Curlin

ALBARADO HOPES FAST START CARRIES OVER TO BREEDERS’ CUP  WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – Jockey Robby Albarado closed out the month of October on a high note by winning the riding title at the 17-day Keeneland meet with 25 victories.

He did not cool off when the calendar turned to November as he won four races on Sunday’s initial card of the 21-day Fall Meet. Albarado, who won his first Churchill Downs riding title in the 2008 Spring Meet, will head to California after today’s 10-race card to ride three horses in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

His mounts on Friday are Tapitsfly in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf for trainer Dale Romans, Beautician in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) for trainer Ken McPeek and on Saturday he rides Court Vision in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) for trainer Rick Dutrow.

Albarado, whose one Breeders’ Cup victory came aboard two-time “Horse of the Year” Curlin in the 2007 Classic at Monmouth Park, shared his thoughts on his three runners at Santa Anita

Albarado has partnered Tapitsfly in four of her six starts and was aboard for her two wins, including the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga. Tapitsfly will break from post position 10 in the 1 1/16-mile race.

The 10-hole will not be a problem for her because she has tactical speed and will be forwardly placed in the race,” Albarado said. “She worked very well over the turf course out there. Dale (Romans) is a great horseman and he knows what it takes to win these kinds of races and she is doing good. I think she is better on the grass and has a bigger turn of foot.”

Albarado rode Beautician in her debut, which she won here in June.

“I rode her the one time and then she was well matched against Hot Dixie Chick, which is the horse that I rode in two stakes at Saratoga, and I think she is phenomenal,” Albarado said. “She got knocked around a little bit in her last race at Keeneland (a fifth-place finish in the Darley Alcibiades) and didn’t get a chance to show how good she is. Hopefully she will get a clean trip out there.”

Albarado rode Court Vision for the first time in the Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland and posted a nose victory over Karelian. It was Court Vision’s first start in more than three months.

“The Shadwell was a good race for him coming back off the longer races and cutting back in distance,” said Albarado of Court Vision, who will break from post position one in the Mile. “I thought he was great. He will be coming at the end, that’s for sure.”

ONE CAROLINE RETURNS TO CHURCHILL DOWNS ON FRIDAY – It has been more than six months since One Caroline was last seen at Churchill Downs, but she will return on Friday following a van ride from her home base at Keeneland for Saturday’s 24th running of the $150,000-added Chilukki.

“She’ll be here tomorrow to school and then run Saturday,” said Jack Bohannan, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold.

Owned by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and the Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust-2008, One Caroline won her first two career starts during the 2008 Spring Meet at Churchill Downs and then started 2009 with three spectacular victories at Gulfstream Park, highlighted by a 6 ½-length score in the Grade II Rampart.

   The 4-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song suffered her only defeat when Miss Isella beat her by three-quarters of a length in the Louisville Distaff (GII) on May 1.

“She had a lung infection the day she lost,” Bohannan said. “She was one work away from the Fleur De Lis (on June 13) when she got hurt (chip). We were extremely disappointed because she had been training so well.”

One Caroline did not return to the track until September. She has had five works in preparation for the Chilukki with the most recent coming Sunday, a :49 half-mile move at Keeneland. 

“She has been working effortlessly and training as well as she ever has,” Bohannan said. “She does everything so easy.”

LENCLUD SETS HIS SIGHTS ON BIG APPLE IN WINTER – Apprentice Freddie Lenclud, who began riding in this country during this year’s Spring Meet at Churchill Downs, posted his first two victories beneath the Twin Spires on Wednesday afternoon.

“It was exciting,” said Lenclud, a 22-year-old native of France. “I really want to do well here because this is my home now.”

Lenclud won the first race on Talk to Nick ($16) and the ninth on Golden Country ($48.80).
After the Churchill Downs Fall Meet closes on Nov. 28, Lenclud is hoping to take his tack on the road to New York.

"I hope to go to Aqueduct when this meet ends,” Lenclud said. “They run five days a week there to only three days at Turfway Park. New York in the winter is a good place for a bug rider.”

WORK TAB – West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) in June and narrow loser to “Horse of the Year” front-runner Rachel Alexandra in the Woodward (GI), worked five furlongs over a “fast” track in 1:02 after the morning renovation break for trainer Dallas Stewart. The work was the third fastest of 25 at the distance. Macho Again is being pointed to the Nov. 27 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. … Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, winner of this spring’s Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) and 10th-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), worked three furlongs in :37.80, his third three-eighths move since returning to the track after having surgery to remove a chip from his right front knee.

EINSTEIN WORKS HALF-MILE IN FINAL FOSTER TUNEUP – With trainer Helen Pitts aboard, Midnight Cry Stable’s Einstein (BRZ) worked a half-mile in :50.20 over a fast track early Sunday morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for Saturday’s $600,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I). The move was the 34th fastest of 63 at the distance.
    “That was called sit still and don’t move,” Pitts said, giving a thumbs up to the move as Einstein returned to the barn. “He worked good today and galloped out good and strong.”
    The work was the third for Einstein since he won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Grade I) for a second consecutive year on May 2. Prior to that win, Einstein won the Santa Anita Handicap (GI) on the California track’s synthetic Pro-Ride surface.
    A Grade I victory on dirt is about the only thing missing on Einstein’s resume that shows a career record of 25-11-3-2 for earnings of $2,609,904. Only Lava Man has won Grade Is on three surfaces, but he did not do it in consecutive races.
    “It would be special if he could do that,” Pitts said of Einstein, who finished second to Horse of the Year Curlin in last summer’s Foster and won the Grade II Clark Handicap on the dirt here last fall. “He just loves the game. He’s fun. He gives you 110 percent every time.
    “I don’t worry about him on the dirt, but I know it is his least favorite surface. But he doesn’t care. I just want the best for him because he tries so hard.”
    Einstein was assigned top weight of 124 pounds for the Clark and will be asked to concede up to 11 pounds to the seven foes likely to line up against him. Entries close Wednesday.

ACOMA, PURE CLAN EXIT EARLY TIMES MINT JULEP IN DUEL IN GOOD ORDER – The connections of the 1-2 Early Times Mint Julep (Grade III) finishers Acoma and Pure Clan reported their charges came out of Saturday’s race, which Acoma won by a neck, in good order.
    Trainer David Carroll said that Acoma, now 6-for-6 in the state of Kentucky, “beat some nice fillies yesterday for a Grade III. Corey (Lanerie) rode her great. She got the jump on Pure Clan and I am sure her people are happy with her race with it being the first one back (in nearly eight months).”
    Carroll, who likes to space Acoma’s races, said the Beverly D (GI). at 1 3/16 miles on Aug. 8 at Arlington Park may be next for the 4-year-old Empire Maker filly.
    “She has won the Grade IIs and Grade IIIs and she deserves a chance at Grade I,” Carroll said. “We’ll see what (co-owner) Helen (Alexander) wants to do.”
    Acoma is now 3-for-3 on the grass, and she could stay on that surface for a while.
    “I think she is better on the grass,” Carroll said, “But it wouldn’t hurt us if a race comes off the grass to the dirt.”
     Betsy Couch, assistant to trainer Bob Holthus, said that Lewis Lakin’s Pure Clan “ate up last night” and remains on track for the Grade III Modesty at Arlington Park on July 11 at 1 3/16th miles and then the Beverly D.
    “She can be a little quirky,” Couch said, “but I thought she did great in the paddock yesterday and Shaun (Bridgmohan) did a good job on her for being on her for the first time.”
    Couch also said that Lakin’s fourth-place finisher, Day of Victory, came out of the race well and would be pointed to the June 27 Iowa Distaff at Prairie Meadows.

