Firecracker Handicap

GRADE I WINNER DUBLIN MAKES RETURN IN ALLOWANCE ON SATURDAY – Robert Baker and William Mack’s Dublin will make his long awaited return to competition for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas in a 6 ½-furlong allowance race on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

It will be the first start for the 4-year-old son of Afleet Alex since finishing fifth in the 2010 edition of the Grade I Preakness to eventual 3-year-old champion Lookin At Lucky.

Dublin, winner of the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga in 2009, was taken out of training following the second jewel of the Triple Crown to have a chip removed from his ankle, but Lukas said the colt is fully recovered from the injury.

“Dr. (Larry) Bramlage removed the chip from his ankle and also noticed another spot on his cannon bone,” Lukas said. “He (Dr. Bramlage) told us to give the horse as much time off as possible, so we gave him the rest of the year off.”

A $525,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase, Dublin returned to the racetrack in January and began training at Oaklawn Park prior to coming to Churchill Downs at the beginning of the spring meet. The Kentucky-bred has been quite impressive in the mornings over the historic track and has recorded four “bullet” works since May 14, including a four-furlong breeze on May 28 in :46.80, which was the fastest of 69 workers at the distance that morning.

“He’s doing really well and has worked great over the track,” Lukas said.  “He’s also been leaving the gate really well. He used to have some trouble out of the gate, but that’s all gone now.”

Dublin, who was seventh in the 2010 Grade I Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands to WinStar Farm’s Super Saver, will be making his fourth start at Churchill Downs and is still searching for his first victory beneath the Twin Spires. Lukas hopes for success on Saturday and that Dublin will return to race at the Louisville track at least once more this fall.

“I don’t think he’s a 6 ½-furlong rocket by any means, but I do think this will give him something to build on and he’ll go on to something bigger,” Lukas said. “The ultimate goal is the (Breeders’ Cup) Dirt Mile in the fall. That’s where we would like to end up.

“This race isn’t a ‘make or break’ deal; it’s just something to get him started,” Lukas said.

Another starter from the 2010 Kentucky Derby is also in the field. Vinery Stables LLC and Mrs. Susan Roy’s Awesome Act, winner of the Grade III Gotham at Aqueduct in March of 2010, will look to right the ship after a disappointing fifth-place finish as the even-money favorite in a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Churchill Downs on June 12. A 4-year-old ridgling by Awesome Again, Awesome Act finished 19^th in the 136^th running of the Kentucky Derby and went to the sidelines with an injury after the race.

Also in the field is Mimicry Partnership’s Grand Traverse, a stakes winning earner of $361,499. An 8-year-old gelded son of Pioneering, Grand Traverse was most recently second beaten a nose in a $50,000 claiming event at five furlongs on a sloppy main track at Churchill Downs on May 15 for trainer Tim Glyshaw.

The allowance optional claiming event is scheduled to be run as Race 11 of 13 with a post time of 5:55 p.m. EDT. Neither Dublin nor Awesome Act are entered for a tag; however, Grand Traverse will have a claiming price of $62,500.

NICKS SENDING TWO TO FIRECRACKER, SEEKING FIRST CD STAKES WIN – Last Saturday veteran trainer Garry Simms recorded his first Churchill Downs stakes victory with Barry King’s Flashy Lassie in Churchill Downs’ Debutante (GIII). Now Ralph Nicks, another trainer based at the Louisville track, will attempt to follow Simms’ lead and collect his first stakes win beneath the Twin Spires in Monday’s 21^st running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) Presented by GE.

The 44-year-old native of Avery, Texas will saddle El Caballo for James Spence and Joshua Reynolds for Dr. John Chandler. Both horses were assigned to carry 114 pounds in the one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up by Racing Secretary Ben Huffman.

El Caballo, a 7-year-old son of El Corredor, will enter the Firecracker off a 10^th place finish in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi (GI) on June 11. It will be the first start on the turf for El Caballo since running sixth in the Grade II Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds on March 27, 2010; however, Nicks does not expect the change of surface to be an issue.

"He can run on both surfaces and he’s always run well on the grass,” Nicks said.

The biggest victory of El Caballo’s career came on turf in the Grade III Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap at Fair Grounds last January. His career record stands at 7-5-0 from 18 starts; including three wins from seven starts on the turf and two victories over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Joshua Reynolds, a 4-year-old son of Royal Academy, will enter the Firecracker with a three-race win streak and most recently took a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Keeneland on April 13 at odds of 22-1.

“He keeps improving and he’s shown a lot of promise his whole life,” Nicks said. “It’s a big step, but it seems like the right time to make it. It’ll be a good measuring stick of where he needs to go from here.”

Joshua Reynolds has raced exclusively on turf and has a career record of 3-1-0 from seven starts with earnings of $81,185. His record includes one start over the Matt Winn Turf Course, which was his career debut and he finished fourth.

The field for the Firecracker Handicap in post position order from the rail out (with jockey, weight), includes: General Quarters (Jamie Theriot, 119), Omniscient (Manoel Cruz, 113), Mister Marti Gras (Shaun Bridgmohan, 115), El Caballo (Corey Lanerie, 114), Mystic (Jesus Castanon, 114), Joshua Reynolds (Brian Hernandez Jr., 114), Baryshnikov (Julien Leparoux, 117), Plutonium (James Lopez, 112), Strike Impact (Robby Albarado, 117), Wise Dan (Jon Court, 115) and Lubash (Kent Desormeaux, 115).

STRIKE IMPACT ‘NEVER LOOKED BETTER,’ READY FOR FIRECRACKER BID – Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, who for most of his career has been part of a one-horse will not be the only horse representing the hopes of a small operation in Monday’s  Firecracker Handicap Presented by GE (GII).  Trainer and co-owner Pat Dupuy’s Strike Impact will also carry that distinction in Monday’s Grade II, $175,000 event, which is the featured 10^th Race on closing day of the 38-day Spring Meet.

General Quarters is one of two horses in the McCarthy stable; however, Strike Impact, a 7-year-old gelded son of Smart Strike, is the lone horse in the barn of the 53-year-old Dupuy, who began training in 1978. Co-owned with Dupuy by Chester Miller, Strike Impact will enter the Firecracker off back-to-back victories in allowance races over the Matt Winn Turf Course this spring.

“He’s had five weeks off, he’s training well and he’s never looked better than he does right now,” said Dupuy, who is the husband of Jennie Rees, turf writer for the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Strike Impact will seek his first stakes victory in the Firecracker, as will Dupuy, who had his first stakes starter in last year’s Claiming Crown Jewel, where Strike Impact finished third. Earlier this year, Strike Impact made his graded stakes debut in the Grade III Shakertown at Keeneland and finished fifth to Melnyk Racing Stables Inc.’s Stratford Hill.

“After Robby (Albarado) rode him at Keeneland, he told me that he belonged with those horses,” Dupuy said. “I know it’s a big step up, but he has a lot of try in him and it’s going to take a good horse to beat him.”

Strike Impact has won 16 races during a career that began in October of 2006 and four of those wins have come over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

“He really loves this course,” Dupuy said. “He’s won four times out of six races and was second once to a really nice horse (Inca King).” Inca King is a graded-stakes winner with $829,646 in career earnings. His biggest win came in the Grade II Jefferson Cup at Churchill Downs in 2007.

Strike Impact has a career record of 16-5-8 from 54 starts and earnings of $465,860. He will break from post position nine in the field of 11 for the Firecracker.

BARN TALK – A Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge Qualifying Tournament will take place at Churchill Downs on Sunday, July 3. Registration will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Champions Club Lounge. The entry fee is $100 per entry and the tournament is limited to 400 entries with a limit of three per person. The winner will receive entry to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge ($10,000 value) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4-5, 2011. Consolation prize money will be paid to the top eighth finishers.

