Buff Bradley

GLEN HILL FARM, PROCTOR TAKING TWO SHOTS AT MRS REVERE – Glen Hill Farm and trainer Tom Proctor will be taking two shots at this year’s extremely competitive edition of the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (Grade II) with Marketing Mix and Holidaysatthefarm.

Marketing Mix will enter the Mrs. Revere off a game runner-up effort to Together-IRE in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (GI) at Keeneland. The plan was to originally give Marketing Mix the rest of the year off, but then the connections called an audible.

“The $175,000 (purse) had a lot to do with it,” Proctor said. “She’s also doing really well and we wanted to give her one more shot to run against her age group.”

The Mrs. Revere is one of the final opportunities for 3-year-old fillies to compete in stakes company on the turf exclusively against members of their own age group. For this reason, the race often comes up very competitive and the 21^st running of the race on Saturday is no exception.

“It’s always a tough race,” Proctor said. “Everyone wants to run against 3-year-olds one more time before the end of the year. This is one competitive race.”

Prior to the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Marketing Mix won the Wonder Where at Woodbine by over four lengths and then took the Pucker Up (GIII) at Arlington Park by over three. She is the 5-2 favorite in oddsmaker Mike Battaglia’s morning line for the race that includes five other graded stakes winners.

“Why shouldn’t she be the favorite?” Proctor said. “She’s a runner.”

The odds on the other Glen Hill Farm-Proctor entrant Holidaysatthefarm will likely be much higher than her stablemate. The 3-year-old daughter of Smarty Jones, listed as a 20-1 risk in the morning line, will enter the Mrs. Revere off a fourth-place finish behind Daisy Devine in the Valley View (GIII) at Keeneland.

“It’d be nice to see her (Holidaysatthefarm) run really well and I think if they were going longer she could win,” Proctor said. “We’ll see how it goes, but I wanted to get a race in her and then run her longer. She’ll probably run in the La Prevoyante (GIII at 1 ½ miles on the turf at Calder Race Course on Dec. 2).”

The Mrs. Revere will be the ninth race on Saturday’s 10-race card. Post time for the first race is 12:40 p.m. (all times EST) with the Mrs. Revere scheduled for 4:37 p.m.

GROUPIE DOLL ENTERS MRS. REVERE; BRADLEY OPTIMISTIC -  When Brass Hat, a Grade I winner of over $2.1 million, retired this spring and left the Buff Bradley barn, the trainer commented that he was hoping one of the remaining horses in the barn would step-up and be his “next big horse.” Fast forward to today and it appears as though Bradley has found that next big horse in the 3-year-old filly Groupie Doll.

In six career starts, Groupie Doll has recorded a record of 3-2-0 with earnings of $239,930. After breaking her maiden by 3 ¼ lengths on dirt at Churchill Downs, the 3-year-old daughter of Bowman’s Band rolled to an eight-length victory in an allowance at Ellis Park prior to winning the Gardenia (GIII) by three lengths against older fillies and mares. Groupie Doll will enter the Mrs. Revere off runner-up performances in the Charles Town Oaks and the Lexus Raven Run (GII).

“It’s a really nice field, but if she can improve off her last two then she should be right there,” Bradley said.

The Mrs. Revere will be the first start on turf for Groupie Doll since her career debut when she finished eighth of 11 in a maiden special weight outing on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

“She should handle the turf course fine,” Bradley said. “Her last work (:47.20 around the “dogs” over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course on Nov. 8) was really good. I told (jockey) Greta (Kuntzweiler) to get her attention and make her work at it. She went slow the first quarter and then came home quick enough to let her know she was working. It was what we wanted and I was happy.”

The switch to the turf doesn’t concern Bradley and neither does the 1 1/16 mile distance of the Mrs. Revere.

“She’s never gone that far, but she’s never given us any reason to believe she can’t get the distance,” Bradley said. “I actually didn’t want to cut her back to seven furlongs after going a mile at Ellis Park, but we wanted to keep her running against 3-year-olds.”

Bradley is optimistic that his filly will run a big race Saturday, but he is also well-aware of the high quality horses that make up the field, especially two from one particular barn.

"It seems like you always have to run against (Tom) Proctor on the grass with a filly,” Bradley said.

STAKES WINNERS FACE OFF IN FRIDAY FEATURE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – The Mrs. Revere isn’t the only race at Churchill Downs this weekend that came up extremely competitive as Friday’s featured allowance/optional claiming race includes four stakes winners.

Heuristic Stable’s Fortune Play is the morning-line favorite at 5-2 and will enter Friday’s fourth race off a second-place finish to Happy Week in seven-furlong allowance on the synthetic Polytrack course at Keeneland. Trained by John Booker Jr., Fortune Play captured the overnight Roxelana Stakes beneath the Twin Spires this spring. She is entered with a claiming-price of $80,000 and will break from post three under Freddie Lenclud.

To the inside of Fortune Play is Carl R. Moore Management LLC’s four-time stakes winner Speedacious, who will break from post two under Miguel Mena. The 4-year-old Louisiana-bred daughter of Yankee Gentleman has recorded three wins this year, including a victory in the Satin and Lace over the synthetic Tapeta course at Presque Isle Downs. According to Bret Calhoun’s assistant trainer Dennis Geier, Friday’s allowance will serve as the prep for the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies’ Sprint at Fair Grounds on Dec. 10. It will be the third appearance in the Louisiana Champions Day for Speedacious, who won the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie as a 2-year-old and finished ninth in the Ladies’ Sprint last year.

The co-second choice with Speedacious is William Patterson’s Dances With Ashley, who enters the race off a 10^th-place finish in the Thoroughbred Club of America (GII) on Keeneland’s Polytack. The 4-year-old daughter of Wildcat Heir was bred in Florida by Brambly Lane Farm and Steve Dwoskin and won two restricted stakes races at age three.

Drawing the outside post is Desk Farms LLC’s Helen Belen, a four-time winner in a career that is highlighted by a victory in last year’s Valdale at Turfway Park. She will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr.

BARN TALK – Dear Maria, a granddaughter of Mrs. Revere, will try to break her maiden in Friday’s third race at Churchill Downs. Bred by Dr. Hiram Polk and Dr. David Richardson, who owned Mrs. Revere, Dear Maria is out of the mare Maria Balastiere, who won the Regret beneath the Twin Spires in 1991 and was the only foal produced by Mrs. Revere before her passing. Trained by Tim Glyshaw, Dear Maria will break from post two under Calvin Borel. …

Mark Guidry, 19^th all-time in wins at Churchill Downs with 331, recorded his first victory at the Louisville track in nearly four years aboard Minister Colin in Wednesday’s sixth race. Guidry has won 17 stakes at Churchill Downs, with his biggest victory coming in the 2006 Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) aboard Lemons Forever. …

Ten $1,000 scholarships will be distributed to full-time students from colleges and universities throughout the country when Churchill Downs joins the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association for the annual College Scholarship Day on Friday, Nov. 11. College Scholarship Day will also feature a concert by Grammy-nominated country music artist David Nail. The concert will begin after Friday’s 10^th and final race and Nail is expected to perform from 5:30-7 p.m. EST. The concert is included in the track’s regular $3 admission price, but is complimentary for full-time students with a valid college ID. …

Also on Friday, all veterans with a valid ID will receive free admission to Churchill Downs in celebration of Veterans Day.

WORKTAB – Multiple graded stakes winner Thiskyhasnolimit breezed four furlongs over a fast Churchill Downs track Thursday morning in :52.80 for trainer Steve Asmussen. The 4-year-old son of Sky Mesa is a two-time stakes winner at the Louisville track, having won the Iroquois (GIII) as a 2-year-old and the Matt Winn at age three. …

Jack Mandato’s Zimmer breezed five furlongs on the firm Matt Winn Turf Course around the “dogs” in 1:01.80 for trainer Christophe Clement. Zimmer is pointing toward the River City Handicap (GIII) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf on Saturday, Nov. 19 and will be ridden by Calvin Borel, according to agent Jerry Hissam.

