Summit of Speed 2004
by Emily Hufford

The annual Summit of Speed took place at Calder Racecourse on Saturday, July 10, showcasing the best sprinters in the country. The day started with the Rocket Man Stakes, two furlongs down the stretch for all horses, two-year-olds and upwards. The race went to the seven-year-old Pembroke Hall, a son of Pembroke who is riding a ten race winning streak and has fifteen career wins total. Grade-one winner Caller One, returning from a two-year layoff, finished second.

The next stakes race was the Calder Turf Sprint Handicap, which went to Whenthedoveflies, who won by a head under Pat Day. The daughter of Dove Hunt is trained by Kirk Ziadie.

Dazzle Me In the Winner's Circle © 2004 Rae Parodi

The first graded stakes race was the Azalea Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III), which went to Padua Stables' Dazzle Me, a gray filly by Tactical Cat. Despite having three wins in four starts, the Steve Assmussen-trainee went off as a longshot and paid $19.80 to win by 6 1/2 lengths. Favored Reforest was second. Dazzle Me has now earned over $220,000.

Waigelia in the Winner's Circle © 2004 Rae Parodi

Next up was the grade three Carry Back Stakes, a six furlong contest on the dirt. Longshot Weigelia was able to hold off an even bigger longshot, Classy Migration, for the victory. Weigelia is owned by Joseph J. Balsamo. The final time was 1:10.50. The favorites, Bwana Charlie (third), Ice Wynnd Fire (fifth), and Twice as Bad (seventh) showed little.

Champali is the Victor in the Smile Handicap © 2004 Rae Parodi

The Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. III) would prove to be the most exciting race of the day when four horses finished right on the wire together. Clock Stopper, who looked beaten at the 1/8th pole, came through along the inside to just miss by a nose to Champali, who was between horses. Built Up finished a neck back on the outside in third, and it was another neck back to My Cousin Matt. Champali is trained by Greg Foley and owned by Lloyd Madison Farms, LLC.

The final stakes race of the day, the Princess Rooney Handicap, had the deepest field, although hardly the biggest. The freakishly good Bear Fan, a California-bred daughter of Pine Bluff, would be facing the sometimes-brilliant Lady Tak and equally impressive Harmony Lodge. However, they all ran into the awesome Ema Bovary, a Chilean superstar who drew away to win by two lengths, recording her thirteenth win in nineteen starts. She was previously riding a nine race winning streak before losing at Hollywood Park in her last start.

Ema Bovary is a five-year-old daughter of Edgy Diplomat trained by Larry Ross, and was ridden in the Princess Rooney by Roberto Gonzalez.

The Brilliant Ema Bovary in the Winner's Circle © 2004 Rae Parodi