Miami Mile

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A well-matched field of 12 will go one grassy mile at Calder in Saturday’s
$100,000 Miami Mile H. (G3). The Mark Hennig-trained WESLEY (El Prado [Ire]) had
the misfortune of drawing the widest post in this test, but the gray has faced
some quality fields as of late and seems poised to break through in here under
Javier Castellano. A winner in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S.
(G2) at Saratoga last summer, the colt has posted triple-digit BRIS Late Pace
figures in four of his six lifetime grass tries and will add blinkers in here
following a career best 99 BRIS Speed number in his latest.

MAMBO MEISTER (King Cugat) has never been worse than third over this course
and impressively captured his last start over Calder’s turf, rolling home by 3
1/2 lengths against a solid group. The Philip Gleaves charge earned a lifetime
best 101 BRIS Speed number for a fine closing effort versus allowance rivals
last time at Gulfstream and has been freshened since, so we consider the gelding
a prime contender under Manoel Cruz.

ROGUE VICTORY (Victory Gallop) has been much better this year than he was at
three, and the George Weaver-trained Kentucky-bred will surely be a late
presence in his Calder debut. The chestnut is far from a win machine, but he
likes the distance and will enter this event in solid form.

VANQUISHER (Gulch) is well drawn on the rail and must be considered a
contender in this field for Gregory Griffith. The Florida-bred finished first
but was disqualified and placed second in his lone try over this oval, and he’s
run well to be fourth in his last two starts against Grade 3 fields. Carlos
Montalvo has the call.

Multiple graded stakes star FINALLYMADEIT (Concerto) has impressed us with
his tenacity and durability throughout his career and is likely the speed of
this race if he starts here under Javier Negrete. Cross-entered on the undercard
to the Sumter S. on the main track, the chestnut five-year-old owns plenty of
dirt class but was not all that impressive in his one turf outing in 2009.
However, that was against better at a trip not suitable to him. His best gives
him a huge shot under Eddie Nunez.

Turf Classic S. upsetter FEARLESS EAGLE (Invisible Ink) is a multiple stakes
winner over this course, owning a nifty 7-3-2-0 local mark for Eddie Plea, Jr.
The five-year-old bay has useful tactical speed and is in good form, so we
consider him one of the many exotic threats at a square price. Trainer Kirk
Ziadie has taken BARON VON TAP (Pleasant Tap) from a horse that appeared to be
out of gas to one who is rejuvenated, as the eight-year-old exits a 6 1/4-length
allowance romp at Tampa Bay Downs. The Kentucky-bred Grade 3 winner loves to be
forwardly placed and could hang around for a while if the proper pace scenario
unfolds, although we prefer others at this juncture.

There is no doubting the talent of DREAM MAESTRO (Concerto), but we’re unsure
of how the gelding will transform his main-track to the sod in here for William
Kaplan. The chestnut was a game allowance winner last out and seemingly makes a
move every time he runs, but his first two career tries on the lawn weren’t
good. We are willing to give the Florida-bred one more try on the green and use
him underneath in our gimmicks. MOTOVATO (Proud Citizen) is another mystery
horse of sorts in this field, as he makes his first try on the weeds for
conditioner Marty Wolfson. A 15-length winner in his first try for his new barn,
the colt has run well against a pair of allowance fields, including a fine
closing run to be third last out at Gulfstream. The bay has some turf breeding,
but he’s also eligible for second-level allowance foes. Jermaine Bridgmohan will
be in the irons.

CENZONTLE (Smart Strike) has lost his last three against allowance types, but
owns a solid 8-2-1-3 mark over this oval and hails from a high-percentage
outfit. We don’t see the five-year-old winning this race, but he’s not a
complete throw out when speaking of the exotics at a big price. GRANIZO (Brz) (Ibero
[Arg]) was fourth in a $35,000 claiming event two prior and needed help from the
stewards to beat a four-horse field last out, so we’ll pass. The New York-bred
SCIENTIST (Intidab) captured his lone career turf try, on the lawn at Saratoga,
and enters this race with only three starts under his belt. Now in the hands of
William Phipps, the dark bay sophomore is probably in too deep for his
three-year-old bow and could have used a few starts before tackling this type.