PLETCHER SETTLES IN; SIDNEY’S CANDY WORKS ON TURF – Trainer Todd Pletcher, who saddled three of his six Breeders’ Cup winners at last year’s World Championships at Churchill Downs, began the process of improving on his career total Tuesday morning starting at 6 o’clock with light exercise from Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) hopefuls Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty and concluding just before 10 o’clock with a half-mile grass work from Sidney’s Candy for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI).

“I am here through the Breeders’ Cup,” said Pletcher, whose last contingent of World Championship runners arrived from New York on Monday morning.

Leading that contingent was the Repole Stable-owned duo of Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty. Uncle Mo jogged once around the main track under Hector Ramos, while Stay Thirsty galloped a mile with Fernando Zamora up.

Pletcher plans to work both colts on Sunday.

“We pre-entered 11 altogether,” Pletcher said. “Hunt Crossing (Sentient Jet Juvenile Sprint), Stopshoppingmaria (Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies), Sweet Cat (Juvenile Fillies Turf), Her Smile (Sentient Jet Filly & Mare Sprint), Super Espresso (Ladies’ Classic),Finale (Juvenile Turf), Rule (Dirt Mile), Sidney’s Candy (Mile), and Aikenite who was cross-entered in the Sentient Jet Sprint and Dirt Mile, plus Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty.”

Uncle Mo won the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) last year and Pletcher’s other winners were Pluck in the Juvenile Turf and More Than Real in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“I feel good about all my horses and it looks like the ones that came in yesterday all shipped well,” Pletcher said. “We have some important works coming up and you hold your breath (until the event is here).”

Pletcher was asked if there were any of his runners that might be flying under the radar coming into this year’s championships.

"We’ve got a few that are in that category,” Pletcher said with a laugh. “Her Smile won the Prioress (GI) and got the perfect set-up and would need something similar. Super Espresso, we are going off her work here the other day (five furlongs in 1:01.60 over a fast track Saturday). She trained here in the spring before going to Pimlico (for a victory in the GIII DuPont Distaff), so for her it is racetrack related. Aikenite runs well here.” 

WinStar Farm and Rubio B Stable’s Sidney’s Candy covered a half-mile on firm turf in :50 under exercise rider Annie Finney. Clockers got the first quarter in 27 seconds flat and a gallop-out time of 1:03.40 for five furlongs.

“It was a good work,” Pletcher said of Sidney’s Candy, who ran third in the Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland in his most recent start on Oct. 8. “It looked like he got over the ground well and finished strong.”

FIELDS TAKING SHAPE FOR OPENING-DAY POCAHONTAS AND IROQUOIS – A trio of Grade III winners are expected to be among the names to pass the entry box Thursday for the 43^rd running of the $150,000 Pocahontas (GII) at a mile on the main track to be run Sunday.

The Pocahontas and the 30^th running of the $100,000-added Iroquois (GIII) share top billing on Sunday’s opening-day program of the 21-day Fall Meeting that runs through Nov. 27. Sunday’s card, “Stars of Tomorrow I” will feature racing exclusively for 2-year-olds.

Heading the list of probables according to Churchill Downs racing officials are Believe You Can, Flashy Lassie and Georgie’s Angel.

Brereton Jones’ Believe You Can has won her past three starts, capped by a victory in the Tempted (GIII) at Belmont Park on Oct. 2. Barry King’s Flashy Lassie won the Debutante (GIII) here in June and Georgie’s Angel, beaten favorite in the Tempted, won the Schuylerville (GIII) at Saratoga. Georgie’s Angel is owned by Sheffer Racing Stable, Ronald Stocks, Betsy Wells and Kelly Weitsma.

Other probable starters for the Pocahontas, won last year by Dancinginherdreams, include And Why Not, Aubby K, Best of Times, Glinda the Good, Heart of Destiny,Spirited Miss and Taxi Dancer.

Lantern Hill Farm’s Motor City, third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII), tops the list of probables for the Iroquois. Other likely starters for the Iroquois, won last year by Astrology, include Hollywood Script, Mark Valeski, Purely Determined andSeven Lively Sins.

BARN TALK – Buff Bradley, trainer and co-owner of Groupie Doll, plans to bring the 3-year-old filly back in the Nov. 12 Mrs. Revere (GII) at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Groupie Doll finished second in last Saturday’s Lexus Raven Run (GII) at Keeneland. …

Bisnath Parboo, trainer of Breeders’ Cup hopefuls Giant Ryan and Trinniberg, plans to work both horses Wednesday morning. Trinniberg (Sentient Jet Juvenile Sprint candidate) is scheduled to work three furlongs or a half-mile out of the gate at 7:15 with Giant Ryan (Grade I Sentient Jet Sprint) slated to work a half-mile or five furlongs after the renovation break. Willie Martinez is scheduled to be in the saddle for both works.

WORK TAB – Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, working toward an expected start in Saturday’s Fayette (GII) at Keeneland, breezed three furlongs in :36.20 over a fast track. …

Lantern Hill Farm’s Motor City, a candidate for Sunday’s 30^th running of the $100,000-added Iroquois (GIII), worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 before the renovation break under Calvin Borel. The work was the fifth fastest of 37 at the distance. …

Working six furlongs in 1:18.40 on the firm Matt Winn Turf Course was Gaillardia Racing’s Wilkinson, who was third in the Jamaica Handicap (GI) in his most recent start.

MUSKETIER READY FOR TOP EFFORT IN LOUISVILLE HANDICAP – It’s scarce to find a multiple graded stakes-winning, un-gelded horse still competing at age 9, let alone in top company, but Musketier-GER, fresh off back-to-back wins in the Elkhorn (GII) at Keeneland, has been installed as the 122-pound high weight and 9-5 favorite for Saturday’s 74^th running of the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs.  

The German-bred horse has been competing on the racetrack for seven years. Heck, he’s been around so long that gas prices averaged $1.87 when he made his Aug. 3, 2004 debut at Deauville in France. One might think that such a veteran would have lost a step; however, trainer Roger Attfield believes his horse is in top form.

“I haven’t had a chance to take a long look at the field yet,” said Attfield, who will also start Simmard in the Louisville Handicap. “But I know my horse (Musketier) is healthy and well and he’s been training very nicely for this race.”

Jesus Castanon, who rode Shackleford to a Preakness (GI) victory last week, will be aboard Musketier for the first time Saturday afternoon.

“His rider from last time (John Velazquez) was unavailable and I needed to find another rider,” Attfield said. “I’ve known Dennis Cooper (Castanon’s agent) for a long time and I know Castanon is a good jockey. We’ve had success together before and so I decided to go with him again.”

Castanon, who has ridden four mounts to victory at the meet, is well aware of Musketier’s class and ability.

“I don’t know a whole lot about the horse, but I know he’s really good,” Castanon said.

Castanon’s agent is also looking forward to Saturday’s race as the Louisville Handicap has been on his radar for some time.

“There aren’t too many races (1 ½ miles on turf) for a horse like that and I thought he might run in this one,” Cooper said. “I called Roger (Attfield) a long time ago and asked about getting this mount. He’s a great horse and we’re ready to roll.”

PADDY O’PRADO’S CONNECTIONS LOOK TO REPEAT SUCCESS WITH O’PRADO AGAIN – Just days after celebrating a win in the Dixie (GII) at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard, the connections of Paddy O’Prado were forced to retire their Grade I-winning colt after x-rays revealed a sesamoid injury. Although Paddy O’Prado’s retirement is a major blow to the barn, the duo of Donegal Racing and Dale Romans has been encouraged by the progress of a pair of promising 2-year-old colts.  

One of the colts, O’Prado Again, is named in honor of Paddy O’Prado. The $350,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase descends from the same family as First Samurai, winner of the Champagne Stakes (GI) and Hopeful Stakes (GI) as a 2-year-old in 2005. Romans is excited about O’Prado Again’s abilities and thinks the colt will make his debut before meet’s end.

“He’s a really nice horse,” Romans said. “I like him a lot.”

The son of El Prado, out of the Pulpit mare Leh She Run, might have a liking for the turf much like his namesake, who recorded all five of his wins on the lawn.

“He’s one that I think will be better on the grass,” Romans said.

The other 2-year-old is Dullahan, a half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing purchased the colt at the Keeneland September sale for $250,000.

