Clark Handicap

A year after experiencing the heartbreak inflicted by the disqualification of Successful Dan from an apparent victory in the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade I), owner Morton Fink and trainer Charles Lopresti are back to take another shot at winning the premier race of Churchill Downs’ Fall Meet with another talented “Dan.”

Wise Dan is this year’s Clark hope for the Fink-Lopresti team and the 3-year-old son of Wiseman’s Ferry is a major player in a strong and competitive 13-horse field for the 1 1/8-mile race for older horses.  Like the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and the Kentucky Oaks, the Clark has been run annually without interruption since the 1875 debut racing meet of the track then known as the Louisville Jockey Club.

“I don’t think we could have him any better than he is right now,” Lopresti said Thursday morning by telephone from his training base at Keeneland.  “We had him out grazing this morning and he was such a handful we had to put him in.  He’s really good.”

Wise Dan will break from post 11 as the 4-1 third choice in the Clark behind Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) winner Flat Out and Belmont Stakes (GI) winner Ruler On Ice, who ran fifth and third, respectively, behind WinStar Farm’s Drosselmeyer in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.  While that high-powered duo will attempt to keep their names in the discussion for Eclipse Awards in their respective division, Lopresti is anxious to see how Wise Dan will handle his newest challenge.

The Clark will be the 4-year-old gelding’s first attempt to win a major stakes race over traditional dirt at a two-turn distance.  He ran a respectable sixth over the Louisville track in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI), where he finished just 2 ½ lengths behind the victorious Big Drama.  He has two wins in four dirt starts at Churchill Downs, both victories coming last year in allowance races on sloppy tracks at six furlongs and a mile.

Wise Dan comes into this year’s Clark in exactly the same manner as the last two first-place finishers in the Clark.  He romped to a four-length victory over Polytrack at the Clark distance of 1 1/8 miles in Keeneland’s Fayette (GII), just as Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s future Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame did in 2009 and Successful Dan accomplished a year ago. 

Prior to the Fayette, Wise Dan enjoyed significant success at shorter distances, including 2011 wins in the one-mile Firecracker Handicap (GII) in his turf debut at Churchill Downs and an impressive win from an outside post in the $250,000 Presque Isle Downs Mile over the Pennsylvania track’s synthetic Tapeta surface.

Wise Dan tuned-up for his Clark bid with a sharp six-furlong work in 1:!2 on Nov. 15 at Keeneland.  That move encouraged Lopresti, but he believes Wise Dan has questions to answer in Friday’s race.

"I feel pretty confident, but I still have a question about the mile and an eighth on the dirt,” Lopresti said.  “That’s my big concern.  He got it on the ‘Poly’ and it looked like he was running away from them at the end, but this is a lot tougher field, too.  I’m realistic about it – the Fayette was a lot lighter bunch than he’s running against here.”

Lopresti points to the presence of Breeders Cup Classic contenders Flat Out and Ruler On Ice as primary Clark contenders, and said the efforts of both in the 1 ¼-mile Classic merit respect.

“Flat Out only got beat three lengths in the Breeders’ Cup and Ruler On Ice got beat two lengths,” Lopresti said.  “If those horses had finished up the racetrack, I wouldn’t have as much respect for them.  But they didn’t run bad races.”

Wise Dan’s resume of three wins in seven 2011 races, which also includes a close third fourth-place run on the Keeneland turf behind three-time Eclipse Award champion Gio Ponti in the Grade I Shadwell Mile, provides ample fuel for Lopresti’s optimism.  But that impressive six-furlong work at Keeneland strengthened Lopresti’s confidence that Wise Dan will run well in Friday’s race, and possibly ease the painful memory of the stewards’ decision that deprived Successful Dan of a victory in last year’s Clark.

“He worked three-quarters in (a minute) twelve and he was in the middle of the racetrack when he did it,” Lopresti said.  “If we had put him down on the fence, there’s no telling what he would have done.  We were talking him out of it.”

Lopresti’s star will have a new rider for the Clark as John Velazquez will travel from New York to substitute for Julien Leparoux.  The leading rider of the Churchill Downs Fall Meet will be in California on Friday to pilot Vinery First Lady (GI) winner Never Retreat in the Grade I Matriarch at Hollywood Park.

“He’s a good strong rider,” Lopresti said of Velazquez.  “I know he’s talked to Julien about him (Wise Dan).  I know when I called him, it didn’t take two minutes to tell me he would come to ride him.  It’s a compliment when a guy like Velazquez comes in to ride him.  I know he’s watched his races and he knows him.”

Wise Dan brings career record of 7-0-0 in 13 races and earnings of $593,047 into Friday’s 137^th Clark.

DICKEY PLEASED WITH POST DRAW FOR CLARK FAVORITE FLAT OUT – Trainer Scooter Dickey entered Tuesday’s post position draw for the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade I) with hopes that Preston Stables LLC’s favored Flat Out would not draw the rail.  His wish was granted when the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) winner drew post six in the field of 13 for Friday’s race at Churchill Downs.

“I like the post and it should be good for him,” Dickey said. “He’s gotten beat three times this year when leaving from the one-hole. The post might not have had anything to do with him losing, but maybe it did. I’d rather not take the chance.”

In his most recent start, the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), Flat Out drew post two, but still broke further inside than all other horses after Prayer for Relief, who had drawn post one, scratched out of the race. Post position one was left open in the Classic, where Flat Out finished fifth behind Drosselmeyer.

Now that Dickey is happy with his post position, he is hoping to get the type of track that best suits the 5-year-old son of Flatter: fast and dry.

