Ken McPeek

FLINT HAS KENTUCKY DERBY DREAMS FOR BASHFORD MANOR WINNER EXFACTOR – Exfactor, an impressive 2 ¾-length winner of the Bashford Manor (Grade III) beneath the Twin Spires in July, is back in serious training after taking the summer off and the colt’s autumn activity has veteran trainer Bernie Flint dreaming about a special day at Churchill Downs in the spring.

The gray colt son of Exchange Rate breezed four furlongs on the fast main track at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning in :48.40.  The move pleased Flint, who hopes Exfactor has what it takes to become his first career starter in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).

“What we’re trying to do is get him to the Kentucky Derby,” Flint said. “That’s what everyone is trying to do. Whether we get there or not is another question.”

Exfactor recorded fractions of :11.80 and :23.40 in a work that was the third fastest of 40 at the distance.

Stoneway Farm LLC’s Exfactor raced three times at Churchill Downs during the 38-day Spring Meet. He finished second behind Sum of the Parts in his career debut and then broke his maiden by 4 ½ lengths in his second start. The Bashford Manor win was the third start for Exfactor and then he was turned out. He recorded his first work in nearly four months at Churchill Downs on Oct. 30.

“He was tired so we turned him out at the farm for a few months,” Flint said. “Nothing was wrong with him; he just needed a break. I want a fresh horse for next spring, not a burnt-out horse for the winter.

“All the 2-year-olds that ran all summer and in the Breeders’ Cup are tired,” Flint said. “You have to stop on them sometime and give them a break, but when are you going to stop on them now? You can’t.”

Flint, who is fourth all-time in training wins at Churchill Downs with 433, strongly believes that young horses should be given plenty of time to develop and was reminded of this the last time he went against his own philosophy with a precocious 2-year-old.

“I learned my lesson with Unbridled Express. We beat (eventual Kentucky Derby winner) Street Sense in a maiden race (at Churchill Downs). I thought we’d run him seven-eighths and then run him long, so we brought him (Unbridled Express) back in the Hopeful (GI). He ran third behind Circular Quay and Scat Daddy and came out of the race with a cracked pastern.

"The writing is on the wall,” Flint said. “You’ve got to give those (young) horses a break.”

Unbridled Express would return to the track six months after the Hopeful to run second in an allowance at Oaklawn Park prior to an eighth-place finish in an allowance at Churchill Downs. The latter was the final start of his career.

Flint has since not steered away from his philosophy and now that Exfactor has had his rest and relaxation it is time to start looking for a spot for him to return to the races.

“He worked really well today and we’ll bring him to Fair Grounds with us and put him in a stake somewhere,” Flint said. “I’m not exactly sure where he’ll run though.”

Bred in Kentucky by Bo Hirsch LLC, Exfactor was purchased at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearlings Sale for $27,000. His lifetime earnings currently stand at $109,348.

MISSION IMPAZIBLE WORKS TOWARD CLARK HANDICAP – Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC’s Mission Impazible, a narrowly-beaten runner-up earlier this year in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) Presented by Abu Dhabi (GI), breezed five furlongs Saturday in preparation for a run in the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade I) to be run beneath the Twin Spires on Nov. 25.

The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Unbridled’s Song covered the distance on the fast main track prior to the renovation break in 1:00.80.

Working on his own, Mission Impazible recorded fractions of :12.40, :24.40, :36.60, :48.40 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 and seven furlongs in 1:28.40. The five-furlong work was the sixth fastest of 47 at the distance.

“I’m happy with the work,” assistant trainer Michael McCarthy said. “He’s always been a decent work horse, but I thought today was a nice move for him. The track seemed to be playing a little slow today, but he still went well. He likes this track.”

Mission Impazible, who finished a neck behind Pool Play in the Stephen Foster Handicap, will enter the Clark off a ninth-place finish as the 2-1 favorite in the Fayette (GII) on the synthetic Polytrack at Keeneland.

"I think the only excuse is that he didn’t handle the Polytrack,” McCarthy said. “I would draw a line through that race.”

Mission Impazible could face a very tough group of horses in the Clark as the list of nominations for the 137^th running of the 1 1/8-mile race includes several Grade I stakes winners, led by Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) winner Flat Out, Belmont Stakes (GI) winner Ruler On Ice and defending Clark winner Giant Oak.

The race is always a pretty decent heat, but this year’s race could be very good,” McCarthy said.

