Cardinal Handicap

Eileen Hartis’ Princess Haya, winner of the 2009 Canadian (Grade II) at Woodbine, will carry top weight of 117 pounds and concede from 1-5 pounds to six rivals entered for Sunday’s 37th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

The Cardinal, won last year by Acoma, will go as the 10th race on Sunday’s 11-race post-Breeders’ Cup card that begins at 12:40 p.m. (all times Eastern). Post time for the Cardinal, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, is 5:15 p.m.

Trained by Carl O’Callaghan, Princess Haya enters the Cardinal off a seventh-place finish in the Yellow Ribbon (GI) at Hollywood Park on Oct. 2. Kent Desormeaux, who rode Indescribable to victory in the 2008 Cardinal, has the mount on Princess Haya, who will break from post position four.

The second high weight at 116 pounds is Carl Pollard’s Kiss Mine, trained by David Vance. Kiss Mine had a four-race turf win streak snapped in her most recent start, a seventh-place finish in the First Lady (GI) at Keeneland on Oct. 9. Robby Albarado, who won the 2002 Cardinal on Quick Tip, has the call on Kiss Mine, who will break from post position five.

The field for the Cardinal, from the inside out, is as follows: War Tigress (Rosemary Homeister Jr., 112 pounds), Romin Robin (Calvin Borel, 115), Askbut I Won’ttell (Shaun Bridgmohan, 113), Princess Haya (Desormeaux, 117), Kiss Mine (Albarado, 116), Paracaidas (Garrett Gomez, 114) and My Baby Baby (Julien Leparoux, 115).

EINSTEIN WORKS FOR CLARK; MARAGH PICKS UP MOUNT – Trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi was talking to a passer-by about her stable star Einstein (Brz) when fellow trainer Dallas Stewart rode past on his pony.

“Tell it like it is, Helen,” Stewart said with a laugh. “Tell him how you’re gonna kick Macho Again’s rear end.”

“Hey, Macho’s already got me once this year,” Pitts-Blasi said referring to Macho Again’s victory over Einstein in June’s Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I).

The rematch comes Friday when Einstein and Macho Again are expected to be the starting high weights in the 135th running of the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII).

Owned by the Stronach Stable, Einstein worked a half-mile in :48.60 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 early Sunday morning under Kelly Likes. It was Einstein’s first work since finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) on Nov. 7, the worst showing of his 29-race career.

“I have no answer,” Pitts-Blasi said of the Breeders’ Cup. “We couldn’t find anything. He went very well this morning and I was pleased."

Pitts-Blasi has worked Einstein in the past, but opted for Likes on Sunday for the work over a fast track.

“I wanted to take some weight off him and Kelly is lighter than I am and I could watch him,” Pitts-Blasi said.

Regular rider Julien Leparoux will miss the final two days of the meet to ride in the Japan Cup and Pitts-Blasi has enlisted New York-based Rajiv Maragh to ride Einstein in the Clark.

CARROLL CELEBRATES ACOMA’S “BIGGEST WIN” IN CARDINAL – Trainer David Carroll was still beaming Sunday morning after Acoma’s hard-charging head victory over You Go West Girl in Saturday’s Cardinal Handicap (GIII).

“Absolutely it was her biggest win,” Carroll said of Acoma, who rebounded from a last-place showing in the Grade I First Lady at Keeneland on Oct. 10. “I walked into the paddock and she was 12-1 and I was surprised. My wife Kim gets on her every day and said she was as good as she has ever been. She gets better in the fall.

“She got nothing out of the Keeneland race. We took her to Dr. (Larry) Bramlage to check her out to make sure we didn’t miss anything and she got a clean bill of health.”

A regally bred daughter of Empire Maker out of the Danzig mare Aurora, Acoma is 5-for-5 in her career at Churchill Downs for her owners Helen Alexander and Helen Groves.  Three of those wins – including the 2008 Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) and last fall’s Mrs. Revere (GII) – have been on turf and all in stakes competition.  She also won the Grade III Dogwood on dirt in 2008.

“They are great people to train for,” Carroll said. “They breed to race and this filly … even if she couldn’t run, I could look at her all day. She is so gorgeous, a great combination of talent and looks.”

Carroll said Acoma came out of the Cardinal in good shape and likely was looking at some down time.

“We will probably have the same plan as last year and send her to Payson Park for some R & R and then join us at the Fair Grounds,” Carroll said. “We got her a little early this year for the Azeri at Oaklawn and then she bounced in the Apple Blossom. I don’t foresee doing that again, but it is up to Miss Helen (Alexander).”
    
FIELDS TAKING SHAPE FOR KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB, GOLDEN ROD – Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has won the Golden Rod (GII) a record five times and the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) a record four times, is expected to have a shot at building on those marks when both races are renewed on Saturday.

Lukas is expected to send Westrock Stables’ Decelerator into the 66th running of the Golden Rod and Activity Report in the 83rd running of the Kentucky Jockey Club. Both races are at 1 1/16 miles on the main track and serve as centerpieces of the closing-day “Stars of Tomorrow II” card that features 12 races exclusively for 2-year-olds.

As of Sunday, Churchill Downs racing officials had five fillies considered as probable to line up against Decelerator, the winner of this summer’s Debutante (GIII) who ran second in the opening-day Pocahontas (GIII) behind Sassy Image.

In addition to Sassy Image, other Pocahontas runners expected to come back in the Golden Rod are third-place finisher All Due Respect, fourth-place finisher Vivid Colors and sixth-place finisher Vertical Vision. Also expected to run is Canadian Storm, a maiden winner at Philadelphia Park.