MILLER POINTS PAIR TO SATURDAY’S REGRET – Trainer Darrin Miller said Sunday morning that Silverton Hill’s Excelente (IRE) is headed toward Saturday’s 40th running of the $150,000-added Regret (Grade III) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.
“We are leaning that way,” Miller said after Excelente worked a half-mile in :53 on the main track Sunday morning. “Oculuna is going to go in there, too.”
     Excelente, who began her racing career in Ireland, ran fourth in the May 1 Edgewood in her U.S. debut. She followed that effort runner-up finish to Consequence in  the American 1,000 Guineas at Arlington Park on May 23.
    Miller has another Silverton Hill European import getting ready to return to the races in Driving Snow, a British-bred son of the Irish sire Verglas,
    “He worked the other day for the first time,” Miller said of a :38.60, three-furlong move on Monday. “He got a shin on me in Florida this winter. I’d like to get him to the races in July and I was looking at maybe the Secretariat (on Aug. 8), but that is kind of creeping up on us.”
    Driving Snow finished second in his U.S. debut last fall at Keeneland in the Grade III Bourbon Stakes.  He rallied from 11th to lose by only a head to Bittel Road.

MILESTONE WATCH – Trainer Bill Connelly has two chances Sunday to reach the 1,000 career victory mark. Connelly, with 998 victories, will send out Talkin Indian in the seventh at Churchill Downs and Bred to Win in the second at Presque Isle Downs.

BARN TALK – Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who finished third in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, is scheduled to fly back to Louisville from New York at 9:30 a.m. Monday and return to Barn 42 at Churchill Downs.
    Darley Stable’s Florentino (JPN), scratched out of Friday’s Hill Prince (Grade III) when it was rained off the turf at Belmont Park, is headed to Louisville for Saturday’s Jefferson Cup (Grade II) according to Churchill Downs racing officials. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Florentino is expected to arrive Wednesday or Thursday with stablemate Asiatic Boy (ARG) who is coming in for the Stephen Foster.

WORK TAB – David Holloway’s Dubious Miss, working toward a probable run in Saturday’s Stephen Foster worked five furlongs over a fast track in 1:03.60. It was the 20th fastest move of 24 at the distance. Working a bullet for the distance was James Spence’s Flying Pegasus, who was timed in 1:00.20. Posting the bullet for a half-mile was multi-stakes winner Selva, whose :47 clocking was the best of 63 works at the distance. Showing up on the work tab for the first time since May 18, 2008, at Saratoga was Team Valor International’s King of the Roxy, who breezed three furlongs in :39.20. Last seen running sixth in the Grade I Carter Handicap at Aqueduct last April, King of the Roxy won the Belmont Futurity (GII) at age 2 in 2006 and the following spring won the Grade II Hutcheson and ran second in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. He returned to the Todd Pletcher barn last month.

WITH 4,000 VICTORIES, ALBARADO AIMS FOR NEXT MILESTONE – With one milestone behind him, jockey Robby Albarado took time out the other morning to reflect on some of the magic moments en route to 4,000 career victories, mark he achieved at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
    “Obviously, the very first one I won in 1990,” Albarado said of One Little Point at Evangeline Downs on June 29 as he began to click off a top five.
    “The other four would have to be with Curlin and Mineshaft. Those were great moments there and getting my first Grade I was pretty special with Joyeux Danseur here in the (1998)  Early Times (now Woodford Reserve) Turf Classic.”
    Albarado got his milestone victory in Saturday’s ninth race aboard Keertana. Earlier in the day in the third race at Philadelphia Park, Jose Luis Flores got his 4,000th victory, which made Albarado the 57th North American rider to reach that plateau.
    Albarado, who turns 36 in September, was asked what the first race would be that he would pop into a VCR many years down the road of Robby’s greatest hits to share with the grandkids.
    “The first race in the VCR probably would have to be Preakness,” Albarado said of Curlin’s victory over Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. “My first Triple Crown win was pretty special there. It was a proud moment in my career.”
    There are 24 North American riders with more than 5,000 victories with another 16 active riders, including Albarado, in the 4,000 club in pursuit of the next milestone.
    Albarado was asked what he would like to add to his list of memorable victories when No. 5,000 rolled around.
    “Oh, that’s easy. The Derby, of course,” Albarado said. “Hopefully between now and the next thousand if I get there, I’ll have at least one Derby. That would be special.”

EINSTEIN HEADS LIST OF 20 NOMINATIONS FOR STEPHEN FOSTER HANDICAP – Midnight Cry Stable’s Einstein, runner-up to “Horse of the Year” Curlin in last year’s renewal of the Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I), tops a list of 20 nominees for this year’s renewal, which will be run Saturday, June 13.
    Weights for the $600,000 Stephen Foster, to be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, will be announced Saturday.
    Einstein will be seeking to join Lava Man as the only horse to win Grade I races on dirt, grass and synthetic surfaces. Unlike Lava Man, Einstein will attempt to create his own triple in consecutive races.
    Trained by Helen Pitts-Blasi, Einstein won the Santa Anita Handicap on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface on March 7 and the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 2 in his two most recent starts.
    Einstein is one six horses considered as probable for the Stephen Foster by Churchill Downs stakes coordinator Allison De Luca. Other probables include Arson Squad, winner of last fall’s Meadowlands Cup (Grade II), Bullsbay, winner of the May 1 Alysheba (Grade III) here, 2009 New Orleans Handicap (Grade II) winner Macho Again, Charles Town Classic winner Researcher, multi-South Florida graded-stakes winner Finallymadeit and Dubious Miss. Considered as “possible” is $3 million earner Asiatic Boy, who has not run since he finished 12th to Well Armed in the $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 28.

BIG NAMES DOT REUNION DAY NOMINATIONS – Dual Grade II Churchill Downs stakes winner Miss Isella, Coolmore Lexington (Grade II) winner Advice and the promising Warrior’s Reward highlight the list of nominees considered as “probable” to participate on the June 13 Reunion Day Featuring the Stephen Foster Handicap card.
    Two Grade II and two Grade III stakes will serve as the appetizers leading up to the 28th running of the Stephen Foster.
    Miss Isella, winner of the Louisville Distaff in her most recent start on May 1, tops a list of five probables and two possibles for the 35th running of the $200,000-added Fleur de Lis Handicap (Grade II), a1 1/8th-mile main track test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Weights for the race will be announced Saturday.
    In addition to Miss Isella, other probables for the race according to stakes coordinator Allison De Luca are Distinctive Dixie, Kiss With a Twist, Santa Teresita, Swift Temper and Unforgotten. Considered as possible are All Smiles and Temple Street.
    Advice, who followed up his Coolmore Lexington victory with a 13th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), is poised to make his grass debut in the 34th running of the $150,000-added Jefferson Cup (Grade II) at 1 1/8 miles. Other probables include El Crespo, Jake Wil Gallop and No Inflation.
    Warrior’s Reward, a stylish allowance winner here on May 1, is one of five probables for the 12th running of the $100,000-added Northern Dancer (Grade III) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16th miles on the main track.
    Other Northern Dancer probables include Gresham, Omniscient, Parade Clown and Successful Dan.
    Five 3-year-old fillies are considered as probable starters for the 40th running of the $150,000 Regret (Grade III) at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The quintet includes Banker’s Choice, Oculuna, Prytania, Super Poni and The Best Day Ever with Keertana, who gave jockey Robby Albarado his 4,000th victory last Saturday, considered as a possible starter.
    Entries for all five stakes on the Reunion Day card will be drawn Wednesday.

AMOSS JOINS BYRNE FOR SATURDAY’S ‘GET IN THE GAME’ SEMINAR – Trainer and television racing analyst Tom Amoss will discuss the Belmont Stakes and more when he joins Churchill Downs’ Jill Byrne for her weekly “Get in the Game” handicapping seminar on Saturday, June 6.
    Amoss, a New Orleans native who is a two-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs, also serves as a racing analyst for TVG and will offer his perspective on Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird’s bid for the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
    Byrne’s recent guests in the seminar have included two-time Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel and Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr., trainer of Mine That Bird.