Mission Impazible, whose career is highlighted by wins in the Louisiana Derby (GII) and New Orleans Handicap (GII), has a record of 3-4-2 in 14 lifetime starts and earnings of $948,563.

SCOTUS RETURNS TO CHURCHILL DOWNS IN SUNDAY ALLOWANCE – Scotus, winner of the Matt Winn Presented by Emirates Equestrian Federation (Grade III) at Churchill Downs in June, returns to the site of his most prestigious victory in Sunday’s featured ninth race, an allowance/optional claiming event for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Peter Callahan’s Scotus has raced three times since his Matt Winn triumph, finishing seventh in the Jim Dandy (GII) at Saratoga, fifth in the Smarty Jones at Parx and most recently third in an allowance race over at Keeneland’s Polytrack.

“He’s doing really well and he likes it here (at Churchill Downs),” trainer Ken McPeek said. “This should be a good spot for him.”

Scotus, a 3-year-old son of Successful Appeal, was hindered by a wide trip after breaking from post 12 in his most recent start at Keeneland.

“He ran well, but got hung extremely wide around both turns,” McPeek said. “He probably would have won that race with a better post.”

Scotus appears to have drawn a “better post” for Sunday’s race at Churchill Downs and will break from post six under Manny Cruz in the field of nine.

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockey over the last five racing days (Nov. 5-11) is Julien Leparoux (11-for-36). Mike Maker (6-for-18) is the hottest trainer over the same period. Ken and Sarah Ramsey (4-for-13) is the hottest owner.

WORKTAB – John Oxley’s Spirited Miss breezed five furlongs on a fast main track at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning in 1:02.40 for trainer Mark Casse. Spirited Miss, who was second by a head in the Mazarine at Woodbine in her most recent start, is nominated to the $150,000-added Golden Rod (Grade II), which is to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track beneath the Twin Spires on Nov. 26.

STEP ONE OF MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, CASSE AIMS FOR BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC WITH FOSTER WINNER POOL PLAY – Mark Casse’s decision to run William Farish Jr.’s Pool Play in Saturday’s 30^th running of the $500,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi (Grade I) was not a wild stab or a whim, as racing fans across the country discovered when the 6-year-old son of Silver Deputy stormed through the stretch to edge Mission Impazible by a neck at 36-1 odds.

A three-time winner of the Sovereign Award that annually honors Canada’s top trainer, Casse sent Pool Play to the Foster with a specific mission: to determine if the distance-loving horse, after 27 races on synthetic and turf courses, would fare on a dirt course.  If he ran as well over the Churchill Downs dirt as Casse hoped, step two would be a bid for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at the Louisville track on Nov. 5.

Pool Play handled Saturday’s initial test with aplomb when he posted the third-largest upset in the three-decade history of the Stephen Foster.  On Sunday, Casse was working up a plan to get him to the next step.

“It’s nice when things work, when you have a plan and it works,” Casse said on the morning after his most important win at Churchill Downs.  “I understood him being that big a price.  Here’s a horse running against some of the best older horses and they all had proven form on the dirt.  Well, here we had a horse who had never ran on it, so could understand.”

Along with watching Pool Play blossom from an unknown factor to Breeders’ Cup Classic contender in the Foster, the Stephen Fsoter upset was special to Casse for personal reasons.  The Indianapolis native spent his early years as a trainer beneath the historic Twin Spires, and has a 1988 Spring Meet training title so show for it.

"It was a real proud moment for a lot of reasons,” Casse said. “One is when you do something that’s a little unorthodox, that’s always nice.  And Churchill is where I started.  Churchill is special and always has been.  To win a race like that at Churchill Downs means a lot.”

Casse believed that the Breeders’ Cup Classic’s 1 ¼-mile distance fits Pool Play perfectly, but the horse’s dirt prowess was a question mark.  If Pool Play would handle any dirt course, Casse felt it would be the one-mile main track at Churchill Downs. Casse believes the course is extraordinarily kind to horses that run well on turf and synthetic courses.  While Pool Play’s home base at Toronto’s Woodbine is a synthetic Polytrack surface, Casse sees difference in Woodbine’s manufactured footing and Mother Nature’s dirt at Churchill.

“I was out there (on the Churchill dirt) this morning watching horses train and you can see they get into the ground only about two inches, at most,” Casse said.  “If you walk across Churchill Downs and you walk across Woodbine’s racetrack, that’s how much they penetrate the surface.  It’s almost identical.”