The Golden Rod was won last year by Rachel Alexandra, the first of nine consecutive victories for the filly.
The Kentucky Jockey Club lineup is expected to feature the 1-4 finishers from the opening-day Iroquois (GIII) in Thiskyhasnolimit and Gleam of Hope. Also considered as probable for the race is William’s Kitten, who ran eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) in his most recent start.

Other probables are Call Shot, Callide Valley, Mr. Saturdaynight and Super Saver.

Entries for both races will be taken Wednesday.

BARN TALK – Four Roses Thoroughbreds’ Anak Nakal, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Jockey Club, is scheduled to arrive Monday for an expected run in the Clark Handicap. Winner of the Grade II Pennsylvania Derby last year, Anak Nakal finished third in the Meadowlands Cup (GII) behind Clark probables Etched and Kiss the Kid in his most recent start. Jill Baffert and George Jacobs’ Misremembered, winner of the Indiana Derby (GII) in his most recent start, is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday from his Southern California base. …

Apprentice Oriana Rossi posted her first victory at Churchill Downs in Saturday’s fifth race with a rail-skimming ride aboard Ship’s Cabin ($17.40). It was Rossi’s 16th career win with the other victories coming at Ellis Park and Turfway Park. She recorded her first victory on Aug. 16 at Ellis Park. …

Trainer Steve Asmussen saddled two winners here Saturday to boost his career total at Churchill Downs to 350, fifth all time at the track. Lone Cypress ($5.60) won the third race and Jackpot Joanie ($5) took the seventh to give Asmussen 14 winners for the meet and a four-victory advantage over Dale Romans in the race for leading trainer.  The latter is a half-sister to Summerly, who provided Asmussen with a victory in the 2005 Kentucky Oaks.  Asmussen has won six training titles here – three spring and three fall – and was the leading trainer during the 2009 Spring Meet. …

Even though A. Stevens Miles Jr.’s Warrior’s Reward ran second in the Saturday nightcap, trainer Ian Wilkes was pleased with the effort in the six-furlong sprint, a runner-up finish in which he just failed to catch Flavor after being six lengths back at the eighth pole. “I expected him to run a good race and I thought he ran tremendous,” Wilkes said of the 3-year-old who was vanned off the track at Keeneland five weeks previous after finishing fifth in the Perryville (GIII). “He made up a lot of ground the last eighth. I am going to give him a little break and yesterday I wanted to give him a good experience before the break.”       

Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma outlasted You Go West Girl by a head to win the 36th running of the $111,700 Cardinal Handicap (Grade III) for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs.

    Ridden for the first time by Jesus Castanon, Acoma surged past Lemon Chiffon just inside the eighth pole and then repulsed the bid from You Go West Girl to remain perfect at Churchill Downs.

    A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Empire Maker, Acoma has won all five of her starts beneath the Twin Spires with three of the victories coming over the turf in graded stakes and two on the main track.
    
    Zaskar (GB) and Leamington led the field through fractions of :24.11, :48.55 and 1:13.42 over a “firm” Matt Winn Turf Course. Castanon had Acoma racing in mid pack in the run down the backstretch.

    On the far turn, Lemon Chiffon rocketed past the leaders with Acoma following a length behind. Meanwhile, You Go West Girl began to move on the inside and quickly joined Acoma at the front, but could not go by.

Trained by David Carroll, Acoma covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.02. The victory was worth $66,484 and increased Acoma’s earnings to $665,999 with an overall record of 14-8-1-2.

    Acoma rewarded her backers with payoffs of $9.40, $5 and $3.40. You Go West Girl, ridden by Jose Lezcano, returned $5.40 and $3.80 in finishing 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Lemon Chiffon, who paid $3.20 to show under Jon Court in the field of nine.

    In the $58,400 Bet On Sunshine, an overnight stakes for sprinters, favored Custom for Carlos romped to a 3 ¾-length victory over Accredit.

 Ridden by Jose Lezcano for trainer Eddie Kenneally, Custom for Carlos covered the six furlongs in 1:09.71 over a fast track and returned mutuels of $3.40, $2.60 and $2.40. Accredit, ridden by Miguel Mena, paid $4.80 and $3.60 with Golden Country finishing another half-length back in third under Freddie Lenclud and paying $5.80 to show.

 Custom for Carlos, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of More Than Ready, is owned by Homewrecker Racing and Avalon Farms. The $37,040 winner’s check increased Custom for Carlos’ earnings to $290,630 for his fourth victory in 10 starts.

Racing continues Sunday as the 21-day Fall Meet enters its final week with a 10-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m. ET. There’s a four-day Pick 6 carryover of $21,378.88 on Races 5-10 and a $9,848.08 Super Hi-5 carryover for the finale.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE CARDINAL HANDICAP

JESUS CASTANON, jockey of ACOMA, winner: “She is really just a nice filly. I want to thank the owners (Helen C. Alexander and Helen K. Groves) and the trainer (David Carroll) for putting me up on this one and giving me a shot today. I had a heck of a good trip around today. I waited as long as I could before I made a move toward home. When I finally moved for home, she really had a great turn of foot. When we went around the turn for the first time she was in the bridle, but when we were on the backside she really began to settle in nicely and relax. She really just seems to love it here.”