MILESTONE WATCH – David Vance, one of 22 North American trainers with more than 3,000 career victories (3,011), will try to become the 11th conditioner at Churchill Downs to have 300 victories beneath the Twins Spires in Thursday’s third race.
Vance, who has 299 wins here, sends out Chief Waterbury in the third. Vance has two horses entered on Friday’s 11-race card: My Little Connor in the second and Closetoaten in the ninth.
    Trainer Bill Connelly, two wins shy of 1,000 for his career, sends out Sweetasnails in Thursday’s ninth race. On Friday, Connelly’s Sinus Rhythm is on the also-eligible list in the 10th race.

BARN TALK – Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I) winner General Quarters, who ran 10th in the Kentucky Derby and ninth in the Preakness Stakes (Grade I) will be out until late fall after having a small chip removed from his right front knee.
    “He is doing well,” owner-trainer Tom McCarthy said. “I’d like to have him ready for the Clark Handicap if possible.
    “After the Derby we noticed a little filling, but there was no heat or discomfort. It was not a major thing. After the Preakness, I took him to Rood & Riddle in Lexington and had it x-rayed. There was not much there but we went ahead and took it out.”
    McCarthy has an idea of when the injury may have occurred in the Derby.
    “We went back and looked at pictures of the race, and there was one in which he had three feet up and the right front was on the ground,” McCarthy said. “He got bumped at that time and he might have twisted it then.” …
    Training hours will be adjusted the mornings of Monday, June 15 and Tuesday June 16 to begin at 5 a.m. to give trainers an opportunity to train under the lights in advance of the debut of night racing at Churchill Downs on Friday, June 19.        

WORK TAB (Track: Good, then MUDDY) – Trainer Ian Wilkes sent out two of his aces for the June 13 Reunion Day card for five-furlong works over a “muddy” Churchill Downs main track. Northern Dancer candidate Warrior’s Reward covered the distance in 1:01.60, the fastest of eight at the distance. Likely Fleur De Lis favorite Miss Isella covered the distance in 1:02.60.

Veteran rider Robby Albarado became the 56th North American rider to reach the 4,000-victory milestone Saturday when he rode Barbara Hunter’s Keertana ($5.20) to victory in the ninth race at Churchill Downs.

            In his milestone triumph, Albarado split horses in deep stretch on the Matt Winn Turf Course to edge Kiss Mine for the victory.

A 35-year-old native of Lafayette, La., Albarado rode his first winner at age 16 at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana. Albarado, who won his first Churchill Downs riding title at the 2008 Spring Meet, has ridden 811 of his winners beneath the Twins Spires, sixth-most in track history.

Albarado was the regular rider for two-time “Horse of the Year” Curlin on which he earned his only victory in a Triple Crown race, the 2007 Preakness. Albarado also was the regular rider for 2003 “Horse of the Year” Mineshaft.

In his career, Albarado has ridden more than 24,000 races with earnings in excess of $149 million.

POST RACE QUOTES – ROBBY ALBARADO

ROBBY ALBARADO, jockey, following his 4,000th career win

“I guess my next goal would be 5,000. That’s kind of the end your career or the retirement number for most jocks. Once you get to that 5,000, you start looking for the way out. I’m not saying that’s my way out, but you set goals for yourself.

“I never thought I’d get to 4,000 so it’s an honor. I’ve got to congratulate all of the owners and trainers who have supported me continuously throughout the years. They stuck by me, and it’s pretty much been the same guys for the last 10 to 15 years.”

Trackside at Churchill Downs will open early at 9 am (all times Eastern) on Saturday, March 28, to import the six lucrative stakes races that compromise the 14th annual Dubai World Cup program from Nad Al Sheba Race Course in the United Arab Emirates.

            The $21 million extravaganza is anchored by the world’s richest race, the $6 million Dubai World Cup (Group I), which has lured North American horses such as Donn Handicap (GI) champ Albertus Maximus, Goodwood Handicap (GI) winner Well Armed, Meadowlands Cup (GII) hero Arson Squad and Pennsylvania Derby (GII) champ Anak Nakal. The Americans will face a stellar international cast that includes Japan’s Casino Drive, winner of last year’s Peter Pan (GII), and 2007 UAE Triple Crown winner Asiatic Boy, the runner-up to Curlin in last year’s World Cup.

            The Dubai World Cup, scheduled as the seventh race at 1:30 p.m., culminates the action-packed program.  The first import will be the $1 million Godolphin Mile (GII), which is carded as the second race at 9:40 a.m., and is followed by the $2 million UAE Derby (GII) at 10:15 a.m.; the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) at 10:55 a.m.; the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (GI) at 11:55 a.m.; the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (GI) at 12:40 p.m.; and Dubai World Cup. Win, Place, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta and Pick 3 wagering will be offered.

            The 1 1/8-mile UAE Derby is an important steppingstone to Kentucky Derby 135 for Godolphin’s UAE 2,000 Guineas champ Desert Party, who’ll be ridden by Frankie Dettori. The prominent global outfit will also start Regal Ransom and Jose Adan.

            Other familiar Northern American stars scheduled to run on the program are Archipenko (Duty Free), Black Seventeen (Golden Shaheen), Diabolical (Golden Shaheen), Doctor Dino (Sheema Classic), Gayego (Godolphin Mile), Hyperbaric (Duty Free), Indian Blessing (Golden Shaheen), Kip Deville (Duty Free), Marsh Side (Sheema Classic), Quijano (Sheema Classic), Red Rocks (Sheema Classic), Tiz Now Tiz Then (Godolphin Mile) and Two Step Salsa (Godolphin Mile).

            The roster of winners for the 1 ¼-mile Dubai World Cup includes Cigar (1996), Singspiel (1997), Silver Charm (1998), Dubai Millennium (2000), Captain Steve (2001), Street Cry (2002), Pleasantly Perfect (2004), Roses in May (2005), Invasor (2007) and Curlin (2008).

            Trackside at Churchill Downs will offer free general admission from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. After 11:30 a.m., general admission is $3, but only $1 for Twin Spires Club members and seniors.  Also, a $4.75 breakfast special – featuring eggs, sausage or bacon, biscuits and gravy, hash browns and coffee or juice – will be on sale in the ITW food court on the second floor of the clubhouse.

Later in the afternoon, Churchill Downs also will simulcast the Florida Derby Day program from Gulfstream Park with the important Grade I race scheduled as Race 10 at 5:44 p.m.

            Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2009. The track’s 2009 Spring Meet will take place from April 25 through July 5. Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5 and 6, 2010. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.

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(November 28, 2008) – Einstein, a 6-year-old son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck, collared 2-5 favorite Commentator at the head of the stretch and then held off a late surge from Delightful Kiss to win Friday’s 134th running of the $440,400 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) at Churchill Downs by 1 ½ lengths.

Trained by Helen Pitts, Einstein ran the 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:49.79. The victory was the fifth of the day for Leparoux, who earlier in the card established a Fall Meet record for victories.

            The Fall Meet concludes its 26-day run Saturday with the “Stars of Tomorrow II” card featuring all 2-year-olds. The 12-race program begins at 11:30 a.m. (ET) with general admission gates opening at 10 a.m.

            Highlighting the card will be two Grade II stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the main track: the $150,000-added Golden Rod for fillies that goes as the ninth race at approximately 3:28 p.m. and the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club that goes as the 11th race with an approximate 4:27 p.m. post time.

Also, reigning Horse of the Year and North America’s leading all-time money-earner Curlin will be paraded before the crowd between Races 5-6, and there’s a $23,365 carryover for the Z-5 (Super Hi-5), which requires bettors to pick the top five finishers in order, for the fifth race.

