Michele Blanco
Calder Race Course

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Quantum Racing Team #1 LLC’s 5-year-old gelding Mambo Meister won the $100,000 Miami Mile (G3) on turf and the $100,000 Memorial Day Handicap (G3) on dirt early in this Calder Casino & Race Course meet, finished a game second in the $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (G2) on Summit of Speed day, July 10, but had a rare bad day retiring to a disappointing sixth of seven in last Sunday’s $250,000 A.G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G2) at Saratoga Race Course.

“He was up much closer to the pace than planned,” said trainer Phil Gleaves on Saturday morning, still in Saratoga with Mambo Meister. “That just isn’t his style (close-up third after half-mile in 45 3/5), but he came out of it good and he’s had a good season until that. We’re here re-grouping and considering where to go for his next start.

“He’ll work here on Tuesday morning,” said Gleaves, who had one of the biggest days of his career at the Spa in 1986 sending out Russell Reineman’s Wise Times to capture the Travers Stakes (G1) after winning the Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park in his previous start.

“Three possibilities for his next start are the ($200,000) Bernard Baruch (G2) or the ($250,000) Forego Handicap (G1) here or the ($250,000) Presque Isle Breeders’ Cup Mile (G3),” said Gleaves. The Bernard Baruch will be run at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Aug. 27, a race in which Mambo Meister finished a troubled fifth last year after a good runner-up effort in the Fourstardave Handicap (G2) over the course in his previous start.

The Forego will be run at seven furlongs on Sept. 4 and the Presque Isle Mile on Sept. 6 is run at one mile around two turns on the Tapeta synthetic surface. A son of King Cugat bred by co-owner J.R. Cavanaugh, Mambo Meister finished a game fifth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) run over the Pro-Ride artificial track at Santa Anita on Nov. 7, beaten two lengths for it all with trouble in the stretch.

Three-Time Summit Veteran Dubai Majesty in at Monmouth Sunday

Martin Racing Stable’s 5-year-old mare Dubai Majesty finished third in the $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (G1) on Summit of Speed day, July 10, at Calder Casino & Race Course, and comes back Sunday in the $100,000 Incredible Revenge Stakes going 5 ½ furlongs on turf at Monmouth Park for trainer Bret Calhoun.

A Florida-bred daughter of Essence of Dubai, Dubai Majesty was making her third appearance in a Summit of Speed day stakes, the first as a 3-year-old in 2008 finishing second behind Indyanne in the $200,000 Azalea Stakes (G3) racing for breeder Harold Plumley and trainer Joe Calascibetta before a private sale shortly thereafter to her current connections.

Dubai Majesty came back to Calder for the 2009 edition of the Princess Rooney, but failed to fire that afternoon, finishing seventh behind Game Face. She was beaten three lengths in the Princess Rooney this year by Farnsworth Stable’s Jessica Is Back and a length for second by Avalon Farm’s Warbling. Those two are expected to meet again in the $250,000 Ballerina Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 28.

Four More Wins for Saez on Friday at Calder

Jockey Luis Saez began this week’s racing at Calder Casino & Race Course trailing veteran rival Manoel Cruz by three wins in the standings at 86-83, but three trips to the winners’ circle on Thursday and four more on Friday while Cruz was shut out, vaulted Saez to the lead at 90-86 going into Saturday’s 13-race program.

While the jockeys’ title chase is a two-man race between 18-year-old Saez and 40-year-old Cruz with apprentice Angel Moreno far back in third with 49 wins, the competition among trainers remains more wide-open, although Steve Dwoskin added a victory Friday to open up a lead of four with 22 tallies going into Saturday’s action.

Bill White, an 11-time Calder Meet champion, ranks second with 18 victories, followed by David Fawkes third at 17, Marty Wolfson fourth with 16 and three others tied for fifth with 15 apiece – Fred Warren, Chris Gatis and Steve DiMauro.