DAVID CARROLL, trainer of ACOMA, winner: “Home sweet home. She loves it here, obviously (5-for-5). She’d been training beautifully. Normally I’d go into this race with tremendous confidence but she came off a poor race and I was little bit more subdued. When she walked into the paddock today . . . she’s just a beautiful filly. When I saw her warm up she was on her toes. I just told Jesus (Castanon) to ride her with confidence because she’s let you know when she’s there. Down the backside he had a lot of horse. We were a bit wide and I was afraid that we didn’t get enough out of that last race condition-wise. Tom (Proctor)’s filly (You Go West Girl) ran huge, who was a very fit and in form filly.”
    Q: What’s next? “That’s it for this year. We’ll shut her down and get ready for next year. We needed to see that race from her and why not? The Breeders’ Cup is here next year.”
    Q: Is this relief or excitement? “It’s more relief. You take pride in knowing your horses. All the signs were that she was going to run big. But that also was the way she went into Keeneland and she never showed up at Keeneland for whatever reason. Maybe it was the soft turf? Regardless, she was never at the races. When she walked into the paddock how could you not have confidence? She was the pick of the paddock. I’m so proud to have her and she looked fantastic. She popped out of the gate and got good position but was a little wide down the backside. But he had a lot of horse and that’s all I really wanted. I wanted her to indicate that she wanted to run. She was very wide but she was game. She got nothing out of her last race. We had to run. I felt great win or lose. She was back. The win was the cherry on top. I can’t say enough about Miss Helen (Alexander) and her mother. They are unbelievable people to train for. This is a filly with a great pedigree and we look forward to a big year next year.”

TOM PROCTOR, trainer of YOU GO WEST GIRL (runner-up): “She got in a little trouble turning for home.  She runs hard all the time and, actually, I thought the winner won a little easier than it looked. I think she had me measured.”
Q: But you’re pretty happy with her effort? “Yeah, I’d liked to have seen her have a little better trip.”
Q: Will she come back next year? “Oh, yeah.”

JOSE LEZCANO, rider on YOU GO WEST GIRL (runner-up): “At the eighth pole, she was running between horses and she ran hard, but she just couldn’t hold off the winner.  She ran hard and fought in the run to wire.”

JON COURT, rider on LEMON CHIFFON (third): “She ran good – I just couldn’t believe they went by her that way down the stretch.  I had a bridle-full of horse turning for home and she kicked away from the field.  They were dogging me the whole way and then the one (You Go West Girl) and the three (Acoma) kicked away.  She had plenty of kick down the lane – she just couldn’t out-kick the three and the one.  They kicked-on by themselves.”

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LEPAROUX HOPES TO FINISH 2009 IN GRAND FASHION – It has been a banner year for jockey Julien Leparoux, who leads all North American riders in earnings with $18,041,548 through Wednesday and a sparkling showing at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in which he rode three winners and won the Bill Shoemaker Award as the top rider at the event.

Currently second in the rider standings at the Fall Meet, Leparoux will be out of town Saturday to ride American Lion for trainer Eoin Harty in the Hollywood Prevue (GIII) and miss the closing weekend to ride Just as Well in the Japan Cup (GI).

“I have ridden in Japan before, but not at the Tokyo Racecourse,” said Leparoux, who won the 2006 Eclipse Award as the top apprentice in North America. “After that, I ride one day at Calder (Dec. 5) and then one day at Hollywood Park (Dec.19).”

Leparoux has ridden 230 winners in 2009, good for a tie for ninth in North America. The 26-year-old native of Senlis, France, had a couple of victories that would be at the forefront of the 2009 highlight reel.
“I’d start with the Sunshine Millions,” Leparoux said of It’s a Bird’s 5 ¼-length victory. “And then the Santa Anita Handicap.”

Leparoux guided Einstein (Brz) to victory in the Big Cap and it is Einstein that would provide Leparoux with his biggest do-over if he could.

“There are a few I would like to ride over, but the Stephen Foster for sure,” Leparoux said of the June race here in which Einstein encountered trouble nearly every step of the 1 1/8-mile race.

A winner of five riding titles here, Leparoux plans to spend some time in France over the holidays before beginning 2010 at Gulfstream Park.

CARROLL HOPING ACOMA REBOUNDS IN CARDINAL – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma has been perfect throughout her career at Churchill Downs with two victories on the dirt and two on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

She will try to extend that grass streak to three in Saturday’s 36th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

"I am more hopeful than confident,” trainer David Carroll said. “Before she ran at Keeneland, she had been training good and it is the same this time.”

The race at Keeneland was the Grade I First Lady in which Acoma finished last in the field of nine over soft turf.

“I am hoping it was just the soft turf that she didn’t like,” Carroll said. “I hope the course is good Saturday. That rain (on Tuesday) bothered me a little bit.”

The First Lady was Acoma’s first start in nearly three months after a last-place effort in the Delaware Handicap on the dirt, a performance Carroll forgives because the filly’s blood work came back bad after the race. But the First Lady was perplexing to the trainer.

“Sometimes fillies can go off form and it is hard to get them back on track,” Carroll said. “I’d like to see her run her race. If she gets beat because of bad luck or a bad trip, well, we’ve got her back. If she runs like she did at Keeneland where she was never in the race, we’ll have to take a good look about next year, because I’d like to keep her racing.”

Jesus Castanon will ride Acoma for the first time on Saturday in the Cardinal in which Acoma carries top weight of 121 pounds.

MAFAAZ BATTLING BACK FROM HEALTH ISSUES – In the spring of this year, one of the most talked about Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) hopefuls was Shadwell Stable’s Mafaaz (GB).

In March, the colt had won the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes at Kempton Park in England, a victory that guaranteed Mafaaz a spot in the starting gate for the 135th Run for the Roses. Trainer John Gosden shipped Mafaaz to Keeneland for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) to see how he would fare against U.S. competition before going on to the Derby.

Mafaaz ran eighth behind General Quarters, was transferred to the barn of Kiaran McLaughlin and the Derby quest abandoned.

Mafaaz has not raced since.

“He is back on the farm and he seems like a happy horse,” said Neal McLaughlin, assistant to his brother. “After we got him, he was gelded and then went to Saratoga the first of June.