            Commentator, ridden by John Velazquez and carrying high weight of 124 pounds, led the field of seven through early fractions of :24.57, :48.58 and 1:12.64 with Einstein, toting 119 pounds, as his closest pursuer. Leparoux moved Einstein to the outside of Commentator at the top of the stretch, dueling on even terms for a sixteenth of a mile before beginning to draw clear.

Delightful Kiss, ridden by Calvin Borel, rallied from far back to be a clear second, but was no threat to Einstein, who took home the winner’s check of $267,588 to raise his career earnings to $1,634,019.

Racing for court-appointed owner Matthew Garretson, Einstein posted his first career graded-stakes victory on dirt. Einstein, who had run second to 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin in this summer’s Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) here, owns three Grade I victories on the grass.

Einstein rewarded his backers with mutuels of $11.80, $5.20 and $2.60. Delightful Kiss returned $10.80 and $3.80 in finishing 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Commentator, who paid $2.10 to show.

Completing the field in order were Magna Graduate, Wayzata Bay, Dominican and Anak Nakal.

Two races before the Clark Handicap, 2008 Belmont Stakes winner Da’ Tara finished third in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming race. Da’ Tara was the first Belmont Stakes winner to run at Churchill Downs since 1999 winner Lemon Drop Kid ran in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Leparoux broke a 23-year-old Fall Meet record for victories when he recorded his 56th win. The victory in the third race aboard Just Like William eclipsed the mark of 55 set in the 30-day meet of 1985 by Pat Day. Leparoux’s total entering Saturday’s card is 59.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE CLARK HANDICAP

JULIEN LEPAROUX (Jockey, EINSTEIN-BRZ, winner) – “I knew I had to stay close to Commentator and he broke sharp. I just kind of eased up a little bit on the outside. I just ran behind him all the way. When I asked him, he stuck his head in front of him and we were gone. It was done.”

Q: Did you work him in the morning?

“Yes. I breezed him last time and he breezed very good. We were expecting a good race from him, that’s for sure.”

Q: Was the game plan not to let Commentator get away?

“Yes, yes. The plan was to be right behind him and to not give him too much to do. Commentator is a very, very good horse and if you give him too much to do it would be tough.

Q: You were second aboard Einstein in the Stephen Foster. What was the difference today?

“That was a different race. It was a slow pace and he didn’t break very, very good that day. We came from the back and then finished. He still finished very good and just got beat by Curlin. Not bad.”

HELEN PITTS (Trainer, EINSTEIN-BRZ, winner) – “To be able to win a stake like that means the world to me but to get a graded stake on the dirt for him is super. It was kind of my main objective coming in here. He was second in a Grade I in the Stephen Foster. But to win a graded stake on the dirt for him, he deserves it more than anybody out there because I’ve never had a horse that loves his job and loves to train and loves to run as much as he does. When he turned for home, I knew he’d dig deep down inside to find all he could to get there. He’s a very special horse.”

Q: The game plan was to stay close, but isn’t there a fine line?

“There is. I mean, he worked him the other day and it was a big key. He rode him in the Stephen Foster but he had him close today and I think he realized that. In the Stephen Foster, I think he left him with a little too much to do. Today, they went :24 and change in the first quarter and he was perfect. It was a little bit out of Einstein’s style but at the same time they went slow enough where it wasn’t putting him totally out. I might have been second-guessing my own training at the three-eighths pole, but he pulled through for me. Just to have a horse like him means the world to me.”

Q: It was a nice win off the layoff . . .

“It was and I was hoping he hadn’t lost too much. That’s why everybody kept asking me, ‘Are you going to run? Are you going to run?’ I was going to let him tell me. When he worked like that last week and Julien said he did it all on his own, I figured he was ready.”

PETE ANDERSON, trainer of DELIGHTFUL KISS (runner-up)

“He (jockey Calvin Borel) gave him a lot to do.  I like the guy’s riding and all that, but he just gave him a little too much to do.  But it was a big effort.  At one stage of the game he had to be close to 20 lengths off the lead, I would think.  Unless my eyes are bad, I would say he was close to that.  When the horse (Timber Reserve) scratched, it changed the complexion of the race.”

Q: Will Delightful Kiss return racing next year?

“I’m staying with this horse until he dies.  I’ll have him until he dies.  It’s better than the fountain of youth, having this horse.  It’s one of the great thrills in my life, and I’ve had a whole lot of them.  But this is one of the great thrills of my life – I love this horse.”

CALVIN BOREL, jockey on DELIGHTFUL KISS (runner-up)

“I wish the other horse (Timber Reserve) hadn’t scratched – I think he would have added a little more pace.  But he ran good – he ran his race.  He ran a huge race – no complaints.  This horse is doing good.”

NICK ZITO, trainer of COMMENTATOR (third as the 2-5 favorite)

“He wasn’t himself.  Like everything else, it could just be the effect of a long year for him, the way he is.  He puts everything into everything he does.  You know, Helen (Pitts) did a good job with Einstein – coming off a three-month layoff.  He’s a nice horse that finished second to Curlin.  But John (Velazquez) said Commentator was just skipping.  He wasn’t getting a good hold (of the track).  He just wasn’t himself.”

Q: Were you concerned throughout?

“When he left there I was happy, but down the backside he just couldn’t accelerate and get away, and I knew something was wrong.  John said he just wasn’t himself.”

JOHN VELAZQUEZ, jockey on COMMENTATOR (third)

“He struggled with the track.  He was good the first part of the race, but he got to the half-mile pole and I tried to encourage him, but it seemed like he was skipping – he was slipping and sliding a little bit.  That’s the first time he ever felt that he was not getting hold of the track, and he’s been everywhere.  But today he just struggled with it.  I got after him, but he just went through the motions.  He didn’t do like he can.”

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN, jockey on MAGNA GRADUATE (fourth)

“He ran OK.  He went around and had a good trip around there.  He was just fourth today.”

MISS ISELLA COULD START BIG WEEKEND FOR WILKES BARN - Miss Isella was bright and alert in Stall 1 of the Ian Wilkes barn Friday morning, a day after scoring her first stakes victory in the Falls City Handicap (Grade II).[asset|height=12|width=100]

Owned by Domino Stud of Lexington, Inc., Miss Isella is a petite daughter of 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm.

"It's what's inside that counts," Wilkes said of Miss Isella, who came through on the rail under Calvin Borel to score by a length over Skylighter. "It was a test for her, but I knew she was getting better and better. She has really stepped up."

The stakes win was the second for Wilkes at Churchill Downs, but celebration was held to a minimum.

"It was just a quiet night at home with (wife) Tracey and our children Shelby and Brodie," Wilkes said. "Saturday night, however, may be a different story."

On Saturday afternoon, Wilkes will saddle Capt. Candyman Can in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes for owners Joseph Rauch and David Zell. Capt. Candyman Can gave Wilkes his initial Churchill Downs stakes win with a victory in the Grade III Iroquois on Nov. 1.

"I am very pleased with how he is doing," said Wilkes, who was not yet ready to look too far down the road to a Triple Crown campaign with the son of Candy Ride. "I just want to get through Saturday first. He will get some time off after this race and we will see how he comes out of it and then decide how best to approach next year."

ROMANS SEEKING SWEEP OF CLOSING DAY STAKES - Trainer Dale Romans had a couple of options with debut winner Jazzandthemagician, entering the Zayat Stables colt in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII) and the Grade II Remsen at Aqueduct.

            "He's running here," Romans said Friday morning. "I only entered him up there in case the Remsen came up light."

            A son of 2004 Belmont Stakes (GI) winner Birdstone, Jazzandthemagician debuted with a stylish, 3 ¼-length victory on Nov. 1 and the performance was not a shock to Romans.

            "I expected he would run like that, but tomorrow, he is taking a big jump going from maiden to stakes," Romans said.