“I want the sun to come out and dry this track out some more,” Dickey said. “The track had a little water in it for the Breeders’ Cup and the Stephen Foster (GI) and he doesn’t seem to like it when there’s only a little water. He’d rather run over a muddy track than a “good” track or a fast track with some water. I don’t really know why that is, though.”

Flat Out, whose two off-the-board finishes this year have come on the main track beneath the Twin Spires, has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. Flat Out was also the post-time favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“Being the favorite makes you worry more because you don’t want to let people down,” Dickey said. “But the horse is doing really well. He went out early (Thursday) morning and galloped down the stretch. We’re ready for tomorrow.”

Flat Out will be guided in the Clark by Alex Solis, who has been aboard him for his last five starts. Solis is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Thursday night.

OXLEY, CASSE TAKE TWO SHOTS AT SATURDAY’S $150,000 GOLDEN ROD – Owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse will take two shots in Saturday’s $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) with 2-year-old fillies Golden History and Spirited Miss, and hope that one of those rising stars will land them in the winner’s circle following the 68^th running the 1 1/16-mile race for juvenile fillies on the main track.

The Golden Rod will be the co-feature with the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) on Churchill Downs’ Stars of Tomorrow II program devoted exclusively to races for 2-year-olds. The Golden Rod will be run as race nine with a scheduled post time of 4:42 p.m. (all times EST).

"It looks like a real competitive field and there doesn’t appear to be a standout, with maybe the exception of the horse that won the Pocahontas (On Fire Baby),” assistant trainer Norman Casse said. “I like both of our horses’ chances.”

Golden History, a $450,000 purchase earlier this year at Florida’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, has been pointed to the Golden Rod since she won her career debut by 2 ¾ lengths on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Toronto’s Woodbine. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro arrived at Churchill Downs in mid-October and made her second career start over the main track in a fifth-place run in the one-mile Pocahontas (GII), where she finished three lengths behind On Fire Baby.

“We were hoping to run her in an allowance race here but the race didn’t go, so our hands were tied and we had to go in the Pocahontas,” Casse said. “The Golden Rod has been the target all along.”

Golden History will break from post nine under Shaun Bridgmohan in the Golden Rod.

Unlike her stablemate, Spirited Miss did not have a Golden Rod bid on her long-range radar.  The Oxley homebred broke her maiden on the Woodbine turf in August, and then finished fourth on turf to Northern Passion in the Natalma (GIII).  She moved to the Polytrack course at the Toronto track for a runner-up finish to Blue Heart in the Mazarine before the daughter of Sky Mesa was pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII).  Mark Casse ultimately decided against entering the filly in that race.

The Golden Rod will be the first race on traditional dirt for Spirited Miss, who will break from post three under Javier Castellano.

“She’s always been one of the horses that we’ve really liked,” Casse said. “The Juvenile (Fillies) Turf just came up too tough and we didn’t want to put her in there. She’s been at Churchill Downs for several weeks and has had four good works over the (main) track. With the Golden Rod coming up the way it has and her working so well over the dirt, we decided to give it a shot.”

The Casse barn experienced success this year with a horse trying dirt for the first time when 36-1 shot  Pool Play won Churchill Downs’ $500,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi (GI) in June after running on synthetic and turf courses in 27 previous starts.

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (Nov. 17-23) are Corey Lanerie (7-for-40), Julien Leparoux (6-for-24) and Jesus Castanon (6-for-25). Wayne Catalano (3-for-5) and Mike Maker (3-for-12) are the hottest trainers over the same period. Ken and Sarah Ramsey (2-for-11) are the hottest owners.

BARN TALK – A local memorial service for the late trainer Robert Holthus is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 at 10:30 a.m. (EST) at Christ Chapel on the Churchill Downs backside. Holthus saddled 211 winners beneath the Twin Spires, including 11 stakes wins.  Holthus, who died in Louisville on Nov. 22 at the age of 78, started five horses in the Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Downs will host a “Stache Bash” on Saturday during the races to honor and celebrate all of the Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who participated in Movember. Churchill Downs will donate $1 per attendee who is sporting a mustache to the Movember Foundation with a minimum guaranteed pledge of $5,000 given through the Churchill Downs Foundation. The day’s festivities will include between-race live music by popular Cincinnati-based My Sister Sarah in the paddock area and Happy Hour drink specials from 3-5 p.m.

Lothenbach Stables’ Mister Marti Gras rallied in deep stretch to overtake Alma d’Oro to win the 19^th running of the $109,700 Ack Ack Handicap (Grade III) for 3-year-olds and up by a half-length.

Trained by Chris Block and ridden by Julien Leparoux, Mister Marti Gras raced near the back of the seven-horse field as Gladding

SANTIVA WORKS, BOUND FOR BELMONT STAKES ON TUESDAY – Tom Walters’ Santiva, sixth to Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom in the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), tuned up for a run in next week’s $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI) with a strong five-furlong work on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

            The Eddie Kenneally-trained son of Giant’s Causeway worked five furlongs over a fast track in 1:01 with assistant trainer Brendan Walsh in the saddle.  Santiva worked in company with stablemate Manx Miss and the duo finished with identical clockings for five furlongs, a time that tied for sixth fastest of 27 works at the distance.

            Santiva breezed in fractional times of :13, :25.20 and :36.80 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.40.  His gallop out time was faster than either of the day’s two six-furlong works.

            “I’m very happy with him,” Kenneally said.  “He hasn’t missed a beat since the Derby.  He’s been on schedule and has had a good four weeks, and hopefully he’ll have another good week until we get to the Belmont.”

            The winner of Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) is scheduled to ship on Tuesday to Belmont Park, where both Animal Kingdom and Preakness winner Shackleford will be awaiting in the 1 1/2 mile race that New Yorkers have dubbed the “Test of the Champion” through the years. 

