Benny The Bull To Race In The Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder Race Course

IEAH Stables and partners’ 5-year-old Benny the Bull is the top-ranked sprinter in North America while riding a four-race international win streak going back to last year, and appears set to take a big step in a championship season bid in the $400,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (G2) at Calder Race Course on ‘Summit of Speed’ day, Saturday, July 12.

Benny the Bull is among the best known nominees for the four Graded stakes worth a total of $1.3 million to be run on Calder Race Course’s popular ‘Summit’ program, which also includes the $400,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (G1), $250,000 Carry Back Stakes (G2) and $250,000 Azalea Stakes (G3) in addition to the Smile Sprint, all to be run at 6 furlongs.

The Smile Sprint and the Princess Rooney are designated 2008 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Division ‘Win and You’re In’ events, with the winner of each race automatically qualifying for a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, respectively. The $25.5 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held October 24-25 at The Oak Tree Racing Association meet at Santa Anita Park.

Benny the Bull emerged as a major player in the sprint division late last year for trainer Rick Dutrow, finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Monmouth Park and capturing the DeFrancis Memorial (G1) at Laurel Park in late November. The Florida-bred son of Lucky Lionel has won all three of his starts this year, including the Golden Shaheen Stakes (G1) in Dubai in March and the True North Handicap (G2) last out at Belmont Park on June 7.

While Benny the Bull is the current division leader bidding for an Eclipse Award, another Smile Sprint nominee already has won that honor. Zabeel Racing International’s 6-year-old gelding Thor’s Echo was Eclipse champion in 2006 after posting victories in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs and the DeFrancis for race horse trainer Doug O’Neill and previous owners.

A California-bred by Swiss Yodeler, Thor’s Echo finished a game second in the Golden Shaheen early in 2006 during his Eclipse championship campaign, but showed little in his only two starts of 2007 in Dubai. He was returned to training with O’Neill this year and finished a strong fourth in the True North behind Benny the Bull on Belmont Day, beaten less than two lengths for it all, in his first start in more than 14 months.

Also notable among the Smile Sprint prospects are Frankfurt Stables and partners’ 7-year-old gelding Bonfante, Maggi Moss’ 5-year-old gelding Indian Chant and Live Oak Plantation’s 4-year-old gelding Rockerfeller. Bonfante captured the Oakland Stakes at Golden Gate Fields last out on June 14 for race horse trainer Ron McAnally.

Indian Chant won his last two starts at Churchill Downs for trainer Tom Amoss, most recently the Aristides Stakes (G3) on May 31; and Rockerfeller is a dangerous Calder home team threat for trainer Marty Wolfson after two very impressive victories over the track and distance, most recently the Ponche Handicap on June 14 by 7 lengths.

Horse racing news from www.calderracecourse.com.

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"Benny The Bull To Race In The Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder Race Course" was posted on 6 July 2008 10:37 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Stakes Races

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