Iroquois

Lantern Hill Farm, LLC’s Motor City caught pace-setting Seven Lively Sins at the eighth pole and drew off to win the 30^th running of the Grade III, $110,700 Iroquois for 2-year-olds by three-quarters of a length at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Calvin Borel, Motor City lagged at the back of the field of seven as Seven Lively Sins led the field through fractions of :22.99 and :46.28. At the head of the stretch, Seven Lively Sins shook off challenges from Fine and Chalybeate Springs as Borel skimmed the rail on Motor City with dead aim on the leader.

With a clear path, Motor City caught Seven Lively Sins with a furlong to go en route to completing the mile on a fast main track in 1:37.18. The victory gave trainer Ian Wilkes his second victory in the Iroquois to go with the 2008 triumph of Capt. Candyman Can.

A homebred son from the first crop of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Motor City improved his record to 2-1-1 in five races and increased his earnings to $99,183 with Sunday’s first-place check of $67,263.

Motor City, sent off as the third choice, returned $8.20, $3.40 and $2.40. Seven Lively Sins, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $3 and $2.20 with favored Mr. Bowling, ridden by Rajiv Maragh, finishing 3 ¾ lengths back in third and paying $2.20 to show.

Completing the field in order were Fine, Chalybeate Springs, Hollywood Script and Purely Determined.

IROQUOIS STAKES QUOTES

Ian Wilkes, trainer of Motor City (winner) – “He (Motor City) ran really well today. The race set up like we wanted. Sometimes it works out perfect. We’ll make sure he comes out of the race fine and then we’ll definitely look at the (Kentucky) Jockey Club.”

Calvin Borel, jockey of Motor City (winner) – “He ran like his daddy (Street Sense). We knew he was a good one all along and Ian (Wilkes) never gave up on him. We hope to be here next year (for the Kentucky Derby).”

Larry Jones, trainer of Mr. Bowling (third as 7-5 favorite) – “He ran OK for his first time stepping on this racetrack. He’ll keep improving and we’ll have a decent one.”

Rajiv Maragh, jockey of Mr. Bowling (third as 7-5 favorite) – “He tried hard and he was coming. There’s no real excuse.”

Brereton Jones’ homebred Mr Bowling, runaway winner of the Dover Stakes at Delaware Park in his most recent start, headlines a field of seven 2-year-olds entered Thursday for Sunday’s 30^th running of the Grade III, $100,000-added Iroquois to be run at a mile on the main track Sunday.

The Iroquois will go as the eighth race on the 11-race program Sunday with a 4:05 p.m. (ET) post time.

Trained by Larry Jones, Mr. Bowling has won two of three starts, all coming at Delaware Park. Winner of the Dover by 7 ¼ lengths, Mr. Bowling will be ridden Sunday by Rajiv Maragh and break from post position seven under top impost of 120 pounds.

The only graded stakes-placed runner in the field is Lantern Hill Farm’s Motor City, the third-place finisher in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII). Trained by Ian Wilkes, Motor City finished eighth in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland in his most recent start. Regular rider Calvin Borel has the call Sunday on Motor City, who will break from post position four.

The field of the Iroquois, from the rail out, is as follows: Purely Determined (Greta Kuntzweiler, 118 pounds), Seven Lively Sins (Julien Leparoux, 118), Fine (Jamie Theriot, 118), Motor City (Borel, 118), Chalybeate Springs (Jon Court, 118), Hollywood Script (James Graham, 118) and Mr. Bowling (Maragh, 120).

PLETCHER SETTLES IN; SIDNEY’S CANDY WORKS ON TURF – Trainer Todd Pletcher, who saddled three of his six Breeders’ Cup winners at last year’s World Championships at Churchill Downs, began the process of improving on his career total Tuesday morning starting at 6 o’clock with light exercise from Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) hopefuls Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty and concluding just before 10 o’clock with a half-mile grass work from Sidney’s Candy for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI).

“I am here through the Breeders’ Cup,” said Pletcher, whose last contingent of World Championship runners arrived from New York on Monday morning.

Leading that contingent was the Repole Stable-owned duo of Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty. Uncle Mo jogged once around the main track under Hector Ramos, while Stay Thirsty galloped a mile with Fernando Zamora up.