“He was there about a week and got real sick. He lost muscle and started losing protein through his liver. It was pretty dangerous and we have no idea what caused it.”

Mafaaz spent more than three months at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Massachusetts.

“I got a little jealous because the vet there got to spend more time with him than I have,” McLaughlin said. “I only got to see him a few days in the spring and then again at the farm.

"He’s a neat horse and I was excited about American racing for him. I don’t know if he will make it back to the races. Hopefully he will. Things seem to be going well.”

BARN TALK – Jockey Chris Emigh, who was involved in a riding mishap when his mount appeared to clip heels on Nov. 11, will be out 5-6 weeks with a broken collarbone according to his agent Terry Miller. “He rode Sunday, but he was really hurting,” Miller said. “He went back for a CT scan and that revealed the broken collarbone. We were going to go to the Fair Grounds after the meet, but now this will put him out right up to the start at Oaklawn Park.” …
    Bullsbay, owned by Mitchell Ranch, Frank Lewkowitz and Joe Rice, is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Monday to run in the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) to be run on Friday, Nov. 27. Trained by Graham Motion, Bullsbay has won three of four starts at Churchill Downs including a victory in the Alysheba (GIII) on May 1. Bullsbay finished fourth behind fellow Clark Handicap probable Macho Again in the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap here on June 13.

WORK TAB – Mark Stanley’s Swift Temper worked five furlongs over a “fast” track Thursday morning in 1:02.60 in preparation for the Thanksgiving Day Falls City Handicap (GII). … Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, 10th in this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and winner of the Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, worked a half-mile in :49.80.   

Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma, a two-time graded-stakes winner over the Matt Winn Turf Course and unbeaten in four races on turf and dirt at Churchill Downs, will concede 2-6 pounds to eight rivals in Saturday’s 36th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (Grade III) for fillies and mares.

The Cardinal, run at 1 1/8 miles on the grass, will be the ninth race on Saturday’s 10-race card with an approximate post time of 4:37 p.m. (all times EST). First post time Saturday is 12:40 p.m.

Trained by David Carroll, Acoma will carry top weight of 121 pounds and be ridden by Jesus Castanon. She is unbeaten in two races over the Churchill Downs turf after closing out her 3-year-old campaign with a victory in the Mrs. Revere (GII) and this spring won the Mint Julep Handicap (GIII). The regally bred daughter of Empire Maker also owns a pair of dirt wins at Churchill Downs that include the 2008 Dogwood Stakes (GIII). Acoma will break from post position three on Saturday.

Sharing second high weight of 119 pounds are Brian Kahn and the Richard O’Neill Trust’s Tizfiz, Hickory Tree Stable’s Leamington and Ron Beegle’s Lemon Chiffon.

Tizfiz, who ran sixth in her most recent start against males over Polytrack in the Fayette (GIII) at Keeneland on Oct. 31, will break from post position two under E.T. Baird. Leamington, fifth in the Grade I Flower Bowl in her most recent start, and Lemon Chiffon, fourth in the Grade I Yellow Ribbon last out, will start from posts eight and nine under Calvin Borel and Jon Court, respectively.

    Augustin Stable’s Long Approach, runner-up to Indescribable in last year’s renewal of the Cardinal, returns Saturday in her first start since April. Kent Desormeaux will ride Long Approach, who will carry 116 pounds and break from post position five.

    The field for the Cardinal, from the hedge out, is as follows: You Go West Girl (J. Lezcano, 117 pounds), Tizfiz (E. Baird, 119), Acoma (J. Castanon, 121), Zaskar (GB) (S. Bridgmohan, 115), Long Approach (K. Desormeaux, 116), Social Queen (M. Mena, 118), My Baby Baby (R. Albarado, 116), Leamington (C. Borel, 119) and Lemon Chiffon (J. Court, 119).

LEMON CHIFFON EYES GRADED GLORY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Trainer Sean McCarthy had a choice to make with Lemon Chiffon: Stay at home in California and run in the Grade I Matriarch on Nov. 28 at Hollywood Park, or ship east to Churchill Downs for Saturday’s Grade III Cardinal Handicap over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

“I’d like to get her a graded stakes win and in the Matriarch she would have to face the Grade I and Grade II horses she has been fighting all summer and fall,” McCarthy said. “Not that this is going to be that much easier, because any time you put a grade in front of a race, you know it is going to be tough.”

For Lemon Chiffon, who arrived here Tuesday night, it will be her second start of 2009 at Churchill Downs.

“She ran well here in the spring,” McCarthy said of a third-place finish in the Distaff Turf Mile (GII). “Plus the distance (1 1/8 miles in the Cardinal) is good for her.”

Owned by Ron Beegle, Lemon Chiffon is a lightly raced 6-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid who did not make her racing debut until she was 4.

“I got her when she was 2 and we were getting ready to run her at the end of the year and she had a hairline fracture of her tibia,” McCarthy said. “She won the first time she ran and then the same thing happened to her other tibia after her first race.”

The second injury kept Lemon Chiffon away from the races for 15 months. Since returning in April 2008, Lemon Chiffon has compiled a record of 3-1-2 in 13 races and since running third in last fall’s Las Palmas Handicap (GII) has not been beaten by more than 2 ½ lengths in mainly graded-stakes company.

“She’s pretty honest and she’s just had some bad luck running with some good horses,” said McCarthy, who has 10 horses in his barn on the Southern California circuit.

Jon Court, who rode Lemon Chiffon in her debut win at Santa Anita in 2007, has the riding assignment on Saturday.

