Dreaming of Anna

 

SIX TO LINE UP AGAINST EINSTEIN IN FIRECRACKER – Trainer Helen Pitts’ turf star Einstein will go for his fourth grass victory of 2008 on Friday when he faces six rivals in the 19th running of the $200,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) to be run at one mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            The Firecracker will go as the 10th race on the 11-race holiday card. First post time is 1:15 p.m. (EDT).

Second in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) on dirt to 2007 “Horse of the Year” Curlin on June 14 in his most recent start, Einstein will carry high weight of 124 pounds and concede 7-10 pounds to his Firecracker foes. Robby Albarado, who rode Einstein to victory in the May 3 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs, has the call Friday and will break from post position three.

            Owned by Patricia Cunningham and Melissa Green, Lessee, Einstein also won the Grade I Gulfstream Park Turf this winter and ran second to 2007 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) winner Kip Deville in the Grade I Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland.

            The main rival to Einstein appears to be Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Inca King, who is undefeated in three starts over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            Trained by Steve Asmussen, Inca King posted a front-running victory in the May 31 Opening Verse Handicap at a mile and a sixteenth in his most recent start and last year won the Grade II Jefferson Cup during the Spring Meet and the Commonwealth Turf in the Fall Meet. Shaun Bridgmohan will ride Inca King who breaks from post position seven under a 118-pound impost.

            The field for the Firecracker, from the hedge out, is as follows: Mrs. S.K. Johnston Jr., Marco Bommarito and the Molly Malone Racing Club’s A.P. Xcellent (Larry Melancon, 116 pounds); Zayat Stables’ Thorn Song (Kent Desormeaux, 118); Einstein (Robby Albarado, 124); Terry Raymond. Jana Wagner and Gus Goldsmith’s Faith’s Magic (Brian Hernandez Jr., 116); Stud TNT’s Portuga (Calvin Borel, 115); Oxbow Racing’s Steve’s Double (Miguel Mena, 115); and, Inca King (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118). 

DREAMING OF ANNA ASSIGNED TOP WEIGHT FOR LOCUST GROVE – Frank Calabrese’s champion filly Dreaming of Anna has been assigned the top weight of 124 pounds for the 27th running of the Locust Grove Handicap (GIII), to be run on closing day, July 6.

Winner of the Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) on June 14, Dreaming of Anna – the champion 2-year-old filly of 2006 – is not expected to compete in the 1 1/8-mile test for fillies and mares ages 3 and up.

Assigned the second high weight of 121 pounds by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman was Ben McElroy’s Roshani. The Todd Pletcher trainee is considered as “possible” for the Locust Grove.

Expected to be the starting high weight in the Locust Grove is Pin Oak Stable’s Brownie Points, who was assigned 120 pounds. Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Brownie Points won the Ouija Board Handicap (GIII) in her most recent start on May 26 at Lone Star Park and arrived at Churchill Downs from the Texas track on Tuesday.

Other expected starters, with weight assignments, are Jacks or Better Farm’s Bayou Lassie (119), Richard Shultz’s Lemonlime (117), Godolphin Racing’s Say You Will (115), James Barry’s Genuine Devotion (115), Peter Bradley’s Tears I Cry (115), Craig Bernick’s You Go West Girl (114) and Briland Farm’s Grace Happens (112).

            Three other mares are considered as “possible”: Runnymede Farm’s Meribel (118), Swettenham Stud’s Paris Winds (118) and Pegasus Horses’ Ballymore Lady (114).   

BOREL SET FOR RETURN, CLOSES ON MILESTONE – Jockey Calvin Borel is expected to be back in the saddle Wednesday afternoon after taking off all mounts Sunday because of a sore knee.

            “He worked five horses Sunday morning, but his knee swelled and he had it drained,” agent Jerry Hissam said of Borel, who suffered a swollen ligament in his knee after coming off a horse during training hours on June 13. “He gave it a couple days rest, but he’ll be back Wednesday.”

 Borel enters Wednesday’s card with 4,492 career victories, which is 34th best all time. He is named to ride six horses Wednesday and six on Thursday. He has 43 victories this meet, good for fifth in the rider standings.

            “He lost two of the eight he needs (to get to 4,500) on Sunday,” Hissam said referring to the mounts Borel took off that won on the card.

            Hissam said after the meet ends on Sunday Borel will head to New York for the July 12 Man o’ War (GI) to ride Marc Keller’s Grand Couturier, whom he rode to victory in last year’s Sword Dancer Invitational (GI) at Saratoga. 

