Jonathan Sheppard

WINSTAR’S UNBEATEN GEMOLOGIST HOPES TO FOLLOW SUPER SAVER’S FOOTSTEPS IN JOCKEY CLUB – WinStar Farm LLC and trainer Todd Pletcher teamed up to win the 2009 running of the Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II) with Super Saver, and returned to Churchill Downs with the colt the following spring to capture the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).

Those connections hope for similar good fortune with Gemologist, their latest juvenile star who puts an unbeaten record on the line in Saturday’s 85^th running of the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the main track beneath the Twin Spires.

“Certainly we’ve had luck in this race before and have had horses run well and then go on to bigger and better things as 3-year-olds,” assistant trainer Michael McCarthy said. “I’m sure we’ll start thinking about it (the Kentucky Derby) after the race Saturday. But you’re always thinking about it – especially in this operation.”

A big, handsome son of Tiznow, Gemologist still has plenty of upside and McCarthy believes he could be able to follow in Super Saver’s footsteps and develop into a 3-year-old of Derby and Triple Crown quality.

“He’s a lot of horse and a fantastic looking animal,” McCarthy said. “I think he’ll get better with racing and I see no reason why he won’t develop into a nice 3-year-old. He’s still got a lot of maturing to do; not so much physically, but mentally.”

Gemologist, purchased as a weanling for $310,000 at the 2009 Keeneland November Sale, cruised to a five-length victory in his career debut over Turfway Park’s Polytrack surface.  He followed that with a two-length allowance victory at the Kentucky Jockey Club distance on Churchill Downs’ Stars of Tomorrow I card.

"He’s two-for-two and has a little bit of a buzz around him,” McCarthy said. “Anytime a horse has won going a distance of ground at this stage of their career it’s good, and to have a win over the racetrack is a feather in your cap.”

Gemologist will break from post nine under Javier Castellano when he faces 10 rivals in the Kentucky Jockey Club. His main competition could come from Augustin Stable’s Ever So Lucky, a flashy 3 ¼-length maiden winner for steeplechase training legend Jonathan Sheppard at Churchill Downs on Nov. 11.  Ever So Lucky, a bay son of Indian Charlie, was supplemented to the Kentucky Jockey Club for a fee of $7,500.

"There are a lot of horses in the race that look like they have a lot of upside,” McCarthy said. “Certainly Jonathan Sheppard’s horse is one of them. He did nothing wrong in his debut and anytime you see Sheppard do something like bring a horse back on short rest, then you definitely need to pay attention.”

Ever So Lucky will break from the rail and is expected to challenge for the early lead, a development McCarthy would welcome.

“I think Gemologist will be fairly forwardly placed,” McCarthy said. “It’d be nice if someone would go to the lead and we could sit off him and have Gemologist learn a little something.”

Named in honor of the holding company that operated Churchill Downs at the time of the race’s inaugural running in 1920, the Kentucky Jockey Club is the co-featured event with the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for 2-year-old fillies on the Stars of Tomorrow II program,.  It will be run as race 11 with a scheduled post time 5:42 p.m. (all times EST).  Post time for the day’s first race is 12:40 p.m.

FLASHY DEBUT WINNER EVER SO LUCKY RETURNS IN KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB – Those who watched the impressive 3 ¼-length debut victory by Augustin Stable’s Ever So Lucky at Churchill Downs on Nov. 11 might have been surprised to learn the Indian Charlie colt is trained by Jonathan Sheppard.

Sheppard, who last year became the first trainer to saddle 1,000 steeplechase winners in the United States, is not known for having precocious juveniles in his barn, but finds himself with one of the Fall Meet’s most-discussed horses the colt owned by George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable. The $600,000 sales topper at Fasig-Tipton’s Mid-Atlantic Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Maryland’s Timonium, Ever So Lucky was installed by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Jockey Club.

“I was absolutely delighted with his first race,” Sheppard said. “He broke a step slowly and (jockey Julien) Leparoux asked him to move up and it seemed like he took the lead in just a few jumps. He was under pressure on the lead and when Julien asked him to run, he responded and won with a lot left. He ran like an old pro.”

Ever So Lucky’s flashy debut so impressed his connections that they paid $7,500 to make him a supplemental nominee to the Kentucky Jockey Club.

