Dream Empress

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.

COMMENTATOR ASSIGNED TOP IMPOST OF 124 POUNDS FOR 134^TH CLARK ‘CAP - Tracy Farmer's Commentator has been assigned high weight of 124 pounds by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman for Friday's 134^th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II).

             Trained by Nick Zito, Commentator is expected to start Friday in the 1 1/8 miles main track test.

Assigned the next high weight of 121 pounds is Jay Em Ess Stable's Arson Squad, who is expected to run in the Cigar Mile (GI) at Aqueduct on Nov. 29.

When entries are drawn Tuesday, Commentator is expected to attract seven rivals headed by Magna Graduate, who was assigned the second-highest Clark impost.

Owned by Elisabeth Alexander, Magna Graduate won the 2005 Clark as a 3-year-old and took the opening-day Ack Ack Handicap (GIII). Trained by Steve Asmussen, Magna Graduate was assigned 120 pounds.

            Others considered probable for the Clark with weight assignments are Four Roses Thoroughbreds' Anak Nakal (118), The Big Stable's Delosvientos (118), World Thoroughbreds Racing's Wayzata Bay (117), Hobeau Farm's Delightful Kiss (116), Circle E Racing, Caesar Kimmel and Philip Solondz's Timber Reserve (116) and Silverton Hill Farm's Dominican (115).

SPRING WALTZ HIGH WEIGHT FOR FALLS CITY - Stronach Stables' Spring Waltz, runaway winner of the Gulfstream Park's Grade II Rampart Handicap in March and runner-up in Belmont's recent Turnback the Alarm Handicap (GIII), was assigned top weight of 120 pounds for Thursday's $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII).

            Trained by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, Spring Waltz has won two of three starts at the Falls City distance of 1 1/8 miles. Spring Waltz, who is training at Keeneland, could face seven rivals in the Falls City when entries are drawn on Sunday.

            One of those expected rivals is Pin Oak Stable's Brownie Points, assigned the second high weight of 119 pounds by Racing Secretary Ben Huffman. Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Brownie Points has had two main track starts in 2008, finishing second to Hystericalady in the Azeri (GIII) to unbeaten Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom (GI).

            Other probable Falls City starters with weight assignments are Arbaway Farm, Carson Springs Farm and Letto Thoroughbreds' Stop a Train (117), Robert Adams' Unforgotten (117), Mark Stanley's Swift Temper (116), Glencrest Farm's Devil House (115), Richard Lister's Tell it as It Is (115) and Talley Racing's Initforthekandy (114).

KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB, GOLDEN ROD FIELDS TAKE SHAPE - The stars of the Nov. 1 "Stars of Tomorrow I" card are expected to come back next Saturday for encore performances on the closing-day "Stars of Tomorrow II" card that features races exclusively for 2-year-olds.

             Joseph Rauch and David Zell's Capt. Candyman Can, winner of the Iroquois (GIII) and Eldon Farm Equine's Sara Louise, winner of the Pocahontas (GIII), are listed as probable starters by Churchill Downs racing officials for the Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod, respectively.

            Entries for the two $150,000-added Grade II events at 1 1/16 miles on the main track will be drawn Wednesday. The winners of last year's events went on to live up to their "Star of Tomorrow" billing as Anak Nakal and Pure Clan added 2008 graded stakes victories to their respective tallies in the Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod.

            Five colts are considered likely to challenge Capt. Candyman Can, topped by John Oxley's Beethoven and Darley Stable's Stormalory, who ran 1-2 in a mile and a sixteenth allowance race on the "Stars of Tomorrow I" card.

            Other probables include Dogwood Stable's Coal Baron, the Virginia Tarra Trust's Giant Oak and Carl Potts' Allittakesisone. Possibles include Overbrook Farm's Big Surf, the Live Oak Plantation's Rocketing Returns and either Zayat Stables' Star of David or Winchell Thoroughbreds' Zion from the barn of Steve Asmussen.

            Four fillies are considered as likely to challenge Sara Louise in the Golden Rod. Topping the list is Livin the Dream Racing's Dream Empress, runner-up to Stardom Bound in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita. Trained by Ken McPeek, Dream Empress won the Darley Alcibiades (GI) at Keeneland last month.

            Other Golden Rod probables include Pocahontas runner-up Rachel Alexandra, owned by Dolphus Morrison, Winchell Thoroughbreds' War Echo, who is a half-sister to Pyro, and DWD Stables' Dance With Daddy.          