            The Belmont Stakes will be the fourth start of the year for Santiva, who opened the season with a promising runner-up finish to likely Belmont rival Mucho Macho Man in the Risen Star (GII) at Fair Grounds.  But Kenneally’s colt then encountered major traffic woes in his final Kentucky Derby prep – a ninth-place finish behind Brilliant Speed in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) over Keeneland’s synthetic Polytrack course.

             “He didn’t get everything out of the Blue Grass that we had wanted,” Kenneally said.  “He got a little bit tired, perhaps, in the Derby.  He’s a horse that’s done well since then and we’re happy enough with the way he ran on Derby Day.”

            Kenneally believes Santiva is ready for the challenge of the mile and a half in the Belmont Stakes, which will be uncharted territory the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners and every other 3-year-old in the race.

            “The thing about it is you don’t know who is going to really be a mile-and-a-half horse until you try, so you don’t know about those horses either,” Kenneally said.  “Our horse is a horse that likes to run, he doesn’t quit and he keeps grinding it out.  He’s a tough little horse and he keeps fighting.  He’s tactical and he doesn’t have to be coming from way back. 

            “He likes to run in the middle of the pack, relatively close to the leader in the first tier of runners, so I think his running style would be effective in a race like the Belmont.  I don’t think the Belmont favors closers.  The Belmont traditionally, for the most part, favors horses that like to lay up close to the pace – not on the lead, necessarily, but close to the pace.”

            Santiva’s victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club in November remains his only triumph in his career record that stands at 1-3-1 in seven races.  His earnings total is $257,597.

            Shaun Bridgmohan, who was aboard Santiva in both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Jockey Club, is scheduled to ride the colt in the Belmont.

CLARK WINNER, STEPHEN FOSTER HOPE GIANT OAK WORKS SIZZLING FIVE FURLONGS – The Virginia H. Tarra Trust’s Giant Oak, winner of Churchill Downs’ $500,000 Clark Handicap (GI) and the $500,000 Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park, worked a sparkling five furlongs at Churchill Downs on Saturday in preparation the 30^th running of the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) on June 18.

            The homebred 5-year-old son of Giants Causeway zipped over a fast track for trainer Chris Block to complete the five-furlong move in :59.60.  The work under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan was the “bullet” of 27 works at the distance and a full second faster than the morning’s second-best move.

            “He had a really good breeze this morning,” Block said.  “He’s on-target for the Stephen Foster.”

            Giant Oak will attempt to snap a two-race losing streak in the Foster after he started the year as a rising star in a division of American older horses thinned by the retirements of marquee stars that included Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner Blame, multiple Grade I winner Quality Road, 3-year-old champion Lookin At Lucky and, more recently, the versatile Grade I winner Paddy O’Prado. 

            His emphatic two-length win over Grade I winner Morning Line in the Donn underscored Giant Oak’s potential to be one of the names at the top of the division.  But that victory was followed by a setback in the New Orleans Handicap (GII), where he finished third to Mission Impazible and Apart, and a fifth-place run behind First Dude in the Alysheba at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day.  Giant Oak rallied from far back in the 1 1/16-mile Alysheba and was beaten by less than a length.

            Block, a three-time stakes winner during the 2010 Fall Meet, is looking forward to the Stephen Foster and sees the race as an opportunity to reclaim Giant’s Oaks early-season moment. He believes Giant Oak had excuses in each of those defeats.           

            “I haven’t lost any confidence in him at all,” Block said.  “I thought he had a real strong excuse in New Orleans.  He’s not real fond of that course.  As a 3-year-old I saw that, but I thought he was a little different horse now, so I thought we’d take another chance and another shot at it.  But he clearly does not like that track, so I’m kind of throwing that one out.  He had a legitimate excuse there.                                                                 

            “In the race here (the Alysheba) the last time, he kind of had a rough trip up the backside.  He and Demarcation were kind of hooked up together and there was a little bumping going on up the backside.  He never got on track where he got into a rhythm until he really got clear of that horse, and then he came with his big run.”

            Bridgmohan has ridden Giant Oak in his last four races and will be aboard for the Stephen Foster, a race in which Block’s Illinois-bred star finished fourth last year to Blame, the eventual Eclipse Award winner as America’s top older horse.

            Giant Oak’s career record stands at 5-5-4 in 26 races with earnings of $1,307,001.

YOUNG HORSES GIVE VETERAN TRAINER ‘EXTRA SHOT OF LIFE’ – Everyone has a first love, and for trainer Bernie Flint, that first love was training young horses.

            “I love training 2-year-olds,” Flint said. “Training young horses was my first love and they’ll always be my favorite horses to train.”

One might think that Flint, a 71-year-old with over 3,000 career victories and numerous training titles would be ready to retire, but he just keeps going and attributes his energy level to the young horses in his barn. “An untried 2-year-old gives you an extra shot of life,” Flint said. “There’s just something about the young horses that keeps me going.”

            Flint, who has won at an 18-percent clip in 2-year-old races throughout his career, has won with three of his first 11 2-year-old starters this year and he’s confident more wins are on the way.         “The owners - especially Jim Stone, Ed Wright, Miles Childers, and Dr. Naveed Chowhan - really stepped up and we were able to purchase some nice young horses,” Flint said. “I have the best group of 2-year-olds here (at Churchill Downs). Just watch how they run.”

            The New Orleans-native, who is known for having a high winning percentage with 2-year-olds, won with 15 of his 71 (21%) two-year-old starters in 2006; however, his winning percentage declined over the next few years and last year he trained just two juvenile winners from 22 starters (9%).