            Romans' other stakes entrant Saturday already has made that jump. Eldon Farm Equine's Sara Louise went from her maiden win straight into the Grade III Pocahontas that she won by 3 ¾ lengths on Nov. 1.

            "She's a nice filly and she has been training well since the Pocahontas," Romans said. Robby Albarado, who was aboard in the Pocahontas, has the call Saturday.

            The most recent trainer to sweep the Golden Rod and Kentucky Jockey Club in the same year is Bob Baffert, who took the races with Silverbulletday and Exploit in 1998.

GIANT OAK GETTING STEADY DIRT DIET AT CHURCHULL DOWNS - Drew Coontz has been on kind of an extended vacation the past two months in Kentucky with the Virginia H. Tarra Trust's Giant Oak for trainer Chris Block.

            "Chris said he wanted to stay here and see how Giant Oak handled the dirt," said Koontz of Block, who usually ships horses to Kentucky from his Chicago base and then immediately returns to Illinois. "He has had four works here and the exercise rider has said he is handling the track well."

            Giant Oak, a homebred son of Giant's Causeway out of the Crafty Prospector mare Crafty Oak, won his first two starts at Arlington Park, scoring at a mile on the turf and at 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack in a race that was rained off the turf.

            Block shipped Giant Oak to Keeneland for the Grade III Bourbon on the turf on Oct. 5.

            "He just had a horrible trip that day," Coontz said of the eighth-place finish. "He was stuck down on the inside and blocked the whole way around." 

            Instead of going back to Chicago after the Bourbon, Giant Oak remained at Keeneland where he had two works on Polytrack before coming to Churchill Downs and a scheduled start in Saturday's Kentucky Jockey Club.

            "Every work has gotten better and better here and two of the works have been in the slop and mud," Coontz said. "He's a nice colt to be around and he is handling everything well."

GUEST ANNOUNCER SURVEY LAUNCHED - Churchill Downs officials are seeking input and looking for feedback from customers as they continue their search to replace the late Luke Kruytbosch as the next "Voice of the Kentucky Derby".

There has been a different track announcer each week during the five-week Fall Meet: Calder's Bobby Neuman (Oct. 26-Nov. 2); Louisiana Downs' Travis Stone (Nov. 5-9); Golden Gate's Michael Wrona (Nov. 11-16); Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park's Larry Collmus (Nov. 19-23); and England's Mark Johnson (Nov. 26-29).

Churchill Downs has launched a Guest Announcer Survey on churchilldowns.com and there are audio samples from all five announcers. To participate, click the icon located on the home page just below the "Carryovers" section.

Also, fans may comment further by sending an email to announcer@kyderby.com.

Churchill Downs officials expect to make a final decision by the end of the year.

DERBY TICKET DRAWINGS CONTINUE - Over the final two days of the 2008 Fall Meet, Churchill Downs will continue its public daily drawings for guests to purchase two seats to the 135^th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on Saturday, May 2. One hundred more names will be drawn Friday and Saturday. Guests age 18 and up may enter each drawing by filling out an entry form at Guest Services stations located inside Gate 17 or outside of Gate 10 in the clubhouse before 1:35 p.m. ET. A new drawing will be held each day. Winners need not be present to win and payment for invoiced tickets will be due Jan. 30. The drawings began last Saturday and, all told, 500 pairs of tickets, or 1,000 in total, will be made available. The seats available include a variety of clubhouse and grandstand seats, ranging from grandstand bleacher seats to clubhouse boxes. The ticket prices per seat range from $88 to $207 ($176 to $414 per pair).

HORSE OF THE YEAR CURLIN TO BE PARADED ON CLOSING DAY - Curlin, North America's reigning Horse of the Year and the continent's richest racehorse of all time with earnings of $10,501,800, will be paraded one final time at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The brilliant winner of seven Grade I events including Churchill Downs' $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap in June, is scheduled to be paraded on the main track between the fifth and sixth races. A special salute in the paddock and/or winner's circle will follow. The fifth race is scheduled for 1:28 p.m. (all times Eastern), and the first of 12 races will be at 11:30 a.m.

BARN TALK - Secret Gypsy ran the fastest seven furlongs of the meet with a 1:22.03 clocking in her 8 ½-length romp in Wednesday's ninth race. Trained by Ronny Werner for owners Richland Hills and John Kuehl, Secret Gypsy won for the third time in seven career starts. Julien Leparoux and Robby Albarado have dominated the jockey standings this meet with 54 and 39 victories, respectively. Leparoux officially can clinch the riding title Friday when he is named on 11 mounts and Albarado 10. Although Albarado does not figure to win the overall riding title, he does own a huge edge in 2-year-old winners (17-12) over Leparoux. Two races for juveniles are slated Friday with the entire 12-race card Saturday devoted to 2-year-olds. With three stakes remaining over the final two days, Leparoux owns a 3-2 edge in stakes wins on Albarado, and in turf races, with five grass events to be run over the final two days, Leparoux holds a 14-10 lead on Albarado in turf winners. ... Saturday's "Stars of Tomorrow II" card will settle the battle for top juvenile trainer between Ken McPeek and Dale Romans. McPeek holds a 9-8 edge in juvenile winners entering Friday's card in which they have one runner each entered in the first race. On Saturday, McPeek has 14 juveniles entered which include three on also-eligible lists; Romans has nine entered, including one also-eligible. 

WORK TAB - Robert DeWitt's Taletobetold, winner of the 2007 Open Mind Stakes at Churchill Downs, worked a half-mile in :49.20 over a fast track for trainer Eddie Kenneally. The move was the third fastest of 16 at the distance. Also working for Kenneally was Brian Rose and Ron McCauley's graded stakes-placed Ballymore Lady, who breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60, third best of 10 at the distance.

Joseph Rauch and David Zell’s Capt Candyman Can, a smashing three-length winner of the Iroquois (Grade III) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1, is the marquee name in a field of 10 entered Wednesday for the 83rd running of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII) to be run at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday.

The Kentucky Jockey Club is the centerpiece of the closing-day “Stars of Tomorrow II” card that features races limited exclusively to 2-year-olds. First post time is 11:30 a.m. with general admission gates opening at 10 a.m. (all times Eastern).

In addition to the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club, there will be the 66th running of the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for fillies at 1 1/16 miles, plus two $56,000-added overnight handicaps on the grass – the Grand Canyon at 1 1/16 miles and the Caressing at one mile for the fillies.

Also, Curlin, North America’s reigning Horse of the Year and the continent’s richest racehorse of all time with earnings of $10,501,800, will be paraded one final time at Churchill Downs between the fifth and sixth races before he is retired to stud duty in 2009. After a trip to saddling paddock, Curlin will be saluted in the winner’s circle.

Saturday’s future stars have some huge horseshoes to fill from the 2007 juvenile showcase day that produced such 2008 graded stakes winners as Anak Nakal and Pure Clan and a first-time starter named Denis of Cork who came back this year to run third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and second in the Belmont Stakes (GI).

Julien Leparoux, who rode Anak Nakal to victory in last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club, goes for a repeat on Capt. Candyman Can for trainer Ian Wilkes. Capt. Candyman Can has won both of his dirt starts with his only setback coming in a sixth-place finish over the Polytrack at Arlington Park in the roughly run Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII).

Capt. Candyman Can will break from post position eight and is the only stakes winner in the field for the Kentucky Jockey Club, which goes as the 11th race on the card at approximately 4:27 p.m. ET.

The field for the Kentucky Jockey Club, from the rail out: Coal Baron (Julio Garcia), Big Surf (Jesus Castanon), Beethoven (Calvin Borel), Stormalory (Kent Desormeaux), Jazzandthemagician (Miguel Mena), Zion (Shaun Bridgmohan), Brother Keith (Robby Albarado), Capt. Candyman Can (Julien Leparoux), Star of David (Jamie Theriot) and Giant Oak (Eusebio Razo Jr.). All starters will carry 122 pounds.