“It was a mutual decision between myself and Mr. Strawbridge,” Sheppard said. “We were trying to decide what to do with him and we decided to give him a second race at the track he was at and seems to like. This also gives him a race going two turns and sets him up nicely to get a breather and then get him ready for the big 3-year-old races next spring.”

One of those “big 3-year-old races” Sheppard was referring to is the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI). Sheppard, who will turn 71 on Dec. 2, has never saddled a starter in the Run for the Roses.

“I’m not going to push them and make them do something they’re not ready for,” Sheppard said. “We usually stick to the theory that you can have a good young horse or a good older horse, but you can’t have both. However, I think he (Ever So Lucky) has the disposition to be a good horse next year. He has a very good mind and is a really nice horse. I don’t want to jinx myself though because you really never know.”

Ever So Lucky will break from the rail post in the Kentucky Jockey Club. Some would be nervous about a 2-year-old breaking the inside gate, but Sheppard does not see the post as an issue for Ever So Lucky.

“The rail is not a bad spot if you have a horse with some speed,” Sheppard said. “I think Leparoux will be able to get him out of there fine.”

KENTUCKY OAKS TRAIL FOR CUSTOMER BASE BEGINS WITH THE GOLDEN ROD – Glen Hill Farm’s Customer Base is unbeaten on synthetic surfaces in her young career, but she moves to traditional dirt for Saturday’s 68^th running of the $150,000-added Golden Rod (Grade II) at Churchill Downs in hope that the race will be a first step on a trail to next spring’s $1 million Kentucky Oaks (GI).

“If she can get lucky and win Saturday then she’ll be nominated to the Kentucky Oaks, which is what I want because if she runs well then we’ll definitely point that way with her,” trainer Tom Proctor said.

Customer Base was a winner on debut over synthetic Polytrack footing at Del Mar and improved her record to a perfect two-for-two with a 1 ½-length victory over Keeneland’s Polytrack surface. The only poor effort in her career came Customer Base drew post 13 in a bid for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII) on Nov. 4.  She finished 11^th of 14 fillies that day behind the victorious Stephanie’s Kitten.

“She ran so well over the Polytrack that I decided to put her in the Juvenile Fillies Turf,” Proctor said. “I wasn’t sure if she’d like the turf or not, but honestly I still don’t know because she lost all chance with a bad trip. Her pedigree says she can run on the turf or the dirt.”

A 2-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, Customer Base was installed as the 7-2 second choice for the Golden Rod by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

“If she likes the dirt then she’ll be tough in there,” Proctor said. “I don’t know why she wouldn’t. She’s trained well over it and is doing really good.”

While the Kentucky Oaks is the primary long-term goal for Customer Base, Proctor has a backup plan for his filly if things don’t go as planned Saturday.

“If she doesn’t run well then I’ll take her to Tampa Bay and get her ready for the Florida Oaks (at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Feb.4),” Proctor said.

Customer Base will break from post eight in the field of 11 under leading-rider Julien Leparoux. Post time for the Golden Rod, the co-featured event on the Stars of Tomorrow II program, is 4:42 p.m.

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (Nov. 17-23) are Corey Lanerie (8-for-44) and Julien Leparoux (7-for-29). Nick Zito (3-for-4), Eddie Kenneally (3-for-6), Ken McPeek (3-for-9) and Mike Maker (3-for-13) are the hottest trainers over the same period. Carolyn Wilson (2-for-2) and Ken and Sarah Ramsey (2-for-8) are the hottest owners.

BARN TALK – Arena Elvira, winner of Thursday’s Falls City Handicap (GII) at Churchill Downs, exited the race in good order, according to assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy. The 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper will be given some time off before she begins a 5-year-old campaign. …

The second and third-place finishers in the Falls City, Afleeting Lady and It’s Tea Time, also came out of the race well.  No firm plans are in place for either filly, but both are expected to run next year. …

A reminder that a memorial service for the late trainer Robert Holthus will be held Saturday, Nov. 26 at 10:30 a.m. (EST) at Christ Chapel on the Churchill Downs backside. 

Churchill Downs will host a “Stache Bash” on Saturday during the races to honor and celebrate all of the Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who participated in Movember. Churchill Downs will donate $1 per attendee who is sporting a mustache to the Movember Foundation with a minimum guaranteed pledge of $5,000 given through the Churchill Downs Foundation. The day’s festivities will include between-race live music by popular Cincinnati-based My Sister Sarah in the paddock area and Happy Hour drink specials from 3-5 p.m. …

Churchill Downs will offer free admission to all fans on Sunday, Nov. 27, the closing-day of the 2011 Fall Meet. Also, be sure to bring the kids out to see Santa Claus, who will be in the Paddock Pavilion on Sunday.