CORRECTION - In Friday's Barn Notes, the number of races for the current Fall Meet was listed as 270. The correct number is 268.

BARN TALK - Equibase Company LLC reports that trainer Steve Asmussen entered Saturday with 553 wins, three victories away from breaking his own North American record for wins in a single year (Note: two victories in Dubai this year with Curlin are not included in that number). Asmussen, who won 555 races in 2004, had 16 runners entered at seven venues Saturday including first-time starter Captain Cherokee in the 10^th race at Churchill Downs for Stonestreet Stable. Captain Cherokee is a half-brother to two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint (GI) winner Midnight Lute. Asmussen's first runner of the day was Not for Gold in the opener at Aqueduct at 12:30 p.m. (ET) and closes out with Light Lace in the seventh at Remington Park at 10:12 p.m. (ET). ... Making the rounds on the backside Saturday morning was jockey Filiberto Leon, who plans to resume riding when the Turfway Park meet opens Nov. 30. Leon, who will be represented by agent Buddy Fife, last rode at Finger Lakes in June 2007. ... Hobeau Farm's Delightful Kiss arrived at Churchill Downs Friday night for an anticipated start in next week's Clark Handicap. World Thoroughbred Racing's Wayzata Bay is scheduled to arrive Saturday night for the Clark, as is Pin Oak Stable's Brownie Points, who is slated to run in Thursday's Falls City Handicap.

WORK TAB - Talley Racing's Initforthekandy worked five-eighths in 1:01.60 over a track labeled as "good" on Friday at Trackside Training Center in preparation for an expected run in Thursday's Falls City Handicap.

TWO CANNED GOODS FOR FREE ADMISSION - Churchill Downs will offer free general admission through Sunday, Nov. 23 to all patrons who donate two non-perishable canned goods at Gates 10 and 17 in conjunction with the Kentucky Harvest Thanksgiving Food Drive, sponsored by Forcht Bank.

The canned goods can be delivered to Churchill Downs on those dates or any Louisville area Forcht Bank through Nov. 22 in exchange for the complimentary admission pass.

All donations will benefit Kentucky Harvest.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE DOWNS - Sunday Brunch at Churchill Downs returns this Sunday. For $41.50 ($25 for children 12 and under), customers can dine and watch the Nov. 23 races from a reserved seat Millionaires' Row Six, the luxurious 9,000 square-foot room with a four-tier balcony that overlooks the finish line. The brunch, accompanied by live jazz music, is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a wide selection of food, including stuffed French toast, eggs, maple smoked bacon, homemade biscuits and gravy, carved roast turkey, fresh salads and plenty of sides. Appetizers and a bountiful desert tray will be available until 5 p.m. Brunch and an official program is included in the admission price. To reserve a spot, call (502) 636-4400.

THORN SONG ASSIGNED HIGH WEIGHT OF 122 FOR RIVER CITY - Zayat Stables' Thorn Song, whose victory in the 2007 River City Handicap (Grade III) marked the first of three graded-stakes scores for the Dale Romans trainee, was assigned high weight of 122 pounds for the 33rd renewal of the race scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 22.

The $100,000-added River City will be run at 1 1/8 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Thorn Song scored a half-length victory over Cosmonaut last year carrying 116 pounds. Since that victory, Thorn Song has won the Grade II Firecracker at Churchill Downs and the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. In his most recent start, Thorn Song ran ninth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (GI).

Should the 5-year-old Thorn Song accept the weight assignment, he will try to become the third repeat River City winner joining Same Old Wish (1996-97) and Dr. Kashnikow (2001-02).

The co-second high weights at 119 pounds are Green Lantern Stables' Karelian, trained by Rusty Arnold, and Jerry Crawford, Adam Wachtel, Nils Brous and David Robinette's Yate's Black Cat, trained by Romans.    

DREAM EMPRESS CONTINUES WORK TOWARD GOLDEN ROD - Livin the Dream Racing's Dream Empress, runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) in her most recent start worked five furlongs over a "sloppy" track in 1:03.40 on Saturday morning with exercise rider Peter Hutton up.

"It was just a maintenance work," trainer Ken McPeek said. "The track was fine; they had sealed it and it was OK."