Pletcher plans to work both colts on Sunday.

“We pre-entered 11 altogether,” Pletcher said. “Hunt Crossing (Sentient Jet Juvenile Sprint), Stopshoppingmaria (Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies), Sweet Cat (Juvenile Fillies Turf), Her Smile (Sentient Jet Filly & Mare Sprint), Super Espresso (Ladies’ Classic),Finale (Juvenile Turf), Rule (Dirt Mile), Sidney’s Candy (Mile), and Aikenite who was cross-entered in the Sentient Jet Sprint and Dirt Mile, plus Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty.”

Uncle Mo won the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) last year and Pletcher’s other winners were Pluck in the Juvenile Turf and More Than Real in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“I feel good about all my horses and it looks like the ones that came in yesterday all shipped well,” Pletcher said. “We have some important works coming up and you hold your breath (until the event is here).”

Pletcher was asked if there were any of his runners that might be flying under the radar coming into this year’s championships.

"We’ve got a few that are in that category,” Pletcher said with a laugh. “Her Smile won the Prioress (GI) and got the perfect set-up and would need something similar. Super Espresso, we are going off her work here the other day (five furlongs in 1:01.60 over a fast track Saturday). She trained here in the spring before going to Pimlico (for a victory in the GIII DuPont Distaff), so for her it is racetrack related. Aikenite runs well here.” 

WinStar Farm and Rubio B Stable’s Sidney’s Candy covered a half-mile on firm turf in :50 under exercise rider Annie Finney. Clockers got the first quarter in 27 seconds flat and a gallop-out time of 1:03.40 for five furlongs.

“It was a good work,” Pletcher said of Sidney’s Candy, who ran third in the Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland in his most recent start on Oct. 8. “It looked like he got over the ground well and finished strong.”

FIELDS TAKING SHAPE FOR OPENING-DAY POCAHONTAS AND IROQUOIS – A trio of Grade III winners are expected to be among the names to pass the entry box Thursday for the 43^rd running of the $150,000 Pocahontas (GII) at a mile on the main track to be run Sunday.

The Pocahontas and the 30^th running of the $100,000-added Iroquois (GIII) share top billing on Sunday’s opening-day program of the 21-day Fall Meeting that runs through Nov. 27. Sunday’s card, “Stars of Tomorrow I” will feature racing exclusively for 2-year-olds.

Heading the list of probables according to Churchill Downs racing officials are Believe You Can, Flashy Lassie and Georgie’s Angel.

Brereton Jones’ Believe You Can has won her past three starts, capped by a victory in the Tempted (GIII) at Belmont Park on Oct. 2. Barry King’s Flashy Lassie won the Debutante (GIII) here in June and Georgie’s Angel, beaten favorite in the Tempted, won the Schuylerville (GIII) at Saratoga. Georgie’s Angel is owned by Sheffer Racing Stable, Ronald Stocks, Betsy Wells and Kelly Weitsma.

Other probable starters for the Pocahontas, won last year by Dancinginherdreams, include And Why Not, Aubby K, Best of Times, Glinda the Good, Heart of Destiny,Spirited Miss and Taxi Dancer.

Lantern Hill Farm’s Motor City, third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII), tops the list of probables for the Iroquois. Other likely starters for the Iroquois, won last year by Astrology, include Hollywood Script, Mark Valeski, Purely Determined andSeven Lively Sins.

BARN TALK – Buff Bradley, trainer and co-owner of Groupie Doll, plans to bring the 3-year-old filly back in the Nov. 12 Mrs. Revere (GII) at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Groupie Doll finished second in last Saturday’s Lexus Raven Run (GII) at Keeneland. …

Bisnath Parboo, trainer of Breeders’ Cup hopefuls Giant Ryan and Trinniberg, plans to work both horses Wednesday morning. Trinniberg (Sentient Jet Juvenile Sprint candidate) is scheduled to work three furlongs or a half-mile out of the gate at 7:15 with Giant Ryan (Grade I Sentient Jet Sprint) slated to work a half-mile or five furlongs after the renovation break. Willie Martinez is scheduled to be in the saddle for both works.