            “I got away from focusing on 2-year-olds and started trying to win claiming races with older horses,” Flint said. “This year we’ve gotten back to the 2-year-olds and I won’t be participating in the claiming game very much.”

            Flint, who began training full-time in 1976 after retiring from the New Orleans Police Department, still enjoys his job and hopes to be on the backstretch for a few more years.

            “I don’t know if I’ll still be around at (trainer D. Wayne) Lukas’ age (75),” Flint said. “But who knows, if a couple of these 2-year-olds develop into stakes winners then I could be around for a little while longer to see how they turn out.”

            Flint has 429 wins beneath the Twin Spires, which is fourth all-time behind Bill Mott (641), Dale Romans (525) and Lukas (482). L.T.B., Inc.’s One Sky will be Flint’s lone starter Saturday at Churchill Downs.      

BARN TALK – Jockey Julien Leparoux recorded his 466^th career Churchill Downs win and passed Patrick A. Johnson for 10^th all-time when he rode Legendary Heart to victory in the 11^th race Friday for trainer Steve Asmussen. Leparoux, who has 1,407 career victories overall, had his biggest day beneath the Twin Spires on May 2, 2009, when he rode Informed Decision to win the Humana Distaff (GI) and Einstein to win the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) on the Kentucky Derby Day undercard.  

Afleeting Lady, a 4-year-old half-sister to Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford, will attempt to break her maiden in Saturday’s eighth race at Churchill Downs for owners Michael Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge and trainer Dale Romans. Post time for the eighth race is 4:29 p.m. EST. …

Two apprentice riders – Constantino Roman and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. – are both ranked in the top 10 in wins in the jockey standings at Churchill Downs. Each rider has seven wins, which is good enough to be tied for ninth with Manny Cruz. …

The “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest returns Sunday. It continues each Sunday through June 12 in the Champions Club Lounge with $4,000 in prize money, including a $1,500 first prize and a coveted VIP trip to compete in the Horseplayer World Series at The Orleans Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The entry fee is $25 (or 25,000 Twin Spires Club points). Also on Sunday, simulcast action is highlighted by Woodbine’s stakes tripleheader, including the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser and the $150,000 Plate Trial. …

 WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (May 27- June 3) are Corey Lanerie (10-for-33) and Shaun Bridgmohan (8-for-32). Steve Asmussen (5-for-12), Bernie Flint (3-for-6) and Brad Cox (3-for-7) are the hottest trainers over the same period. The hottest owners are Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. (3-for-7) Stoneway Farm (2-for-3) and Vinery Stables, LLC (2-for-2).

WEATHER – Saturday: mostly sunny, 93; Sunday: mostly sunny with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 90; Monday: mostly sunny with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 92; Tuesday: mostly sunny and hot, 95; Wednesday: mostly sunny and hot, 96; Thursday: mostly sunny and hot with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 95; Friday: partly sunny with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 95.

WIN WILLY FINALLY GETS HIS CHURCHILL DOWNS CHANCE ON FRIDAY – Trainer McLean Robertson was just three days away from having his first Kentucky Derby (Grade I) starter in 2009 with Jer-Mar Stable’s Win Willy.

However, on the day of entry, Robertson saw something he did not like on an x-ray of the colt’s left front ankle.

“I didn’t think he was right after the Arkansas Derby,” Robertson said of Win Willy, who had finished fourth in the race at Oaklawn Park. “I was going to vet him out even if he had worked a hole in the wind.”
    The x-ray revealed a small line.

“We walked him for 30 days and then twice a day for another 30 days,” Robertson said. “I don’t think he would have been this good if he had run.”

Win Willy has been good enough in the past 14 months to earn a shot at his first Grade I victory in Friday’s $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare. Win Willy will break from post position eight under Cliff Berry, who has been aboard six times during Win Willy’s career that shows a record of 5-3-1 in 13 races with earnings of $507,952.

Robertson has no regrets about missing the Run for the Roses.

“I don’t feel bad for doing the right thing,” Robertson said. “I was disappointed for the owner rather than for me, but he’s a good horse now. I am glad I did it. He is better now than he ever has been.”

Win Willy comes into the Clark off a victory in the Brandywine at Delaware Park on Oct. 30. Earlier this year, Win Willy ran second to Clark Handicap rival Duke of Mischief in the Oaklawn Handicap (GII) at Oaklawn Park.

A good showing in the Clark could alter Robertson’s plans with the son of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos in 2011.

“If he runs first or second on Friday, I’d be in no hurry to run in a $50,000 at Oaklawn,” Robertson said. “That would change things.”

REGAL RANSOM TO GET HIS SECOND CD CHANCE IN FRIDAY’S CLARK HANDICAP – Although Win Willy did not make the 2009 Run for the Roses, one of his Clark Handicap opponents on Friday did: Regal Ransom.

The Godolphin Racing runner pressed the pace in the Kentucky Derby over a sloppy track before fading to eighth, 14 ¾ lengths behind Mine That Bird. On Friday, Regal Ransom makes his first run at Churchill Downs since that soggy day nearly 19 months ago.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Regal Ransom will be ridden in the Clark by Freddie Lenclud and break from post position nine in the field of 11.

“He had some time off after the Derby and then after he ran in the Breeders’ Cup last year, we took him back to Dubai,” said Ian Grant, who is overseeing the 4-year-old colt’s preparations at Churchill Downs. “He does not do well on Polytrack or synthetics and he came back over here in the spring.”

Regal Ransom has won once in three starts this year, with the victory coming in an allowance race at Saratoga.