Prior to her Breeders' Cup effort, Dream Empress had given McPeek his third victory in Keeneland's Darley Alcibiades Stakes (GI). His other winners were She's A Devil Due in 2000 and Take Charge Lady in 2001.

McPeek was asked how Dream Empress, a winner of two of four career starts, compared with those two at this stage of their careers.

"I think she is better than She's A Devil Due," McPeek said. "She's pointed in the right direction but she still has some work to do (in comparison to Take Charge Lady). But Dream Empress ran better in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies than Take Charge Lady did (sixth)."

McPeek also said that Koolmen Racing Stable's A to the Croft, a three-length allowance winner Friday, would be pointed to the Dec. 6 My Charmer at Turfway Park. "I'd like to get a stakes win for her," McPeek said.

SOUTH FORK LODGE PUTS MOTT BARN IN WIN COLUMN - Trainer Bill Mott got his first win of the Fall Meet on Friday when Donald Dizney's 2-year-old South Fork Lodge prevailed in his debut, a one-mile turf test.

"It was great to finally get a win," said Kenny McCarthy, Mott's assistant at Churchill Downs. The victory was the 593rd for the Mott stable at Churchill Downs, best in track history.

A homebred son of Runaway Groom out of the Unbridled mare Netjet, South Fork Lodge showed a long string of works at Churchill Downs before his debut.

"We had him here all summer and he was entered a couple of times, but he didn't get in," McCarthy said of the colt who had two works here in July before starting his series of works in early September. "We had him ready to roll and then backed off after he popped a curb in behind."

McCarthy was pleasantly surprised with the victory that came on a surface the colt never had been on.

"He was never a great work horse on the dirt, so we figured we'd try the turf," McCarthy said. "I was surprised. We knew he was fit enough and we put blinkers on him to try to get him forwardly placed with the (temporary) rail up. But he got shuffled back on the far turn and lost position and still came back.

"Not many horses can do that with the rail out (22 feet) like that. I thought he ran a brave race."

McCarthy said South Fork Lodge would likely run next in Florida.

BARN TALK - Making the rounds on the backside on a cold, drizzly Saturday morning was former jockey Garth Patterson. "First time I have been back here since the 1998 Derby," said Patterson, now 65, who won 14 stakes during his career at Churchill Downs. A native of Jolley, Iowa, Patterson rode in the Kentucky Derby three times and his biggest triumphs came in the 1975 Kentucky Oaks aboard Sun and Snow and the 1976 Clark Handicap on Yamanin. Thousandkissesdeep became the first two-time winner of the Fall Meet on Friday when she scored in the sixth race, a $16,000 claimer. Trainer Garry Simms claimed the 4-year-old daughter of Delaware Township off Wayne Catalano for $10,000 on Oct. 30 when Thousandkissesdeep took a six-furlong sprint. Simms had Thousandkissesdeep for only one race as she was claimed out of Friday's victory by trainer Luis Cotto, who won a four-way shake for the filly.  ... Three races later Ken Mahler and Vickie Foley, et al.'s Rose of Aran made it two-for-two at the meet. The 2-year-old Van Nistelrooy filly, trained by Foley, had broken her maiden for a $30,000 tag on Oct. 29 and Friday's win was in starter allowance company. E.T. Baird rode both times. ... Robby Albarado, who won his first Churchill Downs riding title this spring, put a major dent in the deficit he faces chasing Julien Leparoux for Fall Meet honors. Albarado won four races Friday to hike his total to 25 after 15 days of the 26-day meet. Leparoux won Friday's nightcap to maintain an 11-victory lead with 36 scores.

WORK TAB - Joseph Rauch and David Zell's Capt. Candyman Can, winner of the Nov. 1 Iroquois (GIII) worked a half-mile on a "sloppy" track in :48.60 for trainer Ian Wilkes. ... Patrica Blass' Prom Shoes, winner of the Fifth Season this spring at Oaklawn Park, worked five furlongs in 1:03 for trainer Jinks Fires.

HORSES AND HOPE ON SUNDAY - Racing fans are encouraged to wear pink to Churchill Downs on Sunday, Nov. 16 in conjunction with "Horses and Hope," the new initiative created by Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear with the Kentucky Cancer Program.

The event, centered on the women who work in the barn areas at Kentucky racetracks, is designed to provide breast cancer awareness, education, screening and treatment referral.