WORK TAB – Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, working toward an expected start in Saturday’s Fayette (GII) at Keeneland, breezed three furlongs in :36.20 over a fast track. …

Lantern Hill Farm’s Motor City, a candidate for Sunday’s 30^th running of the $100,000-added Iroquois (GIII), worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 before the renovation break under Calvin Borel. The work was the fifth fastest of 37 at the distance. …

Working six furlongs in 1:18.40 on the firm Matt Winn Turf Course was Gaillardia Racing’s Wilkinson, who was third in the Jamaica Handicap (GI) in his most recent start.

DANCINGINHERDREAMS HAS WARD THINKING BIG – John Oxley’s Dancinginherdreams shone brightest of all on Sunday’s “Stars of Tomorrow I” card in winning the $150,000-added Pocahontas (Grade II) by 5 ¼ lengths to extend her undefeated streak to two.

“She is good this morning,” trainer John Ward said early Monday. “I was excited to see some daylight yesterday for her to get through. It was a little suspect at the quarter pole.”

Under Julien Leparoux, Dancinginherdreams had to wait for room entering the stretch before splitting horses and diving to the rail where she easily pulled away in the one-turn mile race.

Ward said the 2-year-old daughter of Tapit was done racing for the year and would not come back in the Golden Rod (GII) at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 27.

“I didn’t want to go two turns (in the Golden Rod) and then shorten up when we got to Gulfstream,” Ward said. “Her next race will be at the end of January going seven-eighths (in the $200,000, Grade II Forward Gal on Jan. 29).”

ASTROLOGY’S IROQUOIS WIN TOPS BIG DAY FOR ASMUSSEN – Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton’s Astrology, a 2 ¾-length winner of Sunday’s Iroquois (GIII), could be headed for the $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) on Nov. 27 at 1 1/16 miles.

"I will discuss it with Mr. (Jess) Jackson (of Stonestreet), but it is a strong possibility,” trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday morning.

Asmussen saddled Private Vow to win the Kentucky Jockey Club in 2005 and last year’s race was won by Super Saver, who became the first horse to sweep the Kentucky Jockey Club and come back to win the Kentucky Derby the following spring since Cannonade in 1973-74.

Garrett Gomez was aboard for the Iroquois victory, the colt’s second in four starts.

“He ran a lot better than he did the last time,” Gomez said, referring to a third-place finish in the Garden State at Monmouth Park on Sept. 25. “I thought he’d win for fun that day. They went a little faster early yesterday and I let him do a little more. He’s got a lot of talent.”

Asmussen, who ranks fifth all time at Churchill Downs with 381 victories, also sent out first-time starter Hailey d’Oro to a 6 ½-length victory in the second race for Stonestreet and Mike McCarty’s City Cool to an 8 ½-length romp in the sixth race.

GYPSY’S WARNING ASSIGNED TOP WEIGHT FOR CARDINAL HANDICAP – Team Valor International and Green Lantern Stables’ Gypsy’s Warning (SAf) has been assigned high weight of 121 pounds for Sunday’s 37th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (GIII).

The 1 1/8-mile race on the Matt Winn Turf Course was won last year by Acoma.

Trained by Graham Motion, Gypsy’s Warning ran third in the Yellow Ribbon (GI) at Hollywood Park on Oct. 2 in her most recent start.

The next two high weights assigned by racing secretary Ben Huffman, Keertana (120) and Forever Together (119), are pre-entered in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) to be run Friday. The next high weight, Fantasia (GB) at 118 pounds, won the River Memories Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine.

Entries will be taken Thursday for the Cardinal and expected to be in the entry box are the next high weights, Eileen Hartis’ Princess Haya (117) and Carl Pollard’s Kiss Mine (116).

BARN TALK – Trainer Al Stall Jr. had a lot on his plate Monday morning with final Breeders’ Cup works for Blame (Classic) and J. B.’s Thunder (Juvenile). But he also had time to look back to Sunday and the performance of a 2-year-old filly named Aide. Adele Dilschneider’s homebred daughter of Arch demolished a first-level allowance field by 19 ¾ lengths under Garrett Gomez.

“The dirt was the only concern, but (jockey) Greta (Kuntzweiler) said it was no problem the first time she ran at Ellis,” Stall said of the filly who has been stabled at Keeneland and trained on Polytrack.