“He has had an up and down season,” Grant said. “His first race (the Grade II Suburban on July 3) we knew was a tough spot going in and then he won the allowance easily. Then came the Kelso.”

In the Grade II Kelso at a mile at Belmont Park on Oct. 3, Regal Ransom ran sixth as the even-money favorite in a field of seven, beaten 19 lengths.

“We have never had a horse train that well and then run like that,” Grant said. “It was a real head scratcher. He has been training great since then.”

Regal Ransom enters the Clark off two bullet, five-furlong works at Belmont Park, the most recent being a :59.80 move on Sunday.

Regal Ransom has compiled a record of 4-2-0 in 11 races with earnings of $1,801,900, a figure that is second only to Brass Hat ($2,167,921) among Clark entrants. One of the victories came in the last year’s UAE Derby (GII) at Nad Al Sheba and another in 2009 Super Derby (GII) at Louisiana Downs. In the latter, he defeated Blame, who would win the Clark Handicap two races later and return to Churchill Downs this year to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) and Stephen Foster Handicap (GI).

In the UAE Derby, Regal Ransom turned the tables on stablemate Desert Party, who had beaten him twice before. Desert Party, now retired, was injured when finishing 14th in the Kentucky Derby last year.

“I had been with Desert Party when (trainer) Eoin (Harty) had him in Chicago,” Grant said. “He was a nice horse. He broke his maiden going 4 ½ and then won the Sanford beating Vineyard Haven. I was surprised that Regal Ransom beat him in the (UAE) Derby.”

BARN TALK – Julien Leparoux maintained a four-win lead over Robby Albarado in the race for leading rider after each rider notched a victory on Wednesday. Leparoux, who is seeking his fourth consecutive Fall Meet title and seventh overall, has a 23-19 edge on Albarado. Leparoux is named on 11 mounts today; while Albarado is scheduled to ride eight horses. …

After 17 days of racing, there still has not been a two-time winner at the meet. Eleven previous winners have tried for the second victory, but none has succeeded with four runner-ups and four third-place finishers. On today’s card, seven horses, including Distinctive Dixie and Striking Dancer in the Falls City Handicap (GII), will bid for their second victory of the month beneath the Twin Spires.

Thomas McCarthy’s General Quarters will be aiming for a slice of horse racing history, but rising stars Battle Plan and Blame will likely occupy the roles of favorites Saturday when 11 horses enter the starting gate for  the 29th running of the $600,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I) at Churchill Downs.

The Stephen Foster, run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, serves as the centerpiece of the 11-race Kentucky Derby Alumni Day program that also four others graded stakes. The day’s other major attraction is the $200,000-added Fleur De Lis (GII) for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up, which has attracted reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra as the favorite in a field of five.  First post time is 12:45 p.m. (all times EDT) with the Stephen Foster going as the day’s 10th race with a post time of 5:29 p.m.

Three previous Stephen Foster winners have gone on to win Horse of the Year honors in the year of their victory with the most recent being Curlin in 2008. Others were Saint Liam (2005) and Black Tie Affair (1991).

General Quarters, the 4-1 third choice in Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds for the Stephen Foster, will be attempting to join Lava Man as the only horse to win Grade I races on dirt, grass and a synthetic surface. General Quarters, who won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) in his most recent start, won the Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in 2009 over Keeneland’s Polytrack surface.

General Quarters returns to the dirt Saturday, a surface he raced on during the Fair Grounds meet as he returned from seven months away from the races after having a small chip removed from his right front knee. The 4-year-old gray colt had four runner-up finishes in four starts in New Orleans with the last coming in the New Orleans Handicap (GII) on March 27 to Overbrook Farm’s Battle Plan, the 5-2 morning line favorite in the Stephen Foster.

Alex Solis will have the mount on General Quarters, who will share the starting high weight of 120 pounds with Arson Squad and Blame. General Quarters will break from post position six.

The 5-year-old Battle Plan, a regally bred son of Empire Maker out of champion Flanders, is unraced since winning the New Orleans Handicap.  The Todd Pletcher trainee picks up two pounds from his Fair Grounds triumph and will carry 119 pounds in the Stephen Foster. Javier Castellano will ride Battle Plan, who has won his past four starts. Battle Plan will break from post position two.

Blame, owned by Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm, enters the Stephen Foster on a three-race win streak and is the 3-1 second choice in Battaglia’s morning line.. Trained by Al Stall Jr., the 4-year-old Blame opened his 2010 campaign with a victory in the W.D. Schaefer Stakes (GIII) at Pimlico after closing 2009 with scores in the Clark Handicap (GII) at Churchill Downs and the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland.

Garrett Gomez, who was aboard Blame for the first time in the victory at Pimlico, has the riding assignment Saturday. Blame will break from post position 11.

Jay Em Ess Stable’s Arson Squad is the veteran of the group at age seven. One of three millionaires in the race – General Quarters and Macho Again are the others – Arson Squad has won his past two starts in the Alysheba (GIII) here on April 30 and the Skip Away (GIII) at Gulfstream Park on April 3.

A five-time graded stakes winner, Arson Squad is trained by Rick Dutrow and will be ridden by Paco Lopez. Arson Squad will break from post position five.

One other Stephen Foster starter comes into Saturday’s race off a graded stakes victory: Duke of Mischief, owned by Alex and Joann Lieblong, Marilyn McMaster and trainer David Fawkes. Duke of Mischief, who will carry 116 pounds and be ridden by Eibar Coa, won the Oaklawn Handicap (GII) on April 3 in his most recent start. Duke of Mischief will break from post position four.