Romans, who worked Dullahan five furlongs from the gate Wednesday in 1:02.60 on a fast Churchill Downs track, is looking forward to seeing the colt run in the afternoon.

“He’s a good one,” Romans said. “He’s definitely one to watch.”

RETIRED BRASS HAT TO BE HONORED SATURDAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Fred Bradley’s homebred Brass Hat – one of the greatest rags-to-riches stars in the history of Kentucky racing – will get a fond farewell from fans and the people closest to him during a Saturday ceremony at Churchill Downs.

            Churchill Downs’ farewell to Brass Hat is scheduled after Saturday’s fifth race, which is set for a post time of 2:55 p.m. (Eastern).  Brass Hat will make the trip to the Churchill Downs paddock with the horses that will run in the fifth, and the veteran star will remain in the paddock while the race is run.  The ceremony honoring Brass Hat and his connections will be conducted in the winner’s circle following the race.

            Trainer Buff Bradley, the owner/breeder’s son, announced this week that the 10-year-old gelded son of Prized would head into retirement.  The younger Bradley described Brass Hat on Friday as a “blue collar horse” who had become a hero and favorite to many racing fans.  Bradley said Brass Hat had been training well for a campaign at 10, but he decided it was time for Brass Hat to head back to the family’s farm near Frankfort.

            “He still really has the want-to,” Bradley said.  “If he was ready to run in the Louisville Handicap tomorrow, he’d be in the starting gate.  But he’s not ready and I thought it would just take too much time to get him ready to compete this year.”

            The Bradleys could never be accused of being overly ambitious with Brass Hat, who started his career as a 3-year-old in a race for $15,000 claiming horses on Jan. 29, 2004 at Turfway Park.  He finished second that day at odds of 32-1, but two starts later scored his first career victory in a 38-1 upset in Turfway’s $100,000 Rushaway Stakes.  By the end of his first racing season Brass Hat had also collected victories in the Ohio Derby (GII) and Indiana Derby (GII).

            He rebounded successfully from two major injuries during his career to compile a record of 10-8-5 in 40 races with earnings of $2,173,561.  Other highlights included victories at five in the Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park and the New Orleans Handicap (GII) at Fair Grounds.  Brass Hat also won the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap in 2007 and the 2005 Prairie Bayou at Turfway Park.  He shifted almost exclusively to the grass late in his career and scored emotional victories for the Bradleys in Churchill Downs’ Louisville Handicap (GIII) in 2009 and a major win as a 9-year-old in last year’s Sycamore (GIII) at Keeneland. 

            His numbers would be even more glittering had Brass Hat not been disqualified from a runner-up finish in the 2007 running of the $5 million Dubai World Cup (GI) at Nad Al Sheba.  He was disqualified after that race because of a medication violation on that international journey that the younger Bradley disputes to this day. 

          “It will be an emotional day, but no more emotional than watching him any other day,” Bradley said of his veteran star’s Saturday farewell.  “It has been so special to watch and be around this horse, especially in later years when he won the Louisville Handicap here and won the Sycamore at Keeneland last year at nine.  All my barn crew is going to walk over to the paddock with him, so I’ll get to share the moment with them.”

BARN TALK – Trainer Dale Romans has confirmed that Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image will be entered in Monday’s 8^th running of the Winning Colors (GIII). The 4-year-old daughter of Broken Vow captured the Humana Distaff (GI) here in her last start as part of the Kentucky Derby (GI) undercard. …

            Romans galloped Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford on Friday at 9:30 a.m. and said he’d firm the colt’s travel plans to New York on Friday afternoon. “It looks like he’ll leave here for Belmont on Saturday or Sunday and I need to decide if he’ll go by plane or van.” …

Romans couldn’t help but chuckle when he received a text message from a friend that included a picture of a congratulatory sign outside his alma mater, Butler High School, which is located just 3 ½ miles from Churchill Downs in the south end of Louisville. The sign read: Dale Romans: Preakness Winner, Butler Grad. “For four years, all they did was to try and kick me out,” Romans said. “Now that I’ve won the Preakness with Shackleford, they’ve got open arms and they’re showing me love!” …

Robby Albarado won the ninth race Thursday aboard Attractive Ride for trainer Merrill Scherer. The win was Albarado’s 915^th at Churchill Downs and moved him past Larry Melancon (914) for fourth place in career victories under the Twin Spires behind Pat Day (2,482), Calvin Borel (1,046) and Don Brumfield (925). …

After today, two Friday twilight programs (2:45 p.m. ET) remain during the Spring Meet and both include live music after the races in conjunction with the new five-week Paddock Concert Series: Corey Chisel and the Wandering Sons on June 3 and Wax Fang on June 10. “Downs After Dark” night racing with a 6 p.m. ET first post will return in earnest for the final three Fridays of the meet on June 17, June 24 and July 1. …

Nominations close Saturday for the 35^th running of the $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course. Hot Cha Cha won the 2010 Early Times Mint Julep. … 

MEET LEADERS - Shaun Bridgmohan and Corey Lanerie entered Friday’s program tied atop the jockey standings with 15 wins apiece, and were followed by Calvin Borel (12), Julien Leparoux (12), Miguel Mena (11), Jon Court (10) and Kent Desormeaux (10). …

The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (May 19-26) are Lanerie (9-for-33), Mena (8-for-28) and Borel (7-for-33). …

There’s a three-way tie atop the trainer standings with seven wins each between Tom Amoss, Steve Asmussen and Romans. They’re followed by Eddie Kenneally (5), Steve Margolis (5), Bob Baffert (4), Jim Baker (4), Greg Foley (4), Tim Glyshaw (4), Wayne Lukas (4), Mike Maker (4), Merrill Scherer (4) and Ian Wilkes (4). … 

Lukas’ clients, Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack, top the owner standings with four winners. They collected win No. 4 in Thursday’s fourth race when Manhattan Man collected his second win of the Spring Meet. The other two-time winning-horses this season are Distorted Love, She’s an Alpha Gam, Shot of Kela and Valid Citizen. …

WORK TAB – Carl R. Moore Management LLC’s Chamberlain Bridge, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) at Churchill Downs in November, worked four furlongs over a good Churchill Downs track on Friday morning in :49.80 for trainer Bret Calhoun. …

            Right Time Racing LLC’s two Kentucky Oaks (GI) starters Bouquet Booth and Street Storm both worked four furlongs over a good track for trainer Steve Margolis in :49.20 after the renovation break. …

            Tom McCarthy’s multiple GI-winner General Quarters went to the track shortly after the renovation break. The 5-year-old gray son of Sky Mesa worked five furlongs in 1:03.20 over a good track.

WEATHER - After a tumultuous week of rain and severe weather, the National Weather Service forecast for Louisville calls for clearing and sunny skies through Memorial Day: Friday, cloudy, 67; Saturday, partly sunny, 83; Sunday, sunny, 90; and Monday, sunny, 91.

BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE 1-2 FINISHERS TOP CLARK NOMINEES – Dakota Phone and Morning Line, who finished a head apart in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI), top a list of 30 nominees to the 136th running of the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI).

The 1 1/8-mile main track test is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 26. Weights for the race will be announced next Friday, Nov. 19.

The roster of Clark nominees also includes three horses that competed in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI): Etched (sixth), First Dude (eighth) and Pleasant Prince (ninth).

Top names among the Clark nominees that did not compete in the Breeders’ Cup include Apart, winner of Churchill Downs’ Ack Ack Handicap (GIII), Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (GII) winner Redding Colliery and Fayette (GII) winner Successful Dan.

Distinctive Dixie, winner of the Chilukki (GII) here on Nov. 6, heads a list of 15 fillies and mares nominated to the 95th running of the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII) slated for Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25. Weights for the Falls City, to be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, also will be announced next Friday.

Astrology and Dancinginherdreams, the winners of the two opening-day stakes on Oct. 31 on the “Stars of Tomorrow I” card, top the nominees for the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) and Golden Rod (GII), respectively, to be run on Saturday, Nov. 27.

Astrology, winner of the Iroquois (GIII), heads a list of 30 juveniles nominated to the 84th running of the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club at 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Last year’s race was won by Super Saver, who came back to win Kentucky Derby 136 in May.