At Keeneland, Aide has served as the workmate to the 3-year-old Apart, winner of the Grade II Super Derby and who figures to be a top contender in Friday’s Ack Ack Handicap (GIII), and J. B.’s Thunder.

“She worked once with Apart and did well with him,” Stall said. “And when J. B.’s Thunder blew out a half-mile (on Oct. 22), she was on the inside of him and held her own.”

Sunday’s victory at 1 1/16 miles would seem a logical springboard to the Nov. 27 Golden Rod.

“If that white filly of John Ward’s goes to Florida,” Stall said of Pocahontas winner Dancinginherdreams, “Then we will strongly consider it.” …

Robby Albarado opened the fall meet in style Sunday by riding three winners to bring his career total beneath the Twin Spires to 890. Albarado ranks fifth all time at the track behind Pat Day (2,482), Calvin Borel (1,025), Don Brumfield (925) and Larry Melancon (914).  Other multiple winners on the 11-race card were Garrett Gomez and Shaun Bridgmohan with two victories each. …

A total of 16 3-year-olds were nominated to Friday’s $85,000 The Jimmy V “Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up!”, an overnight stake at six furlongs on the main track. The race will be the third on Friday’s 10-race card that features six Breeders’ Cup races and the 18th running of the $100,000-added Ack Ack Handicap (GIII). Tops among the nominees for the Jimmy V is Noble’s Promise, who ran fifth in this spring’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI). Entries will be taken Tuesday. …

The filly companion to the Jimmy V is the Dream Supreme, which will be run on Saturday and attracted 21 nominations. The Dream Supreme will be the second race Saturday and be followed by the 25th running of the $150,000 Chilukki (GII) and then eight Breeders’ Cup races. Chief among the nominees is Beautician, the fourth-place finisher in this year’s Kentucky Oaks (GI) and runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI).

Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton’s favored Astrology swept past pace-setting Maybesomaybenot on the far turn and rolled to 2 3/4-length victory over Ribo Bobo to win the 29th running of the $122,300 Iroquois for 2-year-olds on Sunday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Garrett Gomez, Astrology stalked the pace set by Maybesomaybenot, ridden by Robby Albarado, who led the field of eight through fractions of :23.09 and :46.78 down the backstretch straightaway.

Approaching the far turn, Gomez sent Astrology after Maybesomaybenot and easily swept past on the outside and never was seriously challenged in the run through the stretch.

Astrology, a Kentucky-bred son of A.P. Indy out of the Quiet American mare Quiet Eclipse, covered the mile on a fast main track in 1:38.43. The victory, the second in four starts, was worth $73,553 and increased Astrology’s earnings to $120,553.

It was the second victory in the Iroquois for Gomez, who won the race in 2006 on Tiz Wonderful for Stonestreet. It was the second consecutive Iroquois win for Asmussen, who saddled Thiskyhasnolimit to victory last year.

Astrology returned mutuels of $4.60, $3.40 and $2.20. Ribo Bobo, ridden by Eduardo Nunez, paid $5.80 and $3.40 and finished 4 ¼ lengths in front of Maybesomaybenot, who paid $2.60 to show. It was a nose back to Halo’s Thunder, who was followed in order by Ronin Dax, War Whoop, Conservative Value and Storm in the Lake.

POST-RACE QUOTES

Garrett Gomez (jockey, Astrology, winner) “He (leader Maybesomaybenot) slowed down just before I got into him. I could see he was starting to slow so I had to go, he wants to wait.” 

Steve Asmussen (trainer, Astrology, winner): “He is a beautiful horse, tons of pedigree. This is a very important two year old win but he does childish things. It’s his first day here with a new paddock and he was a wound up, a lot more excitable than you would like. Garret (Gomez, jockey) said he carries you beautiful then when Robby’s horse (Maybesomaybenot) dropped the bridle he found himself in front.  He just needs to get to the next step. This will help. I think he’s a little too childish, but he’s got a ton of ability. He is very impressive to train, he’s got a beautiful big stride – but I think he can do better.”

Eduardo Nunez  (jockey, Ribo Bobo, runner-up): "He ran a little green in the stretch.  I thought I had them at the quarter pole, but he kind of ran in and out in the stretch.  But he ran good."

