It’s a Feast in the East

A few horses familiar to local fans will be busy in Florida and New York today.

Crack sprinters Crafty C.T., Echo Eddie and Orientate will take on four others in the $400,000 Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder. The Smile is one of six sprint stakes worth $1.4 million in purses that will be run at the Miami track. The four major races--the Smile, the $250,000 Azalea Breeders’ Cup, the $250,000 Carry Back and the $400,000 Princess Rooney Handicap--make up a pick four with a guaranteed pool of $250,000.

Crafty C.T., third in the Metropolitan Handicap won by Swept Overboard on May 27 at Belmont Park, shortens to six furlongs today for trainer Howard Zucker and first-time rider Jerry Bailey.

David Flores will be at Calder to ride Echo Eddie for owners David and Rita Milch and trainer Darrell Vienna; Mike Smith will be there to handle Orientate for owners Bob and Beverly Lewis and trainer Wayne Lukas.

One of the entrants in the Azalea, a wide-open race for 3-year-old fillies, is Ragin T Rex, a former claimer who has won three in a row for Thomas and Thomas Racing and trainer Warren Stute.

Captain Squire, the winner of the Lazaro Barrera on May 27 at Hollywood Park, is among the contenders in the Carry Back. Xtra Heat will be favored to win for the 22nd time in 28 starts in the Princess Rooney.

At Belmont Park, meanwhile, Startac will make his first start for trainer Bill Mott in the $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on the turf.

Race of the day: Course specialists Fair Apache and Full Moon Madness top a small field in the $75,000-added Answer Do Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. The race is the third on the card at Hollywood Park.

Who’s hot: Cornelio Velasquez. He is the runaway leader in the jockey standings at Calder, winning at about a 28% clip.

Who’s not: Dynamic Pic. The 6-year-old mare, who will run in today’s fifth at Belmont Park, has lost 50 of 51 starts.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Full Moon Madness in the third, Lauraelise in the fourth and using Jazznwithwindy, Flowington, She Rocks, Real Paranoide and Go Gal Go in the fifth.

Winners (through Thursday): Previous day/meet total: 2/149. Money: Previous day/meet total: $10/$847.20. Total money bet: $980.