It’s Casse’s opinion that the clay that is an important part of the make-up of Churchill Downs’ sandy loam surface is the key ingredient that makes the Louisville surface is comfortable to horses that do their best running on synthetic or turf courses, or possess pedigrees that point toward those surfaces.

Whatever the case, Casse’s plan worked well for Pool Play in the Stephen Foster.  Now he’s looking to formulate a plant over the coming weeks that will get his veteran back to Churchill Downs and ready to offer his best effort against an expected international field the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“We’ve been planning to go to Saratoga with a string, so what I think I’ll do is take him to Saratoga and see how he trains over the dirt,” Casse said.  “Just because you like the dirt at Churchill Downs doesn’t mean you’re going to like it at Saratoga.  We’ll train him there and if he trains all right we’ll think about the Whitney (GI on Aug. 6 at Saratoga).  Our number one goal will be the Breeders’ Cup.  How we get there is kind of secondary, really.  So everything we do from now on will be that kind of plan.  I wouldn’t even be shocked if he ran on the grass again.”

The $327,127 winner’s share of the Stephen Foster purse boosted Pool Play’s career earnings to $909,556 with a record of 6-6-5 from 28 starts.  His only other graded stakes win came in the 2009 Durham Cup (GIII) on Polytrack at Woodbine. In his previous start, Pool Play finished second on turf in the Grade II Elkhorn at Keeneland, where he was beaten by 1 ¼ lengths by Musketier-GER.

So Pool Play’s victory is clearly the high point of the career of his racing career to date, but all that could change on Nov. 5 when, if all has gone well, Casse’s horse gets a chance to shine again on the Churchill Downs dirt in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“What I’m trying to do is get there with a happy horse in the fall,” Casse said.  “He showed what we needed him to show yesterday, and that is that he belongs.  I’ve said all the along the mile and a quarter will be right up his alley.  So he may go to Toronto and run on the grass, he may run in the Whitney – I’m not sure yet.  Obviously you always like to win, but our number one goal is to be the best he can be on Breeders’ Cup Day.”

STEPHEN FOSTER DAY UNDERCARD WINNERS EXIT RACES IN GOOD ORDER – Stephen Foster Day Presented by Abu Dhabi was highlighted by the Grade I Stephen Foster, but also featured four other exciting graded stakes races, including the first Arabian horserace in the history of Churchill Downs. The winners of the three undercard stakes for Thoroughbreds all came out of their respective races in good order and their connections are looking forward to the rest of their 2011 campaigns.

Glen Hill Farm’s Banned captured the Grade III Jefferson Cup Presented by Abu Dhabi to complete the American Turf – Jefferson Cup double and improve his record to 4-0-1 from seven starts with earnings of $299,076. “He came out of the race good and we’re ready to rock and roll,” trainer Tom Proctor said. “We’re going to the Virginia Derby (Grade II at Colonial Downs on July 16).”

The two other graded stakes races for Thoroughbreds were won by horses from the Ken McPeek barn; giving the 48-year-old trainer wins in five consecutive graded stakes races he has entered at Churchill Downs. Peter Callahan’s Scotus notched McPeek’s first graded stakes winner of the afternoon in the Grade III Matt Winn Presented by Emirates Equestrian Federation. A 3-year-old son of Successful Appeal made a successful stakes debut in the Matt Winn and improved his record to 2-1-2 from five starts with earnings of $121,054.

“He (Scotus) is doing fine,” assistant trainer Philip Bauer said. “He ate all his feed and walked well this morning. We aren’t sure where we will go with him from here. There are a lot of different options and, at this time, no decision has been made.”

The other graded stakes winner for McPeek came with Catesby Clay’s Bizzy Caroline in the Grade III Regret Presented by Etihad Airways. The victory, which gave Bizzy Caroline, a 3-year-old daughter of Afleet Alex, her third win in a row and first stakes triumph, improved her record to 3-0-1 from six starts with earnings of $148,497.

“No decision has been made for Bizzy Caroline either,” Bauer said. “She came out of the race well. She shipped back to Keeneland with Sassy’s Dream and she’ll be trained there for her next start.”

Livin the Dream Racing 2009, LLC’s Sassy’s Dream, a 3-year-old daughter of Flower Alley, won the fourth race Saturday for McPeek under Alan Garcia.