Robby Albarado (jockey, Maybesomaybenot, third)
"Mike (trainer Mike Maker) said they'd been trying to take him back in his previous races and it wasn't working for him.  So today he said to get aggressive with him leaving there.  He broke a bit tardy, but I jumped on him and got him in front.  He seemed content being on the lead like that.  Obviously Astrology is a nice horse.  He ran by me in the lane, but my horse hung in there tough.  I thought it was a good run throughout."

Two-year-olds will be in the spotlight on Halloween as Churchill Downs kicks of its Fall Meet and Breeders’ Cup Week on Sunday with an 11-race “Stars of Tomorrow I” card devoted exclusively to juvenile runners.

The 21-day meet will be highlighted by the 27th Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 5 and 6. Churchill Downs is hosting the Breeders’ Cup a record seventh time with six Championship races being held on Nov. 5 and eight on Nov. 6 with the marquee race being the $5 million Classic (GI) featuring the undefeated Zenyatta.

Sunday’s card is the first of two Fall Meet racing days that feature only for 2-year-olds.  The popular “Stars of Tomorrow” programs are designed to showcase rising stars in the sport who could put their stamp on greatness next spring in the 137th runnings of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and the Kentucky Oaks (GI). The second all 2-year-old program, “Stars of Tomorrow II” will be held Saturday, Nov. 27.

Post time for the first race on Sunday’s meet-opening program is 12:40 p.m. (EDT).

The 42nd running of the $150,000 Pocahontas (GII) for fillies and the 29th running of the $100,000 Iroquois (GIII) serve as the centerpieces for Sunday’s card. Both races are one mile on the main track with the Pocahontas going as the 10th race (5:02 p.m.) and the Iroquois as the eighth (4:05 p.m.).

John Oxley’s Dancinginherdreams, a dazzling five-length winner in her debut on Oct. 10 at Keeneland, headlines a field of seven for the Pocahontas. Trained by John Ward, Dancinginherdreams will be ridden by Julien Leparoux and break from post position three.

Chief among her rivals will be Peachtree Stable’s Honey Chile, trained by Wayne Catalano. Fourth in the Arlington-Washington Lassie (GIII), Honey Chile has won two of three starts and was a 6 ½-length allowance winner at Keeneland on Oct. 9 in her most recent start. Michael Baze has the mount Sunday on Honey Chile, who will break from post position seven.

The field for the Pocahontas, which was won last year by Sassy Image, from the rail out is as follows: Missyoulikecrazy (Corey Lanerie, 117 pounds), Days Like This (Robby Albarado, 117), Dancinginherdreams (Leparoux, 117), Gran Lioness (Jamie Theriot, 119), Eden Star (Kent Desormeaux, 117), Switching Gears (Garrett Gomez) and Honey Chile (Base, 119).

The Iroquois, which was won last year by Thiskyhasnolimit, drew a field of eight.

Topping the field is Carolyn and Karen Scisney’s Maybesomaybenot, winner of the Sanford (GII) at Saratoga. Trained by Mike Maker, Maybesomaybenot finished eighth in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland on Oct. 9 in his most recent start.

Robby Albarado will be aboard Maybesomaybenot for the first time on Sunday. Maybesomaybenot will break from post position two and carry high weight of 123 pounds, conceding 2-6 pounds to his rivals.

Second high weight at 121 pounds is Rapputi Stables, Dimitar Pencheff and Carlota Stable’s Ribo Bobo, winner of the Foolish Pleasure at Calder on Sept. 25. Eduardo Nunez has the call on Ribo Bobo, who will break from post position six for trainer Manny Azpurua.

The field for the Iroquois, from the rail out, is as follows:  Storm in the Lake (Shaun Bridgmohan, 119 pounds), Maybesomaybenot (Albarado, 123), Conservative Value (Leandro Goncalves, 117), Astrology (Garrett Gomez, 117), Ronin Dax (Calvin Borel, 117), Ribo Bobo (Nunez, 121), War Whoop (Willie Martinez, 117) and Halo’s Thunder (Julien Leparoux, 117).

Cathy and Bob Zollars and Mark Wagner’s Thiskyhasnolimit rallied from far off the pace to win the 28th running of the $120,800 Iroquois for 2-year-olds by a length over Uh Oh Bango on opening day of the 21-day Fall Meet at Churchill Downs.

    Ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan for trainer Steve Asmussen, Thiskyhasnolimit raced in eighth place in the run down the backstretch as Raging Wit and Oh Charlie Boy dueled for the lead through fractions of :22.81 and :46.26.

    Approaching the far turn, Bridgmohan had the Thiskyhasnolimit in the clear on the outside and had dead aim on Three Day Rush and Uh Oh Bango who had forged to the lead. Thiskyhasnolimit surged past Uh Oh Bango at the eighth pole and drew off for the victory.

    Thiskyhasnolimit, a maiden winner here in June and third in the Grade II Futurity at Belmont Park in his previous start, covered the mile on a “fast” main track in 1:37.36.

    The victory, the second in five starts for the Kentucky-bred son of Sky Mesa, was worth $71,151 and increased Thiskyhasnolimit’s career bankroll to $136,236.

    Thiskyhasnolimit returned $28.20, $13 and $6.60. Uh Oh Bango, ridden by Glenn Corbett rewarded his backers with mutuels of $8.60 and $6.20 with Soaring Empire, under Eddie Castro, returning $5 to show another three lengths back. Favored Dublin finished seventh in the field of 10.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE IROQUOIS

STEVE ASMUSSEN, trainer of THISKYHASNOLIMIT, winner: “He trained extremely well here coming into this race and he put forth the kind of race we were expecting. Obviously, we were extremely disappointed with his previous two starts because we always had high hopes for him. He looks to appreciate the added distance. His next target will be the Kentucky Jockey Club (the $150,000-added Grade II race at 1 1/16 miles) on closing day.”

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN, jockey of THISKYHASNOLIMIT, winner: “We had a great trip. He broke well and we got to settle into a great position on the backside. I was just very patient and waited for a hole to open up and turning for home it did. He gave me the acceleration that I needed to get home. He is a pretty nice horse. He was a very professional racehorse today.”

KORY OWENS, trainer of UH OH BANGO, second: “I really don’t think I had him tight enough for the mile.  Especially it being the one-turn mile, I think that’s a lot harder.  It’s definitely the toughest sprint race I think you can find.”

Q: Will you come back late in the month for the Kentucky Jockey Club? “We’ll take him back home to Oklahoma and just see how he’s doing back there.  I think a lot of the horse.  He was a little rank at the beginning and we tried to kind of back off of ‘em a little bit.  It was a good experience for him.”

GLENN CORBETT, rider of UH OH BANGO, second: “He run huge!  I’m very, very happy with his performance.  He was a little bit fresh at the first part of it, but we kind of figured that since he was coming off sprint races.  It looks like he can run with these kind, that’s for sure.   The one-turn mile is pretty demanding, and he might have got just a hair short on us, but there’s no embarrassment, that’s for sure.”

CAM GAMBOLATI, trainer of SOARING EMPIRE, third: “He ran well.  He was a little timid in between horses – he’s just inexperienced.  He’s a talented horse and he ran as good as I could expect coming in off just one race at 5 ½ furlongs.  Hopefully he’s fine, and I think closing day here a mile and a sixteenth (in the Kentucky Jockey Club) will hit him right in the head.” 

D. WAYNE LUKAS, trainer of DUBLIN, seventh: “He never got into the race like he normally does.  He usually just pulls himself into the race, but he didn’t today.  I just don’t know.  He’s been training wonderful.  We’ll just step back and analyze him and see.”

CURLIN SET TO RETURN TO CHURCHILL DOWNS ON MONDAY - Reigning "Horse of the Year" Curlin, fourth to Raven's Pass in the Breeders' Cup Classic (Grade I) on Saturday at Santa Anita, is scheduled to return to trainer Steve Asmussen's barn at Churchill Downs on Monday, Oct. 27.[asset|height=12|width=100]

A flight carrying the 4-year-old son of Smart Strike from southern California is scheduled to touch down around 11 a.m. (EDT) at Louisville International Airport.

Curlin grabbed the lead in the stretch, but did not display his normal closing punch in the final yards as he finished worse than third for the first time in his career. 

The Steve Asmussen-trained champion, whose Churchill Downs races include a win in this year's $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) and a third-place finish behind Street Sense in the 2007 running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), earned $255,000 for his fourth place finish to push his North American record for career earnings to $10,501,800. 