Back to defend his title in the Stephen Foster is West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, trained by Dallas Stewart. The 5-year-old gray will attempt to join Vodika Collins (1982-83) and Recoup The Cash (1994-95) as the only repeat winners of the race.  Macho Again, a well-beaten seventh to Arson Squad in the Alysheba in his only start of the year, is an 8-1 morning line risk as he defends his Foster title.

Macho Again will carry 116 pounds, break from post position nine and be ridden by Robby Albarado. Albarado, who has won the last three runnings of the Stephen Foster with Flashy Bull (2007), Curlin (’08) and Macho Again is attempting to become the first rider in Churchill Downs history to win the same Grade I race in four consecutive years. Pat Day won the Humana Distaff five consecutive years, but that was before the race attained Grade I status.

The field for the Stephen Foster (with jockey, weight and morning line odds), from the rail out, is as follows: A.U. Miner (Francisco Torres, 113 pounds, 30-1), Battle Plan (Castellano, 119, 5-2), Giant Oak (Shaun Bridgmohan, 115, 20-1), Duke of Mischief (Coa, 116, 6-1), Arson Squad (Lopez, 120, 8-1), General Quarters (Solis, 120, 4-1), Honest Man (Jose Lezcano, 115, 15-1), No Advantage (Calvin Borel, 117, 30-1), Macho Again (Albarado, 116, 8-1), Demarcation (Miguel Mena, 115, 30-1) and Blame (Gomez, 120, 3-1).

Churchill Downs’ Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare, a race that shares a rich history with the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) and the Kentucky Oaks (GI), has been elevated to Grade I status by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association’s (“TOBA”) American Graded Stakes Committee (“AGSC”).

The Clark Handicap, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up, was run for the first time in 1875 during the inaugural meet of Churchill Downs, which was then known as the Louisville Jockey Club. Like the Kentucky Derby and Oaks, the Clark has been run annually and without interruption since and was accorded Grade I status for the second time when the AGSC met Dec. 2 in Lexington, Ky.

Two other Churchill Downs stakes races – the American Turf Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf, and the Pocahontas, a one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies – were raised from Grade III to Grade II status. One race was the downgraded: the Jefferson Cup, previously a Grade II race, was accorded Grade III status for 2010.

“We are very pleased that the American Graded Stakes Committee has recognized the excellence of the Clark Handicap and accorded Grade I status to one of our track’s most important races,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs. “We have long felt that the Clark ranked with America’s top races for older horses and applaud the committee’s decision. The upgrade of the Clark and accompanying elevation of the Pocahontas and American Turf to Grade II status are tributes to both the strength of our racing program and the efforts of owners and trainers who compete in our races every year. We thank the committee for its consideration and decisions, and our horsemen for their unwavering support.”

The Clark was previously accorded Grade I status for a single running in 2006, when the race was won by Premium Tap, winner of the Woodward (GI) and subsequent runner-up to “Horse of the Year” Invasor in the Dubai World Cup (GI).  The 2008 running was won by Einstein, a multiple Grade I winner on turf and, subsequently won the 2009 Santa Anita Handicap (GI) on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita. Einstein was a finalist for the Eclipse Award for America’s top older horse that went to two-time “Horse of the Year” Curlin and defeated a Clark Handicap field that included two-time Whitney Handicap (GI) winner Commentator.

The 2007 running of the Clark saw A.P. Arrow knock off Grade I winner Brass Hat; Magna Graduate edged Suave in 2006; and Saint Liam defeated Grade I winners Seek Gold and Perfect Drift in its 2005 running. The latter was the first stakes victory for Saint Liam, who would win the Breeders’ Cup Classic the following year to cap a campaign in which he earned “Horse of the Year” honors. Other notable recent Clark Handicap winners include Overbrook Farm’s Surfside, who defeated older males in 2000 on her way to earning an Eclipse Award as America’s champion 3-year-old filly; multiple Grade I winner Lido Palace, a multiple Grade I winner who gave the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel his only Clark victory; and Robert and Beverly Lewis’ 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, who won the 1998 renewal to become the 14th Kentucky Derby winner to win both races.

The 2008 Pocahontas saw multiple Sara Louise, winner of this year’s Top Flight (GII) defeat Rachel Alexandra. The runner-up would go on to win the Kentucky Oaks (GI) and defeat males in the Preakness (GI), Haskell Invitational and the Woodward (GI), becoming the first 3-year-old filly ever to win the latter. Rachel Alexandra has not lost since her Pocahontas setback and is a leading candidate for 2009 American “Horse of the Year.” Pure Clan, who won the race in 2007, is a two-time Grade I winner on turf with wins American Oaks at Hollywood Park at 3 and this year’s Flower Bowl at Belmont Park. Stellar Jayne, the 2003 Pocahontas winner, would later score Grade I wins in the Coaching Club American Oaks, Gazelle Handicap and Ruffian Handicap.

The roster of recent winners of the American Turf, a regular fixture on the Kentucky Oaks undercard, includes Kitten’s Joy, who would defeat Prince Arch in 2004 on his way to earning an Eclipse Award that honored him as America’s turf champion. The runner-up would later win the Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup (GI) on turf. Multiple stakes winner Stream Cat won the race in 2006, but runner-up Go Between would go on to earn more than $2.9 million in a career that included victories in the Pacific Classic (GI) on synthetic Polytrack and the Virginia Derby (GII) on turf. The 2008 renewal went to Tizdejavu, over Sailor’s Cap and Nistle’s Crunch. The winner would go on to win the Jefferson Cup (GII) and American Derby (GII), while runner-up Sailor’s Cap would later win the Colonial Cup (GIII) and Poker Handicap (GIII) and Nistle’s Crunch would win the Commonwealth Turf (GIII) at Churchill Downs. Orthodox defeated Battle of Hastings to win the 2009 American Turf, with the latter going on to a strong campaign that included victories in the Colonial Turf Cup (GII) and Virginia Derby (GII).

