This week’s feature race is Saturday’s 31st running of the $100,000-added River City Handicap (Grade III), a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up over the Matt Winn Turf Course. Thorn Song – the winner of this year’s Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) and Firecracker Handicap (GII) who finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) – is expected to defend his 2007 title for owner Zayat Stables LLC and trainer Dale Romans and will tote 122 pounds.
Other probables (with trainer and assigned weight): Canadian Turf Handicap (GII) runner-up Yate’s Black Cat (Romans, 119); $50,000 Franklin-Simpson Stakes winner Demarcation (Paul McGee, 117); $197,200 Unbridled Handicap and $125,000 Remington Green Stakes hero Steve’s Double (Ronny Werner, 117); Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap (GIII) champ Wise River (Clark Hanna, 116); Stars and Stripes Turf Handicap (GIII) and Kentucky Cup Classic (GII) third Canela (Mike Maker, 115); $75,000 Independence Day Handicap winner and Carey Memorial third Jungle Fighter (Justin Nixon, 115) and $92,950 Black Tie Affair Handicap winner Gentleman Chester (Ralph Nicks, 113).
The Nov. 22 undercard also will feature the $56,000-added Bet On Sunshine, an overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The nominees (with trainer): Demarcation (McGee); Euroears (Bret Calhoun); Godolphin Gray (Reta Underwood); Grand Traverse (Tim Glyshaw); Greeley’s Conquest (Gary Thomas); High Expectations (Christine Janks); Junior College (Thomas Drury Jr.); Kelly’s Landing (Eddie Kenneally); Knights Cross (Kenneally); Ling Ling Qi (Ken McPeek); Nar (Ron Moquett); Native Ruler (Chris Richard); No Fault (Paul McGee); Officer Rocket-GB (Bob Holthus); Roi Maudit (Bill Mott); Silver Lord (Moquett); Success Success (McGee); and Vicarian (Ian Wilkes).
MILESTONE WATCH – Trainer Mike Maker needs one victory to establish a new standard for wins by a trainer during a Churchill Downs Fall Meet. He and Dale Romans (2003) currently share the record with 20 winners. Maker, who will begin Week 4 of the five-week Fall Meet with a 20-11 advantage over Ken McPeek, has five horses entered at Churchill Downs on Wednesday . . .
Maker led all trainer with six wins from 11 starters last week (Nov. 11-16). Eddie Kenneally went 5-for-11 and Todd Pletcher was 4-for-7 . . .
Through Monday, trainer Steve Asmussen had 547 winners this year, just eight victories shy of his 2004 North American record of 555 wins in a year. He has two horses entered at Zia Park on Tuesday, two at Aqueduct on Wednesday and two at Churchill Downs on Wednesday . . .
With nine racing dates left, jockey Julien Leparoux needs 17 victories to tie Pat Day’s 1985 record of 55 victories during a Churchill Downs Fall Meet. Leparoux, who seeks his fourth Churchill Downs riding title, will start the week with a 38-27 lead over Robby Albarado. The 25-year-old native of France won 14 races last week, including a track record-equaling seven trips to the winner’s circle on Veterans Day. Albarado had eight victories between Nov. 11-16 . . .
Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey have already won a Fall Meet record 16 races through the first 17 days of the meet, a dozen more than Maggi Moss, Rose Barney’s Scarlet Stable and Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm. The record for wins by an owner at any Churchill Downs meet is A.J. Foyt Jr.’s 27 during the 1984 Spring Meet, which was held over 93 dates . . .
The Ramseys led all owners with five wins from nine starters last week. Overbrook Farm went 2-for-2.
THIS WEEK’S GUEST ANNOUNCER: LARRY COLLMUS – Veteran racecaller Larry Collmus, the voice of Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park and Suffolk Downs, will describe this week’s racing action (Wednesday, Nov. 19 through Sunday, Nov. 23) as Churchill Downs continues its search to replace the late Luke Kruytbosch as the next “Voice of the Kentucky Derby”.
There will be a different track announcer each week during the five-week Fall Meet. Calder’s Bobby Neuman, Louisiana Downs’ Travis Stone and Golden Gate’s Michael Wrona made guest appearances in the first three weeks of the meet, respectively. England’s Mark Johnson will take his turn behind the mic on closing week (Nov. 26-29).
