Elite Squadron

• LEPAROUX STILL TOPS, BUT ALBARADO CLIMBS INTO A TIE
•   GARRETT GOMEZ GETS BELMONT MOUNT ON MACHO AGAIN
•  ELITE SQUADRON ZIPS IN ‘BULLET’ BREEZE FOR ARISTIDES
  

LEPAROUX CLINGS TO TOP SPOT, BUT IS JOINED BY ALBARADO – Julien Leparoux’s bid to lead wire-to-wire in the race for leading jockey of the Spring Meet at Churchill Downs is still alive, but surging Robby Albarado has made it a head-and-head battle for the lead heading into the Memorial Day weekend. 

            Leparoux ended a two-day win drought with a single victory on Friday while Albarado grabbed a pair of victories.  That left the two jockeys tied at the top of the standings with 22 victories each heading into the three-day holiday weekend.

            The leaders were a single victory in front of trio of riders tied for second that includes Calvin Borel, Shaun Bridgmohan and Miguel Mena.

            But despite a slow week that has yielded only two wins in four days of racing, Leparoux remains in the spot that all members of the Churchill Downs would like to occupy.  The 24-year-old Frenchman remains atop the 2008 Spring Meet race after sweeping both the spring and fall riding crowns in 2007.

            The winner of the 2006 Eclipse Award that honored America’s top apprentice rider started the year slowly as he and agent Steve Bass ventured to Californa to test the waters in the talent-laden jockeys’ room at Santa Anita.  The slower than expected business in California sent Leparoux and Bass heading back East for a run at the Fair Grounds before settling back in their comfort zone at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

            Leparoux said he did not lay the proper foundation and make enough connections with West Coast horsemen before attempting that major move. 

            “We didn’t get over there ready – we went over there and didn’t think about some questions,” Leparoux said.  “It was a mistake, but we learned from the mistakes.  So we got back to the Fair Grounds and got back rolling after that.”

            Despite the disappointing experience on the West Coast, Leparoux would not rule out another bid in that racing market sometime down the road.  But he is clearly very happy to be back in Kentucky and pleased with the results in the first month of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet.

            His strong spring at Churchill Downs includes a win aboard West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again in the Derby Trial.  That colt came back to run second in the Preakness (GI) to unbeaten Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Big Brown to give Leparoux his closest brush with Triple Crown success.  Last fall he notched his first Breeders’ Cup victory with a win aboard Nownownow in the inaugural $1 million Juvenile Turf over the soggy grass course at Monmouth Park.

            “It’s always good to ride those big races – it’s very exciting,” he said.  “The win in the Breeders’ Cup was a special moment.  My mom was here and it was very good.”

            Leparoux was scheduled aboard seven mounts on Saturday’s racing program at Churchill Downs, while Albarado was named on eight horses.

                        “We’re going to try,” said Leparoux.  “We’re going to try to end up leading Churchill again.”

 

GOMEZ TO RIDE MACHO AGAIN IN BELMONT – West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again will have a new rider in his expected rematch with unbeaten Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown in the $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 7 at Belmont Park.

Garrett Gomez, the Eclipse Award winner as America’s top jockey in 2007, has been named to replace Julien Leparoux aboard the  3-year-old son of Macho Uno in the 1 ½-mile final jewel of the Triple Crown.

Trainer Dallas Stewart said the decision by West Point Thoroughbreds to give the mount to Gomez should not reflect negatively on Leparoux, who had ridden Macho Again in four of his last five races and had won two of those.

“Julien has done a great job with him,” said Stewart.  “But after talking with (West Point Thoroughbreds’ managing partner) Terry Finley and the owners, it was decision based more on a ‘home court advantage’ for the rider.  Gomez is a New York rider and he knows that mile-and-a-half track.  That’s not taking anything away from Julien or anything, but Gomez rides there every day and he’s going to ride a bunch on the card.

“We’re going up there trying to win it, not that we think we couldn’t win it with Julien,” Stewart said.  “Terry just felt that it would give us a little bit of an edge to have someone that rides there every day.”

Gomez leads the nation’s riders with more than $7.4 million in earnings on the year. 

Macho Again will enter the Belmont Stakes with a career record of 3-3-0 in nine races and earnings of $343,761.

 

ELITE SQUADRON SHARP IN FINAL PREP FOR ARISTIDES – Tom Walters’ Elite Squadron, a “horse for the course” at Churchill Downs and winner of the $250,000-added Churchill Downs Stakes (GII) in his most recent start on Kentucky Derby Day, fired a sharp “bullet” workout on Saturday that indicated he should be ready for a top effort in next Saturday’s $125,000-added Aristides Stakes (GIII).

