Tropical Turf

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Twelve turf specialists will challenge Saturday's $100,000 Tropical Turf H.

(G3), which also includes two also-eligibles and two main-track only entrants, at Calder. The nine-furlong grassy event has drawn SILVER TREE

(Hennessy), who comes off a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1),

but we'll give the nod to HOST (Chi) (Hussonet), who enters off a win at this

level and distance.

A 1 1/2-length victor in the 1 1/8-mile Knickerbocker H. (G2) last time, Host

was named Horse of the Year in his native Chile in 2003. In 11 lifetime

starts, the chestnut has not missed the board. After a six-month layoff this

summer, trainer Todd Pletcher brought the four-year-old back to the turf in the

Cliff Hanger H. (G3), where he finished third by 1 1/4-lengths. Previously a

front runner, Host now comes from the back and has developed a dangerous late

kick. John Velazquez gets the mount here, and we like the colt's chances.

Silver Tree recorded a BRIS Speed rating of 113 in the Mile and a

105 at Saratoga when taking the Bernard Baruch H. (G2) earlier

this year. The latter of those two was run at nine furlongs over the yielding

turf, which

makes this four-year-old a dangerous contender. With Eibar Coa in the saddle,

this Bill Mott trainee looks to be the class of the field and tough to beat.

Conditioned by Douglas Potter, BOB'S PROUD MOMENT (Proud and True) showed an

affinity for the Calder turf two back when finishing second in the Calder Derby

(G3), run over this same distance and surface. That was the sophomore's only

grass start, but it was a promising performance as the dark bay recorded a 100

Speed figure, and we'll use him in the gimmicks.

MOGADOR (Danzig) has not missed the board in nine lifetime starts, touting a

record of 4-4-1. The four-year-old Christophe Clement trainee relishes eight

furlongs and this may not be the best spot for him. Still, we can't leave the

bay out of the exotics. We'll also use PRIVATE SCANDAL (Not For Love) in the

bottom of the gimmicks, as the bay ships down from New York and could be a bit

of a sleeper after recording a nose win in an allowance last out. He was also beaten

just a nose in the Maryland Million Turf S., an event run over this same

distance.

KEEP COOL (Frosty the Snowman) has had three starts in a row at this 1

1/8-mile distance, with the most recent a badly beaten seventh over the dirt.

The previous two, however, were here over this same surface and produced winning

results. The former was an optional claimer, in which the gelding won by 1 1/4

lengths, and the latter was a 2 3/4-length victory over another entry in this

field, TWILIGHT ROAD (Cahill Road), who was scratched according to the Calder

Press Office on Friday. Keep Cool has missed the board only once this year, and

we'll use the four-year-old in the bottom of the exotics.

After one start for new trainer David Brownlee, FINAL PROPHECY (World Stage

[Ire]) came back in fine style last out to take the Bonnie Heath Turf Cup H. by

a head. The nine-furlong turf contest was held over this same course and may

have prepped the five-year-old well for this event. We'll still have to go

against. IN HAND (Belong to Me) has not raced since winning an allowance at

Keeneland on October 15, but had previously come off a two-month layoff to take

that race. Still, the gelding specializes at longer distances and may not like

the shortening. We'll give the four-year-old a race at nine furlongs.

DEMETEOR (Dehere) won last out but that was on October 4. The five-year-old

jumps in class here and may need one start against this level. SEA PLEASURE (Mecke)

won the American H., a nine-furlong grass test held here at Calder, but that was

last year. We'll watch for now. PAH (Saithor) steps

up here and appears outclassed.

On the also-eligible list, SIR WALTER RAHY (Rahy) steps up here as well. The

distance will not be a problem, but the speed could be a factor as the chestnut

may be overmatched as he finished sixth in the Elusive Quality S., a race in

which the Mogador finished second. COLONIAL BAY (Pleasant Colony), beaten in the

Elusive Quality as well, may need one start against these even if he draws in.

Entered for the main track only, GOLD DOLLAR (Seattle Slew) will be tough to

beat if the race is taken off the turf. He recorded a Speed figure of 98 two

back in finishing third in the Spend a Buck H. (G3) and could surprise.

The other main-track entrant, DEPENDABLE HERBIE (Robyn Dancer), makes a leap in class here and we'll watch for

now.