Memorial Day

A field of 10 will line up on Monday to contest the $100,000 Memorial Day H.
(G3) at Calder, including the winner of the last two runnings of this race, TWILIGHT ROAD (Cahill Road).
After last year’s win, the
David Fawkes runner only competed once more in 2005, and in two outings this
year, he hasn’t shown the
same sparkle. We’ll take a
stand against and go with CONGRATS (A.P. Indy) to come out on top in this 8
1/2-furlong test.

The bay six-year-old will be making his first start for Kathleen O’Connell in
here, and could show much more while cutting back to his favored 1 1/16-mile
distance, over which he is undefeated in four starts. He spent last summer
trying a sprint and then routes, but posted his last win at this distance in
the San Pasqual H. (G2) in early January 2005. Congrats earned a 103 BRIS Speed
rating for that one, and is coming off a rest after two off-the-board finishes
this year. He could post a huge win under Daniel Centeno.

GIGAWATT (Wild Again) has been alternating between the turf and dirt and has
shown his versatility by performing well on both. His most recent race, the
grassy Miami Mile Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) going a mile, resulted in a half-length
victory that earned the Michael Lerman charge a 103 Speed figure. The dark bay
six-year-old has been working well to prepare for this one, getting a bullet
half-mile in :48 1/5 a week ago Saturday, and will be a threat for the top spot.
Chantal Sutherland has the call.

SIPHON CITY (Siphon [Brz]) will be making his graded debut here off an easy
eight-length win in the Sumter S. going the distance at Calder. The Daniel
Hurtak-trained four-year-old posted a 101 Speed figure for that victory, and the
former claimer has worked well in preparation for this one. The
chestnut could make it two in a row here under Elvis Trujillo.

BOB’S PROUD MOMENT (Proud and True) has spent nine of his last 10 races on
the grass, but has experience winning on Calder’s main track. He loves the
distance (7-2-2-1) and has shown improvement over his form from late
last season, though his numbers aren’t quite as high as others in here. The dark
bay five-year-old could surprise at nice odds with Juan Leyva in the irons.

Twilight Road is a hard-knocking campaigner who could successfully defend his
title. Our only concern is that the nine-year-old chestnut has had only three
starts since last year’s running of this race and he might be a bit short.
Nonetheless, the gelding gives his all when he runs and shouldn’t be totally
discounted from a top three finish. WHOS CRYING NOW (Concerto) started off the
year in fine fashion, but has tailed off a bit in his past two. The dark bay
gelding did run second in the Sumter last out, but couldn’t keep up with Siphon
City late. Consider for the exotics at a price.

MISTER FOTIS (Diligence), hero of the seven-furlong Richter Scale Breeders’
Cup Sprint Championship H. (G2) two back, might prefer a shorter distance.
BROADWAY VIEW (Broad Brush) will be making his first start here for Marty
Wolfson while returning to the dirt. He was well-beaten on the turf in his past
few, but hadn’t shown much on the main track before those. We can’t recommend
either one. NOTGONAGETEMTODAY (D. J. Cat) appears out of his class against
these. HAL’S IMAGE (Halo’s Image) doesn’t look fast enough to keep up.