Governor Steve Beshear and the First Lady will be in attendance for a special program in Millionaires' Row Four with more than 900 cancer survivors on hand. The program is expected to begin immediately after the first race, which is scheduled for 12:40 p.m. ET.

Churchill Downs will be adorned in pink Sunday. The featured fifth race at approximately 2:35 p.m. ET will honor "Horses and Hope," complete with special pink saddle towels and jockey's caps. Throughout the day, the color pink will also be featured on jockey's arm bands, groom's vests, outriders, flags, bunting and trophies for winning horse owners. There also will be a special pink cosmopolitan drink on sale with proceeds going to "Horses and Hope."

            Immediately after the fifth race winner's circle presentation, there will be a group picture near the Aristides statue in the paddock garden.

            A special treat will be an appearance by the Kentucky Derby Museum's miniature horse Winston, who will be decorated in pink and paraded throughout the facility to collect donations. Winston is expected to make a cameo appearance in Millionaires' Row Four around 1:20 p.m. ET.

HANDICAPPING CONTEST WEDNESDAYS, SUNDAYS - Racing fans can pit their handicapping skills against the best Louisville has to offer every Wednesday and Sunday in the popular twice-weekly "Who's the Champ?" Handicapping Contest. For a $30 entry fee ($25 for Twin Spires Club members), participants will compete for weekly cash prizes and an invitation to the Nov. 23 final where the top two finishers will win coveted berths in the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship X slated for Jan. 23-24, 2009 in Las Vegas.

FAIR GROUNDS OR CALDER NEXT STOP FOR NISTLE'S CRUNCH - A half-length victory in Sunday's Commonwealth Turf (GIII) by Alien Farm's Nistle's Crunch had trainer Ken McPeek eagerly looking ahead to the next start for the New Jersey-bred son of Van Nistelrooy.

            "I'd like to find a straight three-year-old race for him before the end of the year either at the Fair Grounds or Calder," said McPeek, who came within 1 ¼ lengths of sweeping the weekend stakes at Churchill Downs with My Baby Baby's runner-up finish to Acoma in Saturday's Mrs. Revere (GII). "He ran a real nice race."

             The victory by Nistle's Crunch gave McPeek eight wins through the first 11 days of the 26-day meet, good for second in the trainer standings behind Mike Maker's 14 victories.  It's a of success McPeek could not have envisioned three years ago when he stepped away from the sport and turned his 160-horse stable over to his assistants.

            "There were a lot of things going on then and I had strings here and in New York and Chicago," McPeek said. "The biggest difference now is that everything is consolidated and more efficient. This is what I had in mind when I came back."

            McPeek returned to training in 2006 and in that time has saddled 61 winners at Churchill Downs, where he currently has 36 horses stabled.  He has 20 horses at Keeneland and another dozen at his Magdalena Farm in Lexington.

            McPeek has yet to fire the biggest bullet in his Churchill Downs-based arsenal: Livin the Dream Racing's Dream Empress, winner of the Darley Alcibiades (GI) at Keeneland and runner-up to Stardom Bound in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) in her most recent start. Dream Empress is being pointed toward a run in the Nov. 29 Golden Rod (GII), a race that McPeek has finished second in twice with Take Charge Lady in 2001 and C J's Leelee last year.

"AWESOME" MEMORIES REMAIN FOR WILLEY - Kevin Willey has been an exercise rider for 33 years, but the gold standard for Thoroughbreds was set for him 10 years ago when he was the regular morning partner of Awesome Again.

            On Nov. 7, 1998 at Churchill Downs, Awesome Again defeated what is arguably the deepest Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) field ever assembled to complete the year undefeated in six starts.

            "Hard to believe it has been 10 years," said Willey, who began galloping steeplechase horses in England when he was 14. "We got him in the barn when he was four and he was tough at first. He had been on the farm and must have thought he was retired, but when he got back in to it, he was easy to gallop."

            Prior to Awesome Again, Willey had galloped Touch Gold and champions Favorite Trick and Countess Diana.

            "Favorite Trick was like a five-year-old at two," said Willey, who is in his second year working horses for trainer Todd Pletcher.

            "It is very rare (to find horses like those). You can feel what is under you. Those good horses, when they go to work they just lower their body and ease into their stride. Finding horses like that, the one percent that become champions, those are very, very rare."