NEXT WORK TO DETERMINE COURSE FOR ACOMA – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Dogwood (GIII) winner Acoma worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Monday morning for trainer David Carroll. It was her third work since winning the May 31 Dogwood.

            “She worked very well,” Carroll said of the 3-year-old daughter of Empire Maker. “She is going to either the Delaware Oaks or the Coaching Club American Oaks and her work next Monday will likely determine which one.”

            The $500,000 Delaware Oaks (GII) is run at a mile and a sixteenth on July 12 at Delaware Park. The $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (GI) is run at a mile and a quarter on July 19 at Belmont Park.

            Also appearing on the work tab for Carroll on Monday was Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s Denis of Cork, the third-place finisher to Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and winner of the Southwest Stakes (GIII).  In his first work since his runner-up finish in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (GI), Denis of Cork worked a half-mile in :50.

            “He went very nice,” Carroll said. “He is on track for the Jim Dandy (GII on July 27 at Saratoga). He is on a Monday work schedule, weather permitting.”

 
BARN TALK – Eliah and Lisa Kahn are the only owners of multiple winners at the Spring Meet to be batting a thousand: Four starters; four winners. On Thursday, the streak either will end or extend to six. Trainer Ken McPeek has entered Perfect Motion for the Kahns in the sixth race, a one-mile turf allowance event, and Subscriber in the 10th, a mile and a sixteenth allowance race. Perfect Motion, who has not run since Jan. 9 at Gulfstream Park, finished fourth last November in her lone start over the Matt Winn Turf Course. Subscriber has posted victories here this meet on May 24 and June 8. …  Sunday’s second race produced the 15th dead heat of the meet, but the first for the win. R.J. Thoroughbred Stables’ Ready’s Rocket finished on even terms with Frank Vozel’s Canali, trained by David Vance. The victory was the first of two for Vance on Sunday. TBS Farms’ This Kat Talks won the fifth race to boost Vance’s career total to 2,999 and 296 under the Twin Spires, ninth-best all time at Churchill Downs. Vance’s first chance to become the 22nd member of the 3,000-win club is slated to come Thursday when Doubleband goes to the post in the second race for TBS Farms. … Steve Asmussen, who saddled two winners on Sunday, now has 298 career victories at Churchill Downs. His career total of 4,252 ranks eighth all time and last week he passed Hall of Famer Ron McAnally for sixth all time in earnings at $120,343,848 through June 30. McAnally’s horses have earned $120,123,495. … Another trainer approaching a milestone is Hall of Famer and four-time Kentucky Derby-winner D. Wayne Lukas. Lukas, who has saddled eight winners this meet, has 4,496 for his career through June 30, sixth best all time. The leading trainer all time in money won ($250,703,543), Lukas has two horses entered at Churchill Downs on Wednesday and four on Thursday. 

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) –  Ronald Kirk, John Bates and Michael Riordan’s Run Away and Hide, winner of the May 1 Kentucky Stakes (GIII), worked five furlongs in 1:04.60 over a “fast” track for trainer Ronny Werner on Wednesday. … On Tuesday, Maggi Moss’ Indian Chant tuned up for his engagement in the July 12 Smile Sprint Handicap (GII) at Calder by working a bullet half-mile in :47.40 over a “fast” track for trainer Tom Amoss. … Other Tuesday works of note on the main track were W.S. Farish, Edward Hudson Jr. and Inwood Stable’s Grasshopper, winner of the Mineshaft Handicap (GIII) and fourth in the recent Stephen Foster Handicap (GI), a half-mile in :50.40; Uptown Racing’s Boss Lafitte, winner of Keeneland’s Transylvania Stakes (GIII), a half-mile in :50; and, Briland Farm’s Grace Happens, working toward Sunday’s Locust Grove, a half-mile in :50.40. … In his first work since a runner-up finish in the June 14 Northern Dancer Stakes (GIII), B. Wayne Hughes’ My Pal Charlie worked a half-mile in :52.40 over a “fast” track on Monday. ...  (Turf: FIRM, dogs up) – Heading the roster of Tuesday turf works were several horses that were prepping for closing weekend stakes appearances on the Matt Winn Turf Course.  Zayat Stables’ River City Handicap (GIII) winner Thorn Song breezed a half-mile in :50.60 in advance of his run in Friday’s Firecracker. … Peter Bradley’s Locust Grove contender Tears I Cry breezed a half-mile in :51.20. … Jacks or Better Farm’s Distaff Turf Mile (GIII) winner Bayou’s Lassie breezed a half-mile in :52 for the Locust Grove. … Runnymede Farm’s Locust Grove contender Meribel worked five-eighths in 1:01.40.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

