Grade 1 queen TAKE D’ TOUR (Tour d’Or) will return off a near two-month break as
the 124-pound highweight in Saturday’s $100,000 Stage Door Betty H. (G3) on Calder’s Grand
Slam III program. Three other stakes events — Frances A. Genter S. (G3),
Pete
Axthelm S. and
Chaposa Springs H. — will also be featured on the final Saturday of the
current Tropical-at-Calder meet, which concludes January 2, 2007.
Take D’ Tour was last seen taking the Elmer Heubeck Distaff H. over the track
after competing in New York during the summer and fall. She earned victories in
the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) and Shuvee H. (G2) this season as well as a nice
runner-up finish in the Ruffian H. (G1), all at Belmont Park. The David
Fawkes-trained five-year-old will face six rivals in the
Stage Door Betty.
Among her challengers in the 1 1/16-mile event are SEA SIREN
(Stormy Atlantic), an easy four-length victress in the Arlington Matron H. (G3)
two back, and multiple Calder stakes winner RUNNING LASS (Running Stag).
Take D’ Tour will lead the post parade in the Stage Door Betty under Eibar
Coa. She’ll be followed by Running Lass, Elvis Trujillo, 115; POTRA CLASICA
(Arg) (Potrillon [Arg]), Eddie Castro, 116; Sea Siren, Edgar Prado, 117; AMAZING
SPEED (Langfuhr), Cornelio Velasquez, 114; CURSORA (Arg) (Candy Stripes), John
Velazquez, 116; and TIGER BELLE (Tiger Ridge), Manoel Cruz, 115.
An overflow field of 16 has been entered to go 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf in
the $100,000 Frances A. Genter, but only 12 will be allowed to start. J’RAY
(Distant View) earned her last win over Calder’s green, capturing the Tropical
Park Oaks almost one year ago. The chestnut miss, most recently second by a neck
in the Mrs. Revere S. (G2), will be running under the tutelage of Tony Sciametta
Jr. while regular trainer Todd Pletcher serves out a suspension.
GOOD INTENTIONS (Anet) has yet to finish off the board from three turf
starts, earning the win in the John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf S. via
disqualification and finishing second in her other two attempts, both at Calder. The Bill
White-trained sophomore miss will get a rider change to Rafael Bejarano for
Saturday’s race.
J’ray and Velazquez drew the rail post under a 121-pound impost. To their
outside will be SILVERSIDER (Wekiva Springs), Cruz, 116; PROSPECT OF LOVE (Suave
Prospect), Jermaine Bridgmohan, 118; Good Intentions, 121; RASTA FARIAN (Holy
Bull), Joe Bravo, 116; DANCING BAND (Dixieland Band), Chris DeCarlo, 116;
SAOIRSE CAT (Storm Cat), Castro, 118; AMANSARA (War Chant), Coa, 116; BAYOU’S
LASSIE (Outflanker), Trujillo, 121; SCARLETT’S PRIDE (Fr) (Singspiel [Ire]),
Prado, 118; CAPTIVE MELODY (Unbridled’s Song), Kent Desormeaux, 116; and PEAK MARIA’S
WAY (Pyramid Peak), Velasquez, 118.
On the also-eligible list are MIA’S REFLECTION (Halo’s Image), Cruz, 118;
MISS SHOP (Deputy Minister), Velasquez, 121; CALLA LILY (Pulpit), Javier
Castellano, 116; and MOHEGAN SKY (Straight Man), Desormeaux, 116.
Also drawing an overflow field of 16 is the $100,000 Pete Axthelm, which
features Hill Prince S. (G3) winner OUTPERFORMANCE (Aptitude) and Calder Derby
(G3) victor CAN’T BEAT IT (Atticus). The $100,000 Chaposa Springs will send six
runners to the gate, including stakes winners ANNABILL (Outflanker) and TOLL
TAKER (Bernstein).