WORKTAB – Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Tapizar, winner of the Sham (GIII) in January and fifth to Caleb’s Posse in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) in his most recent start, breezed five furlongs on the fast main track at Churchill Downs on Friday morning in 1:03.20 for trainer Steve Asmussen. The work was the 11^th fastest of 17 at the distance. …

Also working for Asmussen on Friday morning was Thiskyhasnolimit, winner of the Texas Mile (GIII) in April. Owned by Mark Wagner and Bob and Cathy Zollars, the 4-year-old son of Sky Mesa breezed five furlongs in 1:05.40.

Augustin Stable’s Ever So Lucky, a dazzling winner in his Churchill Downs debut, and WinStar Farm LLC’s Gemologist, perfect in two outings at Turfway Park and Churchill Downs, put their spotless racing records on the line Saturday as the promising colts head a field of 11 2-year-olds entered for Saturday’s 85^th running of the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II), the co-featured event on the Stars of Tomorrow II program devoted to juvenile runners at Churchill Downs.

The Kentucky Jockey Club, run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, shares Saturday’s Stars of Tomorrow II marquee with the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII), a race at the same distance for fillies.  Named in honor of the holding company that operated Churchill Downs at the time of the race’s inaugural running in 1920, the Kentucky Jockey Club will be run as race 11 with a scheduled post time  5:12 p.m. (all times EST).  Post time for the day’s first race is 12:40 p.m.

Trained by steeplechase legend Jonathan Sheppard, Ever So Lucky made the much-discussed date of 11.11.11 at Churchill Downs extra memorable with an impressive 3 ¼ length romp under jockey Julien Leparoux in his 6 ½-furlong racing debut. The son of Indian Charlie, the $600,000 sale topper in May at the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic auction at Maryland’s Timonium, will break from the rail post under Leparoux in the Kentucky Jockey Club.  Ever So Lucky, a supplemental entry to the race at a cost of $7,500, was installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

Gemologist, a son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow trained by Todd Pletcher, reeled off strong victories in his racing debut at Turfway Park and an allowance race at the Kentucky Jockey Club distance on the Stars of Tomorrow I program that kicked off the Churchill Downs Fall Meet.  Those efforts prompted Battaglia to install Gemologist as the 3-1 second choice in the morning line and Gemologist will break from post nine under jockey Javier Castellano.

WinStar Farm and Pletcher won the 2009 Kentucky Jockey Club with Super Saver, who returned to Churchill Downs the following spring to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).  The Derby victory by Super Saver was the first for both WinStar Farm and Pletcher.

Despite the star power of the favorites, the Kentucky Jockey Club is far from a two-horse race as the field includes the  promising New York invader Cyber Secret and stakes veteran Optimizer.

Another unbeaten colt,  Gary and Mary West Stables’ Cyber Secret make his stakes debut in the Kentucky Jockey Club on the heels of a 6 ½-furlong maiden win over a muddy surface on Oct. 20  at New York’s Belmont Park.  Trained by Chad Brown, the Kentucky-bred son of Broken Vow will be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan in his stakes debut.  Cyber Secret drew post five and is the 6-1 third choice in Battaglia’s Kentucky Jockey Club morning line.

Bluegrass Hall LLC’s Optimizer, a 2-year-old of English Channel and the 8-1 fourth choice in the Kentucky Jockey Club, which will make his second consecutive start over the main track at Churchill Downs after competing over grass and synthetic surfaces in his first three outings. Trained by Hall of Famer and four-time Kentucky Jockey Club winner D. Wayne Lukas, Optimizer finished eighth behind unbeaten Hansen after breaking from the outside post in a field of 13 in the $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.   Prior to his Breeders’ Cup run, Optimizer won his debut on the Saratoga turf and was the runner-up to State of Play over the same surface in the With Anticipation (GII).  Lukas’ colt also ran third to Dullahan in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI) over Keeneland’s Polytrack.

Optimizer will break from post six under Robby Albarado, who won the 1999 renewal of the Kentucky Jockey Club with Captain Steve.

Other stakes veterans in Saturday’s race include Thomas Conway and Mike Maker’s Mr. Prankster and Silverton Hill LLC’s Fine.