Mike Tarp’s Tarpy’s Goal will not run in Saturday’s Bashford Manor in favor of the Grade II Futurity at Belmont Park on Sunday. “When you look at the two sets of past performances, it was really a no brainer to ship up there,” trainer Dale Romans said. …

The field for the 110^th running of the Bashford Manor from the rail out with jockey and weight includes Laurie’s Rocket (Brian Hernandez Jr., 116), Lil Cherokee (Miguel Mena, 120), Power World (Corey Lanerie, 118), Exfactor (Calvin Borel, 118), Chalybeate Springs (Jesus Castanon, 116), Bonaparte (Jon Court, 118), Sum of the Parts (Leandron Goncalves, 118), Hot Speed (Robby Albarado, 120), Tarpy’s Goal (Kent Desormeaux, 118), Green Mouse (Manoel Cruz, 118) and Friscan (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118). …

The 3^rd Annual Horsemen’s Golf Scramble at Glenmary’s Country Club on Monday, Aug. 29. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and the cost is $100 per player with four players to a team. Lunch will also begin at 11 a.m. and the shotgun start is at 12:30 p.m. Those interested may pick up a form from The Backside Learning Center and return it by Friday, Aug. 12. …

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockey over the last five racing days (June 19-30) is Julien Leparoux (14-for-37). Eddie Kenneally (5-for-12) and Mike Maker (4-for-8) are the hottest trainers over the same period. Windmill Manor Farm (2-for-3), Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey (2-for-5) and Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. (2-for-10) are the hottest owners.

WEATHER – Friday: mostly sunny, 89. Saturday: mostly sunny and hot, 95. Sunday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 92. Monday: partly sunny with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 89. Tuesday: mostly sunny, 90. Wednesday: mostly sunny with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 92. Thursday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 89.

FIRECRACKER HOPE WISE DAN SHARP IN FIRST GRASS WORK– Trainer Charles Lopresti made the trip west on Interstate 64 from his Lexington base Tuesday morning with Morton Fink’s homebred Wise Dan Tuesday morning to give the 4-year-old son of Wiseman’s Ferry an important test.

Lopresti traveled to Churchill Downs to see how Wise Dan would handle Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course during half-mile work.  If the versatile gelding performed well, he could earn a start in Monday’s 21^st running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII).

Wise Dan zipped around the “dogs” on the firm course in: 48.80 – the second-fastest time among nine works at the distance on a sunny morning.  And, in Lopresti’s view, Wise Dan passed Tuesday’s test and is much closer to making a racing debut on turf on Monday.

“He worked awful good this morning,” Lopresti said.  “That was his first time on the grass.  He finished up real strong – I think he came home the last quarter in something like :23 (seconds) and change.  He really wasn’t sure what to do down the backside because he’d never been on it before.

“I’m going to talk Mr. Fink about it and, if he comes out of this breeze good, we’re seriously considering it.”

Jockey Jon Court was aboard for the work and Lopresti said he would get the call if Wise Dan makes his turf racing debut in the Independence Day race.

“All we wanted to really do is see what he felt like when he kicked it down the lane,” Lopresti said.  “Jon eased him up.  He said he would have gone a lot further than that, but I told him don’t go too far because I wanted to leave something left in the tank in case we decided to run.”

Wise Dan has a career record of 4-0-0 in nine races, all on synthetic or dirt courses and highlighted by a victory in last fall’s $175,000-added Phoenix (GIII) over Keeneland’s Polytrack surface.  He finished sixth, beaten only 2 ½ lengths by Big Drama, in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) at Churchill Downs and closed out his 2010 season with a one-mile allowance win over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs.

Wise Dan has not won in three starts this year, but two were strong efforts in the forth-place finishes to Aikenite in the Commonwealth (GII) at Keeneland and in a stakes-quality allowance race on the Churchill Downs dirt in which Firecracker contender General Quarters finished second.

GENERAL QUARTERS HAS EASY MAINTENANCE MOVE – Owner-trainer Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters took an easy trip around Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course in his final prep for Monday’s Firecracker Handicap.

The 5-year-old son of Sky Mesa cruised four furlongs around the dogs on a firm course in :52.20.  The move under jockey Jamie Theriot was the slowest of eight at the distance, and McCarthy could not have been happier with it.

“We went off extra slow and finished a little faster,” McCarthy said.  “I didn’t want to take too much out of him.  I told Jamie I wanted him to go between :50 and :52, and he went :52.”

General Quarters, a Grade I winner over the Matt Winn Turf Course in the 2010 renewal of the $500,000-added Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, looms as the likely starting high weight in the one-mile Firecracker at 119 pounds.  He is coming off a runner-up finish to multiple stakes winner Native Ruler at seven furlongs on dirt, a race that was General Quarters’ first since a seventh-place run behind upset winner Debussy and eventual 2010 turf champion Gio Ponti the Arlington Million (GI) in late August.

Theriot was aboard General Quarters for his comeback race and will have the mount on Monday.  McCarthy’s star brings a record of 4-8-2 in 22 races and earnings of $1,178,200 into the featured event on Monday’s final program of the 38-day Spring Meet.

FIRERACKER CONTENDERS MISTER MARTI GRAS, BARYSHNIKOV, FLAT OUT WORK – Trainer Chris Block confirmed that Lothenbach Stables LLC’s Mister Marti Gras is “definite” to run in Monday’s Firecracker after a four-furlong work on the grass on Tuesday.

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan was aboard as the 4-year-old Belong to Me gelding covered the distance in an easy :51.80.  Bridgmohan has the Firecracker mount on Mister Marti Gras, whom he piloted to a one-mile allowance win over the Churchill Downs turf on June 3.

Jeffrey Columbro and Connie Apostelos’ Baryshnikov, runner-up to Paddy O’Prado in Pimlico’s Dixie Handicap (GII), completed his serious training for the Firecracker with a five-furlong move on the six-furlong dirt course at Churchill Downs’ Trackside Training Center.  The Mike Maker-trained son of Empire Maker covered the distance over a fast surface in 1:03.20.

Julien Leparoux is scheduled to ride Baryshnikov, who has won five of his last seven races in a string that started with a $15,000 claiming race over Polytrack at Turfway Park on Dec. 12.  He won an allowance race on the turf at Keeneland prior to his run in the Dixie, where Baryshnikov had a three-length late in mid-stretch before he was run down by Paddy O’Prado in the final race of that Grade I winner’s career.

Preston Stable LLC’s Flat Out, sixth to Pool Play on dirt in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI), tuned up for his possible turf debut in the Firecracker with a four-furlong work in :50.20 over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Jockey Corey Lanerie was in the saddle for the move by the 5-year-old Flatter, who has a career record of 3-1-0 in eight races on traditional dirt surfaces.

BARN TALK –Frank L. Jones Jr.’s Tapitsfly, the Dale Romans-trained winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2009, breezed a half-mile in :50.60 under exercise rider Tammy Fox.  The daughter of Tapit finished third in the recent Early Times Mint Julep (GIII). … Trainer Neil Howard gave two of his talented 3-year-olds a look on the turf Tuesday morning.  Courtlandt Farm’s Prime Cut, 11^th in the Belmont Stakes (GI), breezed four furlongs in :48.60.  That move was the fastest of eight at the distance.   Gallardia Racing LLC’s Wilkinson, winner of the Lecomte (GIII), breezed three furlongs for Howard in :37.30. … Lil Bit O’Fun, winner of the recent Oliver Stakes at Indiana Downs for trainer Tom Proctor, breezed four furlongs on turf in :50.80. … Multiple stakes winner Demarcation breezed four furlongs in :53.20 over a fast main track for trainer Paul McGee. … Vinery Stables LLC’s and Mrs. Susan Roy’s 2010 Gotham (GIII) winner  Awesome Act, 19^th in last year’s Kentucky Derby and a disappointing fifth in a June 12 allowance race at Churchill Downs, breezed four furlongs on dirt in :49 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

 GET STORMY ASSIGNED HIGH WEIGHT FOR FIRECRACKER HANDICAP – Dual Grade I winner Get Stormy has been assigned the high weight of 123 pounds by Churchill Downs racing secretary Ben Huffman for the 21^st running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (Grade II) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course on Monday, July 4.

Sullimar Stable’s 5-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic captured the Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland in April for his first Grade I victory and followed that triumph with a winning performance in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) on Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby Day undercard. Get Stormy finished a disappointing third at odds of 4-5 in his most recent start in Monmouth Park’s Monmouth Stakes (GIII).

Estrorace LLC’s Workin for Hops was assigned the next top weight at 120 pounds. A 4-year-old gelded son of City Zip, Workin for Hops was second to Get Stormy in the Maker’s Mark Mile prior to taking the Hanshin Cup Handicap (GIII) over the Polytrack courts at Arlington Park on May 21.

Pam and Marty Wygod’s Courageous Cat and Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, both assigned 119 pounds, are next on Huffman's Firecracker weights.