RETURN OF JEDI CODE THRILLS WILKES - When Janis Whitham's Jedi Code broke his maiden at second asking in last-to-first fashion at Churchill Downs, the son of Empire Maker showed up on many Kentucky Derby watch lists. A fifth-place finish for trainer Ian Wilkes in his 2008 debut at Gulfstream Park brought out the erasers.

"We discovered a chip in his knee after the Gulfstream race," said Wilkes said.

Jedi Code did not return to the races until Sunday when he was a fast-closing second in a seven-furlong allowance race. Jedi Code was last in the field of 12 at the head of stretch and was blocked on a couple of occasions in the stretch before getting clear.

"I was really pleased, he ran a good race," Wilkes said. "It is great to get him started again. I wanted to give him a little longer, but this gives him a chance for next year.

"He had already missed the major three-year-old races this year and Mrs. Whitham was fine with that. You always want to see how they will do coming back and he did well Sunday."

Wilkes said Jedi Code would not run back before the end of the meet Nov. 29, but be pointed to a four-year-old campaign beginning in Florida at Gulfstream Park.

BARN TALK - Jockey Calvin Borel was off all of his mounts Tuesday and Wednesday because of the death of his mother Ella who passed away Monday night in Louisiana at age 87. Borel will be back to ride Thursday. ... Miguel Mena, currently the fifth-leading rider of the Fall Meet with nine victories through the first 11 days, is headed to the Fair Grounds to ride this winter according to his agent Steve Elzey. Mena, who turned 22 last week, was the second-leading rider here in the Spring Meet with 65 winners. Also going to New Orleans is Elzey's other rider, Jesus Castanon. ... Antrim County, a three-time winner on the main track during the spring meet, posted his first victory in four tries over the Matt Winn Turf Course when he went wire-to-wire under Joe Johnson in Sunday's fifth race. Antrim County was owned by Boys Haven Equine and trained by Jay Wilkinson. Boys Haven is a non-profit home for troubled youth located on Goldsmith Lane in Louisville and the Equine Program teaches youngsters how to care for a horse. The Boys Haven stable is housed at the Trackside Training Center. Antrim County won six races for Boys Haven, but was claimed out of his Sunday victory for $50,000 by trainer Bret Calhoun for Carl Moore. ... Robby Albarado, who won his first Churchill Downs riding title at this year's Spring Meet, rode two winners Sunday and sliced his deficit to five (24-19) behind Julien Leparoux in the race for leading rider. ... A daily double of birthday wishes goes out to trainers Jim Baker and Don Winfree who turn 51 and 61, respectively, today.

WORK TAB - Elisabeth Alexander's Magna Graduate, winner of the opening-day Ack Ack Handicap (GIII), worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 over a fast track Tuesday morning for trainer Steve Asmussen. Winner of the 2005 Clark Handicap, Magna Graduate is under consideration for this year's renewal on Nov. 28. Working a half-mile Tuesday morning on the main track was Donald Adam's Arlington Matron (GIII) winner Indescribable, who covered a half-mile in :47.80, second fastest of 46 at the distance. The Bill Mott trainee is nominated to Saturday's Cardinal Handicap (GIII).  Works of note on Monday over a fast track was a quartet of five-furlong moves. Mike McCarty's Storm Treasure, 11th to Barbaro in the 2006 Kentucky Derby (GI) and most recently third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, worked five-eighths in 1:02.40 for trainer Steve Asmussen. ... Zayat Stables' Massive Drama, winner of the 2007 Hollywood Prevue (GIII), was clocked in 1:02 for trainer Dale Romans; Frank Calabrese's stakes-winning filly Dreaming of Liz worked in 1:02.20 for trainer Wayne Catalano and 2006 Bassinet winner Devil House covered the distance in 1:01.40.

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED RACE - This week's feature is the 35th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (Grade III), a 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares over the Matt Winn Turf Course, on Saturday, Nov. 15. Last year's winner was Stuart Janney III & Phipps Stable's Criminologist, who was ridden by John Velazquez and trained by Shug McGaughey.

INAUGURAL "RIDER CUP" ON SATURDAY - Churchill Downs will stage its inaugural "Rider Cup" for charity on Saturday, Nov. 15. The unique event will showcase American-born jockeys versus foreign-born jockeys in a competition for points in Races 4-8. Before each of the five designated races, celebrity team captains (Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day will captain Team USA and the Team World will be captained Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr.) will choose one jockey to represent their respective team with hope of earning coveted points. Points will be awarded on a 3-2-1 scale for first, second and third place finishes in each race. If neither jockey hits the board, the rider with the best finish will be awarded a half-point. The team with the most points at the conclusion of Race 8 will be crowned the winner and a $10,000 donation will be made to the charity of the winning team's choice. The charity of the second place team will win a $5,000 donation. Pre-race selections by the captains will be showcased on-track with Churchill Downs' John Asher serving as host.

