Calder Race Course is set to get underway Monday and will run through October
16. Opening day will feature the Snurb S., which drew a field of six. ACLASSYSASSYLASSY (Wild Event) will be
making her three-year-old debut in the six-furlong event, which serves as a prep
for the $300,000 Azalea Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) on Summit of Speed day, July 9.
The Summit
of Speed card has eight stakes worth purses of $1.9 million, including the Smile
Sprint H. (G2) and Princess Rooney H. (G2), each worth $500,000, as well as the
$300,000 Carry Back S. (G3). The Festival of the Sun on October 15, featuring
$1.4 million in stakes money, will showcase six stakes, including the In Reality
and My Dear Girl divisions of the Florida Stallion S. program, which starts off
on September 9 with the Affirmed and Susan’s Girl divisions.
For opening weekend, the Miami, Florida, track will
host four stakes races worth a combined $400,000 — the $150,000 Hollywood Wildcat
Breeders’ Cup H., $100,000 Unbridled S., $100,000 Carterista H. and $75,000
Ponche H.
The Tropical at
Calder meet will start up after the Calder meet ends and continue until January 2, 2006.
Highlighting the meet will be the Florida Million on November 12, offering $1.2 million in purses
spread over eight Florida-bred restricted stakes, and three Grand Slam events scheduled for December
3, 17 and 31.