McCarthy also nominated Lemon Chiffon to the Falls City Handicap (GII) at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

“She won on the dirt on the bullring at Fairplex,” McCarthy said. “I train her on the main track at home and I nominated her to both races in case it rains and the Cardinal comes off the grass. I would not be afraid to race on the dirt.”

GET STORMY PROVES HE CAN GO THE DISTANCE – Trainer Tom Bush was confident that Get Stormy could win going 1 1/16 miles. Turns out he was right … by a nose.

That’s the margin Get Stormy hung on by to win Sunday’s Commonwealth Turf (Grade III).

“I don’t know what it is, but he loses focus a little bit in the stretch,” Bush said. “But when that horse (Street Move) came at him, he saw him and dug in again and fought back and he galloped out strong, which leads me to believe there is more there.”

Sunday’s race was the final one for the year for Get Stormy, who left Churchill Downs to return to New York on Tuesday.

“He has been going all year,” said Bush, who keeps his stable in New York during the winter. “We haven’t firmed up plans yet whether to send him to Florida and give him a couple of months at the farm or to Camden (S.C.). But that was definitely it for the year. He won’t run in January or February.”

Sunday’s payday of $66,027 gave Get Stormy a two-race haul of $141,027 for his forays to Kentucky. Last month, he earned $75,000 for winning the Bryan Station (GIII) at Keeneland.

Bush is planning to come back to Churchill Downs in search of another big check.

“I’m sending Banrock down for the River City Handicap (GIII),” Bush said of the 6-year-old New York bred who is a four-time stakes winner in 2009. “He’ll get there Monday.”

Runner-up Street Move headed back to Florida on Monday along with stablemates Florentino (Jpn) who finished eighth and Bluegrass Princess, who had finished fifth on Saturday in the Mrs. Revere (GII).

“We got him earlier this year and Kiaran noticed he didn’t move as well on dirt,” said Neal McLaughlin, brother of and assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “He was a little better on the turf and in his grass races he has really come along.

“But we’ve got to try the Poly with him. He never has been on Polytrack and he has that great closing kick that suits Polytrack. Plus, he’s a half-brother to Furthest Land who won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI), so we are looking forward to bringing him to Keeneland next spring.”

CINDY JONES GETS FIRST TRAINING WIN AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – No Such Word gave Cindy Jones her first training victory at Churchill Downs in the Friday nightcap. However, for the wife of recently retired trainer Larry Jones, it was not her first victory.

“The first year we were at Ellis Park in 1988, Larry did not get enough stalls and he put some horses in my name,” Cindy said. “My first winner was a little horse named Prizado. He was only 15 hands and he won his first race by eight lengths and then the 2-year-old stake there by 5 ½.”

No Such Word is a 2-year-old daughter of Canadian Frontier and owned by her breeder, former Kentucky Gov. Brereton Jones.

“Brereton called right after the race and he was so excited,” Cindy said of No Such Word, who was the last horse Larry galloped on final day as a trainer on Nov. 7.

Larry Jones continues to gallop horses for the barn with No Such Word as one of his morning regulars.

BARN TALK – Distinctive Dixie, one of two winners on the Sunday card for trainer Wally Dollase, is headed for a Dec. 19 stakes race at the Fair Grounds according to Aimee Dollase, assistant to her father. Owned by the Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust, Distinctive Dixie was coming off a five-month layoff into her victory over seven furlongs. …

With 10 racing days remaining in the Fall Meet, several Churchill Downs milestones are within reach for jockeys and trainers. Robby Albarado, who is tied for third in the rider standings with nine victories, has 848 wins all time beneath the Twin Spires. Julien Leparoux, second in the standings with 11 wins, needs 10 victories to become the 15th jockey with 400 Churchill Downs triumphs. Trainers Rusty Arnold (248) and Ken McPeek (247) are closing in on the 250-win plateau.

WORK TAB – Acoma, one of the likely favorites for Saturday’s Cardinal Handicap (GIII), worked a half-mile on Monday in :48.80 over a fast track for trainer David Carroll. Also working a half-mile for Carroll was Denis of Cork (:50.40), his second work since returning to the barn from injury. … On Tuesday, over a track labeled as “wet-fast” Iroquois (GIII) winner Thiskyhasnolimit worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 for trainer Steve Asmussen in preparation for the closing-day Kentucky Jockey Club (GII). Also working for the Kentucky Jockey Club was Gleam of Hope who covered five furlongs in 1:01.40 (wet-fast) for trainer Tony Reinstedler. Prepping for a possible start in the Thanksgiving Day Falls City Handicap (GII), Whirlie Bertie worked a bullet five-eighths in 1:00 (wet-fast) for trainer Steve Margolis. ... Decelerator, winner of the Debutante (GIII) here this summer and second in the Pocahontas (GIII) on Nov. 1, worked a half-mile in :53.60 over a “muddy” track Wednesday morning ahead of an expected start in the Grade II Golden Rod on Nov. 28.

QUALITY ROAD FINALLY MAKES IT TO CHURCHILL DOWNS – Edward Evans’ Quality Road was scheduled to make his initial appearance at Churchill Downs in late April as the probable favorite for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I).

A problem with quarter cracks derailed those plans. 

However, more than six months later, Quality Road finally did make it to Louisville, although in a way no one could have envisioned.

Scratched at the starting gate from last Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Santa Anita after he refused to load, Quality Road was scheduled to return to trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn at Belmont Park on Monday by plane. However, Quality Road balked at loading on the plane and the decision was made to van the colt back to New York by way of Kentucky.

“He got here about 6 this morning after 34 hours on the road,” said Michael Dilger, who is overseeing Pletcher’s string at Churchill Downs. “He seems like he is OK. He will walk the shedrow and graze some and he could possibly go to the track Sunday. We will see how he is in the morning and make a decision.”