            The 4-year-old son of Officer covered the distance over a “fast” track in :47.  The move by the James Baker trainee under exercise rider Mick Jenner was the fastest of 47 at  the distance. 

            “He looked great,” said Baker.  “We’re looking forward to it.”

            Elite Squadron has won four consecutive races at Churchill Downs.  His only other victory in 12 career starts came last year in stakes race at Presque Isle Downs.

            Baker’s star is expected to face an elite field in the six-furlong Aristides that includes Summerplace Farm’s 2005 Aristides winner Kelly’s Landing; Maggi Moss’s Indian Chant, the current record-holder for six furlongs; George Bolton, Joan Corrigan and Anthony Beck’s Churchill Downs runner-up Noonmark; Sassafras Racing I, LLC’s Carnacks Choice and Royce S. Jaime Racing Stable’s Esperamos.

Two other stakes races will share Saturday’s racing card with the Aristides.

The 34th running of the $100,000-added Dogwood (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at a mile is expected to attract Savorthetime Stables Alina, runner-up to Eight Belles in the Fantasy (GII) and fourth to Game Face in the La Troienne (GIII); Overbrook Farm’s Honest Pursuit, a sharp allowance winner earlier in the meet for trainer Dallas Stewart; Gary and Mary West’s La Troienne runner-up Keep the Peace; and Fitzhugh LLC’s Hartigan, winner of the Hilltop at Pimlico.   Other possible Dogwood starters include Secret Gypsy, Temper Temper and Tiz to Dream.

The $100,000-added Opening Verse Handicap for 3-year-olds and up on the turf attracted 36 nominees.  Heiligbrodt Racing’s Inca King, winner of the $200,000-added Jefferson Cup (GII) and the $150,000-added Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs, heads the list of prospective starters.  Others possible starters include William S. Farish Jr.s’ Seaside Retreat, who was 10th in the 2006 Kentucky Derby and winner of a recent allowance race for trainer Mark Casse on the Churchill Downs turf; Micheal Jarvis and Ken Smole’s Crested; and Patricia Blass’ Prom Shoes, runner-up in the Peter Pan (GII) at Belmont Park at three and winner of this year’s 5th Season at Oaklawn Park.

Weight assignments for the Opening Verse will be issued on Sunday, May 25.

 

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Edgewood winner Zee Zee breezed four furlong in :51 for trainer Bill Mott. … Cradle Stakes winner Old Man Buck breezed a half-mile in :49.80. … Bold Start breezed five furlongs in 1:00.60.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

          Through Friday, May 23

 

Jockeys                           Starts  1-2-3

Julien Leparoux                  136   22-26-26

Robby Albarado                   91   22-9-10

Calvin Borel                        145  21-18-24

Miguel Mena                       129   21-16-20

Shaun Bridgmohan               89   21-15-11

Jesus Castanon                 101     14-11-8

Jamie Theriot                      86      8-9-9

Larry Sterling, Jr.                 40      6-5-6

Elvis Trujillo                        17       6-2-3

Corey Lanerie                     77       5-13-5

Brian Hernandez, Jr.            65      5-12-7

John McKee                       59       5-10-9

Kent Desormeaux                 31      5-8-6                   

Trainers

Ken McPeek                        30     13-4-3

Steve Asmussen                  50     12-8-9

Tom Amoss                        31      9-6-5

Mike Maker                         24      8-4-2

Ian Wilkes                           19      7-5-3

Dale Romans                       52     6-10-6

Greg Foley                          33       6-6-3

Eddie Kenneally                   27      5-6-6

Steve Margolis                     19      5-3-3

 Four (4) trainers tied with four (4) wins

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey         24      8-3-4

Zayat Stables, LLC                24      5-5-3

Maggi Moss                         14     5-2-3

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein   17     4-3-1

Padua Stables                       6       4-1-0

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable       7       4-0-0

    Three owners tied with three (3) wins

 

 

 

•  DENIS OF CORK EYES BELMONT, SET FOR MONDAY WORK
•  ELITE SQUADRON TARGETS CHURCHILL’S ARISTIDES
•  BRASS HAT FIRES ‘BULLET,’ SET FOR LOUISVILLE ‘CAP ON TURF

 

KENTUCKY DERBY THIRD-PLACE FINISHER DENIS OF CORK EYES BELMONT, SET FOR MONDAY WORK – Mr. and Mrs. William Warren’s Denis of Cork, a fast-closing third in the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), is ready to get back to serious work in preparation for a bid for the $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI) three weeks from today.

            The son of Harlan’s Holiday galloped on Saturday at Churchill Downs and trainer David Carroll said Denis of Cork is set for his first post-Derby work on Monday.