HORSES AND HOPE ON SUNDAY - "Horses and Hope," a new initiative created by Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear with the Kentucky Cancer Program, will be held Sunday, Nov. 16. The event, centered on the women who work in the barn areas at Kentucky racetracks, is designed to provide breast cancer awareness, education, screening and treatment referral.

            In conjunction with the event, the color of pink will be scattered throughout Churchill Downs on Sunday, including the saddle towels for the featured fifth race that will honor "Horses and Hope." Pink will also be featured on jockey's arm bands, groom's vests, outriders, flags, bunting and trophies for winning horse owners. There also will be a special pink cosmopolitan drink on sale with proceeds going to "Horses and Hope."

            More than 700 cancer survivors are expected to attend the races in Millionaire's Row Four on Sunday. After the fifth race, there will be a group picture near the Aristides statue in the paddock garden.

THIS WEEK'S GUEST ANNOUNCER: MICHAEL WRONA - Native Australian Michael Wrona, the voice of Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, will describe this week's racing action (Tuesday, Nov. 11 through Sunday, Nov. 16) as Churchill Downs continues its search to replace the late Luke Kruytbosch as the next "Voice of the Kentucky Derby". There will be a different track announcer each week during the five-week Fall Meet. Calder's Bobby Neuman and Louisiana Downs' Travis Stone were the Week 1 and 2 guest announcers, respectively. Also scheduled for a turn behind the microphone are Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park and Suffolk Downs' Larry Collmus (Nov. 19-23) and England's Mark Johnson (Nov. 26-29). Churchill Downs officials are seeking input from customers and encouraging comment via email at announcer@kyderby.com.

ROBBY ALBARADO GLASS GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY - The week's promotional calendar is highlighted by the second of three collectable hurricane glass giveaways that salute popular Cajun jockeys who ride at Churchill Downs. A Robby Albarado glass, sponsored by GE, will be given away to the first 5,000 paid and pre-paid admissions on Saturday, Nov. 15.

            Fans who receive the glass can come back to Churchill Downs on Sunday, Nov. 16 for an autograph session with Albarado on the second floor of the clubhouse between 11-11:30 a.m.

            A glass depicting Calvin Borel, sponsored by Thorntons, was given away Nov. 8. A Kent Desormeaux glass, presented by Kentucky Derby Party, will be given away on Nov. 22.

JOCKEY TALK ON SATURDAY - Every Saturday during the Fall Meet, members of Churchill Downs jockey colony meet and greet with the fans in the paddock area between 11:30 a.m. and noon. This Saturday's jockeys will be announced Friday.

FRIDAY HAPPY HOURS - New Orleans-themed "Friday Happy Hours" - featuring $2 Budweiser Select, $2 hurricanes, $2 Fischer's hot dogs and live jazz music - will be held Friday from 3-5 p.m. in the upper Jockey Club's paddock balcony area.   

"IN SEASON" AIRS ON WAVE-3 SATURDAY - "In Season," Churchill Downs' weekly magazine-style television program hosted by John Asher, will air Saturday on NBC affiliate WAVE-3 in the Louisville area. The live half-hour program will be broadcast from 9:30-10 a.m. ET.

JUNIOR JOCKEY CLUB WEEKEND ACTIVITIES - A special appearance by the Louisville Metro Police Department Horse Patrol on Saturday, Nov. 15 will highlight this weekend's activities at Churchill Downs' Junior Jockey Club located near the Guest Services Booth inside Gate. 10. Crafts, featuring embossed horse pictures, will also be featured Saturday for children age 4-10. Sunday's activities include the decoration of pine cones. Coloring books, crayons, individual games and reading material are available as well, and Churchill Downs' mascot Churchill Charlie will be on hand both days for photographs between 1-1:30 p.m.

