[Kasept]

Quantum Racing Team #1 LLC’s 4-year-old gelding Mambo Meister was very impressive winning the $100,000 Spend a Buck Handicap (G3) at Calder Race Course last Saturday by 3 ¾ lengths for trainer Phil Gleaves, and the Florida-bred is likely bound for California and a start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita on Sat., Nov. 7.

“We’ve made arrangements for a cargo flight on the (Sat., Oct.) 31st to get him there,” said Gleaves Friday morning. “We’ve had several discussions with the racing manager of the syndicate, Chris Pallas, and the eight owners and looked at the probable field, and basically decided to give him a chance.

“He’s done very well this week, but we’ll have one more conference call on Sunday before going ahead and making the pre-entry fee on Monday (Oct. 26),” said the veteran horseman who has run two horses previously in Breeders’ Cup events, both in the Juvenile. Happy Jazz Band finished fourth behind Fly So Free in the 1990 renewal at Belmont Park and Devil On Ice 10th in 1991 at Churchill Downs.

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Mambo Meister may be the only horse based at Calder headed for the Breeders’ Cup this year, although there are strong connections to the Miami track from a number of other major contenders, most notably 2-year-olds that launched their careers here earlier this season before being sold privately.

Paul Pompa, Jr.s’ 2-year-old colt D’Funnybone made his first two starts here for trainer Joe Calascibetta, winning his debut on May 23 and finishing second to Jackson Bend in the $100,000 Frank Gomez Memorial on July 11 before being sold shortly thereafter and sent to trainer Rick Dutrow in New York.
A Florida-bred son of D’wildcat, D’Funnybone has since won the Saratoga Special (G2) on Aug. 20 by 10 ½ lengths and The Futurity (G2) at Belmont Park on Sept. 19 by 4 ¾ lengths. He is listed as a probable starter in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on Nov. 7.

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Already in California after beginning her career at Calder is Kentucky-bred filly Blind Luck, a daughter of Pollard’s Vision that won her career debut here on June 21 by 13 ¼ lengths for trainer Jim Hatchett. She was purchased shortly thereafter by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and partners.

In three starts this summer since the purchase, Blind Luck won a starter/allowance at Del Mar in late July, finished a game second in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) in early September and drew off to win the Oak Leaf Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita on Oct. 4, a performance could lead her to be the favorite in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Fri., Nov. 6.