Tropical at Calder hits Grand Slam

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.