Mr. Prankster, trained by co-owner Maker, was the runner-up to longshot Big Wednesday in the $150,000 Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial over the synthetic Tapeta surface on Oct. 1 at Pennsylvania’s Presque Isle Downs.  The son of It’s No Joke, a 10-1 shot in the Kentucky Jockey Club morning line, drew post four and will have Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Edgar Prado in the saddle.

The Bret Calhoun-trained Fine was a distant runner-up to Hansen in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile and fourth to Motor City in Churchill Downs’ Iroquois (GIII).  Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride the son of Flatter, who is a 20-1 risk in the morning line and will break from post seven.

The field for the Kentucky Jockey Club, from the rail out (with trainer, jockey and morning line odds), is as follows: Ever So Lucky (Sheppard, Leparoux, 5-2), Africanist (Eddie Kenneally, Corey Lanerie, 10-1), Timely Tally (Ian Wilkes, Calvin Borel, 10-1), Mr. Prankster (Maker, Edgar Prado, 10-1), Cyber Secret (Brown, Bridgmohan, 6-1), Optimizer (Lukas, Albarado, 8-1), Fine (Calhoun, Hernandez, 20-1), Atigun (Ken McPeek, Manny Cruz, 10-1), Gemologist (Pletcher, Castellano, 3-1), Seve (Dale Romans, Mark Guidry, 20-1) and Saint Honore (Nick Zito, Jesus Castanon, 12-1).    

Augustin Stable’s Fugitive Angel, runaway winner of the Valley View (Grade III) at Keeneland on Oct. 22 in her most recent start, heads a field of 11 3-year-old fillies entered for Saturday’s 20th running of the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (GII).

The Mrs. Revere, won last year by Mary’s Follies, will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course and will go as the ninth race on Saturday’s 10-race program with an approximate post time of 4:37 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post time Saturday is 12:40 p.m.

Trained by Jonathan Sheppard, Fugitive Angel brings a four-race win streak into the Mrs. Revere. Jockey Rosie Napravnik has been aboard the daughter of Alphabet Soup for the past three triumphs, which include two in state-bred stakes races in Pennsylvania and the filly’s 3 ¾-length victory at Keeneland.  Napravnik has the Mrs. Revere mount on Fugitive Angel, who will break from post position six and carry top weight of 119 pounds.

Two other graded stakes winners are in the field: Lawrence Peifer’s Dade Babe and Barbara Hunter’s Snow Top Mountain.
    
Dade Babe, trained by Danny Miller, won the Pucker Up (GIII) in wire-to-wire fashion at Arlington Park on Sept. 6 and Snow Top Mountain, trained by Tom Proctor, was awarded the top prize in the Arlington Park Oaks (GIII) via disqualification in July.  The two fillies finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup (GI) won by Harmonious.  Snow Top Mountain also was a closing runner-up to Check the Label in Belmont’s Sept. 18 Garden City (GI).

Another intriguing entrant is Flaxman Holdings Ltd.’s Aruna, who is unbeaten in two starts for trainer H. Graham Motion since her arrival in the United States from France.  Ramon Dominguez will ride the Mr. Greeley filly for Motion, who saddled Shared Interest for her upset win over defending champion Midday in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.

The field for the Mrs. Revere from the inside out is as follows: Ice Mist (Jesus Castanon, 117 pounds), Wild Mia (Freddie Lenclud, 117), La Cloche (Kent Desormeaux, 117), Gitchee Goomie (Alan Garcia, 117), Aruna (Dominguez, 117), Fugitive Angel (Napravnik, 119), Snow Top Mountain (Garrett Gomez, 117), In the Slips (Julien Leparoux, 117), Stars to Shine (Patrick Husbands, 117), Dade Babe (Florent Geroux, 117) and Quiet by Seven (Leandro Goncalves, 117).

GUYS REWARD NEARLY GAVE ROMANS 40-1 SHOCKER IN COMMONWEALTH TURF – As the second-leading trainer in Churchill Downs history with 511 victories, it is rare when Dale Romans sends out a runner in any race beneath the historic Twin Spires at 40-1 odds.

It happened Saturday in the Commonwealth Turf (Grade III) for 3-year-olds and Michael Bruder’s Guys Reward almost delivered at those long odds.  The 3-year-old son of Grand Reward finished second in Saturday’s race, just a length back of favored Yankee Fourtune, who remained unbeaten in five races on grass.