            “The last few days he’s really beginning to get back to himself,” Carroll said.  “I really haven’t been able to do too much with him with the weather that we’ve had and the wet tracks.  I’ve just been very careful with him.”

            Denis of Cork was last, some 19 lengths off the lead, in the early stages of the Kentucky Derby.  He was still 13th with a half-mile to run, but rallied strongly in the stretch to comfortably gain third.  He was beaten 8 ¼ lengths by the unbeaten Big Brown in the “Run for the Roses,” and was 3 ½ lengths behind the filly Eight Belles, the ill-fated runner-up.

            The Kentucky Derby was only the fifth career start for Denis of Cork, who was coming off the only poor effort of his career in a fifth-place effort in the Illinois Derby (GII), where he finished 8 ½-lengths behind the victorious Recapturetheglory, who would finish fifth behind Big Brown on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

            “He’s a big, tall, narrow horse that doesn’t take a whole lot of training, so I can get away with missing some training,” Carroll said.  “He’s been out there jogging around.  He galloped today and we plan to gallop tomorrow and then we’ll do a little work on Monday.  We won’t do a whole lot, but then we’ll get more serious with him.” 

            Denis of Cork won his first three starts and will be looking to snap a two-race losing streak in the Belmont.  Carroll’s colt could be bidding to stop a bid for the Triple Crown by Big Brown, the heavy favorite in today’s Preakness (GI) at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course.

            “It’ll be very interesting to watch the Preakness today and if Big Brown can win the race it’ll lead to a great Belmont.  We’ll have a horse going for the Triple Crown, and (Grade II Peter Pan winner) Casino Drive in the race.  We’d be happy to be a part of it.”

            The Kentucky Derby run by Denis of Cork marked Carroll’s first participation in the Triple Crown as a trainer – but he has had some luck in the Belmont.  The Irish-born trainer was the regular exercise rider for Easy Goer, the runner-up to Sunday Silence in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 1989.  The Shug McGaughey trainee avenged those Triple Crown losses to his rival with an easy victory in the Belmont Stakes.

ELITE SQUADRON WORKS, EYES ARISTIDES ‘CAP – Tom Walters’ Elite Squadron, a romping winner of the $250,000-added Churchill Downs Stakes (GII) on Kentucky Derby Day, continued to display sharp form on Saturday with a work that trainer James Baker described as an “easy half-mile.”

            The four-furlong move over a “fast” surface by the 4-year-old son of Officer actually turned out to be one of the fastest moves of the day.  He covered the distance under exercise rider Mick Jenner in :48.40 – which ranked as the third-fastest out of 50 works during the morning at that distance.

            “I guess that counts as ‘easy’ for him,” said Baker.  “I told Mick to sit on him as much as possible.”

            The fast work is further testament to the talent displayed over the winter and spring by the 4-year-old colt, who won the seven-furlong Churchill Downs by 4 ½ lengths under jockey John Velazquez.  Elite Squadron had just missed in his prior start when he was caught on the wire by Rebellion in the Commonwealth (GII) at Keeneland.  Prior to that outing Baker’s colt had finished a distant third to the brilliant Commentator in the Richter Scale at Gulfstream Park.

            “He’s always been fast and good,” said Baker.  “I think he relishes the cooler weather.  I think that and maturity have helped him develop this year.”

            Baker has decided to keep Elite Squadron at home at Churchill Downs – where the colt has won four of six career starts – and run next in the $125,000-added Aristides (GIII) at six furlongs on May 31.  That race is expected to draw such horses as Summerplace Farm’s Kelly’s Landing, winner of the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) in 2007 and a track record-setting winner of the Aristides in 2005, and Maggi Moss’ Indian Chant, the current holder of the six-furlong record who defeated Kelly’s Landing in an allowance race here last Sunday.

            If all goes well, Baker could end up pointing Elite Squadron toward the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI), which will be run at Oak Tree Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

            “We’ll keep him here for the Aristides because he really loves this track,” said Baker.  “We’ll look at the Breeders’ Cup if he shows he’s good enough.  We think he could be.  He’s doing well and he ran a big race on Derby Day.  He’s run well on Polytrack and any kind of track.”

            Santa Anita currently has a Cushion Track surface, although that could change by the time the Breeders’ Cup rolls around as the track assesses the performance of that course during its winter meet.

            His victory in the Churchill Downs was the first graded stakes win of Elite Squadron’s career.  He had won a minor stakes race on the synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs in September.  His overall record now stands at 5-1-1 in 12 races with earnings of $433,706.           