HANDICAPPING CONTEST WEDNESDAYS, SUNDAYS - Racing fans can pit their handicapping skills against the best Louisville has to offer every Wednesday and Sunday in the popular twice-weekly "Who's the Champ?" Handicapping Contest. For a $30 entry fee ($25 for Twin Spires Club members), participants will compete for weekly cash prizes and an invitation to the Nov. 23 final where the top two finishers will win coveted berths in the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship X slated for Jan. 23-24, 2009 in Las Vegas.

CALLWOOD DANCER ASSIGNED HIGH WEIGHT FOR CARDINAL - Three Chimneys Racing's Callwood Dancer (IRE) was assigned top weight of 122 pounds by racing secretary Ben Huffman for the 36th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (Grade II) next Saturday at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

            Trained by Roger Attfield, Callwood Dancer is expected to face as many as eight rivals in the Cardinal. Callwood Dancer ran second in the E.P. Taylor (GI) in her most recent start on Oct. 4 at Woodbine.

            Pin Oak Stable's Brownie Points and Earle Mack's Lady Digby were assigned 119 pounds and are considered as "probable" for the Cardinal.

            Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Brownie Points ran second in this summer's Locust Grove (GIII) over the Matt Winn Turf Course. In her lone Grade I appearance this year, Brownie Points ran second to the undefeated Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom Handicap (GI) at Oaklawn Park.

            Graham Motion trains Lady Digby, who has been idle since running fifth in the Diana Handicap (GI) at Saratoga behind Forever Together, who went on to win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI). Lady Digby has won two stakes in 2008, highlighted by the All Along Breeders' Cup (GIII) at Colonial Downs.

            Other runners considered as probable or possible for the Cardinal are Ballymore Lady (116 pounds), Ciao (116), Meribel (116), Kiss With a Twist (115), Sousaphone (114) and Long Approach (113).

COMMENTATOR COMING TO TOWN ON WEDNESDAY - Trainer Nick Zito said Saturday morning that Tracy Farmer's Commentator was scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Wednesday for an anticipated run in the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII).

            "He's in New York right now," Zito said of the 7-year-old gelding who won the Massachusetts Handicap by 14 lengths in his most recent start on Sept. 20.

            Commentator, a two-time winner of Saratoga's Whitney (GI), has won 13 of 20 career starts with earnings of $1,841,936.

            Also joining the Zito barn at Churchill Downs next week will be Anak Nakal, winner of last fall's Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII). Anak Nakal ran seventh in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), third in the Belmont Stakes (GI) and won the Pennsylvania Derby (GII).

            Already in Zito's barn here is Cool Coal Man, who ran 15th in this year's Kentucky Derby.

MAKER CONTINUES TO WIN AT RECORD RATE - The record for number of victories by a trainer at a Churchill Downs fall meet is 20, established by Dale Romans in 2003 over 27 racing days.

            At the rate Mike Maker is going, that mark will be left in the dust of the dirt track beneath the Twin Spires.

            Thundering Jill in Friday's second and He's Long Gone in the 10th gave Maker his 13th and 14th victories in the first nine days of the 26-day meet. Maker has opened a seven-victory lead over his nearest pursuer in the trainer's race, Ken McPeek, with Romans next with six wins.

            The 39-year-old native of Garden City, Mich., has two horses entered Saturday, two on Sunday highlighted by Cherokee Triangle in the Commonwealth Turf (GIII), and three more on Tuesday's Veterans Day card.

SPECIAL VETERANS DAY RACING ON TUESDAY - Churchill Downs will host a special live racing program on Tuesday, Nov. 11 in honor of Veterans Day. The first of 10 live races will be 12:40 p.m. ET.

BYRNE RECALLS "ROCK HARD" DAYS AT DOWNS - The 2004 Kentucky Derby will forever be remembered as the Smarty Party featuring the undefeated Smarty Jones.

            But jockey John Byrne played a role in one of the many subplots surrounding the 130th Run for the Roses serving as the exercise rider of Rock Hard Ten.

            "Hard to believe it has almost been five years," Byrne said Friday afternoon before riding in the seventh race in one of his rare forays to Churchill Downs.

            Rock Hard Ten came to Churchill Downs after being disqualified from second to third in the Santa Anita Derby (GI) for interference. The decrease in purse money left Rock Hard Ten with insufficient graded earnings to make the Derby field.

            But Rock Hard Ten was ready to run as Byrne took the Jason Orman-trained colt to the track shortly after 6 a.m. daily for his morning regimen that began with the colt rearing up almost immediately after leaving the barn.