Dancinginherdreams, a 5 ¼-length winner of the Pocahontas (GII), leads the list of 22 nominees for the 67th running of the $150,000-added Golden Rod. Also among the nominees is Aide, a 19 ¾-length allowance winner here on Oct. 31.

YANKEE FOURTUNE RIGHT AT HOME ON THE GRASS – A year ago, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was not too high on the prospects of a 2-year-old named Yankee Fourtune.

The son of Yankee Gentleman had made his debut on Sept. 26 at Monmouth Park on the dirt and ran seventh in a field of 12, beaten 14 ¼ lengths.

“He didn’t run well and we just gave him time off to mature,” McLaughlin said.

When Yankee Fourtune resurfaced this July at Belmont Park, it was on the grass and for a $50,000 claiming price.

“We had no idea what we had,” McLaughlin said after Yankee Fourtune scored by 4 ¾ lengths. “He had trained well before he ran the first time. We thought he’d be a little better on turf and it turned out to be a great decision. He’ll never run for $50,000 again.”

From that maiden score, Yankee Fourtune took two races at Saratoga by a combined 10 ¾ lengths and then scored as the even-money favorite by 2 ¼ lengths in wire-to-wire fashion in the Hawthorne Derby (Grade III).

Yankee Fourtune brought his four-race win streak to Churchill Downs on Tuesday night in preparation for Saturday’s $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (GIII). Victor Santiago has the mount Saturday on Yankee Fourtune, who will break from post position 11 in the field of 13 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

“Victor likes him and suits him well and he’s won four straight on him,” McLaughlin said.

All four of Yankee Fourtune’s victories have come over firm ground and there is a 30 percent chance of rain in Louisville on Saturday.

“A yielding course would be a concern,” said McLaughlin, who has won six stakes at Churchill Downs including the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) with Invasor (ARG). “I don’t like the uncertainty of a yielding course.”

BRASS HAT GEARS UP FOR ANOTHER CLARK HANDICAP TRY – Trainer Buff Bradley’s back was aching Friday morning and he was eagerly in search of relief.

He got it a little after 8:30.

“Watching him work like that makes me feel better,” Bradley said after his father’s Brass Hat worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 under Calvin Borel over a fast track for the second fastest of 27 works at the distance. “I like it when Calvin comes back smiling.”

The 9-year-old Brass Hat was working for the first time since winning the Sycamore (GIII) at Keeneland on Oct. 21. The victory improved Brass Hat’s career record to 10-8-5 in 39 races for earnings of $2,167,92.

The Sycamore came on the turf at 1 ½ miles, but Bradley is looking at the Nov. 26 Clark Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the main track as the next target for Brass Hat.

Calvin has always been telling me to run him back on the dirt,” Bradley said. “This is his home track and if the race was not here, we would not think about it. He was hitting the ground good this morning and Calvin never moved on him.”

Brass Hat tried the dirt once this year, finishing eighth in the Cornhusker Handicap (GII) at Prairie Meadows in June.

“Calvin said the dirt at Prairie Meadows was not the same (as it is here),” Bradley said.

Brass Hat ran in the 2007 Clark, finishing second to A.P. Arrow. His most recent victory on the dirt, which came six dirt starts back, came in the 2007 Massachusetts Handicap and the most recent of his four graded stakes victories on dirt came in the Donn Handicap (GI) in 2006.

Bradley plans to work Brass Hat again next week as the final prep for the Clark, which was won last year by 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame.

BARN TALK – Pretty soon, Sue Lorimer may find herself on permanent resident status in Kentucky. An assistant to trainer Roger Attfield, Lorimer is back in Kentucky for the fifth time in six weeks, this
time to saddle Don Cavallo in Saturday’s Commonwealth Turf. The journeys from Woodbine began in early October when Lorimer brought Society’s Chairman and Stormy Rush to Keeneland for stakes engagements Oct. 9-10. She returned to Canada and then came back to Lexington for the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (GI) with Perfect Shirl on Oct. 16. The following weekend had Lorimer returning to Keeneland with Musketier (GER) for the Sycamore (GIII) on Oct. 21 and No Explaining (IRE) for the Pin Oak Valley View (GIII) on Oct. 22. Last week, Lorimer brought Society’s Chairman and Miss Keller (IRE) to Churchill Downs for Breeders’ Cup appearances, returned to Toronto and then came back Thursday morning with Don Cavallo. “I’m flying home Sunday to pack the car for Florida,” Lorimer said, adding with a laugh, “At least that’s the plan for now.” …

Asphalt’s winning time of 1:43.10 for 1 1/16 miles on the turf Thursday was the fastest clocking of the meet at the distance. … Thursday’s card produced the largest Pick 3 and Pick 4 payoffs of the meet through its first eight days. The Pick 3 that began in the fifth race returned $5,874.20 and the Pick 4 beginning in the fourth race returned $108,337.80. Both payoffs were for $2 tickets.

BOREL, ASMUSSEN MAINTAIN SOLID LEADS IN RACE FOR MEET HONORS – With four days to go in the 2010 Spring Meet, Calvin Borel is on track for his first leading rider title for a Spring Meet at Churchill Downs.

Borel, who won an outright Fall Meet title in 1999 and shared Fall honors in 2006 and 2009, has a 44-35 advantage on Corey Lanerie. Borel is named on three mounts Thursday, nine on Friday night’s card and nine on Saturday while Lanerie is named on eight mounts Thursday and Friday and 10 on Saturday.
Asmussen, who swept the training titles at both meets in 2009, has a 22-16 edge on Dale Romans and Tom Amoss. Eyeing his fourth Spring Meet title and eighth overall, Asmussen has two horses entered Thursday, five on Friday and two on Saturday. Romans has three entrants Thursday, seven on Friday and three on Saturday. Amoss has two entrants Thursday and none Friday or Saturday.

Maggi Moss, hoping to secure her second leading owner title, has had eight winners during the meet and has a three-winner advantage over Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Amerman Racing Stable and WinStar Farm. The 2007 Spring Meet leading owner has Dartangia in the sixth race and is the only member of this year’s group of  top four owners to have a runner on Thursday.

BACK TO THE GRASS FOR VETERAN BRASS HAT – The return to dirt experiment is over for Fred Bradley’s Brass Hat after beating only one horse and trailing the victorious Shadowbdancing by more than 12 lengths in last Saturday’s Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (GII) in Iowa.

“He is going to go back on the grass and we are looking at the closing day stake at Ellis Park,” trainer Buff Bradley said of the Cliff Guilliams Handicap at 1 1/16 miles. “I may give him a couple more weeks off and wait for that.”

The 9-year-old Brass Hat had not run on dirt since the 2008 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) and primarily had been in 1 1/2-mile turf races for the past two years.

“I was looking to cut him back in distance and I didn’t want to do what we did last year,” Bradley said of Grade I bids by Brass Hat in the United Nations and Sword Dancer at Monmouth Park and Saratoga, respectively.

Bradley knew early on that Brass Hat was in trouble at Prairie Meadows.

“It was a speed-favoring track and records were set both nights,” Bradley said in reference to Majesticperfection’s 1:07.24 six-furlong mark established Friday and then Concord Point’s 1:40.37 for 1 1/16 miles on Saturday. “I knew we were in trouble when the first race Saturday for $12,500 fillies went in 1:09 and 1 for six furlongs.”

Brass Hat has earned more than $2 million and Bradley does not envision that career coming to a close soon.

“There are some people saying we should retire him, but he is doing fine and we space his races out,” Bradley said.

DANZON CAN MAKE QUICK RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN LOCUST GROVE – The highest-priced claim of the meet can make a quick return on investment Saturday when Danzon runs for new owner Alfred Nuckols Jr. in the 29th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

“They claimed her to breed next spring,” trainer Jim Baker said of the $80,000 purchase. “The plan is to run her until the end of the year and breed her next year.”

The 7-year-old Danzon appeared on Nuckols’ radar when she won on April 30 for the $80,000 tag. When she was entered back on June 4 under the same conditions, Baker got a call.

“They called me and asked if I would claim a horse for them,” Baker said and the claim was made as Danzon romped to another victory.