His career racing record now stands at 11-2-2 in 16 races. 

 

RACHEL ALEXANDRA BACK, PREPS FOR POCAHONTAS - Veteran trainer Hal Wiggins has trained for owner Dolphus Morrison for 26 years and their partnership has produced some wonderful moments, with many highlights focused on the versatile stakes-winning sprinter Morris Code.

But Wiggins and Morrision are hoping for even bigger thrills with a 2-year-old filly in their care.  Her name is Rachel Alexandra, and she's being pointed toward next week's $100,000-added Pocahontas Stakes (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies.  The one-mile race will be co-featured with the $100,000-added Iroquois (GIII) on the first of Churchill Downs' two "Stars of Tomorrow" programs on Nov. 1.  The second of those special racing cards devoted exclusively to 2-year-olds is set for Nov. 29, the meet's closing day.

Rachel Alexandra displayed great promise in the Spring Meet when she scored a 1 ½-length victory in a strong maiden race on June 13.  She returned with a troubled runner-up finish to Garden District in the $100,000 Debutante (GIII) at Churchill Downs that had Wiggins dreaming of a big summer for his new star.

But summer plans for the filly soon went on hold when she suffered a minor injury that sent her to renowned equine surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage for a round of surgery.  But she returned to racing on Oct. 17 with three-length allowance victory over Polytrack at Keeneland, and that effort put the homebred daughter of Medaglia d'Oro on course for a return to stakes competition in the Pocahontas.

"She had a little small chip in the left ankle, and Dr. Bramlage took it out and we gave her some time," said Wiggins.  "I was very pleased with her race at Keeneland.  You always have a question when they're going back after a two-to-three month layoff, and off of surgery also.  She had been training like she'd run like that, but you never know until you put ‘em in the gate.  But I was very pleased, and I was pleased with the way she came out of it."

Rachel Alexandra tuned up for Saturday's race with a three-furlong work in :37 over a "fast" track on Sunday at Churchill Downs.  Jockey Brian Hernandez, who has ridden the filly in all four of her career starts, was in the saddle for the work, which was the fastest of 10 moves at the distance on the cool October morning.

Wiggins trained Rachel Alexandra's dam, Lotta Kim, who finished second to Be Gentle in the 2003 Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs.  He believes his current star has the potential to be special.

"I haven't had a lot of really good horses, but she's probably as good a horse as I've ever trained," he said.  "She does everything right.  She's got a good head on her and, right now, she really seems sound.  So we have high hopes, but in this business you just keep your fingers crossed and take one step at a time."

Wiggins said he would likely start another Morrison homebred, Abbot Hall, along with Rachel Alexandra in the Pocahontas.  The daughter of El Corredor ran second on dirt in her debut at Ellis Park before she scored back-to-back wins on turf in an Ellis Park maiden race and the $150,000 Happy Ticket Stakes at Louisiana Downs. She finished fourth to Laragh in her most recent start in Keeneland's Jessamine on turf.

"She ran a nice race first time out at Ellis Park on the dirt, and there's really no other spot for her," said Wiggins.  "She's ready to do something, so I think we're going to ahead and run her in there also."

She completed her preparations for the Pocahontas was a four-furlong breeze on Sunday in :49, which ranked 17th out of 108 works at the distance

Abbott Hall has earned $113,236 in her four races, while Rachel Alexandra has earned $79,814 in her four starts.

 

NOMINATIONS UNVEILED FOR POCAHONTAS, IROQUOIS, CHILUKKI - Churchill Downs racing has released its rosters of nominees for three Fall Meet stakes races to be run under the Twin Spires next weekend.  They include the Nov. 1 renewals of the $100,000-added Pocahontas (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies and the $100,000 Iroquois (GIII) for 2-year-olds, and the 24th running of the $150,000-added Chilukee (GII) for fillies and mares ages 3 & up on Sunday, Nov. 2. 

