MAMBO GOES FOR THE HOOPER

MAMBO GOES FOR THE HOOPER

Multiple graded stakes winner Mambo Meister looks like the one to beat in a competitive edition of the $100,000 Fred W. Hooper H. (G3) at Calder Race Course on Saturday. The Phil Gleaves-trained son of King Cugat has been a stalwart over the Calder strip in his career, boasting an 11-6-3-1 mark locally. Second in the Spend A Buck h. (G3) most recently, the bay blitzed a half-mile bullet in preparing for this and gets Manny Cruz in the irons.

Indiana Derby third St. Maximus Gato, Iselin S. (G3) romper Chirac and budding star Tackleberry are among the main opposition to the likely favorite in this nine-furlong test.