“I think he is going to break through next year,” Romans said Sunday morning. “He is steadily improving and I think he will be a top horse next year. His last two races have been very good.”

Guys Reward returned from a two-month layoff to score an allowance victory at Keeneland in October prior to his run in the Commonwealth Turf. In the spring, he had run third in the Transylvania (GIII) at Keeneland and third in the American Turf (GII) here on Derby Eve.

Romans ranks seventh all time at Churchill Downs with 24 stakes victories and he could add to that total in the final two weeks of the meet that closes Sunday, Nov. 28.

Persuading, fourth in the Valley View (GIII) and the Garden City (GI) in her past two starts, is nominated to Saturday’s Mrs. Revere (GII) and Quiet Temper, a two-time graded stakes winner who has been idle since late June, is nominated to the Thanksgiving Day Falls City Handicap (GII).

“I’m on the fence with both of them,” Romans said. “But the 2-year-olds could both possibly run.”

The juveniles in question are Stormy Story, a six-length maiden winner here Nov. 3, for the Golden Rod (GII) on Nov. 27 and Z Appeal, a maiden winner on the dirt here in June and a stakes winner on turf in July, for the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) the same day.

Romans also nominated First Dude to the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) to be run on Friday, Nov. 26.

"I don’t think he’ll run,” Romans said of the eighth-place finisher in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) behind Blame. “He came out of the race good, but we just nominated him to see what was in there.”
Romans’ other Breeders’ Cup Classic starter, fifth-place finisher Paddy O’Prado, is done for the year. “He won’t run again until Gulfstream,” Romans said.

FUGITIVE ANGEL COULD FILL THE SHOES OF FOREVER TOGETHER FOR AUGUSTIN, SHEPPARD – Barry Wiseman, assistant to trainer Jonathan Sheppard, said goodbye on Friday to multiple Grade I winner Forever Together, one of the brightest stars in the roster of horses trained by Sheppard for George Strawbridge Jr.’s Augustin Stable.

“She went to Stone Farm a couple days ago,” Wiseman said of the 6-year-old mare. “She only got beat four necks and a length last week.”

That was in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI), a race she won in 2008 and finished third in last year before dead-heating for sixth here on Nov. 5.

But Augustin could have another grass filly waiting in the wings in Fugitive Angel, a Pennsylvania-bred by 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup who is pointing toward Saturday’s $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (GII) for 3-year-old fillies on turf.

"Now, wouldn’t that be nice,” Wiseman said of the prospect of another Forever Together in the barn. “Jonathan really likes her. She has been training well and is a very mature 3-year-old.”

Fugitive Angel, who is expected to work on the turf here Tuesday, is four-for-four this year including three stakes victories. Two of the stakes wins came in Pennsylvania-bred races with the third a 3 ¾-length romp in the Valley View (GIII) at Keeneland on Oct. 22.

“The Keeneland win was nice,” Wiseman said. “She keeps improving, but you just never know when they will stop improving.”

Fugitive Angel already has accomplished more as a 3-year-old than Forever Together could.

"Forever Together won right off the bat, but it wasn’t until we put her on the grass that she showed her true form,” Wiseman said. “She went to Chicago (in May 2008 as a 4-year-old) and won the Reluctant Guest with Earlie Fires and then ran third in the Just A Game (GI). After that race he (Sheppard) said ‘I think we can go places with this filly.’ ”

And go places they did. Forever Together raced on both coasts and in Canada and earned an Eclipse Award as top female grass performer in 2008. She closed her career with a record on the turf of 18-6-4-6 and earnings on the grass of $2,754,499.

FLAT OUT NEARLY READY TO RETURN TO THE RACES FOR DICKEY – As days at the track go, Saturday was a pretty good one for trainer Scooter Dickey.
    He won the first race with his initial starter of Fall Meet, She’s an Alpha Gam, a horse that Dickey owns. Earlier in the day, he watched Flat Out turn in his second work of the month.

Owned by Oxbow Racing, Flat Out was on the Kentucky Derby trail in 2009 after a victory in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park until being sidelined by injury less than two weeks before the Run for the Roses.

Initially a stress fracture in a shoulder put Flat Out on the shelf and then it was a problem with quarter cracks.