Alex Solis will ride Danzon on Saturday in what will be fifth stakes start over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

"She has got some back class to her and she has been doing good and is two-for-two this meet,” Baker said.

Danzon first ran here in 2007 at age four when she finishing third, beaten a length, against males in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI). She finished third later that meet in the Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) and came back the following spring to compete in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GIII) and the Early Times Mint Julep.

A Kentucky-bred daughter of Royal Academy, Danzon has compiled a record of 9-4-6 in 28 races for earnings of $484,823.

BARN TALK – Heading into the final four days of the meet, six riders have had their mounts earn in excess of $1 million. Leading the way is Calvin Borel, whose mounts have earned $3,012,009. Following in order are Robby Albarado ($1,338,365), Corey Lanerie ($1,075,995), Shaun Bridgmohan ($1,071,074), Miguel Mena ($1,049,410) and Garrett Gomez ($1,001,163). Two trainers have surpassed the $1 million mark: Todd Pletcher ($2,397,898) and Steve Asmussen ($1,082,445). …

Leading apprentice Freddie Lenclud, who is seventh in the standings with 27 victories, plans to ride at Saratoga. “I will ride some for Ian (Wilkes), some for Rick Dutrow and some for Rusty Arnold,” Lenclud said. “As long as I have (agent) Doc (Danner), I am not worried (about getting mounts).” Lenclud’s victory total is the highest for an apprentice at a Churchill Downs Spring Meet since Julien Leparoux and Randall Toups won 87 and 39 races, respectively, in 2006. …

Leparoux returns to the saddle this afternoon for the first time since being injured May 16. Leparoux, who suffered a compression fracture in his vertebrae after being unseated in the Black-Eyed Susan (GII) at Pimlico on May 14, is named on five mounts today and five on Friday. …

Francisco Torres, third in the rider standings with 31 victories, plans to ride this summer at Ellis Park and Hoosier Park with an occasional foray to Arlington Park.

ROMANS LOOKS AHEAD TO NEXT CHURCHILL DOWNS MILESTONE – Trainer Dale Romans was a happy man Friday morning, the day after Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Skipadate gave the conditioner his 500th victory at Churchill Downs.

It was the first victory for Romans here since Suz Slew won on May 31 and Skipadate represented the 20th runner for Romans trying to get that 500th win.

“It seems like the closer you get to a milestone, the harder it is to get over the hump,” said Romans, a 43-year-old native of Louisville.

Son of trainer Jerry Romans, all of Dale’s victories have been with horses that have come out of Barns 4 and 5, where he is stabled today.

“Dad had Barn 4 and I was in 5 until he had his stroke and then I moved into 4,” Romans said. “His best piece of advice was to just keep grinding. The successful ones are the ones that could last.”

Of the 500 victories, 23 have come in stakes. Romans said he rates 2004 Eclipse Award turf champion Kitten’s Joy’s triumph in the 2005 Firecracker (GII) as his favorite victory among the 500.

The quest for 600 begins with tonight’s program in which Romans has three horses entered. Romans will run three on Saturday’s card and four on Sunday.

Eight more cards remain to be drawn for the Spring Meet that ends July 4, and Romans has one runner that could aid on the road to 600: Frank L. Jones Jr.’s homebred Tapitsfly, winner of last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“She had a chip taken out of her ankle after the Breeders’ Cup,” Romans said of Tapitsfly, who returned to the work tab May 23. “She could run before the end of the meet.”'

BRASS HAT WORKS BULLET TOWARD CORNHUSKER START – Fred Bradley’s Brass Hat punched his ticket to next Saturday’s $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (GII) by working a bullet five furlongs in :59.20 on Friday morning under jockey Calvin Borel.

Brass Hat worked at 6:30 over a fast track and his time was the fastest of 30 at the distance. Churchill Downs clockers had Brass Hat galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.

“I wanted to get a good work in him this morning,” trainer Buff Bradley said of Brass Hat, who has not started on dirt since finishing fifth in the 2008 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) at Churchill Downs. “He was very relaxed and striding out well. Calvin said it’s hard to believe he is nine years old. He likes what he does.”

Brass Hat, who has earned $2,097,921 with a record of 9-7-5 in 36 races, finished third in his most recent start, the mile and a half Louisville Handicap (GIII) on May 22. Seven of Brass Hat’s past eight starts have been at 12 furlongs.

“I wanted to cut him back to a mile and an eighth,” Bradley said. “There is a mile and a sixteenth race here, but I am afraid it won’t go. I hate not to run him here because he loves this track.

“But I looked at the past performances for the Cornhusker, and it looks like he might be one of the top ones. Three of the horses nominated ran in the Stephen Foster, so that would be coming back in two weeks out of a Grade I race, and I don’t think many will do that.”

WALKING THE BEACH RETURNS TO WORK TAB FOR CALHOUN – The final tasty morsel from last fall’s Thanksgiving Day program at Churchill Downs was the initial outing of Cobra Cooper Racing’s Walking the Beach, who swept past the field under Miguel Mena for a 1 ½-length victory in the 12th race at six furlongs.

A son of Medaglia d’Oro out of the Woodman mare Babeinthewoods, Walking the Beach became an instant hot commodity on Kentucky Derby watch lists. Two off-the-board finishes in route races at Fair Grounds in January faded the watch lists to black.

“He had a few minor issues, first with a foot and then an ankle but nothing significant,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “He was just not the horse we expected him to be. He went off the Derby trail early and we decided to back off.”

Walking the Beach reappeared on the work tab Thursday with a three-furlong work in :38.20.

“He has grown up and looks good,” Calhoun said. “He is 45 to 60 days to a race, closer to 60. We will start him out short; maybe that is just what he wants to be. We ran him twice at two turns and it seemed like a mental thing. He seemed lost out there, but he has the body and pedigree to go two turns.”

It marked the second straight year that Calhoun had early Derby dreams dashed before the real running even began. In 2008 Indygo Mountain had been a dazzling winner at a mile during the Churchill Downs Fall Meet.

“Indygo Mountain is coming back to our barn at Lone Star Park on Sunday,” Calhoun said. “He ran here last fall off a long layoff and got hurt in that race and has been on the shelf since.”

Indygo Mountain is owned by Clarence Scharbauer Jr., who also owned another promising 2-year-old in 2008 in Silver City, trained by Calhoun.

“He came in on the same van with Walking the Beach,” Calhoun said. “He won this winter at Fair Grounds off a layoff and we were preparing him for the Count Fleet in April at Oaklawn Park when he had a mild strain of a suspensory and we backed off. He has had a couple of three-eighths works.”

A couple of Calhoun’s stable stars will be in action in the coming weeks.

Multiple stakes winner Chamberlain Bridge, runner-up in the Churchill Downs Turf Sprint (GIII) on April 30, is being pointed to the $75,000 Arlington Sprint Breeders’ Cup at five furlongs on the turf at Arlington Park next Saturday. Winning Colors (GIII) winner Dubai Majesty most likely will go to Calder for the $350,000 Princess Rooney (GI) at six furlongs on July 10 with the July 4 Chicago Handicap (GIII) at seven furlongs also as an option.

BARN TALK – Backtalk, winner of the 2009 Bashford Manor (GIII) and idle since finishing 20th in the Kentucky Derby, returns to the races Saturday night at Charles Town in the $400,000 Red Legend at seven furlongs. Miguel Mena will ride Backtalk for trainer Tom Amoss. Chief among the opposition for Backtalk is Comedero, winner of seven of eight starts including the Chick Lang (GIII) by three lengths at Pimlico on May 15. Robby Albarado will ride Comedero in the sprint for 3-year-olds. …

Tiz My Time, placed second in a maiden race at Churchill Downs on May 28, ran third in the six-furlong Group II Albany Stakes for 2-year-olds at Royal Ascot on Friday for trainer Ken McPeek. McPeek, whose fifth-place Kentucky Derby finisher Noble’s Promise ran fifth in Tuesday’s St. James’s Palace Stakes (GI) at a mile, will send out the maiden Casper’s Touch in Saturday’s Chasham Stakes at seven furlongs. …
Nominations close Saturday for the final three stakes of the Spring Meet scheduled to be run July 3 and 4. Scheduled for July 3 are the 109th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor for 2-year-olds going six furlongs and the 29th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares going a mile on the turf.  The 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course is the closing day feature on July 4.

