced winning
results. The former was an optional claimer, in which the gelding won by 1 1/4
lengths, and the latter was a 2 3/4-length victory over another entry in this
field, TWILIGHT ROAD (Cahill Road), who was scratched according to the Calder
Press Office on Friday. Keep Cool has missed the board only once this year, and
we’ll use the four-year-old in the bottom of the exotics.

After one start for new trainer David Brownlee, FINAL PROPHECY (World Stage
[Ire]) came back in fine style last out to take the Bonnie Heath Turf Cup H. by
a head. The nine-furlong turf contest was held over this same course and may
have prepped the five-year-old well for this event. We’ll still have to go
against. IN HAND (Belong to Me) has not raced since winning an allowance at
Keeneland on October 15, but had previously come off a two-month layoff to take
that race. Still, the gelding specializes at longer distances and may not like
the shortening. We’ll give the four-year-old a race at nine furlongs.

DEMETEOR (Dehere) won last out but that was on October 4. The five-year-old
jumps in class here and may need one start against this level. SEA PLEASURE (Mecke)
won the American H., a nine-furlong grass test held here at Calder, but that was
last year. We’ll watch for now. PAH (Saithor) steps
up here and appears outclassed.

On the also-eligible list, SIR WALTER RAHY (Rahy) steps up here as well. The
distance will not be a problem, but the speed could be a factor as the chestnut
may be overmatched as he finished sixth in the Elusive Quality S., a race in
which the Mogador finished second. COLONIAL BAY (Pleasant Colony), beaten in the
Elusive Quality as well, may need one start against these even if he draws in.

Entered for the main track only, GOLD DOLLAR (Seattle Slew) will be tough to
beat if the race is taken off the turf. He recorded a Speed figure of 98 two
back in finishing third in the Spend a Buck H. (G3) and could surprise.
The other main-track entrant, DEPENDABLE HERBIE (Robyn Dancer), makes a leap in class here and we’ll watch for
now.