“The way he won the Smarty Jones, I expected him to be really good because he won that race very easy,” Dickey said. “Then he got hurt. It has been a long wait, 18 months. We had him back in training and then he had the foot issue.

“We had to cut the foot away in the spring and let it grow back. Everything has grown back on the foot and he wants to run.”

After galloping on the farm in the summer, Flat Out was moved to the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington where he began working in late August.

“They made sure everything was all right and then I got him back when I came in from Monmouth,” Dickey said. “He is ready to run here if there is a race for him.”

WORK TAB – Giant Oak, who was placed fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (GIII) and is nominated to the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI), worked a half-mile in :47.60 after the break on a track labeled as “good” for trainer Chris Block. The move was the best of 31 at the distance. … Sassy Image, who swept the Pocahontas (GII) and Golden Rod last year, had the second-quickest half-mile of the morning (:47.80) for Romans.

Augustin Stable’s Informed Decision caught pacesetting Dubai Majesty in deep stretch and then held off 32-1 shot Temple Street by three-quarters of a length to win the 23rd running of the $335,400 Humana Distaff (Grade I) for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux and trained by Jonathan Sheppard, Informed Decision ran the seven furlongs on a “sloppy” main track in 1:23.69.

Dubai Majesty, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, shot to the lead out of the gate and raced on an unopposed lead through fractions of :22.38 and :44.86. Dubai Majesty opened a daylight light leaving the far turn and was still comfortably in front at the eighth pole in 1:09.84 as Leparoux began to weave through traffic on Informed Decision.

Informed Decision, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, put her head in front with about 40 yards to go as Dubai Majesty grudgingly gave way to eventually finish in a dead heat for third another half-length back with Modification, ridden by Ramon Dominguez.

Informed Decision returned $8.40, $4.80 and $3.40. Temple Street, ridden by Jon Court, provided payoffs of $24 and $10. Dubai Majesty paid $4.20 to show and Modification $5.80.

The victory, the seventh in nine career starts, was worth $199,630 to increase Informed Decision’s earnings to $722,217.

HUMANA DISTAFF QUOTES

JULIEN LEPAROUX (rider of winner Informed Decision) – “At the quarter pole I said, there is no way she (Dubai Majesty) is going to come back. They were ahead and they kind of had the jump on me. I almost had to stop her and I thought there is no way she’s going to get back in there. She actually did. At the eighth pole she really kicked in for me. She’s amazing. She’s a very nice filly. She’s obviously a multiple Grade I winner and she deserves it.”

JONATHAN SHEPPARD (trainer of winner Informed Decision) – “I was a little concerned. It didn’t look like she was running very well on the turn. I started to lose confidence in her, but once he (jockey Julien Leparoux) eased out and finally got in the clear, she started to run. I started to feel better about our chances.

“I was (concerned about the wet track) because she had never run on it. But she’s such an aggressive, forward acting filly, I thought she might handle it. If we were going to find out if she could handle it, this was a good race to find out. I wouldn’t have her if the track wasn’t safe.

“I’ve got a couple of races picked out, but we’ll take some time to think about it. I think she can run longer, but she’s so good at this distance, I’m not sure I want to change anything.”

JON COURT (rider of second-place finisher Temple Street) – “I had to come out to go around; lost some ground. But I’ve come out and gone around with her before and won. Not today. We were second best.”

KENT DESORMEAUX (rider of third-place finisher Dubai Majesty) – “I tried to give her every chance to win. She’s got a heart of gold and she tried as hard as she could. We just couldn’t get there.”

GARRETT GOMEZ (rider of sixth-place finisher and favored Game Face) – “They were flying up front and I knew it. I was just trying to keep my filly in a position she was comfortable in. We got outrun there at the end.”

DOMINICAN EYES FIRST CHURCHILL SCORE IN 134^TH CLARK HANDICAP - The last time Dominican ran on the main track at Churchill Downs, he finished a well-beaten 11^th behind the victorious Street Sense in the 2007 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I).

The Darrin Miller trainee, after a six-race 2008 campaign split between all-weather tracks and the turf, will return to the natural dirt next Friday in the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII).

"We have taken our time with him this year," Miller said of Dominican, who is owned by Silverton Hill Farm. "He bled severely last year in the West Virginia Derby and what I have done this year is have him come out of his races in good order and continue to progress."

Dominican has compiled a 1-2-3 record in six races this year and enters the Clark off a runner-up finish in the Oct. 25 Fayette (GIII) at Keeneland.