Plans call for Quality Road to spend a couple of days here and then board the van Monday afternoon for the return to Belmont Park.

VERSATILE PROCEED BEE PROVES HE CAN HANDLE ANY SURFACE – In the new era of all-weather racing surfaces, there are horses that can handle one form of track but not another.

    Don’t put Proceed Bee in that group.

    “He has won on all the surfaces they have,” trainer Scott Becker said of William Stiritz’s Proceed Bee, who figures to be one of the choices in Sunday’s sixth running of the $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (GIII).

    A winner of 7 of 14 career starts, Proceed Bee has won twice on dirt, twice on Polytrack and three times on grass and has won stakes on all three surfaces in 2009.

Proceed Bee comes into the Commonwealth Turf on a two-race win streak with victories in the Honor Glide at Arlington Park and the Hawthorne Derby (GIII) at Hawthorne on Oct. 10.

“He probably came out of the Hawthorne Derby better than he went into it,” said Becker, who brought Proceed Bee to Churchill Downs on Friday night from Fairmount Park. “He worked well on Tuesday (:47.40 at Fairmount) and has been galloping well since his last race.”

The Commonwealth Turf will represent Proceed Bee’s second Churchill Downs start. He won the Grand Canyon over the Matt Winn Turf Course on closing day here last fall and Becker was here as an assistant for Terry Gestes.

“We actually thought he would have done a little more this year,” Becker said. “He was a little immature and can be quirky in the paddock and fidgety in the gate, but the last couple of races he has exceeded expectations.”

The Commonwealth Turf will be the 11th start of 2009 for Proceed Bee, who won the Battaglia Memorial over Polytrack at Turfway Park in March and the Prairie Mile on dirt at Prairie Meadows in June.
“He has had a long campaign and I keep looking for an excuse to give him a break, but he keeps coming out of his races 110 percent,” Becker said.

Chris Emigh, who has been aboard for four of Proceed Bee’s victories, will be aboard Sunday, his first day back in the saddle after being involved in a spill on the turf on Wednesday.

ACOMA, BELLE ALLURE SHARE CARDINAL HANDICAP HIGH WEIGHT – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma and Ronchalon Stable’s Belle Allure (Ire) were assigned high weight of 121 pounds for next Saturday’s Cardinal Handicap (GIII) by Racing Secretary Ben Huffman.

Acoma, trained by David Carroll, has won two graded stakes over the Matt Winn Turf Course on which the Cardinal will be run at 1 1/8 miles. Belle Allure, trained by Christophe Clement, won the Grade III Athenia at Belmont Park on Oct. 21 in her most recent start.

Acoma is considered by Churchill Downs racing officials as probable for the race. Entries will be taken Wednesday for the 36th running of the $100,000-added event.

Also considered as probable for the race are the three distaffers weighted at 119 pounds: Leamington, Lemon Chiffon and Tizfiz.

Other probables and their weight assignments are Social Queen (118), You Go West Girl (117), My Baby Baby (116) and Polo Lounge (112).

  Horses considered as possible are 2008 Cardinal runner-up Long Approach (116), Celtic Princess (Brz) (115) and Finish in Style (110).

BARN TALK – “Horses and Hope,” the initiative created in 2008 by Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear with the Kentucky Cancer Program, returns Sunday to focus attention on breast cancer awareness, education, screening and treatment referral for the women who work in the barn areas at Kentucky racetracks. More than 700 cancer survivors attended the inaugural event a year ago in Millionaire’s Row 4. In conjunction with “Horses and Hope,” the color pink will be scattered throughout Churchill Downs, including saddle towels for a featured race, jockey arm bands, groom’s vests, outriders, flags, bunting and trophies for the winning horse owners. … Churchill Downs’ signature Twin Spires are now bathed in pink light in honor of the work of “Horses and Hope” and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer outreach organization and a fundraising sponsor with Churchill Downs for the 135th running of the Kentucky Oaks (GI) won by “Horse of the Year” contender Rachel Alexandra … Tickets remain available for the Calvin Borel Roast benefiting the Kentucky Equine Humane Center to be held Sunday, Nov. 22. The roast will be held in the Triple Crown Room at Churchill Downs from 5:30-9 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person. For information, call Kelly Danner at (502) 638-3825.

GONCALVES OFF TO FAST START IN RIDERS RACE – Trainer Buff Bradley has found that other trainers are taking notice of the riding talents of Leandro Gonvalves.

"I am not getting to ride him as much because he is getting more clients,” Bradley said of Goncalves, who sits in a four-way tie for second place in the rider standings with seven victories through the first eight days of the 21-day meet.

Goncalves, a 27-year-old native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, already has equaled his victory total from the Spring Meet in only 51rides, nearly half his spring total when he had 100 mounts.

“Everything is better,” Goncalves said of the difference between the two meets. “I am getting on better horses and more people are watching me ride.”

Goncalves won his first U.S. riding title at the September Turfway Park meet and followed that up with six victories at the Keeneland meet, good for a tie for eighth in the standings. He also picked up his first graded-stakes victory when he guided Satans Quick Chick to win the Raven Run (Grade II) on Oct. 24, part of a three-win day.

Represented by Steve Elzey, Goncalves will ride at Turfway Park after the current meet ends Nov. 28 and then move to Oaklawn Park for the first time early next year.

Bradley has been a big supporter of Goncalves.

“He’s a very patient rider and he puts horses in the right place in a race,” Bradley said. “He is very positive and a hard worker. He has a lot of good qualities and I think he’ll be a top rider.”

Goncalves does not pattern his riding style after any one jockey.

