Aclassysassylassy, B. B. Best will take part in Grand Slam
III
ACLASSYSASSYLASSY (Wild Event), who swept the 2004 Florida Stallion S. series
for fillies, and B. B. BEST (Yes It’s True), winner of the In Reality and Dr.
Fager divisions of the Florida Stallion S. last year, are among the top draws
for Saturday’s Grand Slam III program at Calder. Four $100,000 races — the
Frances S. Genter S. (G3),
Chaposa Springs H.,
Pete Axthelm S. and
Stage Door
Betty H. — are featured.
B. B. Best, who finished third in both the Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of
Youth S. (G2) earlier this year and just missed when second by a neck in the
Spend a Buck H. (G3) in mid-October, is scheduled to make his turf bow in the
Pet Axthelm. Sixteen three-year-olds were entered for the 7 1/2-furlong affair,
but only 12 will be allowed to start. Other contenders include three-time stakes
hero DREAM ON DREAM ON (Untuttable); THERECOMESATIGER (Tiger Ridge), winner of
the Commonwealth Turf S. at Churchill Downs last out; Jersey Derby victor
TOUCHED BY MADNESS (Sword Dancer [Ire]); and TINSELTOWN (Pine Bluff), who
captured the grassy Home of the Free S. at Belmont Park earlier this season.
Aclassysassylassy will race over the sod in the 7 1/2-furlong Frances A.
Genter for sophomore fillies, but the David Vivian trainee does own grass
experience, winning the Judy’s Red Shoes S. in late September. Her main rivals
include Lake George S. (G3) heroine READY’S GAL (More Than Ready), who hails
from the Todd Pletcher stable; four-time stakes queen DANSETTA LIGHT (Colony
Light); stakes winner ELLE RUNAWAY (El Prado [Ire]), who exits a decent sixth,
beaten only 5 1/4 lengths, against top-class foes in the My Charmer H. (G3); and
the Steve Asmussen-trained MORE THAN PROMISED (More Than Ready), who has been
doing damage in the Midwest with victories in the Pago Hop S., Remington Park
Oaks and Marie P. DeBartolo Oaks in her last three outings.
The Genter proved popular at the entry box with an overflow of 16, four of whom
are listed as also-eligible.
Nine fillies and mares will square off in the seven-furlong Chaposa Springs
over the main track. LILAH (Defrere) enters the race off a smart win in the
Garland of Roses H., and the eight-year-old mare captured the Hurricane
Bertie H. (G3) earlier this year at Gulfstream Park for conditioner Allen
Jerkens. Marty Wolfson has a dangerous entry in MENIFEEQUE (Menifee) and KUANYAN
(Carson City). The former captured the Mia’s Hope S. two starts back and the
latter exits a pair of sharp scores over the track in the Martina de Chavon S.
and Ms Brooksi S. INJUSTICE (Lit de Justice), a three-time stakes victress this
year for Wayne Catalano, also merits respect.
In the Stage Door Betty, which attracted nine distaffers for 1 1/16 miles on
dirt, comebacker SWEET LIPS (Kris S.) looks like the probable favorite. Trained
by Bobby Frankel, the four-year-old filly captured this year’s Sunshine Millions
Distaff S. and finished a good second in the La Canada S. (G2) before heading to
the sidelines in March. Edgar Prado has the mount. Another contender is POTRA
CLASICA (Arg) (Potrillon [Arg]), who has recorded a 3-2-0-0 mark, including a
win in the Charon S. last out, since arriving in Wolfson’s barn from Argentina.