"I was real happy with his Fayette," Miller said. "The Clark will be his last race of the year. We will turn him out at the farm and then bring him back in the spring at Keeneland."

Dominican scored his biggest victory in the 2007 Toyota Blue Grass (GI) that propelled him into the Kentucky Derby. Finishing fifth behind Street Sense in the Derby was Silverton Hill's Sedgefield, who is heading to India to begin a stallion career in 2009 at Jai Govind Stud in Jaipur.

"His last race was in the spring at Keeneland," Miller said of Sedgefield, full brother to 2007 champion grass horse English Channel. "I had heard he was going to India, but I don't know all the logistics of it. He should be leaving pretty soon."

In addition to the Clark, Miller may have one other starter in the closing weekend stakes: Silverton Hill's Corlett. Idle since winning the Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies on Aug. 2, Corlett is nominated to the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) to be run Nov. 29 on the "Stars of Tomorrow II" card featuring all 2-year-olds.

"How she does this weekend will determine which way we go," Miller said of Corlett, who came out of her Mountaineer win with a chip in an ankle. "Everything has to go right. We feel that she is a good enough filly that we can take our time with."

Corlett broke her maiden here in the spring and then ran a troubled fourth in the Grade III Debutante before winning at Mountaineer.

SNOW NO OBSTACLE TO JUST AS WELL GETTING TO LOUISVILLE - With coffee and doughnuts in tow, Barry Wiseman fumbled with the keys to the track room at the Stakes Barn at Churchill Downs on a brisk Friday morning.

"We drove through snow to get here from Pennsylvania," said Wiseman, who serves as an assistant trainer and exercise rider for trainer Jonathan Sheppard.

His cargo on the trip to Louisville was Augustin Stable's Just as Well, who will shoot for his first stakes victory in Saturday's $100,000-added River City Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs. Just as Well will break from post position six under E.T. Baird and carry 113 pounds, nine fewer than defending race winner Thorn Song.

The trip to Louisville marked a quick turnaround for Wiseman.

"I was here last week and we just got beat a head in the Cardinal with Long Approach," Wiseman said. "I think this one is going to run well, too."

Just as Well enters the River City off an allowance win at Keeneland. The 5-year-old horse is a son of A.P. Indy out of the Nureyev mare No Matter What.

"The dam is the mother of the best two-year-old filly in England this year," Wiseman said, referring to the undefeated Group I winner Rainbow View who was sired by Dynaformer.

While Just as Well was at Keeneland, he was in the same barn with Forever Together, whom Wiseman galloped before she was sent to California and a victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

"She is back home training every day at the farm with Informed Decision (winner of the Grade II Raven Run last month at Keeneland)," Wiseman said. "They paraded her at the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup a week after the Breeders' Cup when she got back. They walked her over on the road with cars going by and it didn't bother her a bit."

GARCIA DELIVERS SOLID NUMBERS IN FIRST CHURCHILL DOWNS FORAY - Although snow flurries were swirling in the brisk autumn air, if jockey Julio Garcia had any qualms about riding in the fall at Churchill Downs for the first time, he wasn't letting on.

            "I really like riding here," said Garcia, who has spent most of his career riding in Southern California and Florida. "The people here are great."

            After the Del Mar meet closed in early September, Garcia came east mainly to ride horses for trainer Wesley Ward. He found the winner's circle at Kentucky Downs, annexed two wins at Keeneland that included the closing-day Fayette (GIII) aboard Ball Four, and has added 11 victories at Churchill Downs.

            Garcia is winning at a 17 percent clip (11 for 63), which is third best among jockeys with 10 or more victories at the meet.

            The 11 victories put him in a tie for seventh with Kent Desormeaux at the meet, which closes Nov. 29 and sends Garcia to warmer climes.

            "I am going to California first and then coming back to Florida in the spring," said the 48-year-old Garcia, a native of Santurce, Puerto Rico.

            Garcia, who rode his first U.S. winner in 1984 at Santa Anita, had his best year in 1990 when he won 147 races. His victory aboard Grey Line Express in Thursday's first race was career win No. 1,201.