         Through Sunday, June 29

 

Jockeys                          Starts   1-2-3

 

Robby Albarado                  248  64-36-31

Miguel Mena                       321   57-47-46

Julien Leparoux                  284   51-54-49

Jamie Theriot                     254   46-35-34

Calvin Borel                        265  43-39-38

Shaun Bridgmohan             198   41-36-25

Jesus Castanon                   236   26-25-28

Corey Lanerie                    205   18-26-26

Brian Hernandez Jr.            184   15-29-19

John McKee                       142   12-21-20

Trainers

Tom Amoss                       75   30-13-12

Steve Asmussen                128  29-22-18

Ken McPeek                        70    26-12-6

Mike Maker                        61    17-13-9

Dale Romans                    132   15-27-23

Ian Wilkes                          48    14-12-7

Eddie Kenneally                  61   12-10-10

Cody Autrey                       54     9-9-11

Greg Foley                          61     9-9-8

Todd Pletcher                     47      9-5-7

Bret Calhoun                       24     9-2-4

Six (6) trainers tied at eight (8) wins     

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey         61   17-10-13

Maggi Moss                         28     12-6-4

Zayat Stables, LLC                50    8-12-11

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein   36     7-7-7

Heflin & Driver Racing           28     5-5-6

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable       17     5-1-0

    Seven (7) owners tied at four (4) wins

 

Frank Calabrese’s Dreaming of Anna lived up to her 1-2 favoritism by cruising to a front-running 2 ½-length victory over Ballymore Lady in the 32nd running of the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs on Saturday afternoon.

In giving jockey Garrett Gomez his third victory in six stakes on the “Stephen Foster Super Saturday” card, Dreaming of Anna covered the mile and a sixteenth on firm turf in 1:42.77 and defeated seven fillies and mares.

Winner of the 2006 Eclipse Award as the nation’s top 2-year-old filly, Dreaming of Anna scored her second victory at Churchill Downs, having taken the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) to clinch her championship in 2006. The 4-year-old homebred daughter of Rahy improved her record on grass to eight victories and three seconds in 11 starts.

Dreaming of Anna shook off some mild early pressure from Street Sounds and was never threatened in winning for the 10th time in 15 starts overall and increasing her bankroll to $1,908,175.
    
Dreaming of Anna returned mutuels of $3, $2.20 and $2.10. Sean Mulryan’s Ballymore Lady rallied for second under Julien Leparoux to return $5.20 and $4. Hurstland Farm’s Kiss With a Twist finished another 1 1/2 lengths back in third under Miguel Mena and paid $5.20 to show.

STAKES QUOTES: EARLY TIMES MINT JULEP HANDICAP

GARRETT GOMEZ (jockey, Dreaming of Anna) – “I got a little pressure early on from Robby (Albarado on Street Sounds), but then she settled into a nice rhythm. I was able to give her a little breather at the half-mile pole and then she came home nicely.”

WAYNE CATALANO (trainer, Dreaming of Anna) – “The Beverly D. (on Aug. 9 at Arlington Park) is one of the races we have targeted for her and after today, obviously she is headed in the right direction. She will leave tomorrow to go back to Chicago.”

EDDIE KENNEALLY (trainer, Ballymore Lady) – “She ran big.  She’s improving and she likes the turf course here.”

(Q: What’s next for her?)
“We’re going to run her here on closing day in the Locust Grove.”

JULIEN LEPAROUX (jockey, Ballymore Lady) – “She ran really good.  We’ve been trying to get her to relax and today she was really relaxed.  She proved that when she relaxes, she can finish good.”

(Q: It was tough to catch Dreaming of Anna on a day like this...)
“She’s a really good filly.  She didn’t go too fast in front and got an easy lead, and it’s tough to come back on one like that.  But my filly made up a lot of ground.”

MIGUEL MENA (jockey, Kiss With a Twist) – “She ran hard.  She tries all the time.  I had a great trip and turning for home I thought I was going to be able to close for the win, but Dreaming of Anna had a lot of horse.  My filly tries hard.  She works hard and every time she runs she gives you 100 percent.”