John Booker

Heuristic Stable’s Fortune Play outdueled Westrock Stables LLC’s Decelerator down the stretch to win the $77,270 Roxelana by a neck before a crowd of 27,787 on Friday night at Churchill Downs.

Trained by John Booker Jr. and ridden by Freddie Lenclud, Fortune Play covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:22.19.

Fortune Play, a 5-year-old daughter of Five Star Day, rated in fourth through fractions of :23.08 and :46.24 set by the early pace-setting duo of Alex G. Campbell Jr.’s The Underling and Decelerator. Lenclud moved for the leaders with three furlongs remaining, angled out for the drive entering the stretch, caught Decelerator with a sixteenth of a mile remaining and finally edged clear of that stubborn rival in the final yards.

Breaking from the gate as the 4-1 third-choice, Fortune Play returned mutuels of $10, $5 and $3.60. Decelerator finished second to return $6.40 and $4.60 with John Gunther’s Stage Magic another 3 ½-lengths back in third returning $7.40.

The victory was worth $46,560 and increased Fortune Play’s bankroll to $273,052 with a record of 5-7-5 from 27 starts.

Racing continues Saturday with a 13-race program highlighted by the 110^th running of the Grade III, $100,000-added Bashford Manor, which is scheduled to be run as Race 12 at 6:23 p.m. EDT. First post is at 12:45 p.m.

Richard Sturgill’s Coulee overhauled the pace-setting Dreaming of Liz at the eighth pole and drew off to win Friday’s $55,333 HD Supply Classic at Churchill Downs by three-quarters of a length.

    Ridden by Julien Leparoux for trainer John Booker, Coulee raced well off the pace of Dreaming of Liz while getting a ground-saving trip in the run down the backstretch. Leparoux began his move leaving the far turn, swinging off the hedge at the head of the stretch and pulling away to complete the mile over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:36.08.

    The victory, the ninth in 31 career starts for the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Vicar, was worth $34,175 and increased Coulee’s earnings to $153,461.

    Coulee rewarded her backers in the field of six with payoffs of $23.80, $9.40 and $4. Dreaming of Liz, ridden by E.T. Baird, returned $5.40 and $2.80 with favored Lady Carlock finishing a neck back in third under Calvin Borel and paying $2.40 to show.

Racing resumes Saturday with a 10-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m. (ET). Highlighting the card is the 19th running of the Mrs. Revere (Grade II) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. The Mrs. Revere goes as the afternoon’s ninth race with an approximate post time of 4:37 p.m.

Saturday’s action also features an intriguing nine-day Pick 6 carryover of $87,321.84, which requires bettors to select the winners of Races 5-10.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010. The track will conduct its 2009 Fall Meet from Sunday, Nov. 1 through Saturday, Nov. 28. Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5 and 6, 2010. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.