Courageous Cat, a multiple graded stakes winner with $781,300 in career earnings, won the Poker Stakes (GIII) at Belmont Park on June 10. The was his first race for the Bill Mott-trained Courageous Cat since a third-place finish to turf champion Gio Ponti in the Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland in October.  The 5-year-old son of Storm Cat has five wins from 10 career turf starts.

McCarthy’s General Quarters is the other multiple Grade I winner in the field and is a likely starter for next Monday’s race. A 5-year-old son of Sky Mesa, General Quarters was being pointed to a start in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) following two impressive performances during last year’s Spring Meet.  He won the  Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on turf and followed that with a third-place run behind eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and champion older horse Blame in Stephen Foster (GI) on the main track.

The McCarthy-trained Kentucky-bred was knocked off last year’s Breeders’ Cup trail when he injured his left front leg following a seventh-place finish in the Grade I Arlington Million. General Quarters returned from a near 10-month layoff in a runner-up finish to Maggi Moss’ Native Ruler in a seven-furlong allowance over the main track at Churchill Downs.

Horses under consideration for the Firecracker Handicap (with their trainers, weights) include Baryshnikov (Mike Maker, 117), El Caballo (Ralph Nicks, 114), Flat Out (Scooter Dickey, 114), General Quarters (McCarthy, 117), Lubash (James Ryerson, 115), Mister Marti Gras (Chris Block, 115), Strike Impact (Pat Dupuy, 117), Wise Dan (Charlie Lopresti, 115) and Yankee Injunuity (James McMullen, 115).

FLINT POINTING STONEWAY FARM DUO TO BASHFORD MANOR – Veteran trainer Bernie Flint has a long history of success with young horses and, with four 2-year-old winners so far in the 2011 Spring Meet, he finds history repeating itself this spring at Churchill Downs.

The 71-year-old New Orleans native will attempt to keep that run of success with juveniles going when he saddles the Stoneway Farm duo of Bonaparte and Exfactor in Saturday’s 110^th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor Stakes (GIII).

Bonaparte, a $30,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October sale purchase, won at first asking by 5 ¼ lengths under Jon Court in a May 30 maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs. The son of Touch Gold breezed four furlongs in :51.80 over a sloppy track on Sunday morning in preparation for the Bashford Manor.

“They’ll have to come running to beat Bonaparte,” Flint said.

Exfactor, purchased for $27,000 as a yearling by Stoneway at the FTK October Sale, won his second career start by 4 ½ lengths under Calvin Borel. The son of Exchange Rate finished second to Klaravich Stables Inc. and William Lawrence’s Sum of the Parts, the likely Bashford Manor favorite, in his racing debut.    Exfactor also worked beneath the Twin Spires on Sunday, completing four furlongs in :48.80.

“He (Exfactor)’s a strong, solid horse,” Flint said.

If all goes well in the six-furlong Bashford Manor, Flint expects for Exfactor to be near the lead, while Bonaparte will close from the back of the pack.

“It’ll be an entertaining race and we’ll have some entertainment on the front end and entertainment in the back,” Flint said. “I think that’s how the race will go, but you never know with these baby races.”

Court, who has 19 wins at the spring meet, will ride Bonaparte in the Bashford Manor, while Borel, who has collected 25 victories, has the return call on Exfactor.

Known horses under consideration for the Bashford Manor and their trainers include Backdoor Kenny (James Divito), Bonaparte (Flint), Exfactor (Flint), Friscan (Al Stall Jr.), Green Mouse (William Denzik Jr.), Hot Speed (Ron Moquett), Lil Cherokee (Bret Calhoun), Power World (Neil Howard), Sum of the Parts (Tom Amoss) and Threanddonedan (John Salzman).

SIMMS THINKING BREEDERS CUP WITH DEBUTANTE WINNER – Barry King’s Flashy Lassie, charged down the Churchill Downs stretch Saturday to score a 17-1 upset in the 111^th running of the $109,300 Debutante GIII), came out her first stakes win well and rested in trainer Garry Simms’ barn Sunday morning.

“She came out of the race fine and licked up her feed tub,” Simms said. “We’re doing good and ready to roll.”

The Debutante was the first stakes victory beneath the Twin Spires for the veteran Simms, who hopes now to add several more to that total. One stakes target already on Simms’ long-range radar is the $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Churchill Downs on Friday, Nov. 4.

“The ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup,” Simms said. “I haven’t even thought about where she will run next, but we’ll look for something in about 30 or 40 days.”

Simms, who has waged a battle with melanoma since early 2010, said Saturday’s victory by Flashy Lassie was good medicine.

“All the pain leaves!” Simms said. “There’s nothing like winning a horse race.”

Flashy Lassie, purchased by Simms for $4,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October, increased her bankroll to $77,211 with the first-place check she picked up in the Debutante.  Her stakes victory came in just the second start for the Kentucky-bred daughter of first-year sire Flashy Bull. She launched her career with a nine-length romp in a $20,000 maiden-claiming event at Churchill Downs on May 13.

BARN TALK – Churchill Downs-based trainer Steve Margolis, whose Barn 23 suffered the most severe damage in Wednesday’s tornado, won the Grade III Iowa Oaks with Little Miss Holly on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows for Al Gold’s Gold Square. “She (Little Miss Holly) was in Barn 23, but was not here for the storm,” Margolis said. “She flew up there on Wednesday morning so she just missed it.” …

Through the June 11 racing program at Churchill Downs, Corey Lanerie was leading the jockey standings with 34 wins from 145 mounts and Julien Leparoux was in third with 23 wins from 120 mounts. From that point Leparoux has been on a torrid streak and has won with 19 of his 44 mounts since June 12.  Lanerie is only 5-for-54 from the same date. …

With two more winners on Saturday, jockey Robby Albarado now holds sole position of third place in career wins at Churchill Downs. Albarado, who has 927 victories beneath the Twin Spires, was tied for third with Hall of Famer Don Brumfield entering Saturday’s action. …

Courtlandt Farms’ Machen, winner of the $200,000-added The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII) at Churchill Downs on April 30, will be pointed to the Grade II Amsterdam at Saratoga on August 1 according to trainer Neil Howard. “We’ll see how it goes and then hopefully go in the King’s Bishop (Grade I at Saratoga on Aug. 27). …

Sunday’s card at Churchill Downs will feature a Pick 6 carryover of $98,241. The Pick 6 will begin with Race 5 at 2:51 p.m. EDT. …

Churchill Downs will not make up Thursday’s lost day of racing, but additional races will be added to the programs next week, which is the final week of the spring meet. Three races will be added Thursday, two races Friday, two races Saturday (July 2), and one race Sunday (July 3). No races will be added to the Monday, July 4, program. …

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockey over the last five racing days (June 17-25) is Julian Leprous (15-for-35). Ken McGee (6-for-12) is the hottest trainer over the same period. Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. (2-for-6) is the hottest owner.

WORKTAB – Columbine Stable’s O.K.’s Thunder, winner of the Grade I Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland prior to a ninth place finish in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his most recent start, worked four furlongs in :50.40 over a sloppy track on Sunday morning at Churchill Downs for trainer Al Stall Jr. “We’re slowly getting him back, but he’s still a month or two away from making a start,” Stall said.

Robert Baker and William Mack’s Dublin, winner of the Grade I Hopeful who scratched out of the Kelly’s Landing stakes on Friday night, worked five furlongs in 1:02 Sunday morning for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Chasing Dreams Racing 2008 LLC’s Noble’s Promise, winner of the Grade III Aristides at Churchill Downs in his most recent start, worked five furlongs in 1:02.80 for trainer Ken McPeek.

WEATHER – Sunday: cloudy with a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 82. Monday: partly sunny with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 90. Tuesday: partly sunny with a 40% chance of thunderstorms, 89. Wednesday: mostly sunny, 87. Thursday: mostly sunny, 90. Friday: sunny and hot, 93. Saturday: mostly sunny, 93.

Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu took the lead out of the gate and was never headed to win the 20th running of the $205,625 Firecracker Handicap (Grade II) by 1 ½ lengths over Public Speaker on Sunday to close out the 42-day Spring Meet at Churchill Downs and ruin the return of 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird who finished eighth in his turf debut.

Trained by Greg Fox and ridden by Jesus Castanon, Tizdejavu ran the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:35.98, the fastest time of the meet at the distance. It was Tizdejavu’s fifth victory in six starts over the Matt Winn Turf Course with the only setback coming in a fifth-place finish in last year’s Firecracker.