WORK TAB – Buckleupbuttercup, winner of the Eight Belles (GIII) on May 1, worked a half-mile in :50.20 over a fast track. … Matt Winn runner-up Cool Bullet, winner of the Rumson Stakes at Monmouth Park in his most recent start June 6, worked a half-mile in :50.40. … Multiple stakes winner Euroears worked three furlongs in :37.60.

BRASS HAT COULD RETURN TO THE DIRT – After nine consecutive starts against graded-stakes company on the grass, a change in venue could be in store for Fred Bradley’s homebred veteran Brass Hat.

“I’d like to find an easier spot for him and I haven’t ruled out going back to the dirt,” trainer Buff Bradley, the owner-breeder’s son, said in the wake of Brass Hat’s third-place finish in last Saturday’s Louisville Handicap (GIII) behind Free Fighter.

“He tries hard every time he runs, but with his style in the mile and a half races he runs, he is at the mercy of the pace. I may have to run him shorter, so they will come back to him. A mile and an eighth is a possibility.”

After winning the Louisville Handicap last year, Brass Hat hit the road and recorded third-place finishes in the United Nations (GI) at Monmouth Park and the Sword Dancer (GI) at Saratoga.

“Saratoga was too tough,” Bradley said. “I don’t know where I am going to run, but I know it won’t be on Polytrack.”

Brass Hat, whose actual birthday was last Saturday when he turned 9, returned to Fred Bradley’s farm in Frankfort on Monday for a week of R & R.

“He came out of the race good,” Buff Bradley said. “He will get a week off and maybe even a couple of extra days depending on what my dad and I plan for him.”

Brass Hat’s most recent start on dirt came in the 2008 Stephen Foster (GI) when he ran fifth behind two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. His most recent dirt victory came in the 2007 Massachusetts Handicap, one of seven stakes wins for Brass Hat on dirt.

STALL TURNS SLOW WINTER INTO BANNER SPRING – The number practically screams off the page: 91.

That’s the in-the-money percentage through the first 18 days of the Spring Meet for trainer Al Stall Jr. Stall has saddled five winners with three seconds and two thirds, a 180-degree turnaround from the season he had at Fair Grounds.

“January, February and March were the three worst months I have had in years,” said Stall, who ended the nearly five-month meet with only 15 winners from 128 starters. “For whatever reason, my horses didn’t run and they sure didn’t use their conditions up.”

 Stall, who has 16 horses stabled at Churchill Downs along with a 25-horse string at Louisiana Downs and 20 at Keeneland, accepts the pendulum swing as part of the game.

"There is no rhyme or reason to it,” Stall said. “But for a claiming trainer, he can have no turnover in the barn and they get some new stock in and things can turn around quick.”

Tne horse that is not part of Stall’s current statistics at Churchill Downs is stable star Blame, who made a winning 2010 debut in the W.D. Schaefer Handicap (GIII) at Pimlico on May 15.

Blame is back at Keeneland, where Stall has all horses owned by Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm housed.

“I will probably breeze him Saturday or Sunday,” Stall said of Blame, whose next race is scheduled to be the $600,000 Stephen Foster (GI) here on June 12. “I may just leave him over there until the Foster or come over the day before and not risk getting hung up the day of the race in the construction on I-64.”

Blame, a 4-year-old homebred son of Arch, has compiled a record of 9-6-1-2 for earnings of $676,747. He will bring a three-race win streak into the Stephen Foster after closing 2009 with victories in the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland and the Clark Handicap (GII) at Churchill Downs.

“WORK MATE” GETS HIS DAY IN THE SUN – During the two weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby, Awesome Act was accompanied through his morning exercise daily by a chestnut who wore a yellow saddle towel adorned with the words “Work Mate”.

In Thursday’s third race, “Work Mate” will hit the track as a solo act under his proper name: Peace Town.

Owned by Vinery Stables, the co-owner of Awesome Act, Peace Town is a 4-year-old Maryland-bred Peace Rules colt trained by Steve Asmussen.  Racing primarily on the Mid-Atlantic circuit in the care of trainer Michael Trombetta, Peace Town has compiled a record of 13-5-2-0 for earnings of $152,267.

Thursday’s race, a $50,000 claiming event at five furlongs on the turf, will be Peace Town’s first race for Asmussen.

BARN TALK – Jockey Calvin Borel was off all of his mounts Thursday. “He’ll ride tomorrow,” agent Jerry Hissam said of Borel, who has been sidelined by an eye infection since May 16. Borel, who leads all riders with 22 victories this spring here, is named on eight mounts on Friday’s 11-race card. …

Trainer Tom Proctor, who won the Regret (GIII) last year with Keertana, will try for a repeat in this year’s renewal to be run June 12 with Keertana’s half-sister, Snow Top Mountain. Both fillies are homebreds for owner Barbara Hunter. Snow Top Mountain was an allowance winner here on May 13. Proctor also plans to run Patinack Farm and Tim Turney’s Queen of the Creek, a Keeneland allowance winner who broke her maiden here last fall, in the Regret. Proctor, who has won seven stakes at Churchill Downs, also won the Regret in 2005 with Rich In Spirit. …

Trainer Dale Romans, seeking to become the second trainer at Churchill Downs to record 500 victories beneath the Twin Spires, has six runners entered Thursday and four Friday. Tied for fourth in the trainer standings with six victories this meet, Romans has 494 career wins at Churchill Downs, trailing only Bill Mott (630).

WORK TAB – Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’Prado worked a half-mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in :48.80 with Mary Doser up. Sixth in the Preakness in his most recent start, Paddy O’Prado ran third in the Kentucky Derby and could return to the turf in the $100,000-added Jefferson Cup (GIII) on June 12. Paddy O’Prado has a record of 4-1-1-2 on the grass with the victory coming in the Palm Beach (GIII) at Gulfstream Park in March. … IEAH Stables and Resolute Group Stables’ Court Vision, second in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) in his most recent start, worked six furlongs on the fast main track in 1:15.60.

HEADTAP TO PERFORM DURING FRIDAY HAPPY HOURS – This week’s “Dress to Impress” Friday Happy Hours from 4-7 p.m. in Churchill Downs’ paddock area will showcase live music by Headtap, $2 Anheuser Busch draft beer, $3 Bacardi mojitos and $2 hot dogs.

Also, one male and one female deemed “most stylish” will a $100 wagering voucher and $250 gift certificate to a local Louisville area boutique, respectively. Weekly winners will be invited back for the finals on Friday, June 25 for a chance to win a shopping spree in Chicago, which includes hotel and a $1,500 Visa gift card.

TRAINER STEVE MARGOLIS WILL BE SPECIAL ‘GET IN THE GAME WITH JILL BYRNE’ GUEST ON SATURDAY – Trainer Steve Margolis, who will saddle Cash Refund in the Aristides and Visavis in the Dogwood on Saturday, will be Saturday’s “Get in the Game with Jill Byrne” special guest. Byrne and Margolis will discuss several topics including Saturday’s stakes events, plus Stay Put’s upcoming start in the June 5 Belmont Stakes. The weekly 30-minute seminars offer fans an insider look at the world of horse racing every Saturday in the paddock area starting at 11:45 a.m. Also, it will be televised on television monitors throughout Churchill Downs.

HORSEMEN’S GOLF SCRAMBLE RETURNS ON JUNE 8 – The second annual Horsemen’s Golf Scramble will be held Tuesday, June 8 at the Glenmary Country Club in Fern Creek, Ky. to help raise funds for the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs. The cost of the golf outing is $100 per player with four players to a team. Players will be treated to an 11 a.m. lunch. The 18-hole tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. There will be contests for the longest drive, closest to the pin, and a hole-in-one in which someone could win a 2010 Toyota Corolla from Oxmoor Toyota. Registration is due Friday and entry forms can be found at the Backside Learning Center or by visiting www.derbymusuem.org/backsidelc.

Fred Bradley’s veteran Brass Hat will face 10 rivals Saturday as he attempts to become the seventh horse to score multiple victories in the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII).

