Tropical at Calder hits grand slam
Winter racing gets underway at Calder October 24 as the South
Florida racetrack ushers in the Tropical at Calder meet. The 55-day
session offers 22 stakes worth a total of $2.8 million, beginning
with the first of four “packaged” events, The Florida
Million.
November 13 is the third running of The Florida Million, an
all-stakes card for registered Florida-breds worth $1.2 million.
In 2004, two new events for two-year-old colts and geldings and
two-year-old fillies are to be run over the grass. Also to be
decided are divisional contests such as the $150,000 Jack Dudley
Sprint H. at six furlongs, the $150,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup,
run over the Calder turf course at 1 1/8 miles, and the nine-furlong
$200,000 Carl G. Rose Classic, all for three-year-olds and up.
This day is held in conjunction with the Florida Thoroughbred
Owners and Breeders Association.
The three Grand Slam days showcase the Tropical meet’s graded
stakes. Grand Slam I, on December 4, includes the Tropical Turf H.
(G3) and My Charmer H. (G3). Both of the 1 1/8 mile events for
three-year-olds and up will be run over the Calder turf, with the
latter for fillies and mares. Two dirt stakes for juveniles will
be contested as well, the $100,000 Three Ring S. and the $100,000
What a Pleasure S.
Calder continues the trend of equidistant races for both sexes
as Grand Slam II brings the La Prevoyante H. (G2) and the W.L.
McKnight H. (G2). Both contests, worth $200,000 each, are for
three-year-olds and up at 1 1/2 miles over the turf, with the
former for fillies and mares. The 1 1/8-mile $100,000 Fred W.
Hooper H. (G3) for three-year-olds and up will also be decided
over the dirt track on December 18.
The final marquee day of racing is Grand Slam III, on New
Year’s Day. The $100,000 Chaposa Springs H. (G3), a seven-furlong
sprint, and the $100,000 Stage Door Betty H., at 1 1/16 miles,
are for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. The highlights
of the day, however, are the two races for newly turned three-year-olds
(foals of 2002), the $100,000 Tropical Park Derby (G3) and the $100,000
Tropical Park Oaks for fillies.
The Tropical at Calder meet concludes January 2 and has a 12:25
(ET) 1ST race post time.