Tizdejavu, now three-for-three in 2010, opened a daylight advantage the first time past the wire and led the field through uncontested fractions of :23.20, :45.94 and 1:09.73. At the head of the stretch, Tizdejavu kicked clear by 2 ½ lengths and was three lengths on top at the eighth pole and had more than enough left in the tank to hold off Public Speaker.

The victory was worth $116,016 and increased Tizdejavu’s earnings to $693,153 with a record of 16-8-3-2. The Firecracker was the fourth stakes victory at Churchill Downs for Tizdejavu, who won the American Turf (GIII) and Jefferson Cup (GII) in 2008 and took the Opening Verse earlier this meet.

Tizdejavu is a 5-year-old homebred son of Tiznow out of the Dixie Brass mare Remember When.

Mine That Bird became the first Kentucky Derby winner to return to race at Churchill Downs since 2005 Derby victor Giacomo finished fourth in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). Mine That Bird, ridden by Calvin Borel and carrying top weight of 122 pounds, trailed the field of 14 through the first half-mile and had only one horse beat turning for home before passing four rivals in the stretch to finish less than eight lengths behind Tizdejavu.

Tizdejavu, carrying second high weight of 119 pounds, returned $10.20, $5 and $3.60 as the second choice. Public Speaker, ridden by Robby Albarado, paid $4.60 and $3.80 and finished a nose in front of Inca King, who paid $4.20 to show under Victor Lebron.

Veiled Prophet finished fourth another 1 ¼ lengths back and was followed in order by Unbridle’s Dream, Skipadate, Wise River, Mine That Bird, Pop Tarrt, Attempted Humor, Driving Snow (GB), Baryshnikov, Euroears and Orthodox.

Borel, who rode three winners on closing day, won his first Spring Meet riding title with 52 victories with Corey Lanerie a distant second with 39 triumphs. Steve Asmussen took leading trainer honors by a 24-19 margin over Dale Romans and Maggi Moss won the leading owner title by sending out nine winners this meet, two more than Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

Racing returns to Churchill Downs on Sunday, Oct. 31 for a 20-day Fall Meet that will be highlighted by the returning of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to the track on Nov. 5 and 6. Simulcast wagering at Churchill Downs will continue through Monday and shift to Trackside Louisville at 4520 Poplar Level Road starting Wednesday, July 7 through Wednesday, Aug. 4 so track officials can prepare the 147-acre facility for the inaugural HullabaLOU Music Festival on July 23-25.

FIRECRACKER HANDICAP QUOTES

JESUS CASTANON (jockey, TIZDEJAVU, winner): “I made him run his own race. I knew there was going to be a lot of pace at the beginning. He was running the race pretty easily. When I asked him to pick it up he just drew away. I knew my horse has a lot of speed so I let him break and tried to get the lead and be clear through the first turn. He’s a very nice horse. I knew through the first turn I was in great shape. He really improves every time he comes to the races; he really has improved a lot. This time he just felt a 110 percent better than last time. Against this type of horses and with his speed he really gives me his best and I know he has plenty still left.”

GREG FOX (trainer, TIZDEJAVU, winner): “This race has been our goal, I mean hypothetically. We ended his season last year on a down note, but the beautiful thing is this is a very, very special horse. Giving him a break, and bringing him back steadily, you saw what he did today. He really threw the gauntlet down on a good group of horses. He’s won from the front on the hedge on (Kentucky) Oaks Day, and the Jefferson Cup. He loves this track and he loves the turns. Every horsemen’s dream (is to go to the Breeders’ Cup). This was a key race for the (Breeders’ Cup) Mile race. We had a great post position. Some of the other speed horses seemed hurt by the big field. (Jockey) Jesus (Castanon) is an incredibly astute rider and took advantage of our post position and of course the horse did the rest. I don’t think we are going to put him on the road this summer.”

ROBBY ALBARADO (jockey, PUBLIC SPEAKER, second): “I had a great trip. Just a nice horse beat me today. He ran hard.”

CALVIN BOREL (jockey, MINE THAT BIRD, eighth): “He was struggling so much. He kept moving back and forth, back and forth, switching leads. We will see a different horse after this, a totally different horse. He came back real good, jogging good. He was perfect, the horse is doing good. I’m telling you get him on the dirt and you’ll see a different horse.” 

D. WAYNE LUKAS (trainer, MINE THAT BIRD, eighth): “His first start back wasn’t a successful one, but I thought he would handle the turf a lot better than what he did. He didn’t handle it that well. I thought the first time by the grandstand he was climbing a little bit, and to have him back that far back … He was training too forwardly to have him that far back, but he finished up and got a little more comfortable the last three-eighths. I think it put us in a position to do something better. I was hoping to have a little better result for the owners, but I’m not discouraged that I can get him where I want him. I don’t think we are going to the Arlington Million. The Whitney (Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 7) is our goal. If we could have gotten that allowance race to go, I think it would have been a different story. I didn’t want to ship and we took a shot. It is what it is. I feel very comfortable in the mornings with what I see and we’ll show up in the Whitney.”

CONNECTIONS OF ESPOIR CITY MAKE BREEDERS’ CUP SCOUTING TRIP – There is no time limit on advance planning, and so it was on Saturday morning, four months before the Breeders’ Cup World Championships return to Churchill Downs, that the trainer and jockey of Japanese star Espoir City (JPN) did a little scouting at the home of the Kentucky Derby.

Trainer Akio Adachi and jockey Tetsuzo Sato, accompanied by International Racing Bureau representative Mikki Tsuge and Takashi Toriumi, president and CEO of horse transporter U.S. Equine who served as interpreters, came to Churchill Downs with two horses from trainer Akiko Gothard’s barn at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington.

Sato, who sported a jacket with the inscription “strongest dart hose in Japan, Espoir City, Japan Cup Dart GI, Kashiwa Kinen jpn.I, Mile Champion Nambu Hai jpn.I, jogged one horse before the break and after the break took the second horse to the starting gate before galloping once around.

“It was good to get a feel for things,” said Sato, 39, who visited the jocks’ room and paddock on Friday in his first trip to Churchill Downs and who has room on the jacket to add more victories for Espoir City. 

Adachi, who with Sato flew in to New York on Tuesday and toured Belmont Park before coming to Louisville, recorded most of the morning activity to take back to Japan so the 5-year-old horse’s connections could have an idea of what to expect in the fall.

Espoir City has won six consecutive races and owns a career mark of 19-11-3-1 for earnings of $5,837,885. His first seven races were on turf with only moderate success.

“Tetsuzo started riding him in the morning and observed he was much better on dirt than on grass so we made the switch,” Adachi said.

Since the switch, Espoir City has compiled a record of 12-10-1-0 and at 1 1/8 miles his record is 5-4-1-0. He has yet to race at the Breeders’ Cup Classic distance of 1 ¼ miles.

Adachi says the distance is not a concern nor is the setup of any races as Espoir City has won from on the lead, stalking the pace or from far back.

“He is able to handle all situations and he adjusts to the race,” Adachi said.

Espoir City’s most recent race was the $1,080,000 Kashiwa Kinen on May 5, which he won for the second consecutive year. The tentative plan is for Espoir City to follow the same schedule as last year and run next in the Oct. 10 Mile Champion Nambu Hai and then ship to Churchill Downs the middle of October and have two to three weeks to acclimate before the Breeders’ Cup.

EUROEARS FINDS RIGHT SPOT IN SUNDAY’S FIRECRACKER – Trainer Bret Calhoun hopes to finish the 42-day Spring Meet with a bang this weekend, beginning Saturday with Speed Demon in the Bashford Manor (GIII) Presented by Fasig-Tipton and concluding with Euroears in the Firecracker Handicap (GII) Presented by Thorntons.

Euroears, owned by James and Marilyn Helzer, will be attempting two turns on the turf for the first time in his career in Sunday’s one-mile Firecracker on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

There were no good spots for him,” Calhoun said of the 6-year-old son of Langfuhr. “I was going to run him in Iowa (in the Iowa Sprint Handicap) but that came up too tough for the $125,000 they were running for. The next day was the Arlington Sprint Handicap, but we had Chamberlain Bridge for that, which he won.”
That left the Firecracker, which drew an overflow field of 15 that includes 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) winner Mine That Bird.