“I watch all of the riders,” Goncalves said. “But there are a couple that I really like, John Velazquez and Gary Stevens when he was riding.”
 
EIGHT DISTAFFERS CONSIDERED PROBABLE FOR CARDINAL – Weights for the 36th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (GIII) will be announced Saturday and as of Friday eight fillies and mares were considered as probable for the race by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman.

Topping the list for the 1 1/8-mile race to be contested over the Matt Winn Turf Course on Saturday, Nov. 21, is Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma. Trained by David Carroll, Acoma has two graded-stakes wins over the Matt Winn Turf Course: the Mint Julep (GIII) in June and the Mrs. Revere (GII) last fall.

Other graded-stakes winners among the probables are Social Queen, winner of the Gallorette (GIII) at Pimlico in May, and Tizfiz, winner of the San Gorgonio (GII) at Santa Anita in January.

Other probables include Leamington, Lemon Chiffon, My Baby Baby, Polo Lounge and You Go West Girl.  
Three horses are considered as possible for the Cardinal including Long Approach, who ran second to Indescribable in last year’s race. Other possibles are Celtic Princess (Brz) and Finish in Style.

KELLY’S LANDING THRIVING IN NEW CAREER AS PONY – Even though millionaire Kelly’s Landing retired from the races in January, his career at the racetrack is far from finished.

The 8-year-old gelding, whose career highlight was a victory in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) in 2007, is now serving as a pony for his former trainer Eddie Kenneally.

“We retired him after the Mr. Prospector in January at Gulfstream Park,” Kenneally said. “He retired sound. He just wasn’t running at the highest level.”

During his career, Kelly’s Landing amassed $1,853,831 in earnings with a record of 27-10-3-2. He won at least one race each year from 2004-08 with his most impressive Churchill Downs victory coming in the 2005 Aristides (GIII) when he set the track record for six furlongs in 1:07.59, a mark that stood for two years.

A son of Patton, Kelly’s Landing won four graded stakes in her career and competed in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) twice.

“He is perfect for the job,” Kenneally said. “He began in May and is doing just super.”

BARN TALK – Apprentice Freddie Lenclud had a riding double Thursday, scoring on Sea Scamp ($5.60) in the third and Prince Will I Am ($93.80). Lenclud has five victories through the first eight days of the 21-day meet and already has equaled the 2008 total of leading fall apprentice Brandon Meier. … Bill Troilo, who retired from riding this past spring, was a visitor on the backside Friday morning. “I’m here in Louisville for steward’s school,” said Troilo, who retired with 2,514 victories and whose lone graded-stakes victory came here last fall aboard Karelian in the River City Handicap (GIII).

MALIBU PRAYER HELPS SALVAGE THE DAY FOR EVANS – Saturday was not a total loss for Edward Evans, who saw his Quality Road scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) when he refused to load in the starting gate.

Nearly two hours earlier, his Malibu Prayer posted her first graded-stakes victory by taking the Chilukki (GII) at Churchill Downs by a length over Copper State.

“She is doing well this morning,” said Michael Dilger, the Churchill Downs assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. “She had been training well at Belmont and we thought she would run well.”

Dilger was not sure if Malibu Prayer would come back in three weeks to run in the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII) on Nov. 26.

“I don’t know if Todd would want to run her back that quick,” Dilger said. “We have Unbridled Belle pointed to the Falls City and that will be the last race for her.”

The Chilukki victory improved Malibu Prayer’s record to 9-4-3-2 with the three runner-up finishes coming in graded stakes.

“We had her at Delaware Park this summer and she only needed to improve a little bit to be a good filly,” Dilger said. “She has always been well thought of and she has progressed well through the year.”

One Caroline, the Chilukki favorite who finished third in her first start in more than six months, was headed back to her home base at Keeneland on Sunday.

"She ran hard yesterday,” said Jack Bohannan, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold. “It is tough to sustain those fractions (:22.47 and :44.87) after being off so long. We were disappointed she didn’t win.”

A return in the Falls City is possible for One Caroline.

“If Rusty feels she is all right, I am sure he will entertain that thought,” Bohannan said. “Rusty and (owner) Mr. (G. Watts) Humphrey (Jr.) will talk it over.”
    
SHE’S OUR ANNIE COMES BACK STRONG IN DREAM SUPREME – Trainer Jinks Fires was all smiles Sunday morning after the performance of Destiny Oaks’ She’s Our Annie in Saturday’s $60,000 Dream Supreme overnight stakes.

Idle since being taken out of training in the spring, She’s Our Annie came off the 7 ½-month layoff by going wire-to-wire under Jon Court to win by 2 ½ lengths. The 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro covered the six furlongs in 1:10.31.

“She had been training that way, so we thought she would run that way,” Fires said. “She’s doing well this morning. We are going to take it one step at a time and see what’s out there, but we are not going to push her.”

Now a winner of four of five starts, She’s Our Annie developed the start of a slab fracture this spring at Oaklawn Park and Fires gave her 90 days off before starting her back. Prior to the Dream Supreme, She’s Our Annie had recorded two bullet six-furlong works here.

WIGGINS’ HORSE OF THE YEAR VOTE … JUST SAY HE’S PARTIAL – “I bet I know what you are going to ask me,” trainer Hal Wiggins said with a big grin. “Who do I think should be Horse of the Year?”

Well, now that you mention it after Zenyatta’s victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), who should be Horse of the Year, Zenyatta or Rachel Alexandra?

“I think it will be a photo finish,” Wiggins said. “You can’t gripe if it goes either way. But then, you know I may be a little prejudiced.”