Churchill Downs officials are seeking input from customers and encouraging comment via email at announcer@kyderby.com.
LAST CHANCE FOR “WHO’S THE CHAMP?” HANDICAPPING CONTEST – Wednesday is the last chance for area horseplayers to qualify to Churchill Downs’ Nov. 23 final for the “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest.
The top 25 finishers who have not yet qualified will advance to Sunday’s championship event. Participants also will compete for $4,000 in cash prizes, including $1,400 for first place.
Entry to the contest, which requires players to place mythical $2 Win and Place wagers on two different horses in Races 3-8, is $30 ($25 for Twin Spires Club members).
Twice-weekly contests have been held at Churchill Downs since Oct. 29.
The top two finishers in Sunday’s final will win coveted berths in the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship X slated for Jan. 23-24, 2009 in Las Vegas.
TWO CANNED GOODS WILL GET YOU FREE ADMISSION NOV. 21-23 – Churchill Downs will offer free general admission Nov. 21-23 to all patrons who donate two non-perishable canned goods at Gates 10 and 17 in conjunction with the Kentucky Harvest Thanksgiving Food Drive, sponsored by Forcht Bank.
The canned goods can be delivered to Churchill Downs on those dates or any Louisville area Forcht Bank through Nov. 22 in exchange for the complimentary admission pass.
All donations will benefit Kentucky Harvest.
FINAL FRIDAY HAPPY HOURS OF THE MEET – This Friday is the final “Friday Happy Hours” of the 2008 Fall Meet. The New Orleans-themed event features $2 Budweiser Select, $2 hurricanes, $2 Fischer’s hot dogs and live jazz music by Hambone in the upper Jockey Club’s paddock balcony area from 3-5 p.m.
KENT DESORMEAUX GLASS GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY – The week’s promotional calendar is highlighted by the last of three collectable hurricane glass giveaways that salute popular Cajun jockeys who ride at Churchill Downs. A Kent Desormeaux glass, sponsored by Kentucky Derby Party, will be given away to the first 5,000 paid and pre-paid admissions (includes patrons who bring two canned goods for admission in conjunction with the Kentucky Harvest Thanksgiving Food Drive) on Saturday, Nov. 22.
Fans who receive the glass can come back to Churchill Downs on Sunday, Nov. 23 for an autograph session with Desormeaux on the second floor of the clubhouse.
A glass depicting Calvin Borel, sponsored by Thorntons, was given away Nov. 8. A Robby Albarado glass, presented by GE, was given away Nov. 15.
JOCKEY TALK ON SATURDAY – Every Saturday during the Fall Meet, members of Churchill Downs jockey colony will be on hand for a meet and greet with the fans in the paddock area between 11:30 a.m. and noon. This Saturday’s jockeys for “Jockey Talk” will be announced Friday.
JUNIOR JOCKEY CLUB WEEKEND ACTIVITIES – Crafts to create a Thanksgiving Banner of Blessings and special tours of the paddock highlight this weekend’s activities at Churchill Downs’ Junior Jockey Club located near the Guest Services Booth inside Gate. 10. Coloring books, crayons, individual games and reading material are available as well, and Churchill Downs’ mascot Churchill Charlie will be on hand both Saturday and Sunday for photographs between 1-1:30 p.m.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE DOWNS – Sunday Brunch at Churchill Downs returns this Sunday. For $41.50 ($25 for children 12 and under), customers can dine and watch the Nov. 23 races from a reserved seat Millionaires’ Row Six, the luxurious 9,000 square-foot room with a four-tier balcony that overlooks the finish line. The brunch, accompanied by live jazz music, is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a wide selection of food, including stuffed French toast, eggs, maple smoked bacon, homemade biscuits and gravy, carved roast turkey, fresh salads and plenty of sides. Appetizers and a bountiful desert tray will be available until 5 p.m. Brunch and an official program is included in the admission price. To reserve a spot, call (502) 636-4400.
WEATHER FORECAST – According to the National Weather Service, Wednesday’s forecast for Louisville calls for partly sunny skies with a high near 47 and a south wind between 6-14 mph. The forecast for the entire racing week:
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