"At first, it didn’t look like the race was coming up with a lot of horses, but it filled up fast,” Calhoun said. Euroears will break from post position 11 and carry 115 pounds under Jamie Theriot, who has been aboard for Euroears’ past six starts.

The past two starts have been the first two-turn races of Euroears’ career. He finished second in the Texas Mile (GIII) and third in the Lone Star Park Handicap (GIII) at a mile and a sixteenth.

"I think a mile is about it for him,” Calhoun said. “In the Texas Mile, I feel he could have won with a mile race under his belt and the second time, the Kiaran McLaughlin horse that beat him (Redding Colliery) is a nice horse.”

Euroears has race three times on turf, winning two turf sprints on firm ground at Fair Grounds and finishing eighth on yielding turf at Penn National.

“He handles the turf well,” Calhoun said. “The race in Pennsylvania on the yielding, he couldn’t stand up on it.”

BARN TALK – Ken and Sarah Ramsey, winners of the past five meet-leading owner titles and a record 16 overall (eight Spring and eight Fall), closed the gap on meet leader Maggi Moss when their Grand Stage won Friday’s seventh race. The victory was the sixth of the meet for the Ramseys, who have three horses entered Saturday and six on Sunday.  Moss, who has eight winners at the meet, has an entry in Saturday’s opener for her final starters of the meet. …

Calvin Borel and Steve Asmussen maintained comfortable leads in their bids for leading rider and trainer titles. Borel holds a 47-38 lead over Corey Lanerie after each rider recorded one victory each Friday night. Borel is named on nine mounts Saturday and 10 on Sunday. Lanerie is named on 10 mounts Saturday and eight on Sunday. Asmussen has a 23-18 edge on Dale Romans although Romans trimmed the deficit by one with a double Friday night while Asmussen saddled one winner. Asmussen has two horses entered Saturday and five on Sunday. Romans has three entrants Saturday and seven on Sunday. …

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is traveling a road with Mine That Bird that he did with six years ago with Azeri. The 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) winner is scheduled to make his 2010 debut in Sunday’s Firecracker Handicap Presented by Thorntons (GII) off an eight-month layoff.  “We did the same thing with Azeri. We trained her up to the Apple Blossom (in 2004),” Lukas said of Azeri, who was coming off a little more than a six-month layoff prior to her third Apple Blossom victory, which was her only one under Lukas’ care. “The anticipation level with this horse and Azeri are the same,” Lukas said of having stars make their debuts in his signature white bridles. “You get to work with Grade I quality horses.” …
Robby Albarado rode two winners on Friday night’s card to boost his career total to 885 and into fifth place all time at Churchill Downs, passing Jim McKnight (883). Sitting immediately ahead of Albarado on the all-time victory list is Don Brumfield with 925. …

Shaun Bridgmohan rode two winners Friday night to increase his career Churchill Downs total to 297. Bridgmohan is named on five mounts Saturday and six Sunday in his bid to become the 19th rider to reach 300 victories at Churchill Downs. …

Lewis Lakin’s Pure Clan jogged a mile early Saturday morning in her first appearance at the track since May 6 when she refused to train. The 5-year-old earner of nearly $2 million returned to trainer Bob Holthus’ barn this week after recovering from a bruised left front foot.

WORK TAB – Colonial Turf Cup (GII) winner Paddy O’Prado, third in the Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 before the renovation break over a fast track. After the break, stablemate First Dude, the Preakness (GI) runner-up and third-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes (GI), worked five furlongs in 1:01.60. … Two Eddie Kenneally fillies fired bullets: Eight Belles (GIII) winner Buckleupbuttercup worked a half-mile in :47, best of 45 at the distance, and Inside Information (GII) winner Warbling worked five furlongs in 1:00.20, best of 16 at the distance. …Demarcation, winner of the 2009 Ack Ack Handicap (GIII), worked five furlongs in 1:02.20.

DEBUTANTE WINNER JUST LOUISE FINE AFTER VICTORY – Eldon Farm Equine’s Just Louise was reported to be doing well Sunday morning, the day after her neck victory over Tristanme in the Debutante Stakes (GII)."She is doing good,” said Baldemar Bahena, assistant to trainer Dale Romans.

Romans indicated after the race that Just Louise would be pointed toward stakes action at Saratoga. The first 2-year-old filly stake at Saratoga is the Schuylerville (GIII) on July 23.

Bahena said the Romans horses heading to Saratoga would be leaving Churchill Downs beginning July 15.

Debutante favorite Salty Strike, who was caught in the last jump for second by Tristanme, was also doing well Sunday according to Philip Bauer, assistant to trainer Ken McPeek.

“She’s good this morning and she is tired,” Bauer said. “She ran hard, and to re-break again like she did at the quarter pole, that was pretty good.”

Bauer said the first two trucks shipping McPeek horses to Saratoga would be leave on Thursday with the possibility of Salty Strike being on board one of those trucks.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA, MINE THAT BIRD SET FOR MONDAY WORKS – There will be no racing at Churchill Downs on Monday, but there will still plenty of attention focused on the one-mile main track as 2009 Horse of the Year and Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) are scheduled to work.

Rachel Alexandra, a dominant 10 ½-length winner last out in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis (GII), is scheduled for her final work over her home track before the 4-year-old champion heads to Saratoga on Wednesday.  The Steve Asmussen trainee regularly works in trainer Steve Asmussen’s second set around 6:15-6:30 a.m. (all times EDT).

Mine That Bird continues to prep for his first race since ninth-place finish behind unbeaten Zenyatta in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) on the synthetic Pro-Ride    surface at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, is scheduled to breeze just after the maintenance break at approximately 8:30 a.m. for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.  Jockey Calvin Borel will be in the saddle for Mine That Bird’s move.

Mine That Bird could make his return to competition during the closing weekend of Churchill Downs Spring Meet.  There are two possible races for Mine That Bird: an allowance race 1 1/16-miles on the main track on Saturday, July 3, and the 4-year-old gelding is also nominated to the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on turf on Sunday, July 4.

WISE RIVER’S FIRECRACKER REQUEST: NO RAIN, PLEASE – Trainer Clark Hanna has one, simple request for the weather gods with regard to next Sunday’s 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course: Keep it dry!

Hanna trains Wise River, as solid and consistent a turf performer as there is as long as the course is firm.

“He just doesn’t like yielding turf and you have to hope for the best,” said Hanna, who has been training the 7-year-old Wise River since February 2008. “He is the best horse I have had and the most consistent. I’m a little hard-headed and have run him times I probably shouldn’t have because of yielding turf.”

Under Hanna’s care, Wise River has compiled a record of 12-4-3-1 in two-turn races on firm turf. Overall, the record in such races and conditions is 22-6-6-2 with his largest margin of defeat being only seven lengths in the Grade I Kilroe Mile last year at Santa Anita.

“He shows up every time and is usually 1-2-3,” Hanna said. “I even ran him short (5 ½ furlongs) this winter at New Orleans, which he doesn’t like, because he had no other spot to run and he was third.”
Wise River, a son of Belong to Me, broke his maiden at first asking in a one-mile turf test at Ellis Park. Three races later, Wise River opened his 3-year-old campaign by running second to Barbaro in the Tropical Park Derby (GIII).

At Churchill Downs, Wise River has compiled a record of 11-2-3-2 on the Matt Winn Turf Course and owns the course record for 1 1/16 miles (1:39.83 established April 26, 2009). Wise River’s past two turf starts here have come on yielding courses with typical yielding-course results for him: eighth in this spring’s Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) and sixth in last year’s Firecracker.

Owned by Don Benge, Wise River enters the Firecracker off a victory in the Dallas Turf Cup Handicap at Lone Star Park on May 31.

“He came out of the Texas race fine and I like the space between the races,” Hanna said. “I could have run in the prep for the Firecracker (the Opening Verse on June 11), but this gave us an extra week and a half.”

A week out, everything is looking good for Hanna and Wise River, whose career bankroll is $494,567 with a record of 36-7-10-5.

“The long-term forecast looks decent,” Hanna said. “He likes this track a lot and I’d rather run him here. If he doesn’t run here, I might go to the West Coast for the race the end of next month at Del Mar (the Grade I Eddie Read at 1 1/8 miles on July 24). It stays dry out there.”