Wiggins trained the 3-year-old Rachel Alexandra to the first four of her eight victories in a perfect 2009 campaign. Zenyatta finished a 5-for-5 year with the Classic victory that ran the 5-year-old mare’s career record to a perfect 14-for-14.

"“The only knock I have on Zenyatta is that all of her wins were on synthetic tracks,” Wiggins said. “Rachel Alexandra won on seven tracks, three times in the mud and was a 3-year-old filly beating older horses in a Grade I race. That just doesn’t happen.

“But then for Zenyatta to do what she did (yesterday in the Classic), that doesn’t happen often either.”

CARDINAL HANDICAP ATTRACTS 27 NOMINATIONS – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma, a two-time graded-stakes winner over the Matt Winn Turf Course, tops a list of 27 fillies and mares nominated to the 36th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (GIII) to be run 1 1/8 miles on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Trained by David Carroll, Acoma won the Mrs. Revere (GII) here last fall and came back in June to win the Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) over Pure Clan, runner-up in Friday’s Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) at Santa Anita.

Two Cardinal nominees posted Grade III turf wins in their most recent starts.

Ronchalon Stable’s Belle Allure (Ire) took the Athenia at Belmont Park on Oct. 21 and Dell Ridge Farm’s Bluegrass Princess won a division of the Valley View on Oct. 23 at Keeneland.

Weights for the Cardinal will be announced on Saturday and entries will be taken on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

 Indescribable won last year’s Cardinal.

BARN TALK – Trainer Dale Romans said that his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Tapitsfly would be back in his barn at Churchill Downs on Sunday afternoon. Romans said that Tapitsfly, owned and bred by Frank Jones Jr., was “probably done for the year.” … Julien Leparoux, who rode three winners in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, was the winner of the seventh annual Bill Shoemaker Award given to the top jockey at the event. Leparoux’s winners were Informed Decision (Filly & Mare Sprint) and She Be Wild (Juvenile Fillies) on Friday and Furthest Land (Dirt Mile) on Saturday.

INDESCRIBABLE PASSES YIELDING TURF TEST IN CARDINAL - Kenny McCarthy, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, reported that Courtlandt Farms' Indescribable came out of her stirring victory in Saturday's Grade III Cardinal Handicap in good order and would be headed to Florida at the end of the month.

            The head victory over George Strawbridge's Long Approach came in Indescribable's first race over a turf course that was less than firm.

            "The only question we had was whether she would handle the yielding ground," McCarthy said. "We were kind of hoping it would come off (the turf) because she would be strong on the dirt."

            But McCarthy's worries were quickly dissipated.

            "Ninety-nine percent of the time in the first sixteenth of a mile you can tell if they are comfortable with it," McCarthy said. "The first time by she was into the bit and I could tell she was OK with it."

            The victory, which was the second in two days for the barn, raised Mott's record victory total at Churchill Downs to 594. The 600-win plateau is within reach with 10 racing programs remaining in the Fall Meet that concludes Nov. 29.

            "I might retire at 600," McCarthy said with a laugh.

EINSTEIN STEPS OUT ON SLOPPY TRACK - Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) winner Einstein worked five furlongs in 1:03.80 over a sloppy track after Sunday's renovation break with trainer Helen Pitts up.

            "It was a little slower than I liked, but maybe I was being cautious because of the track," Pitts said. "He worked good. I know he is feeling good."

            Pitts had said last week that she would let Einstein "tell me" if he would make his return to the races in the Nov. 28 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII).

            What was Einstein saying on a raw Sunday morning?

            "We still have two weeks (until the Clark)," Pitts said. "I will know more next week after he works again. He'll work Sunday, but I will keep an eye on the weather and he may work Saturday."

            Owned by Midnight Cry Stable, Einstein has not run since finishing fifth in the Arlington Million (GI) on Aug. 9.

EIGHT HORSES PROBABLE FOR SATURDAY'S RIVER CITY - The weights are out and as of Sunday, a field of eight three-year olds and up was shaping up for Saturday's 32nd running of the River City Handicap (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

            According to Dan Bork of the Churchill Downs Racing Office, 2007 River City winner Thorn Song (122) is probable for the race as his stablemate Yate's Black Cat (119) for trainer Dale Romans. Zayat Stables owns Thorn Song and Jerry Crawford, Adam Wachtel, Nils Brous and David Robinette own Yate's Black Cat.

            Other probables, with weight assignments, are Amerman Racing Stables' Demarcation (117), Oxbow Racing's Steve's Double (117), Don Benge's Wise River (116), Scarlet Stable's Canela (115), Stronach Stable's Jungle Fighter (115) and Nick Mamatas and John Kerber's Gentleman Chester (113).             

BARN TALK - Zabeel Racing International's Game Face made a successful return to the races Saturday with a head victory in the eighth race. "That was a nice victory yesterday," said Michael Dilger, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. "I'm not sure what is next for her." Winner of the Grade II Old Hat at Gulfstream in January and the La Troienne (GIII) at Churchill Downs in May, Game Face had not run since finishing third in the Grade I Acorn on June 7. Dilger also said that Overbrook Farm's Big Surf, a maiden winner last Wednesday, may run closing day in either an allowance race at a mile or the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club at 1 1/16 miles. Big Surf is the third foal out of Surfside, winner of the 2000 Clark Handicap and champion 3-year-old filly of that year.

WORK TAB - Dolphus Morrison's Rachel Alexandra, runner-up in the Nov. 1 Pocahontas (GIII), worked five furlongs over a "sloppy" track in 1:05 for trainer Hal Wiggins in preparation for a possible run in the closing-day Golden Rod (GII). ... Silverton Hill Farm's Dominican, winner of the 2007 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI), worked a half-mile in :51.40 for trainer Darrin Miller.