The 73rd running of the 1 ½-mile test over the Matt Winn Turf Course will go as the 10th race on Saturday’s 11-race program with an approximate post time of 5:29 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post time is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Buff Bradley, the popular Brass Hat rallied to win the 2009 Louisville Handicap by a half-length over Spice Route. Calvin Borel, who was aboard that day for his third Louisville Handicap triumph, has the call on Brass Hat, who will carry top weight of 119 pounds and concede 2-6 pounds to his rivals. A fast-closing second in the Elkhorn (GII) at Keeneland on April 23 in his most recent start, the 9-year-old Brass Hat will break from post position five.

One of those rivals is Chrysalis Stables’ Silverfoot, a three-time winner of the Louisville Handicap and another popular veteran who is now 10-years-old.  Trained by Dallas Stewart, Silverfoot won this race in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Silverfoot, who will be ridden by Corey Lanerie, will carry 115 pounds and break from post position nine.

Other multiple winners of the Louisville Handicap are Chorwon (1997-99), List (1971, 1974), Cabildo (1967-68), Tartan Man (1966, 1969) and Little Fitz (1960-61).  Chorwon and Silverfoot are the only horses to win multiple runnings of the Louisville since the race was moved to the grass.

Three horses share second high weight in the field at 117 pounds headed by Lothenbach Stables’ Bearpath. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Bearpath won the Pan American (GIII) at Gulfstream Park in March and gave apprentice jockey Freddie Lenclud his first graded stakes victory. Lenclud will be back aboard Saturday on Bearpath, who will break from post position one.

Also carrying 117 pounds are Maynard Farm and B A Man Stable’s Blushing Bear and JoAnn and Alex Lieblong’s Telling.

Trained by James Dodgen, Blushing Bear finished third in the Elkhorn in his most recent start. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount Saturday. Telling, trained by Steve Hobby, won the Grade I Sword Dancer last summer at Saratoga and was fourth in his 2010 debut last month at Keeneland. Shaun Bridgmohan has the mount Saturday.
    
    The field for the Louisville Handicap, from the hedge out, is as follows: Bearpath (Lenclud, 117 pounds), Blushing Bear (Hernandez Jr., 117), Telling (Bridgmohan, 117), Free Fighter (Francisco Torres, 115), Brass Hat (Borel, 119), Eagle Poise (Jamie Theriot, 115), March to Victory (Julien Leparoux, 114), Spy in the Sky (James Lopez, 114), Silverfoot (Lanerie, 115), Silver Mountain (Miguel Mena, 113) and Hidden Glance (Alex Solis, 113).

DERBY 136 PLAYERS STATELY VICTOR, DEAN’S KITTEN WORK AT TRACKSIDE LOUISVILLE – With the experience of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) now two weeks in the rear-view mirror, the pair of “Run for the Roses” participants trained by Mike Maker – Thomas and Jack Conway’s Stately Victor and Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Dean’s Kitten – returned to serious training on Saturday at Churchill Downs’ Trackside Louisville training center.

Stately Victor, who finished eighth behind Super Saver on Derby Day, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 over the fast six-furlong oval under exercise rider Derrick Smith.  Dean’s Kitten, who checked in 14th in the 20-horse Derby field, breezed five furlongs under Marvin Jiminez, worked a half-mile in :49.40.

“They both came out of the race well and they worked excellent this morning,” Maker said.

The Derby runners will be embarking on separate paths for the remainder of their 3-year-old campaigns.  Stately Victor, the winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) over Keeneland’s synthetic Polytrack course, would return to the Triple Crown trail with a run in the $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 5.  Maker said Dean’s Kitten, a homebred son of 2004 turf champion Kitten’s Joy and winner of the Lane’s End (GII) on Turfway Park’s Polytrack surface,, would focus on grass and synthetic courses through the summer.  His near-term goal is the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (GI) on June 19at Virginia’s Colonial Downs.

Maker thought Stately Victor ran well in a ruggedly-run Derby and the son of Ghostzapper should be well-equipped to handle the Belmont’s 1 ½-mile distance.

"Stately Victor, I think, ran a decent race,” said Maker.  “He had some trouble, along with a bunch of others and that was that.”

Also working for Maker on Saturday at Trackside Louisville was the Ramseys’ Furthest Land, upset winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Oak Tree at Santa Anita last fall.  He has not raced since a last-place finish behind Gloria De Campeao in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (GI) at Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse on March 27.   Maker has no firm plans for a return to racing by Furthest Land, but is encouraged by his progress.

“It’s still up in the air,” said Maker.  “I think he recovered from Dubai a lot better than we were expecting, but we’ll just wait ‘til he’s ready and see what’s out there.”

Another Maker worker was the Ramsey’s Accredit, winner of the Churchill Downs (GII) in 2009.  The 5-year-old breezed a half-mile in :49.20.

VETERAN BRASS HAT PREPS FOR LOUISVILLE ‘CAP DEFENSE WITH CHURCHILL DOWNS WORK – With a bid for a repeat victory in the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII) just a week away, Fred Bradley’s homebred veteran Brass Hat tuned-up for the 1 ½-mile turf test with a sharp five furlong work on the dirt on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

The 9-year-old gelded son of Prized zipped the five-eighths mile distance in 1:00.40 under veteran jockey Charles Woods Jr., as regular rider and workout partner Calvin Borel was in Baltimore to ride Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver in the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course.  The move was the third-fastest of 23 at the distance over a fast racing surface.

Trainer William “Buff” Bradley, the owner-breeder’s son, is thrilled with the spark displayed by his veteran star as Brass Hat approaches his third start of the year.  He opened the season with an eighth-place run behind Bearpath in the Pan American (GIII) at Gulfstream Park and followed it with a strong runner-up finish to Musketeer in the $200,000 Elkhorn (GII) on the Keeneland turf.

That runner-up finish improved Brass Hat’s career recrd to 9-7-4 in 35 races and boosted his earnings to $2,087,110.  Those numbers include a victory on dirt in the Donn Handicap (GI) and a runner-up finish (later vacated because of a medication infraction) in the $5 million Dubai World Cup in 2006 – highlights of a career that began with a runner-up finish in a race for $15,000 claiming horses in January 2004 at Turfway Park.

A few days after his Elkhorn run, Brass Hat traveled to Frankfort, Ky., where the farm of his owner, a former Kentucky state senator, is located.  The international exploits of the veteran who was bred and raised on the elder Bradley’s farm have made him a folk hero to residents near that city and Brass Hat was honored in Kentucky’s capital city with a day named in his honor.

"It was so cool,” recalled Buff Bradley.  “I took him off the trainer and put him in a portable stall – a 10’ x 20’ stall that was open all the way around – and he never turned a hair.  He worked the crowd like a true politician.  He ate peppermints out of all the kids’ hands, and Calvin came and spoke.  We had two governors there – Brereton Jones and Julian Carroll – and (former Keeneland Association President) Ted Bassett came and spoke,”

The event that honored both Brass Hat and his owner-breeder was a fundraiser for a museum in Frankfort.

“It turned out to be a great day,” said Buff Bradley.  “He got to go home for a few days and they had a little party for him and everything.  But since then he’s come back to the track and done very well.  We’re on target to run next weekend.”

The Louisville figures to offer an enticing match-up of what could be billed as the “Senior Tour” of Kentucky racing as Brass Hat’s rivals could include Chrysalis Stable’s Silverfoot, a three-time Louisville ‘Cap winner (2004-06) who is now 10 years old.

"I’ve been watching him train and I’d be surprised if he didn’t go in there,” Bradley said.  “It looks like he’s doing very well, too.”

Whatever happens next Saturday and the rest of the year with Brass Hat is a bonus for Bradley and his father.  Their star has suffered a pair of significant injuries during his racing career, but has come back in stakes-winning form from each setback.

"I thought he was done at five,” Bradley said.  “So the last four years have been great.  We truly didn’t expect it.  It wasn’t going to break out hearts if he didn’t get to run after everything he had already done for us.  He’s been something.”