BARN TALK - Trainer Steve Asmussen's far-flung operation picked up three victories Thursday to raise his 2008 total to 551, four short of the record Asmussen established in 2004. Asmussen, who turned 43 on Tuesday, had no horses entered at Churchill Downs on Friday. However, the trainer had 18 runners entered at other six North American venue, which means Asmussen may have the record in hand by the time he sends out Captain Cherokee in Saturday's 10^th race at Churchill Downs. ... Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road, runner-up in last year's Kentucky Jockey Club (GII), returns to the races off a six-month layoff  in Sunday's eighth race. "He's been in our barn about six weeks," said trainer Dallas Stewart of Blackberry Road, who was previously trained by David Carroll. "He is doing well and looking forward to getting him started back." ...  Trainer Mike Maker and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey continued to build on their record-setting Fall Meet on Thursday. Maker, now owner of the all-time record for victories at a Fall Meet, added three victories Thursday to increase his total to 24 with seven days left in the meet. The Ramseys, with two victories Thursday, now have 19 for the meet, four more than the previous record. Julien Leparoux continued on pace to break Pat Day's 23-year-old mark of 55 victories at a Fall Meet. With three victories Thursday, Leparoux has 43 for the meet and needs to average two wins a day through the close of the meet Nov. 29 to break the record. In Day's record meet, a total of 271 races were run over the 30-day meet. This year's meet will have 270 races.

WORK TAB - Elisabeth Alexander's Magna Graduate, working toward a possible run in next Friday's Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII), worked six furlongs in 1:14 over a fast track for trainer Steve Asmussen. ... Glencrest Farm's Devil House, a probable starter in Thursday's Falls City Handicap (GII), worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 for trainer Rusty Arnold. ... Magdalena Racing's My Baby Baby, runner-up in the Mrs. Revere (GII) in her most recent start, worked a half-mile in :49.20 for trainer Ken McPeek.

TWO CANNED GOODS FOR FREE ADMISSION - Churchill Downs will offer free general admission through Sunday, Nov. 23 to all patrons who donate two non-perishable canned goods at Gates 10 and 17 in conjunction with the Kentucky Harvest Thanksgiving Food Drive, sponsored by Forcht Bank.

The canned goods can be delivered to Churchill Downs on those dates or any Louisville area Forcht Bank through Nov. 22 in exchange for the complimentary admission pass.

All donations will benefit Kentucky Harvest.

KENT DESORMEAUX GLASS GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY - The week's promotional calendar is highlighted by the last of three collectable hurricane glass giveaways that salute popular Cajun jockeys who ride at Churchill Downs. A Kent Desormeaux glass, sponsored by Kentucky Derby Party, will be given away to the first 5,000 paid and pre-paid admissions (includes patrons who bring two canned goods for admission in conjunction with the Kentucky Harvest Thanksgiving Food Drive) on Saturday, Nov. 22.

            Fans who receive the glass can come back to Churchill Downs on Sunday, Nov. 23 for an autograph session with Desormeaux on the second floor of the clubhouse.

            A glass depicting Calvin Borel, sponsored by Thorntons, was given away Nov. 8. A Robby Albarado glass, presented by GE, was given away Nov. 15.

JOCKEY TALK ON SATURDAY - Every Saturday during the Fall Meet, members of Churchill Downs jockey colony will be on hand for a meet and greet with the fans in the paddock area between 11:30 a.m. and noon. This Saturday's jockeys for "Jockey Talk" will be announced Friday.

JUNIOR JOCKEY CLUB WEEKEND ACTIVITIES - Crafts to create a Thanksgiving Banner of Blessings and special tours of the paddock highlight this weekend's activities at Churchill Downs' Junior Jockey Club located near the Guest Services Booth inside Gate. 10. Coloring books, crayons, individual games and reading material are available as well, and Churchill Downs' mascot Churchill Charlie will be on hand both Saturday and Sunday for photographs between 1-1:30 p.m.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE DOWNS - Sunday Brunch at Churchill Downs returns this Sunday. For $41.50 ($25 for children 12 and under), customers can dine and watch the Nov. 23 races from a reserved seat Millionaires' Row Six, the luxurious 9,000 square-foot room with a four-tier balcony that overlooks the finish line. The brunch, accompanied by live jazz music, is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a wide selection of food, including stuffed French toast, eggs, maple smoked bacon, homemade biscuits and gravy, carved roast turkey, fresh salads and plenty of sides. Appetizers and a bountiful desert tray will be available until 5 p.m. Brunch and an official program is included in the admission price. To reserve a spot, call (502) 636-4400.