BRASS HAT FIRES ‘BULLET’ WORK, SET FOR TURF RUN IN LOUISVILLE ‘CAP – Fred Bradley’s homebred millionaire Brass Hat tuned up for a run in next week’s $150,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII) on turf with a sharp breeze over the main track on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

            The 7-year-old gelding, who has been something shy of an outstanding work horse throughout his career, covered five furlongs over a “fast” surface on Saturday in 1:00.  Jockey Calvin Borel, who will ride Brass Hat in the 1 ½-mile Louisville, was aboard for the move that was the fastest 50 workouts at the distance.

            “He started out nice and easy – he went the first eighth in :13 – so he picked it up pretty good,” said trainer William “Buff” Bradley, the owner-breeder’s son.

            Brass Hat has run most of his best races on dirt, including a victory in the Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park in 2006, the New Orleans Handicap (GII) and Massachusetts Handicap last year, and runner-up finishes in the 2007 Clark Handicap (GII) at Churchill Downs and the $5 million Dubai World Cup (GI) in 2006.  He was disqualified from the latter because of a medication violation. 

            The veteran has yet to win in four races on the grass, but he finished a good third to Dancing Forever in the $200,000 Elkhorn (GII) at Keeneland last time out.

            “We put him on the grass trying to change things up with him,” said Bradley.  “He can run on grass or dirt, it doesn’t really matter.  It just kind of looked like this was the next spot for him, and then we’ll go from here.  We just feel like he likes the grass and we want to prove that he can run on the grass.”

            Brass Hat has yet to win in three races this year and his run in the Louisville will end a string of 18 races in which he had been ridden by jockey Willie Martinez, who is spending the summer at Delaware Park.  Brass Hat’s career record stands at 8-5-1 in 24 starts with earnings of $1,753,819.

            The veteran gelding has raced twice on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course.  He ran fourth as a 3-year-old behind eventual turf champion Kitten’s Joy in the 2004 renewal of the Crown Royal American Turf (GIII).  He then finished seventh in a November, 2005 allowance race that marked Brass Hat’s return to racing following a 13-month layoff because of a leg injury.           

BARN TALK – Two fillies who competed in the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) won by Brereton C. Jones’ Proud Spell turned in workouts on Saturday at Churchill Downs.  Koolmen Racing Stable LLC’s A to the Croft, seventh in the Oaks, breezed five furlongs in 1:02 for trainer Ken McPeek.   Lloyd DeBruycker’s Rasierra, eighth in the Oaks, covered the same distance for trainer Ray Tracy, Jr. in 1:05.60. … Leading jockey Julien Leparoux left Louisville with a 20-17 lead over Miguel Mena in the race for riding honors in Churchill Downs’ 52-day Spring Meet.  Leparoux is at Pimlico on Saturday to ride Derby Trial winner Macho Again in the Preakness.  Mena, a 21-year-old native of Peru, was scheduled to ride in nine of Saturday’s 10 races at Churchill Downs. Mena collected one victory on Friday’s racing program, while Leparoux was shut out. … Nominations close at midnight (EDT) on Saturday, May 17 for a trio of stakes races to be run at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 31.  Those races are the $125,000-added Aristides (GIII) at six furlongs for 3-year-olds & up, the $100,000-added Dogwood (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at a mile, and the $100,000-added Opening Verse for 3-year-olds & up at 1 1/16 miles on turf.  Information is available by calling Churchill Downs Racing at (502) 636-4470 or on the Web at www.churchilldowns.com.

            2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

          Through Friday, May 16 Jockeys                           Starts  1-2-3

Julien Leparoux                  108   20-17-19

Miguel Mena                        91    17-13-16

Shaun Bridgmohan               64    14-10-7

Robby Albarado                   70     14-7-8

Calvin Borel                        106  13-14-19

Jesus Castanon                    73     13-6-4

Jamie Theriot                      65       7-5-5

Kent Desormeaux                 31       5-8-6

Larry Sterling, Jr.                 31       5-4-5

Brian Hernandez, Jr.            51       4-8-5

John McKee                        46        4-7-9

Trainers

Steve Asmussen                  39      9-6-6

Tom Amoss                        23      9-5-4

Ken McPeek                         20      9-2-1

Mike Maker                         17      6-2-1

Greg Foley                          28       6-5-1

Eddie Kenneally                   24      5-6-5

Ian Wilkes                           16      5-4-3

Ronny Werner                     14      3-4-3

Bill Mott                              20       3-3-4

Steve Margolis                     15      3-3-3

Nick Zito                             12       3-2-1

John Fahey III                      7       3-1-2

Robert O’Connor                   7        3-1-2

Bobby Frankel                     10       3-1-1

Mark Casse                         10        3-0-0

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey         19      7-2-2

Maggi Moss                          8       5-1-2

Padua Stables                      5        4-0-0

    Four (4) owners tied with three (3) wins