STAKES STARS DOT SATURDAY CHURCHILL DOWNS WORK TAB – Several stakes winners were among horses that turned in serious workouts in perfect spring weather on Saturday at Churchill Downs.  
    Multiple Grade I winner Court Vision, a narrow runner-up to General Quarters in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) on Kentucky Derby Day, breezed four furlongs in :51 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Trainer Eddie Kenneally sent out Custom for Carlos, a candidate for Churchill Downs’ $100,000-added Aristides on June 29, out for a four-furlong move in :49.40.  The move by Homewrecker Stable and Avalon Farm’s winner of this year’s Count Fleet (GIII) and Mr. Prospector (GIII), ranked 23rd out of 42 at the distance.

David Holloway Racing’s Dubious Miss, a candidate for the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) on June 12, breezed five furlongs in 1:03.40 for trainer Paul J. McGee.  The 6-year-old E. Dubai gelding won the Ben Ali (GIII) over the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland last time out.

Silverbulletday (GIII) winner Jody Slew, 13th for trainer Bret Calhoun behind Blind Luck in the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI), breezed four furlongs in :49.80.

WEEKLY HANDICAPPING CONTEST WILL OFFER PRIZE MONEY, TRIP TO HORSEPLAYER WORLD SERIES – This spring’s “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest at Churchill Downs will offer $4,000 in prize money each week and five prize packages to compete in the Horseplayer World Series in Las Vegas.

First prize each week will be $1,500 and a five-day, four-night trip to Las Vegas to compete in the Horseplayer World Series, which is scheduled for Feb. 16-19, 2011 at the Orleans Resort and Casino.
The popular handicapping contest will begin this Sunday and continue every Sunday through June 13.

The “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest is a game of skill that tests the player’s ability to handicap Thoroughbred racing. Each contestant will start the day with a $24 imaginary bankroll and may only wager exactly $2 to win and $2 to place on six designated races from Churchill Downs.

the contest costs $30 per entry ($25 for Twin Spires Club members) and is limited to 400 entries with a limit of three entries per person.  Registration is scheduled in the Champions Club Lounge on the second floor of the clubhouse on Sundays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

BARN TALK – Nominations close Saturday, May 15 for a pair of upcoming stakes races at Churchill Downs: the $100,000 Aristides (GIII) for 3-year-olds & up at six furlongs on Saturday, May 29, and the $100,000-added Winning Colors (GIII) at six furlongs for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up to be run on Memorial Day, May 31.  Nominations can be made online at www.churchilldowns.com or by phone (502.636.4470) or fax (502.636.4598) before midnight (EDT) on Saturday.

A BIG THUMBS UP FOR NIGHT RACING AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – More than a few folks were moving a bit slower than usual on the Churchill Downs backstretch Friday morning after the third “Downs After Dark” night racing program attracted a crowd of 33,481.

    Trainer Jinks Fires wasn’t one of them as he was stepping lively after his Iftheshoefits won the 11th race that went off at 11:23 p.m. EDT. “A great night,” said the still-beaming Fires.

    His sentiment was echoed by many veteran Churchill Downs conditioners who would not be surprised to see more racing under the stars beneath the Twin Spires.

    “They got something that works,” Steve Penrod said. “No question lights will be permanent. As long as they make each night an event, it will work. Last night was a perfect evening with the weather and it was very impressive.”

    “I loved it,” said Buff Bradley, who came to the races even though he did not have a horse running on the 11-race card. “I didn’t think they’d have as many as they had the first two nights, but as long as it remains a novelty on Friday night I think it will do well … I can see people saying ‘I’ll meet you at Churchill Downs’ and it will be the thing to do.”

    The first “Downs After Dark” program on June 19 attracted 28,011 fans with another 27,623 turning out on June 26 for a three-night total of 89,115.

    “I went to all three of them and I thought they were great,” Hal Wiggins said. “It was a good move. It looked to me like there were a lot of people really enjoying themselves.

    “I don’t know what the per capita (wagering) was and it may have been down, but I think the handle was way up and you can’t gripe about that. My hat’s off to Churchill Downs for doing something different.

    “It used to be you could just open the gates and the people would come, but now there is a lot of competition. They had some problems the first night, but they rectified those things the second night.”

    Does Wiggins envision lights becoming part of the future here and being a big hit?

    “I would think so,” Wiggins said of the special programs, “as long as they don’t over-saturate it.”

TENSAS YUCATAN HOPES TO FIND ELUSIVE CHURCHILL DOWNS SUCCESS – James Spence’s Tensas Yucatan has been a terror in her home state of Louisiana, posting a record of 8-4-0 in 14 races.

That success has not translated to Churchill Downs, a fact trainer Ralph Nicks hopes to reverse on Sunday when he sends Tensas Yucatan postward in the 28th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (Grade III).

A 5-year-old daughter of Ide, Tensas Yucatan finished ninth on the main track in the 2007 La Troienne (Grade III) and came back that fall to finish 10th on the turf in the Mrs. Revere (Grade II).

“When she ran here in the spring as a 3-year-old, she got beat up pretty bad in that race,” Nicks said. “When we brought her back in the fall, she caught a course that was a little soft and she really does her best on firm turf.”

Four of Tensas Yucatan’s eight victories have come on firm turf and she is 2-for-2 at the Locust Grove distance of a mile. She will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. on Sunday and break from post position one, carrying 116 pounds.

MINE THAT BIRD RIDER SITUATION UNRESOLVED – Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird remains without a confirmed rider for the West Virginia Derby (Grade II) on Aug. 1 at Mountaineer.

    “I am looking for a rider that will fit my horse best,” trainer Chip Woolley said Friday morning. Woolley started the search for a rider when he did not receive a commitment from Kentucky Derby winning rider Calvin Borel for the race at Mountaineer.

    Mine That Bird’s schedule after the West Virginia Derby is the Shadwell Travers (Grade I) at Saratoga on Aug. 29 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) at Santa Anita on Nov. 7 with the possibility of a race between the Travers and Breeders’ Cup.

    Mine That Bird galloped twice around Friday on the main track before the renovation break with exercise rider Rudy Gallegos up.

    “I know we are working Monday morning,” Woolley said. “I’m not sure who will work him.”    

BET OR NO BET SWEEPSTAKES REWARDS FIVE GAMBLING SOULS – One of the features of the three “Downs After Dark” programs was the “Bet or No Bet” sweepstakes in which five names would be drawn at random each night for the chance to win $100 cash or put a $1,000 win bet on a horse in a designated race.

    Three of the 15 took the cash, but five others cashed in big time when their horses won. In all, the five winners took home $15,600 with the biggest payday going to David Sherry of Louisville whose $1,000 bet turned into $7,900 when Candid Image won the seventh race on June 26.

    The other four big winners also were from Louisville. Billy Warrick won $2,400 on June 19 and on Thursday night, Michelle Clubb was the big winner with a $2,800 return. Amy Linton and Laura Burnam had to sweat out lengthy photos to claim $1,500 and $2,000 checks, respectively, in dead-heat victories.

BARN TALK – With three racing programs left in the Spring Meet, Julien Leparoux holds a 62-56 advantage over Calvin Borel in the race for leading rider. Friday’s twilight program will be the last for Leparoux, who has commitments out of town on Saturday and Sunday. Leparoux has seven mounts Friday and Borel has eight. Borel will be riding in New York on Saturday but returns for Sunday’s closing-day card in which he has 10 mounts … Churchill Downs announcer/commentator Mark Johnson will be Jill Byrne’s guest on Saturday, July 4 for the final “Get in the Game” handicapping seminar at noon (all times EDT) in the paddock.   Johnson, who was chosen to succeed the late Luke Kruytbosch following an international search by Churchill Downs, made history as the first announcer to call both the Kentucky Derby and Britain’s famed Epsom Derby, the race upon which the “Run for the Roses” was modeled.  In the event of poor weather, the popular “Get in the Game” handicapping seminar will be held in Silks on the second floor of the clubhouse.  

MILESTONE WATCH -- William Connelly, who has 999 career victories, goes for No. 1,000 late Friday when he sends out Knownforstone in the 11th race at Churchill Downs. Connelly’s last chance to reach the milestone at the current meet if he does not get it Friday will be Seaside Princess in Saturday’s first race.