            "He knew the cameras were going to be there and he gave them a show," Byrne said. "He was just immature at that time. We knew he had a lot of talent and would be much better as a four-year-old. He did everything so easy."

            Rock Hard Ten ran second in the Preakness and then fifth in the Belmont.

            "I remember they brought P Val (Patrick Valenzuela) in to work him before the Belmont and he wouldn't train," Byrne said. "He was just that way then."

            Rock Hard Ten went on to win all three starts as a 4-year-old before a foot injury prior to the 2005 Breeders' Cup led to his retirement. Rock Hard Ten won seven of 11 starts and closed his career with earnings of $1,870,380. His first crop will be 2-year-olds in 2009.

            The road for the 33-year-old Irishman, who won his first race in the United States in 2003 at Turf Paradise, has been ‘rock hard' since then. While the horse was starting a stud career, Byrne suffered a broken collarbone in a spill at Thistledown.

            A broken hip suffered in late April this year sidelined Byrne for two months.

            "I came back in July to ride a couple for John Good at Mountaineer Park," said Byrne, who rode Smiley's Cool Cat to a sixth-place finish for Good. "I am riding one here Saturday and a couple Tuesday and then head to the Fair Grounds."

BARN TALK - Trainer Angel Montano won with his first starter of the meet Friday when Family Fun LLC's Montalvo scored in the seventh race. For Montano, who began training in 1968, it marked his 316th victory at Churchill Downs, which is the sixth-best total in track history. ... Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey added to their victory total Friday with the scores by Thundering Jill and He's Long Gone. The Ramseys have 10 wins for the meet, seven more than Scarlet Stable, which has sent out three winners from three starters. Julien Leparoux rode both winners for the Ramseys and became the first rider to reach the 20-win mark during the meet. Leparoux has 21 victories and owns a seven-win lead over closest pursuer Robby Albarado.

WORK TAB - Livin the Dream Racing's Dream Empress, runner-up in the Oct. 24 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) in her most recent start, worked a half-mile in company after the renovation break under Peter Hutton in :49.60. Trainer Ken McPeek was happy with the filly's work, her first at Churchill Downs, and said she would have two more works before a run in the Nov. 29 Golden Rod (GII). ...  W.S. Farish and Mrs. W.S. Kilroy's Mambo in Seattle worked five furlongs before the renovation break in 1:03.80 with a six-furlong out time of 1:17.80 in his second work since a seventh-place finish in the Fayette (GIII) for trainer Neil Howard. Runner-up in the Travers (GI), Mambo in Seattle remains under consideration for the Clark. Grasshopper, who ran second in the 2007 Travers for Howard, is "being freshened up at Keeneland and being tack-walked," according to Howard. ... West Point Thoroughbreds' Macho Again worked a half-mile in :53.60 for trainer Dallas Stewart. Winner of the Derby Trial and Jim Dandy (GII) and runner-up in the Preakness (GI) and Super Derby (GII), Macho Again's next major goal is the Sunshine Millions in January at Gulfstream Park. ... Koolmen Racing Stable's multi-graded stakes-placed A to the Croft worked five furlongs in 1:03 for McPeek.
 

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE DOWNS - Sunday Brunch at Churchill Downs returns this Sunday. For $41.50 ($25 for children 12 and under), customers can dine and watch the Nov. 9 races from a reserved seat Millionaires' Row Six, the luxurious 9,000 square-foot room with a four-tier balcony that overlooks the finish line. The brunch, accompanied by live jazz music, is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a wide selection of food, including stuffed French toast, eggs, maple smoked bacon, homemade biscuits and gravy, carved roast turkey, fresh salads and plenty of sides. Appetizers and a bountiful desert tray will be available until 5 p.m. Brunch and an official program is included in the admission price. Another Sunday Brunch is scheduled for Nov. 23. The reserve a spot, call (502) 636-4400.
 

HANDICAPPING CONTEST WEDNESDAYS, SUNDAYS - Racing fans can pit their handicapping skills against the best Louisville has to offer every Wednesday and Sunday in the popular twice-weekly "Who's the Champ?" Handicapping Contest. For a $30 entry fee ($25 for Twin Spires Club members), participants will compete for weekly cash prizes and an invitation to the Nov. 23 final where the top two finishers will win coveted berths in the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship X slated for Jan. 23-24, 2009 in Las Vegas.