Eldon Farm’s Sara Louise, a 3 3/4-length winner of the Grade III Pocahontas on Nov. 1, tops a field of seven for the Golden Rod that also attracted Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) runner-up Dream Empress.

Trained by Dale Romans, Sara Louise has won two of three career starts and will be ridden by Robby Albarado who is seeking his second victory in the Golden Rod. Sara Louise will break from post position one.

Livin the Dream Racing’s Dream Empress won the Grade I Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland prior to her Breeders’ Cup effort and the Golden Rod will mark her debut on a conventional dirt track for trainer Ken McPeek. Kent Desormeaux has the call Saturday and will break from post position three.

The Golden Rod, which goes as the ninth race on the card at 3:28 p.m. ET, also lured two other intriguing prospects: Dolphus Morrison’s Rachel Alexandra and Ron Winchell’s War Echo.

Rachel Alexandra, trained by Hal Wiggins, finished second to Sara Louise in the Pocahontas and this summer was runner-up in the Grade III Debutante. War Echo, trained by Steve Asmussen, is a half-sister to multiple graded-stakes winner Pyro and ran fourth in the Grade I Frizette in her most recent start.

The field for the Golden Rod, from the rail out: Sara Louise (Robby Albarado, 119 pounds), Super Poni (Godofredo Laurente, 119), Dream Empress (Kent Desormeaux, 119), Rachel Alexandra (Calvin Borel, 119), Dance With Daddy (Diego Rodriguez, 114), Pearl of Valor (Jesus Castanon, 119) and War Echo (Shaun Bridgmohan, 119).

Marylou Whitney Stables’ Ninth Client, trained by D. Wayne Lukas will carry high weight of 121 pounds and face 11 rivals in the Grand Canyon, which goes as the fifth race on the card at 1:28 p.m. ET. Third in the Grade III Bourbon at Keeneland on Oct. 5 and most recently ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Ninth Client will be ridden by Robby Albarado and break from post position three.

The field for the Grand Canyon, from the hedge out: Rockin’ Joe (Shaun Bridgmohan, 120 pounds), Chilliness (Jamie Theriot, 115), Ninth Client (Robby Albarado, 121), Jack Spratt (Julien Leparoux, 117), Presents for Berti (Calvin Borel, 117), Smart Shot (Julio Garcia, 116), My Boy Jo (Jesus Castanon, 112), South Fork Lodge (Kent Desormeaux, 117), Relvado (Eusebio Razo Jr., 114), Tenmor (Orlando Mojica, 114), Proceed Bee (Miguel Mena, 115) and Changing Storm (Richard Monterrey, 112). On the also-eligible list are Charlie Trumper (Robby Albarado, 111), Irish Blarney (Miguel Mena, 111) and Allittakesisone (Diego Rodriguez, 110).

In the Caressing, which goes as Race 10 at 3:58 p.m. ET, Wayne Calabrese’s Sugar Mom, winner of the Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park in September and seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in her most recent start, will tote top weight of 122 pounds and concede 2-9 pounds to seven rivals.

Trained by Wayne Catalano, Sugar Mom has three wins and two seconds from seven starts and will be ridden by E.T. Baird and break from post position two in a full field of 12.

The field for the Caressing, from the hedge out: Yo Eleven (Eusebio Razo Jr., 113 pounds), Sugar Mom (E.T. Baird, 122), Romin Robin (Orlando Mojica, 113), Seminole Lass (Julien Leparoux, 115), Trust N Seven (Rafael Hernandez, 115), Banker’s Choice (Calvin Borel, 119), Striking Dancer (Robby Albarado, 118), Devil by Design (Jesus Castanon, 114), Abbott Hall (Jamie Theriot, 120), Foxy Bailey (Kent Desormeaux, 114), War Tigress (Julio Garcia, 119) and It’s Tiffin Time (Miguel Mena, 113). On the also-eligible list is Guarda (Miguel Mena, 113).

DELIGHTFUL KISS, ANDERSON SEEK BETTER LUCK AT CHURCHILL IN 134TH CLARK HANDICAP - The big gray was back at his old Kentucky home: Tom Proctor's side of Barn 22 on the Churchill Downs backstretch. But this was his first late fall appearance and for horse and trainer, and a new experience for both.[asset|height=12|width=100]

            "We're not used to this, either one of us," said Pete Anderson as a steady rain fell on a chilly November Tuesday as he held the shank on Hobeau Farm's Delightful Kiss. "But, I'll tell you one thing. The whole key is to keep your horses happy and he is one happy dude right now. He likes the mud."

            Delightful Kiss got some mud to play in Tuesday morning when he breezed a half-mile in :50 over a track labeled "sloppy" with Calvin Borel up.

"I got him galloping out three-quarters in 1:14," Anderson said. "Calvin handled the work perfectly."

            Friday's forecast, however, calls for partly sunny skies with a high near 43 - ideal conditions for the 134^th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II).

            The Clark would mark the third Churchill Downs start for Delightful Kiss, who used Louisville as his base last spring before going on to victories in the Ohio Derby (GII) at Thistledown and Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows, and again this summer after he ran in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) won by reigning Horse of the Year Curlin.

            Anderson first brought Delightful Kiss here in April 2007 after a fourth-place finish to Curlin in the Arkansas Derby (GII). Delightful Kiss had finished a length out of second and the added graded-stakes money from the runner-up spot would have earned the son of Kissin Kris a spot in the Kentucky Derby 133 (GI) starting gate.

            Delightful Kiss was entered in Derby 133, but was excluded from the field of 20 because of insufficient graded stakes money.  Instead, Anderson saddled Delightful Kiss on the eve of the Derby in the Crown Royal American Turf (GIII), where he finished ninth, before the colt launched his run of Midwest Derbies.

            The only horse in Anderson's care finished seventh in this spring's Stephen Foster, beaten 12 lengths by Curlin in a race that lacked a rapid pace.  But speed is an ingredient that should be present for the Clark with the presence of Tracy Farmer's speedy dual Grade I winner Commentator.

            For the Clark, Delightful Kiss returns to traditional dirt after three consecutive starts on synthetic surfaces that included two Grade III stakes wins and a fourth-place finish in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Marathon over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface.

            "He is doing great and I don't think he could be any better," Anderson said. "He has just gotten better as the year went on and I know he doesn't mind the Polytrack. I know he really likes the Tapeta at Golden Gate."

            The return to the dirt is the only worry Anderson has coming into the Clark in which Delightful Kiss will carry 116 pounds and be ridden by Calvin Borel.

            "That's my only concern. I just don't know how well horses do when they go to dirt from synthetic," Anderson said.

WAYZATA BAY GETTING BETTER WITH AGE FOR HICKLIN - Wayzata Bay has occupied a spot in trainer Judi Hicklin's barn for four years, racing 36 times at eight tracks. On Friday in the Clark Handicap, Wayzata Bay will add Churchill Downs to his travel dossier.

            "We have traveled a lot of miles together," Hicklin said after she cooled out Wayzata Bay after his morning exercise. "On this trip, I'm the van driver and groom."

            The trips in 2008 have been profitable for Hicklin as Wayzata Bay, a 6-year-old son of Roar, has compiled a record of 3-3-1 in eight races with earnings of $341,950. The highlight of the year was a victory in the Grade II Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows at the Clark distance of 1 1/8 miles.

            "There are not many horses that get good at 6 and not many that get their first graded stakes win at 6," Hicklin said. "And there aren't a lot of owners that would wait that long."

            Wayzata Bay is owned by Isaac Phelps' World Thoroughbreds Racing Inc.

            Wayzata Bay enters the Clark off his worst performance of the year in the Fayette (GIII) at Keeneland on Oct. 25.  He was beaten more than 40 lengths in that 10^th-place finish behind Ball Four.  But the poor effort over Polytrack was par for the synthetic track course for Wayzata Bay, who has never been better than fourth in six starts on Polytrack.