With the elevation of the Clark Handicap, the Churchill Downs stakes schedule will include five Grade I events in 2010 (not including Breeders’ Cup World Championship races scheduled for Nov. 5-6, 2010). Along with the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and the Clark Handicap, the Stephen Foster Handicap and the Humana Distaff, which retained their AGSC status as top-level events in American racing, are on the list of Grade I events to be run beneath the historic Twin Spires in 2010.

Stronach Stables’ Einstein (Brz) will carry high weight of 123 pounds and break from the outside post in a field of 14 as he shoots for back-to-back victories in Friday’s 135th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) at Churchill Downs.

    Trained by Helen Pitts-Blasi, Einstein will attempt to become the first back-to-back winner of the Clark since Bob’s Dusty in 1977-78. Only two others have posted consecutive victories in the Clark: Hodge (1915-16) and Bold Favorite (1968-69).

    The Clark, run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, will go as the 11th race on Friday’s 12-race card that begins at 11:30 a.m. (all times ET). The race, like the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and the Kentucky Oaks (GI), has been renewed annually without interruption since the first race meet at Churchill Downs, then known as the Louisville Jockey Club, in 1875. Approximate post time for the 2009 Clark Handicap is 4:29 p.m.

    Despite his outside post in the large field, Einstein was installed as the 7-2 favorite by Churchill Downs linemaker Mike Battaglia.

    Einstein, who will be ridden for the first time by Rajiv Maragh, is one of three Grade I stakes winners in the Clark field. Einstein has accumulated four of his five Grade I victories on the grass with the fifth coming over the Pro-Ride surface at Saint Anita where he took the Santa Anita Handicap in March.  He was a hard-luck third in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) in his most recent trip over the dirt surface at his home track. Einstein will concede 2-10 pounds to his rivals in the Clark.

    West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again claimed his Grade I over the Chruchill Downs dirt in June at the expense of Einstein in the Stephen Foster. The Dallas Stewart-trained Macho Again, who got seven pounds from Einstein in the Stephen Foster, will carry 121 pounds in their Friday rematch and be ridden by Robby Albarado. Macho Again, the 9-2 second choice on the morning line, will start from post position two.

    Mitchell Ranch, Frank Lewkowitz and Joe Rice’s Bullsbay got his Grade I victory at Saratoga this summer in the Whitney in which he defeated Macho Again. Bullsbay, ninth to Furthest Land in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) over the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita, will tote 119 pounds in the Clark.  The Graham Motion-trained son of Tiznow will break from post position nine under Jeremy Rose.

    Three Clark entrants come into Friday’s race off Grade II victories: Godolphin Racing’s Etched, Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame and Jill Baffert and George Jacobs’ Misremembered.

    Etched, who will be ridden by Alan Garcia and carry 120 pounds, won the Meadowlands Cup for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin last out on Oct. 16; Blame, who will be ridden by Jamie Theriot and carry 117 pounds, won the Fayette for trainer Al Stall, Jr. at Keeneland on Oct. 31; and the Bob Baffert-trained Misremembered, who will be ridden by Victor Espinoza and carry 116 pounds, won the Oct. 3 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park.

    The field for the Clark Handicap, from the rail out, is as follows: You and I Forever (J. Valdivia Jr., 115 pounds, 20-1), Macho Again (R. Albarado, 121, 9-2), Giant Oak (S. Bridgmohan, 115, 20-1), Demarcation (J. Castanon, 116, 20-1), Blame (J. Theriot, 117, 6-1), Anarko (Chi) (L. Goncalves, 113, 50-1), Anak Nakal (J. Bravo, 116, 30-1), Etched (A. Garcia, 120, 6-1), Bullsbay (J. Rose, 119, 6-1), Kiss the Kid (P. Lopez, 118, 15-1), Timber Reserve (K. Desormeaux, 114, 20-1), Misremembered (V. Espinoza, 116, 8-1), Dubious Miss (C. Borel, 116, 10-1) and Einstein (Brz) (R. Maragh, 123, 7-2).

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.   

MARY’S FOLLIES HEADS TO FLORIDA AFTER MRS. REVERE VICTORY – Paul Pompa Jr.’s Mary’s Follies did not stick around Louisville long after her 1 ½-length score in Saturday’s Grade II Mrs. Revere in stakes-record time over the Matt Winn Turf Course under Kent Desormeaux.

“I’ve got a van picking her up Sunday and taking her straight to Gulfstream Park,” trainer Rick Dutrow said by phone Saturday night. “I am going to let her regroup and get over this one and train up to her next one.”

Mary’s Follies is now 2-for-2 on the turf with her other grass win coming in the Boiling Springs (GIII) at Monmouth in June. Prior to the Mrs. Revere, Mary’s Follies had finished sixth in the $750,000 Fitz Dixon Cotillion (Grade II) at Philadelphia Park on Oct. 3.

“She had been training real good since her last race, which was kind of surprising since she ran such a dull race,” Dutrow said. “She had been training very, very good and we felt like we couldn’t turn down the opportunity last time because that purse was so big and she had run good over that Philadelphia track.

"We felt like we had to take a shot, which was very stupid. But she came out of it the right way and she fired a bullet (Saturday).”

Whatever Mary’s Follies’ next race will be, it figures to be on the lawn.

“I haven’t looked for a race yet, but we will definitely point for a grass race,” Dutrow said. “Even if it comes off, she likes the mud.”