ACOMA EXPECTED STARTING HIGH WEIGHT FOR LOCUST GROVE – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma has been assigned 121 pounds by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman for Saturday’s 29th running of the Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) at a mile over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Acoma is expected to be the starting high weight in the race as Hot Cha Cha, assigned 122 pounds, is expected to bypass the Locust Grove for Modesty Handicap (GIII) at Arlington Park on July 17. Hot Cha Cha defeated Acoma by three-quarters of a length in the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) here on June 5 while carrying 120 pounds to 122 for Acoma.

Barbara Hunter’s Keertana, who finished a head in back of Acoma in the Mint Julep while carrying 120 pounds, was assigned 120 for the Locust Grove.

Other probable Locust Grove starters and their weight assignments are Alfred Nuckols Jr.’s Danzon (116), Vegso Racing Stables’ Happiness Is (114) and Magdalena Racing’s My Baby Baby (114).

Considered possible for the race is Hidden Brook’s Quiet Meadow (115).

Entries for the Locust Grove will be taken Wednesday.

BARN TALK – Trainer Bret Calhoun was all smiles Sunday morning after the 4 ½-length victory by Chamberlain Bridge in Saturday’s Arlington Sprint Handicap at 5 ½ furlongs. The race was a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) to be held here Nov. 6. “That’s the long-term goal. Now we figure out the best way to get here,” Calhoun said. “There is a race the end of July at Penn National (the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governors Cup Handicap at five furlongs) and then the Turf Monster ($250,000 on Sept. 6 at five furlongs) that he won last year at Philadelphia Park.” Options in October include the Woodford at Keeneland, a race Chamberlain Bridge won in 2008. …  

Another happy trainer Sunday was Dallas Stewart after his Seeking the Title won the Iowa Oaks (GIII) on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows by a half-length. Seeking the Title had been excluded from the Kentucky Oaks (GI) because of insufficient graded stakes earnings and then lost rider Kent Desormeaux in the Black-Eyed Susan (GII) at Pimlico when she tried to avoid a fallen horse. “We finally got a race without somebody falling down,” Stewart said with a chuckle of Seeking the Title, who had run sixth in the Acorn (GI) in her previous start. “She will go to Saratoga and may run in the Coaching Club of American Oaks (GI) on July 24 if it is not too quick. That’s a mile and an eighth and the further the better for her. She needs more ground and almost didn’t have enough last night.” Stewart also said multiple stakes winner Macho Again was on track to return to Saratoga with the Aug. 7 Whitney Handicap (GI) as his objective. …

Trainer Tom Proctor said that debut maiden winner Well Connected will be heading to Saratoga after his 1 ¾-length victory on Saturday after breaking from post position 12 in the five-furlong sprint. “I think I will look for an allowance race for him around seven furlongs because I don’t want to run him short again at this time,” Proctor said. “The mare (Indy Groove) was precocious and she won from five-eighths to a mile and an eighth.” Well Connected is the first starter for Indy Groove, who ran sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) here for Proctor in 2004.

WORK TAB – Northern Dancer (GIII) winner Colizeo worked a half-mile over a fast track in :48.40. … Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) winner General Quarters worked a half-mile in :49. … Dogwood (GIII) runner-up Tap Tap Tapping worked a half-mile in :50.20 and Jefferson Cup (GIII) winner Gleam of Hope worked a half-mile in :52. Eighth-place Kentucky Derby (GI) finisher Stately Victor work five furlongs at the Trackside Training Center in 1:00 over a fast track.

KUNTZWEILER REVELS IN RETURN TO RACES – It was a walk she had not made in more than 4 ½ years … heading into the paddock to ride at Churchill Downs.

"I was nervous. It felt like the first time,” Greta Kuntzweiler said of her emotions before climbing aboard 70-1 shot Clear Conscience in Thursday’s fifth race.

Then came the post parade beneath the Twin Spires.

“It was just awesome. I forgot how much fun it was,” said Kuntzweiler, whose riding career was put on hold because of legal issues. “I saw a lot of familiar faces and there were people calling my name. It was great.”

Clear Conscience finished last, but Kuntzweiler came back in the next race to ride 54-1 shot Foxy Valley Girl to a fourth-place finish and then just missing in the day’s feature race on Broken Dreams for trainer Tom Proctor.

“I really wish I could have won that one,” Kuntzweiler, 34, said. “It was great that he (Proctor) would put me on a horse like that. Everyone has been very supportive.”

Kuntzweiler is named on one mount Friday and one Saturday. She will ride the remainder of the meet that ends July 4 and then ride at Ellis Park this summer.

FINAL WEEKEND STAKES FIELDS TAKING SHAPE – Kentucky Juvenile (GIII) winner Lou Brissie, owned by Dogwood Stable, is expected to be the headliner next Saturday for the 109th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor (GIII) for 2-year-olds going six furlongs on the main track.

Other colts considered as probable for the race by Churchill Downs officials are Stonestreet Stables’ Kantharos, an 11 3/4-length debut winner on May 13 in the slop, Let’s Go Stable’s Razmataz, a winner here on June 11 in his second start, Carl Moore Management’s Speed Demon, a maiden winner here April 28, Butterfly Stable’s Gold for Cash, a maiden winner here on June 11 in his third start, and Thewayitusedtobe, winner of an Illinois-bred maiden race at Arlington Park on June 4 owned by Jose Gonzalez.

Possible for the race is Dale Wessels’ Vouch for Victory, a first-out maiden winner at Arlington Park on May 20. Entries for the Bashford Manor, won last year by Backtalk, will be taken Wednesday.

ng top billing on July 3 with the Bashford Manor will be the 29th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares three-years-old and up going a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Heading the list of probables are the 2-3 finishers from the June 5 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII): Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma and Barbara Hunter’s Keertana. Other probables include Magdalena Racing’s My Baby Baby, Vegso Racing Stables’ Happiness Is and Alfred Nuckols Jr.’s Danzon.
 Weights for the Locust Grove will be announced Saturday and entries taken Wednesday.

Nine horses are considered as probable for the 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course on July 4, the closing day of the 42-day Spring Meet.

Topping the probables is Don Benge’s Wise River, winner of the Dallas Turf Cup Handicap in his most recent start on May 31. Trained by Clark Hanna, Wise River ran sixth in last year’s Firecracker behind Mr. Sidney in a race contested on yielding turf.

Other probables for the Firecracker include Silverton Hill’s Driving Snow (GB), Marilyn and Jim Helzer’s Euroears, Farnsworth Stables’ Jet Propulsion, Jessica Coudelaria’s Negro Da Gaita (BRZ), Peter Karahalios’ Public Speaker, Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Skipadate, Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu and Mike McCarty’s Unbridle’s Dream.

Possible for the Firecracker is Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Inca King, a six-time winner on the Matt Winn Turf Course and runner-up in last year’s Firecracker.

Weights for the Firecracker are set for Sunday release and entries will be taken Thursday.
        
BARN TALK – With seven racing days left in the 42-day Sprint Meet, one track record has been established. That was courtesy of Silver Timber in winning the five-furlong Churchill Downs Turf Sprint (GIII) on April 30. Silver Timber was timed in :55.45, erasing the course mark of :55.54 established by Unbridled Sidney in 2005. …
    One of the more intriguing notes of the meet, the highest Pick 6 payoff occurred on Stephen Foster Handicap Day, June 12. The payoff was $209,853.60 and the first leg of the sequence included a virtual free square: Rachel Alexandra at 1-10 in the Fleur de Lis Handicap (GII).

Calvin Borel, in quest of his first Spring Meet riding title at Churchill Downs, has had the best single day performance of the meet with five victories on April 24. Borel also had a four-win day on June 12 as did Corey Lanerie on May 15.

WORK TAB – Winning Colors (GIII) winner Dubai Majesty worked a half-mile on a fast track in :49. … Firecracker Handicap (GII) probable Euroears worked a half-mile in :51.60. … Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) probable Danzon worked five furlongs in 1:02. … At the Trackside Training Center, Firecracker possible starter Inca King worked five furlongs in 1:02.

MINE THAT BIRD WORKS SIX FURLONGS IN 1:13 – Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird continued to work toward his first start of 2010 by breezing six furlongs in company in 1:13 over a fast Churchill Downs track on Tuesday morning.