            "I don't think he would have been a $5,000 claimer on Polytrack," Hicklin said.

            Since the Fayette, Wayzata Bay has had one work at Hawthorne, but Hicklin thinks he is ready for a good effort under jockey Israel Ocampo, who has ridden the horse in his past six starts.

            "He has been doing two-minute licks at Hawthorne and he gets a lot out of his gallops," Hicklin said. "He will come with his run."

            Wayzata Bay will mark Hicklin's second starter at Churchill Downs. Let It Rock, who ran third in a Nov. 12 allowance race and is set to run back Friday on the Clark card, was her first.

            "It got to me walking over with him and seeing the Twin Spires," Hicklin said. "I was thinking ‘Wow, what's a girl from Iowa doing here?'"

McPEEK RIDES BONANZA OF 2-YEAR-OLDS - When Gessler Racing's Redreamit romped in her debut by 3 ¾ lengths on Sunday, she gave trainer Ken McPeek his meet-leading eighth 2-year-old winner of the meet.

            "We've got a great group of horses," McPeek said. "The stars are starting to align."

            That success has occurred before the appearance of Dream Empress, who is arguably the most talented youngster in McPeek's barn.  That talented filly will not run until Saturday's "Stars of Tomorrow II" card that offers 12 races filled with 2-year-olds.

            "I've got her and Striking Dancer for the Golden Rod," McPeek said.

            Dream Empress, owned by Livin the Dream Racing, won the Darley Alcibiades (GI) at Keeneland before a runner-up effort to Stardom Bound in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI). Dream Empress had her third Churchill Downs work since the Breeders' Cup on Monday, going a half-mile in :50.80 over a sloppy track.

            McPeek is confident that his barn will reach double figures for juvenile winners by the time the curtain drops on the meet Saturday.

"I've got 14 I'm going to enter for Saturday alone," said McPeek, who won the training title in the 2002 Fall Meet.

As for Redreamit, who joined Silver Wing Stable's Free Country and Lansdon Robbins III's Danger to Society as a debut winner, she is headed to Florida with the Grade III Old Hat at six furlongs on Jan. 4 as her immediate target according to McPeek.

BARN TALK - Julien Leparoux, who entered Wednesday's card with 50 victories this meet and six away from breaking Pat Day's 23-year-old Fall Meet record, will be riding this winter at Gulfstream Park. "The bulk of our clients are going to Florida, but a lot are going to the Fair Grounds, too," Leparoux's agent Steve Bass said. "It was a hard decision, but it worked out better with his schedule. Fair Grounds is already running and Julien is going to take a couple of weeks off after the meet ends Saturday." ... Da' Tara, winner of this year's Belmont Stakes (GI), is entered in Friday's ninth race, a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming event. Owned by Robert LaPenta and trained by Nick Zito, Da' Tara ran fifth in this spring's Derby Trial. Da' Tara has not run since finishing sixth in the Grade II Jerome Handicap at Belmont Park on Oct. 5. Da' Tara will face seven rivals in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up.  He will be the first Belmont Stakes winner to run at Churchill Downs since 1999 winner Lemon Drop Kid finished fifth to Tiznow in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic (GI).  Victory Gallop, the 1998 Belmont Stakes winner, won the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs the following year.... The victory in the first race Sunday by Choctaw Racing Stable's Jump Enuf gave trainer Lynn Whiting his 297^th win at Churchill Downs. Whiting, who saddled Lil E. Tee to win the 1992 Kentucky Derby, notched his first Churchill Downs victory in the Spring Meet of 1979. ... A happy 50^th birthday today to trainer Rob O'Connor.

WORK TAB - There was only one recorded work Wednesday morning over a frozen track. ... The juveniles spiced up Tuesday's work tab over a sloppy track. Prepping for possible runs in Saturday's Kentucky Jockey Club (GII), were Winchell Thoroughbreds' Zion (half-mile in :50) and Zayat Stables' Star of David (:52.20), both for trainer Steve Asmussen. Working toward Saturday's Golden Rod (GII) were the 1-2 finishers in the Grade III Iroquois: Eldon Farm's Sara Louise (five furlongs in 1:03.40 for trainer Dale Romans) and Dolphus Morrison's Rachel Alexandra (a best-of-34 half-mile in :48 for trainer Hal Wiggins). Asmussen also worked Ron Winchell's War Echo, a half-sister to Pyro, a half-mile in :51 for the Golden Rod. ... Among the works Monday on a sloppy track was West Point Thoroughbreds' Jim Dandy (GII) winner Macho Again (1:02.60 for five furlongs) for trainer Dallas Stewart, Domino Stud of Lexington, Inc.'s Miss Isella (:50 for a half-mile) prepping for Thursday's Falls City (GII) for trainer Ian Wilkes and Dogwood Stable's Coal Baron (:48.40) prepping for a probable start in the Kentucky Jockey Club for trainer David Carroll. 

DERBY TICKET DRAWINGS CONTINUE - Over the final four days of the 2008 Fall Meet, Churchill Downs will continue its public daily drawings for guests to purchase two seats to the 135^th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on Saturday, May 2. More than 400 names (100 each day) will be drawn between Wednesday and Saturday. Guests age 18 and up may enter each drawing by filling out an entry form at Guest Services stations located inside Gate 17 or outside of Gate 10 in the clubhouse before 1:35 p.m. ET. A new drawing will be held each day. Winners need not be present to win and payment for invoiced tickets will be due Jan. 30. The drawings began Saturday and, all told, 500 pairs of tickets, or 1,000 in total, will be made available. The seats available include a variety of clubhouse and grandstand seats, ranging from grandstand bleacher seats to clubhouse boxes. The ticket prices per seat range from $88 to $207 ($176 to $414 per pair).

CURLIN TO BE PARADED ON CLOSING DAY - Curlin, North America's reigning Horse of the Year and the continent's richest racehorse of all time with earnings of $10,501,800, will be paraded one final time at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The brilliant winner of seven Grade I events including Churchill Downs' $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap in June, is scheduled to be paraded on the main track between the fifth and sixth races. A special salute in the paddock and/or winner's circle will follow. The fifth race is scheduled for 1:28 p.m. (all times Eastern), and the first of 12 races will be at 11:30 a.m.

THIS WEEK'S GUEST ANNOUNCER: MARK JOHNSON - England's Mark Johnson will describe the closing week's racing action (Wednesday, Nov. 26 through Saturday, Nov. 29) as Churchill Downs concludes its search to replace the late Luke Kruytbosch as the next "Voice of the Kentucky Derby". There was a different track announcer each week during the five-week Fall Meet. Calder's Bobby Neuman, Louisiana Downs' Travis Stone, Golden Gate's Michael Wrona and Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park's Larry Collmus already made their guest appearances. Churchill Downs officials are seeking input from customers and encouraging comment via email at announcer@kyderby.com.

SPECIAL CLOSING WEEK POST TIMES - Churchill Downs will run its usual 10-race program at 12:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday (admission gates open at 11 a.m. ET), but the final three days of the meet will have special start times. Twelve-race holiday cards on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day), Friday (Clark Handicap Day) and Saturday (Closing Day/Stars of Tomorrow II) will begin early at 11:30 a.m. ET and grandstand admission gates will open at 10 a.m. ET.

SPECIAL Z-5 (SUPER HI-5) SCHEDULE FOR CLOSING WEEK - The Z-5 (Super Hi-5), which requires bettors to correctly select the top five finishers in a race in exact order, will have a new schedule for the final three days of Churchill Downs' 2008 Fall Meet. From Thursday to Saturday, the payout-pumping wager that zigzags between Churchill and its sister racetrack Calder Race Course will involve Race 5 at Churchill Downs (1:27 p.m.), Race 10 at Calder (4:35 p.m.) and Race 12 at Churchill Downs (4:53 p.m.). If no one picks all five winners, the pool would carryover to the next available Z-5 (Super Hi-5) race - the first interstate jackpot of its kind in horse racing. The pool for the final race at Churchill Downs on Saturday must be paid.