            The Dolphus Morrison owned homebreds Rachel Alexandra, runner-up in the Debutante (GIII), and Happy Ticket Stakes winner Abbott Hall head the list of 29 2-year-old fillies nominated to one-mile Pocahontas.  Others include Tom Walters' Pretty Prolific, third in the Adirondack at Saratoga; Helen Alexander and Helen Groves' Selva, the runner-up in the Sorority at Monmouth Park; Silverton Hill's Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies winner Corlett; Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Complicity; L.T.B. Inc.'s More of the Best, runner-up in the Bassinet at River Downs; and Livin Lovin, runner-up in Woodbine's Mazarine (GIII).

            The 31 2-year-olds nominated for the 28th running of the one-mile Iroquois include Winchell Thoroughbreds' Kentucky Cup Juvenile (GIII) runner-up Retap; Courtlandt Farm's Gresham, third in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile; and Puglisi Racing's Forty Thieves, the unbeaten winner of the NATC Futurity at Monmouth Park.

            Other Iroquois nominees include Zayat Stables' Star of David, third in the Summer (GIII) on turf at Woodbine; Advice, third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII); Darley Stable's Majestic Blue, fourth in the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (GI) at Keeneland; and Phosphorescent, fourth in the Sanford (GII) at Saratoga.    

            Millennium Farms' defending winner Rolling Sea heads a collection of 31 older fillies and mares nominated to the one-mile Chilukki.  The Steve Asmussen-trained daughter of Sefapiano is winless in five races this year, but finished second to Hystericalady in the Molly Pitcher (GII) at Monmouth Park.

            Other notable fillies and mares nominated to the Chilukki include Baroness Thatcher, a narrow loser to Intangaroo in the Humana Distaff (GI) at the Chilukki distance on Kentucky Derby Day; Chicago Breeders' Cup (GIII) winner Leah's Secret, fourth to Cocoa Beach in the Beldame (GI) last time out; Rampart (GII) winner Spring Waltz; Sweet Goodbye, whose victory in the Maryland Million Oaks at Laurel was her fourth consecutive win; Swift Temper, winner of the Gardenia (GIII) at Ellis Park; and Unforgotten, runner-up to Bear Now in the Kentucky Cup Distaff (GIII).

BARN TALK - Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, the all-time leader in victories and stakes wins by a trainer at Churchill Downs, enters the Fall Meet within reach of a significant milestone.  Mott is closing in on 600 career victories under the Twin Spires.  He opens the 26-day racing session with 592 victories.

 

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) - Gardenia (GIII) winner Swift Temper breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Dale Romans, the second-fastest move of 44 at the distance ... Taletobetold breezed four furlongs in :52.60 for trainer Eddie Kenneally ... U.D. Ghetto breezed four furlongs in :50.60 ... Unforgotten, runner-up in the Kentucky Cup Distaff (GIII), breezed four furlongs in :48 - the third-fastest work of 108 at the distance ... Capt. Bullet Bob, a recent maiden winner at Hawthorne and a nominee to the Iroquois, breezed five furlongs in 1:01, the day's fastest move at the distance.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

           Through Sunday, July 6 Jockeys                          Starts   1-2-3

Robby Albarado                  288  73-44-41

Miguel Mena                       365   65-49-52

Julien Leparoux                306   56-56-51

Calvin Borel                        302  52-42-39

Jamie Theriot                     293   48-38-41

Shaun Bridgmohan             232   44-44-32

Jesus Castanon                   274   30-28-31

Corey Lanerie                    236   22-34-30

Brian Hernandez Jr.            211   18-30-23

John McKee                       152   14-22-20

Trainers

Tom Amoss                       87   35-15-13

Steve Asmussen                145   30-27-21

Ken McPeek                      87    26-14-11

Mike Maker                        73    21-14-12

Dale Romans                    150   20-27-25

Ian Wilkes                          56    15-13-7

Eddie Kenneally                  65   12-10-11

Paul J. McGee                     54    12-8-7

Steve Margolis                    52    11-7-11

Greg Foley                         70   10-11-9

Cody Autrey                       58    10-9-11

Robert O'Connor II              24    10-3-5

D. Wayne Lukas                  66    10-2-6

Bret Calhoun                       26    10-2-5      

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey         76   20-11-17

Maggi Moss                         34     15-7-5

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein   41    10-7-7

Zayat Stables, LLC                56    9-12-11

Jay Em Ess Stable                 23     6-4-2

Heflin & Driver Racing           29     5-5-6

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable       17     5-1-0

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