With jockey Calvin Borel up, Mine That Bird worked after the renovation break in company with the 3-year-old Bird Empire for the second consecutive week. The 2009 Kentucky Derby winner spotted Bird Empire two lengths when breaking off at the three-quarter pole and tracked his workmate to the top of the stretch where he easily dispatched his company on the inside and finished five lengths in front.

Churchill Downs clockers caught Mine That Bird in fractions of :12.80, :25, :37.60, :49.60 and galloping out seven furlongs in 1:27.20. Bird Empire was given a clocking of 1:14.40 time for his six-furlong effort.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas was all smiles after the work, the fifth for Mine That Bird since joining the Lukas barn on May 20.

“When they started training horses 300 years ago, this is what they had in mind,” Lukas said. “His last quarter was in 23 and 2 and his last eighth, it had to be 11 and change. He was flying.”

There is an allowance optional claiming race in the condition book for which Mine That Bird fits for July 3 and Lukas also has nominated Mine That Bird to the Firecracker Handicap (GII) on grass for closing day, July 4. Lukas has not committed to a start in either spot.

“I am not sure where we’ll go,” Lukas said. “He is nominated to the ($250,000) Salvatore Mile (GIII at a mile on July 3 at Monmouth), which is a nice option. He is nominated to everything but the Tokyo Fair. Our goal is the Whitney (Handicap, GI on Aug. 7 at Saratoga). We are going to dive right into the deep end.”

LOCUST GROVE ATTRACTS 47 NOMINEES INCLUDING MINT JULEP TOP THREE – The top three finishers from the June 5 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) – Hot Cha Cha, Acoma and Keertana – headline a list of 47 fillies and mares nominated to the 29th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) to be run at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course on July 3.

The top three finished within three-quarters of a length of each other with Acoma carrying 122 pounds and Hot Cha Cha and Keertana 120. Weights for the Locust Grove will be announced Saturday.

Closeout won the 2009 Locust Grove, and the 5-year-old mare is nominated to this year’s renewal. Should Closeout win, she would join Colstar (2000-01) as the only repeat winner of the Locust Grove.

The Locust Grove is one of three graded stakes on the closing weekend of the 42-day meet. Sharing top billing with Locust Grove on July 3 is the 109th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor (GIII) for 2-year-olds going six furlongs.

Headlining the list of 22 nominees for the Bashford Manor is Dogwood Stable’s Lou Brissie, winner of the Kentucky Juvenile (GIII) here on April 30. Trained by Neil Howard, Lou Brissie is undefeated in two starts.
Entries for the Bashford Manor, as well as the Locust Grove, will be taken next Wednesday.

The closing-day feature is the 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Thirty horses were nominated to the Firecracker, won last year by Mr. Sidney.

Topping the nominations are Don Benge’s Wise River, winner of the Dallas Turf Cup Handicap on May 31 at Lone Star Park in his most recent start, and Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu, a two-time graded stakes winner on the turf at Churchill Downs and winner of the Opening Verse here on June 11.

Weights for the Firecracker will be announced Sunday and entries will be taken Thursday, July 1.

THERIOT TO WORK MINE THAT BIRD ON MONDAY MORNING – Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) winner Mine That Bird is scheduled to work a half-mile after the renovation break on Monday morning with jockey Jamie Theriot in the saddle.    Trainer Chip Woolley secured the services of Hall of Famer Mike Smith to ride Mine That Bird in the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (Grade II) at Mountaineer and the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers (Grade I) at Saratoga. Woolley did not get a commitment for the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) at Santa Anita.

    “I am tickled that this is over with,” Woolley said of landing Smith to replace Calvin Borel, who was aboard for the gelding’s upset victory in the Kentucky Derby and third-place run in the Belmont Stakes (GI), but could not give a commitment to the West Virginia Derby. “We’ve got a rider that we are comfortable with and that is more important than the three-race commitment. We can get through the first two at least.”

    Smith rode Mine That Bird to a runner-up finish behind Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness (Grade I) when Borel honored a commitment to ride the filly.

    “Calvin’s in a tough spot with three horses in the same category,” Woolley said referring to Rachel Alexandra and Warrior’s Reward, who Borel is committed to ride in the Aug. 1 Jim Dandy (Grade II) at Saratoga. “It is a tough spot, but he is fortunate in that not many get that opportunity.

“Hopefully we’ll have Calvin for a backup, you never know. With Rachel Alexandra, the Travers is one of the races they are talking about with her, so we wouldn’t get him for that one. There is just too much drama mixed in.”

    On Sunday morning, Mine That Bird backtracked to the paddock runway and galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Rudy Gallegos.

MR. SIDNEY HAS PROFITABLE STAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Mr. Sidney made only a brief visit to Churchill Downs, but he was here long enough to pick up his second graded stakes score with a triumph in Saturday’s Firecracker Handicap (GII).

    “He arrived here Monday and he probably will be heading back to New York before too long,” said Kenny McCarthy, assistant to trainer Bill Mott. “He looked good this morning.”

    The Firecracker victory added $101,896 to Mr. Sidney’s bankroll and gave him two graded stakes wins in 2009, the other coming in the Maker’s Mark Mile (GI) in April at Keeneland.

    Mr. Sidney had finished 11th in his start before the Firecracker on the dirt in the Metropolitan Mile (GI) at Belmont Park.

    “The key to him is to keep him nice and quiet,” McCarthy said. “He did not like that detention barn at Belmont the last time. That was the Storm Cat in him.”

    Mr. Sidney’s victory was the 11th of the meet for the Mott barn, the most in a spring meet here since 2004 when 12 wins were recorded. From 54 starters, there also have been 10 seconds and 10 thirds for a 57 percent in-the-money rate. Mott is the all-time leader at Churchill Downs in wins (622) and stakes victories (75).

    “It has been a nice meet,” McCarthy said. “We will keep 30 horses here this summer, send some up to Saratoga and get some back from New York.”

RAVI’S SONG FIRST WINNER FOR MILLIONAIRE LU RAVI – If one wants to elicit a huge smile from trainer Carl Bowman, just mention Lu Ravi.

    On Sunday morning, Bowman was grinning from ear to ear after the performance of Ravi’s Song on Saturday when she became Lu Ravi’s first winner.

    In the 1 1/16-mile race, Ravi’s Song was bottled up on the inside until the eighth pole. She trailed by four lengths at the time, but finally found racing room at the sixteenth pole and drew off to win by a length.

    “I liked the way she won yesterday going a route. It was very impressive the way she did it,” Bowman said. “She probably should have won the first time she ran here, but then she wouldn’t have had that chance yesterday. But I am really proud for Lu Ravi.”

    Ravi’s Song, a daughter of Unbridled’s Song, is Lu Ravi’s third foal. Superb in Roses never made it to the races and Ravi’s Lovin was winless in two starts. Lu Ravi now has a yearling filly by Ghostzapper.

    Under Bowman’s care, Lu Ravi compiled a record of 26-11-8-3 for earnings of $1,819,781. She won eight stakes, five of them graded, and in 2000 beat future Hall of Famer Silverbulletday twice.

    “I trained her mother, At the Half, too,” Bowman said of the four-time stakes winner and earner of $338,393. “She was one of the top three or four fillies as a 2-year-old in the country (in 1993). It is always enjoyable to win with a number of horses from the same family.”

    Ravi’s Song did not make her racing debut until this March at Fair Grounds.

    “She has got some issues,” said Bowman, who intends to keep Ravi’s Song on the dirt. “I’d like to look for an allowance going long and then make a decision.”

BARN TALK – Trainer Ian Wilkes reported that Warrior’s Reward came out of his third-place finish in Saturday’s Dwyer (Grade II) at Belmont Park “with a few little cuts but otherwise looked fine.” Warrior’s Reward stumbled badly at the start and trailed the field most of the way before rallying for third. “Obviously the race did not develop the way we hoped,” Wilkes said. “To rally from that far back to get third, I was really proud of him. We are going to go on to the Jim Dandy as long as he comes back OK. We are going to bring him back here on Tuesday.”

    Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Selva is scheduled to return to trainer David Carroll’s barn on Monday afternoon after her fourth-place finish in the Prioress (Grade I) at Belmont Park on Saturday. “I was really proud of her,” Carroll said of Selva’s first start since April 8. “She ran her butt off. If she comes out of it all right we will point to the Victory Ride (Grade III) at Saratoga (on Aug. 29).”

