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Sassy Image, like numerous professional sports teams, is a world-beater at home but highly vulnerable when she hits the road. However, a road win Saturday in the Grade 1, $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder would greatly enhance her prospects for an Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter, an honor often decided by the results of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, conveniently run this year on Sassy Image's home court of Churchill Downs on November 4.

The Princess Rooney is the highest-ranked of four graded stakes on Calder's Summit of Speed program, all contested at six furlongs. The others are the Grade 2, $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap for older horses, the $200,000 Carry Back Stakes (Grade 2) for three-year-olds, and the Grade 3, $150,000 Azalea for three-year-old fillies.

While much of trainer Dale Romans' attention this season has been on his Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford, Sassy Image arguably represents the stable's best hope of winning a divisional championship. The four-year-old is undefeated in five career starts at Churchill Downs, including the Humana Distaff (Grade 1) and Grade 3 Winning Colors Stakes in her last two. Continued success under the Twin Spires later this season would seem to give her an advantage in the championship race.

The Humana Distaff was a three-length triumph for Sassy Image over Hilda's Passion, who had a massive hiccup in last Sunday's Bed o' Roses Handicap (Grade 3) at odds of 1-5. The Winning Colors was a sterner test as Sassy Image just got up by a neck to deny a gallant Beat the Blues, subsequent winner of the Saylorville S. at Prairie Meadows.

Attempting to win the Princess Rooney off a near six-month layoff is Champagne d'Oro, winner last year of the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes and Grade 1 Test. She was last seen running fourth in the January 16 El Encino Stakes (Grade 2), her fourth consecutive unplaced finish since the Test. Of slightly more interest despite the rise in class is Derwin's Star, the 2010 Charles Town Oaks winner who recently returned a winner in a Parx Racing allowance following a layoff of more than eight months. The chestnut held her own against two relative giants -- Blind Luck and Havre de Grace -- when 1 1/2 lengths third in the Delaware Oaks (Grade 2) last summer.

Calder mainstays are well-represented in the Princess Rooney. Among them are Musical Romance, winner of the U Can Do It H. and Ema Bovary S., and the multiple stakes-placed Indulgence, Bella Moneta, and Don'ttalktome.

Seven were entered for the Smile Sprint, won last year by eventual champion Big Drama. Grade 1 veteran Noble's Promise enters off a convincing one-length win in the Aristides (Grade 3) at Churchill for Ken McPeek, and like Sassy Image, can enhance his championship credentials here knowing the final round will be held on the home track he likes.

The Smile Sprint will be no cakewalk, though. Apriority has been unlucky to have fallen just short in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap, Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes and Sunshine Millions Sprint this season, but is overdue for a first black-type success and will try to achieve that over a track he's undefeated over. Grade 2 victor This Ones for Phil, also a two-time Calder winner, impressively won the May 14 Decathlon Stakes at Monmouth following a 14-month layoff. Last time he was a distant second in the True North Handicap (Grade 2) over a muddy Belmont strip.

Not to be overlooked are Giant Ryan, who's won four straight including the June 11 Ponche Handicap, a course-and-distance prep, and the Bob Baffert-trained Irrefutable, whose lone finish outside the top two occurred on grass.

Baffert will have one of the favorites in the Carry Back in Smash, whose only setback in three Hollywood Park appearances was a second to eventual Affirmed (Grade 3) winner Coil in his seasonal bow May 6. Panamanian standout Indiano has fared well in the U.S., running second in the Swale Stakes (Grade 2) and last time taking the Unbridled S. by 4 1/2 lengths on the Summit of Speed preview card.

Others of note include the Todd Pletcher-trained Cal Nation, who's added only an allowance since his dazzling debut score at Gulfstream in February, and the stakes-winning Close it Out.

Baffert could also have the favorite in the Azalea when he sends out May Day Rose, winner this season of the Railbird Stakes (Grade 3), Santa Ysabel Stakes (Grade 3) and Instant Racing. Among her challengers is the undefeated Just Louise, a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Sara Louise. Just Louise has not been in action since taking the Debutante Stakes (Grade 3) at Churchill more than a year ago. The top local prospect is Beso Grande, winner of the Leave Me Alone and French Village Stakes in her last two.

The $55,000 Sweettrickydancer Stakes, for three-year-old fillies at one mile on the turf, is also a part of Calder's 12-race program.

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