EINSTEIN, MACHO AGAIN HEAD CLARK HANDICAP NOMINEES – Stronach Stable’s Einstein (Brz) and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, winners of the past two major handicap races for older horses here, head a list of 23 nominations for the 135th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) to be run Nov. 27.

Trained by Helen Pitts-Blasi, Einstein is the defending champion in the Clark. Should Einstein run in the Clark, he would be coming back to the races in less than three weeks after finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) on Nov. 7 at Santa Anita, the worst showing in his 29-race career.

Macho Again won the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap here in June and defeated Einstein in the process. Trained by Dallas Stewart, Macho Again has not run since finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) on Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

Other Grade I winners nominated to the Clark are Mitchell Ranch, Frank Lewkowitz and Joe Rice’s Bullsbay, winner of the Whitney at Saratoga as well as the Grade III Alysheba here, and Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Furthest Land, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI).

Three horses that won Grade II events in their most recent starts are also among the nominees. They are Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame, winner of the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland on Oct. 31; Darley Stable’s Etched, winner of the Meadowlands Cup (GII) on Oct. 16; and Jill Baffert and George Jacobs’ Misremembered, winner of the Indiana Derby (GII) at Hoosier Park on Oct. 3.

Weight assignments for the Clark will be announced Friday.

DEFENDING CHAMPS WON’T MEET AGAIN IN RIVER CITY HANDICAP –When the nominations came out for the 32nd running of the River City Handicap (GIII), there were two prominent names among the 27 nominees: Amerman Racing Stables, LLC’s Demarcation and Green Lantern Stables’ Karelian.

Those two dead-heated for the victory in last year’s running of the River City, so the possibility existed of the same horses dead-heating in the same race a year later.

However, it’s not going to happen.

“Karelian’s not running. We’re running Wicked Style in there,” said Jack Bohannan, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold.

“I’m not sure which race we’ll go in,” said Paul McGee, trainer of Demarcation who is nominated to both the River City and the Clark Handicap. “(Owner) Mr. (John) Amerman is up in the air on it too.”

Demarcation won the Grade III Ack Ack on dirt here on Nov. 6 for his first victory since last year’s River City that is run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Wicked Style, owned by Ashbrook Farm, ran third in the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland over Polytrack in his most recent start on Oct. 31. In three turf starts in 2009, Wicked Style has two victories and a second-place finish.

Three graded-stakes winners on the turf in 2009 are among the nominees headed by Rahy’s Attorney, winner of the Nijinsky (GII) and King Edward Handicap (GII) at Woodbine this summer. The others are Brave Tin Soldier, winner of the Cliff Hanger (GIII) at the Meadowlands in October and the mare Tizfiz, who took the San Gorgonio (GII) at Santa Anita in January.

Weights for the River City will be announced Friday.    

NOMINATIONS OUT FOR CLOSING WEEKEND STAKES – Grade I winners Swift Temper and Unbridled Belle top the list of 18 fillies and mares nominated to the 94th running of the Falls City Handicap (GII) to be contested on Thanksgiving Day.

Swift Temper took the Ruffian in September at Belmont Park and three times this year has gotten the best of Unbridled Belle, a five-time graded-stakes winner who won the Grade I Beldame in 2007.

Weights for the Falls City, which is run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, will be announced Friday. Miss Isella won last year’s Falls City, a race in which Swift Temper finished fourth.

Closing day of the 21-day meet on Nov. 28 is “Stars of Tomorrow II” and will feature 12 races exclusively for 2-year-olds. Highlighting the day will be the 83rd running of the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) and the 66th running of the Golden Rod (GII) for fillies.

The Kentucky Jockey Club, won last year by Beethoven, drew 37 nominations including the top three finishers from the opening day Iroquois: Thiskyhasnolimit, Uh Oh Bango and Soaring Empire.

The Golden Rod, won last year by Rachel Alexandra, attracted the top three finishers from the opening day Pocahontas in Sassy Image, Decelerator and All Due Respect among the 23 nominations.

BARN TALK – Calvin Borel’s four-win day on Saturday gave him 11 victories through the first 10 days of the 21-day meet and a two-win advantage over Julien Leparoux and Shaun Bridgmohan in the Fall Meet race for “leading rider.” Borel’s four-bagger came in races 5-8 and the Calvin backers in the crowd were richly rewarded. Borel won with Win Grammy Boy ($12) in the fifth, High Spirit ($16.40) in the sixth, Choice Play ($11.60) in the seventh and Cosmic ($9.60) in the eighth. The rolling doubles returned $146.60, $96.40 and $76.80 and the rolling Pick-3s paid $637 and $783.20. …

 Stronach Stable’s Harlem Rocker ran second to Cosmic on Saturday beaten a head in his first start since being disqualified from first in last November’s Cigar Mile (GI) at Aqueduct. “The reason he ran here instead of New York is because he was entered twice up there and the race didn’t go,” said Michael Dilger, who oversees trainer Todd Pletcher’s Churchill Downs string. “A win would have been nice, but he ran well and that sets him up for his next race. He will head to Florida after this meet closes (Nov. 28).”

Trainer Bill Mott, the leading conditioner all time at Churchill Downs, recorded his 625th victory beneath the Twin Spires when Soldier Field was moved up to first place via disqualification in Saturday’s 10th race. Closest to Mott on the all-time list is Dale Romans with 481 with nine of those coming at the current meet.

WORK TAB – Giant Oak, who is pointing toward the Clark Handicap, worked seven furlongs in 1:29.60 over a fast track Sunday morning after the renovation break for trainer Chris Block. The 3-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway lost narrowly to Beethoven in last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club (GII)… Vosburgh (GI) winner Kodiak Kowboy worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 for trainer Steve Asmussen.