Trainer Jim Baker, who has enjoyed a banner spring meet with nine winners from 25 starters (36 percent), will be sending two of his stable standouts east in the coming weeks. Tom Walters’ Pretty Prolific, who won her 2009 debut with an allowance win on May 30, is being pointed to the $70,000 Dearly Precious Stakes at six furlongs on July 18 at Monmouth Park. Patton’s Creek Farm’s War Eagle Lady, one of three three-time winners this meet, is scheduled to be at Delaware Park on July 19 for the $75,000 Light Hearted Stakes at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf.

Calvin Borel entered the final day of the 2009 Spring Meet with a chance to catch meet-long leader Julien Leparoux in the race for leading jockey.  Borel trailed Leparoux 62-58 heading into the meet finale and Leparoux is riding out of town.

WORK TAB – Decelerator, winner of the Debutante Stakes (Grade III) on June 27, worked a half-mile in :51 over a track rated as “sloppy” before the renovation break.

NO DECISION ON NEW RIDER FOR MINE THAT BIRD – Trainer Chip Woolley said Thursday morning that he had a couple of riders under consideration to ride Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) winner Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby (Grade II) on Aug. 1.

    Woolley had not received a firm commitment from Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to the Kentucky Derby victory, for the West Virginia Derby, which led Woolley to seek a new rider. Woolley is seeking a three-race commitment covering the West Virginia Derby, Shadwell Travers (GI) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).

    “I thank Calvin for the job he has done for us, but going race to race is not a good option for us and we think we are better off going with someone who will be there when we need him,” Woolley said. “It is strictly a business decision and Calvin and (agent) Jerry (Hissam) will always be welcome in my shedrow.”

    Mine That Bird, who went twice around the main track Thursday morning with exercise rider Rudy Gallegos up, had his first work since finishing third in the Belmont Stakes (Grade I) on Monday when he covered a half-mile in :51 under Borel.

    Woolley has three more Churchill Downs works scheduled for Mine That Bird before leaving for Mountaineer. Woolley had planned to ship Mine That Bird to Mountaineer on July 16 or 17 to get two breezes over the track, but that has changed.

    “I think we are better off staying here and move up there closer to the race,” Woolley said. “He will work here on the 20th and we’d go up the 24th in time to gallop him twice over the track before one work there. But even that is subject to change.”

THORN SONG REWARDS CONNECTION’S CONFIDENCE – The past performance lines may have hinted otherwise, but trainer Dale Romans insists he never lost confidence in Zayat Stables’ Thorn Song.

After a victory in the Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland, Thorn Song failed to finish better than fifth in his next four starts. Undeterred, Romans sent Thorn Song west for Memorial Day and the 6-year-old gray responded with a gutsy, wire-to-wire victory in the Shoemaker Mile (GI) at Hollywood Park.

“We still have faith in him,” Romans said. “If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have shipped him across the country.”

Thorn Song immediately returned to Churchill Downs and the Louisville-born Romans set his sights on Saturday’s 19th running of the $150,000-added Firecracker Handicap (Grade II), a race Thorn Song won last year.

“He has done well since he returned here and I think he’s still got it,” he said. “He is as good as he has ever been and I think he can put two good ones back to back.”

Romans cited circumstances in the races Thorn Song lost as the major reason for the poor results and the past performance lines bear that out.

In his two 2009 starts before the Shoemaker, Thorn Song had trouble at the break. In his final two starts of 2008, the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) and the River City Handicap (GIII), Thorn Song broke from outside post positions.

Mike Smith will have the mount Saturday and break from post position four in the one-mile Firecracker over the Matt Winn Turf Course. At the mile distance on the grass, Thorn Song has four victories and a third from seven starts.

ST. JOE FINDS HIS CALLING AS TURF SPRINTER – Throughout his three-year racing career, St. Joe has been a bit of a puzzle for trainer Darrin Miller. After Sunday’s 3 ½-length romp on the turf, the guessing game may be over for the Silverton Hill runner.

    “You can take a breath now and not worry how he’ll perform,” Miller said after St. Joe’s second consecutive dazzling performance sprinting five furlongs on the grass.

    On May 31, St. Joe broke in the air and spotted the field a lot of ground in his sprint debut. Under Julien Leparoux, St. Joe circled the field and drew away to win by a length in :56.84. On Sunday, St. Joe stalked the pace, took command leaving the backstretch and coasted home in :56.83.

    “His first win was really good for him,” Miller said. “Sunday, that was more the way that he runs.”

    St. Joe was on the Kentucky Derby trail early last year until a ninth-place finish in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (Grade II) ended the run.

    “When you have a 3-year-old with speed, you have to take a shot to see how far they can carry that speed,” Miller said. “He’s a gelding now, more mature and has really settled down.”

    A winner on closing day, April 24, at Keeneland going seven furlongs on the Polytrack for a $40,000 claiming tag, St. Joe could return to stakes company soon.

    “We are looking at the Arlington Sprint heavily,” Miller said of the $200,000- guaranteed race at 5 ½ furlongs on July 11. “It depends on how he comes back from Sunday.”

AT LAST, THOMAS ENJOYS SOME GOOD FORTUNE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Trainer Gary Thomas still winces every time a video of the 1986 Kentucky Derby shows up.

You remember that race, don’t you? Ferdinand darts through a narrow opening under Bill Shoemaker to give Charlie Whittingham his first Kentucky Derby victory.

The horse Ferdinand beats to the hole is Rampage, trained by Thomas. Stuck behind horses in the stretch, Rampage finally gets clear late to be a fast-closing fourth.

“Every year around the Derby, they show that race and I can’t watch it. It makes me sick,” Thomas said.

However, Dame Fortune finally smiled on Thomas beneath the Twin Spires on Sunday when Thomas won the qualifier for the 2010 National Handicapping Championship on Jan. 29-30 in Las Vegas. Total prize money available in the tournament is $1 million with the winner getting $500,000.

“It is the first time I played in one of those,” Thomas said. “A friend talked me into playing and the first time I played I qualified (for the final round).”

The horse that put Thomas over the top was Knockout Bertie when she won the ninth race and returned a $14 payoff.

“I was third going into the last race, maybe $3 or $4 behind the leader,” said Thomas, who may head to Oklahoma’s Remington Park after the meet closes on Sunday.

Thomas sends his stable to Oaklawn Park for the winter. The 2010 meet will open on Jan. 15, but the barn will have to do without Thomas the third weekend of the meet.

EQUINE HYDROTHERAPY SPA OPEN FOR BUSINESS – What’s new on the backstretch at Churchill Downs? Take a walk down to the Gate 10 side of Barn 45 and in front of Barn 48 and feast your eyes on the Equine Coldwater Hydrotherapy Spa.

    “We are open from 5-11 a.m. and in the afternoon by appointment,” said John Christensen of Honor Roll Racing who installed the appartus. “This is our second one. We have one at Trackside and we will be taking that one to Turf Paradise in the winter.”

    When the “Spa” opened Tuesday morning, trainer D. Wayne Lukas was the first customer with five horses scheduled for treatment.

    “It is a 520-gallon tank with three filters and the water temperature is 34 degrees,” Christensen said. “There are more than 250 pounds of a combination of sea salt and Epsom salt used to go with massage and oxygen. Generally each treatment lasts about 15 minutes.”

    A variety of packages are available according to Christensen.

    “We have a 20-treatment package for $500, which is $25 a treatment,” Christensen said. “Depending on what the trainer needs for a horse, we can do packages of four or six treatments, whatever they require.”

MILESTONE WATCH -- William Connelly, who has 999 career victories, failed to reach the 1,000 mark Wednesday night when Brilliant Bid finished second, beaten a half-length in the fifth race at Indiana Downs. Connelly’s next chance comes Friday when he sends out Knownforstone in the 11th race at Churchill Downs. On Saturday, Connelly will saddle Seaside Princess in the first race at Churchill Downs.

BARN TALK – James Spence’s El Caballo, who figured to be a major player in Saturday’s Firecracker Handicap, was injured during a five-furlong turf work on Tuesday morning. “He has the start of a condylar (fracture) and is out for the year,” trainer Ralph Nicks said.

WORK TAB – Dubai Majesty, winner of the Winning Colors (GIII), worked a half-mile on a fast main track in :49.40, eighth fastest of 24 at the distance. Stablemate Chamberlain Bridge, winner of the Aegon Turf Sprint (GIII), worked a half-mile on firm turf in :53.20.