ADDITIONAL PICK 4s ON FINAL THREE DAYS - Churchill Downs will offer additional Pick 4s on Thursday, Friday and Saturday's special 12-race programs. Pick 4s, which require bettors to pick the winners of four consecutive races, will link Races 1-4, 5-8 and 9-12 over the final three days of the meet.

JUNIOR JOCKEY CLUB WEEKEND ACTIVITIES - Christmas crafts, a Friday puppet show and a special tour of the paddock on Saturday highlight the closing week activities at Churchill Downs' Junior Jockey Club located near the Guest Services Booth inside Gate. 10. Coloring books, crayons, individual games and reading material are available as well, and Churchill Downs' mascot Churchill Charlie will be on hand both Friday and Saturday for photographs between 1-1:30 p.m. Also, Santa Claus will make a special appearance at Gate 17 on both days at approximately 2 p.m.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY SPECIALS AT THE DOWNS - Packages to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast at Churchill Downs are nearly sold out, but specials on Friday and Saturday's closing day card can still be had. For $50, customers can dine and watch the races from a reserved seat in the Triple Crown room, the largest and most opulent of the Jockey Club Suites facilities. Entrees on the menu include a giant Reuben sandwich, cheeseburger station, chicken tenders, chicken wings, hot dogs and bratwurst. Plus, a Bloody Mar bar will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch and an official program is included in the admission price. To reserve a spot, call (502) 636-4400.

STARK'S THE CHAMP - Todd Stark of Hazard, Ky. and Rudy Hardin Jr. of Louisville finished one-two in Sunday's "Who's the Champ?" Handicapping Contest for the 2008 Fall Meet at Churchill Downs. The two banked $1,400 and $800, respectively, and will represent Churchill Downs at the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship X in Las Vegas on Jan. 23-24. A total of 134 contestants earned berths to compete in Churchill Downs' qualifier last Sunday (only 125 actually participated). Participants were required to place mythical $2 Win and Place wagers on two different horses in Races 3-8. Stark finished first with a $57.20 final bankroll. Hardin was second with $48.00.

PERSEVERANCE REWARDED FOR JOCKEY TROILO - Veteran rider Bill Troilo had no idea that Saturday would end up as a memorable afternoon packed with "firsts" for him at Churchill Downs.[asset|height=12|width=100]

            "I was just riding out my engagements and I think I found out about the sixth race that I had picked up the mount," Troilo said of obtaining the ride on Karelian in the $100,000-added River City Handicap (Grade III). "It turned out to be a great day."

Troilo got the head for Green Lantern Stable's 6-year-old gelding up on the wire to earn a dead-heat victory with Demarcation in the River City. It was Troilo's 258^th career victory at Churchill Downs, but more important his first career graded-stakes win and first stakes win under the Twin Spires.

"It was a great feeling," Troilo said of the milestone win. "You just never know what the next day will bring."

A 47-year-old native of Philadelphia, Troilo began his riding career in 1982 and has ridden 2,455 winners in his career. The victory aboard Karelian was even more special for Troilo because it came for trainer Rusty Arnold, who he began working with before his started his career.

"I was 21 at the time and the exercise rider for Wavering Monarch. He ran third in the Blue Grass behind Linkage and Gato Del Sol," Troilo said. "He fell with me in New York one morning right before I started riding."

Jack Bohannan, Arnold's assistant at Churchill Downs, reported Karelian was doing well Sunday morning.

"This horse has overcome a lot of injuries," said Bohannan, who did not think Karelian had won. "We were watching it in the grandstand on the second floor and I thought he got beat."

Bohannan said Karelian would head to Florida for the winter. Demarcation, on the other hand, is headed to the Fair Grounds according to trainer Paul McGee.

"He is doing good this morning and he will go to New Orleans," McGee said. "They have a lot of opportunities on the grass down there."

McGee thought Demarcation had won outright.

"In grass races here, the outside horse generally has the edge in a photo and I thought he had won it," McGee said. "Then they showed the replay in slow motion on the big screen in the infield and then I wasn't so sure. I'll take the dead heat."

McGee also brought a check in the Bet On Sunshine overnight handicap when Success Success rallied for third behind Native Ruler.

"He ran pretty huge," McGee said of Success Success, who also will go to the Fair Grounds. "He comes with that late run all the time. He is a hard-trying little horse."      

ASMUSSEN CAN BUILD ON RECORD ON CLOSING WEEKEND - With a record-tying 555 North American victories in hand, trainer Steve Asmussen had 11 chances at five venues Sunday to break the mark he established in 2004.           

            Asmussen has two horses entered at Churchill Downs on Sunday: Hawaii Calls in the fourth and Mister Fusaichi in the seventh. On Wednesday, Asmussen will be represented by one starter: Coach Gravy in the sixth.

            Asmussen will be represented in the four graded stakes to be run at Churchill Downs over the Thanksgiving weekend and he is optimistic about the roster he will send out.

"I think that we are in very good shape," Asmussen said. "We've got Magna Graduate for the Clark, we've got Copper State running (in the Falls City) and the two-year-olds, we've got War Echo (for the Golden Rod) and Star of David and Zion (for the Kentucky Jockey Club). So, I like our chances."

            Asmussen won the 2005 Kentucky Jockey Club with Private Vow. He will be seeking his first victory in the Falls City, Clark and Golden Rod.

ROSAS RELISHED THE RIDE ON CURLIN - For 22 months, Carlos Rosas has been on the ride of his life. During that span, Rosas has been the regular exercise rider for Curlin.

            The morning rides will come to an end soon as Curlin heads off to Lane's End Farm to begin a stallion career in 2009.

            "It has been a great feeling to be on him every morning," said Rosas, who first got on Curlin when he came into trainer Steve Asmussen's barn in February 2007.

            Rosas, who has been with Asmussen for six years, served as Curlin's morning pilot through the 2007 campaign that culminated in Horse of the Year honors after winning the Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) at Monmouth Park and this year that was highlighted by a victory in the Dubai World Cup (GI) and the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI).

            So, Carlos, after all the travels with Curlin, what will you remember most many years down the road to tell the grandkids about?

            "It would be probably be Dubai," Rosas said with a widening smile. "I got there once and he took me there."    

BARN TALK - Training hours will end at 8 a.m. this Thursday, Friday and Saturday because of the early 11:30 a.m. post times. There will be no training on the turf on Thursday. ... Dennis "Peaches" Geier, assistant to trainer Bret Calhoun, said that Marilyn and James Helzer's Euroears was none the worse for wear after a fifth-place finish in Saturday's Bet On Sunshine overnight handicap. "He is doing OK this morning," Geier said after Euroears suffered the first defeat in his seven-race career. "He will be going to the Fair Grounds." ...  With five racing days to go in the meet, jockey Julien Leparoux needs to ride nine winners to break Pat Day's 23-year-old Fall record. Leparoux rode three winners Saturday to lift his total to 47 through 21 racing days. Day accumulated his 55 winners over a 30-day meet. 

WORK TAB - Midnight Cry Stable's Einstein, nominated to Friday's Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII), worked a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.80 with trainer Helen Pitts up. "He went well," Pitts said as she gave a big thumb's up on the work shortly after the track opened. ... Frank Calabrese's Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Sugar Mom worked five furlongs in 1:04.20 after the renovation break for trainer Wayne Catalano. ... Overbrook Farm's Big Surf, a Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) nominee, worked a half-mile in :51.40 for trainer Todd Pletcher.