MCPEEK’S CHURCHILL STAKES STREAK CONTINUES, BUT DONE FOR SPRING – While Stephen Foster Day Presented by Abu Dhabi was notable for the upset by 36-1 shot Pool Play in the day’s main event; the win by T M Fred Texas in the first race for Arabians in the 137-year history of Churchill Downs and another dazzling run by Glen Hill Farm’s rising 3-year-old turf star Banned, the big day cannot be discussed seriously without the mention of the continuation of trainer Ken McPeek’s remarkable stakes streak.

The Lexington native secured two stakes wins to extend his streak of graded stakes wins at the historic track to five.  Numbers four and five in the streak were wins by Peter J. Callahan’s Scotus in the Matt Winn (GIII) for 3-year-olds and Catesby W. Clay’s Bizzy Caroline in the Regret (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies on turf.

Previous winners in the streak were Noble’s Promise in the Aristides (GIII) for older horses at six furlongs, Salty Strike in the Dogwood (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at a mile, and My Baby Baby in last week’s Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) for older fillies and mares on turf.

“I’m proud of it, but we’re not going to dwell on it,” McPeek by telephone from Lexington when asked about the streak on Sunday.  “We’re going to keep going.”

McPeek clearly appreciates the unusual string of good fortune in stakes competition and is quick to credit his team for its work in getting those horses into the winner’s circle in those races.   But McPeek also believes it was past time for his stable to enjoy a good run.

"The truth is that we were very due,” McPeek said.  “Over the last year or year and a half, we had a rash of seconds and thirds in so many nice races – Breeders’ Cup races and Derby preps.  It just seemed like every time we were second, third, second, third.  We were hitting, numbers wise, in our normal percentages in-the-money, but we weren’t winning.  We were just due, and they came in a flourish.”

After his latest win by Bizzy Caroline, McPeek’s Churchill Downs stakes run appears to have ended until the Oct. 30-Nov. 27 Fall Meet.  He has no candidates for the three races that close out the Spring Meet stakes schedule: the $100,000 Bashford Manor (GIII) for 2-year-olds, the $100,000 Debutante (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies and the $175,000 Firecracker (GII) for older horses at a mile on turf.

As special as a string of five consecutive stakes wins with horses hailing from five different divisions of competition is, McPeek takes and extra measure of satisfaction in the fact that all of those winners are pure products of his operation.

“What I’m most proud of is that we developed them all from scratch,” McPeek said. “They all started in our system as yearlings – every one of them.  That’s what I do.”

BARN TALK – Jockey Robby Albarado, who has 922 career wins at Churchill Downs, is just three victories away from tying Hall of Famer Don Brumfield for third all-time in wins beneath the Twin Spires. Albarado has six mounts Sunday (Races 4-7, 9-10). …

With two wins on Saturday’s Stephen Foster Day Presented by Abu Dhabi card and 11 wins in the last week, jockey Julien Leparoux, who has won seven riding titles beneath the Twin Spires, is quickly closing the gap between him and leading rider Corey Lanerie. Leparoux will enter Sunday’s 10-race program with 34 victories, three behind Lanerie. …

Nominations for the final two graded stakes races of the 39-day Spring Meet at Churchill Downs closed Saturday. The nominations for the Grade III, $100,000-added Bashford Manor to be run July 2 and the Grade II, $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap to be run July 4 will be announced Sunday. …

Sunday’s 10-race program will feature a Pick 6 carryover of $19,254 and a Super High 5 carryover of $13,407. The Pick 6 will begin with Race 5 at 2:51 p.m. EDT and the Super High 5 will take place on Race 10 at 5:25 p.m. …

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (June 11-18) are Julien Leparoux (11-for-22) and Manny Cruz (9-for-34). Ken McPeek (4-for-9) and Tom Amoss (3-for-8) are the hottest trainers over the same period. No owner has won more than one race during the past week.

WORKTAB – Robert Baker and William Mack’s Dublin worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on a fast main track at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning for trainer D. Wayne Lukas in preparation for his return to competition in the $76,600-added Kelly’s Landing overnight stakes on Friday’s “Downs After Dark” program.   Dublin, a 4-year-old son of Afleet Alex who won Saratoga’s Hopeful (GI) at two, has not raced since a fifth-place finish in the 2010 Preakness (GI).

Dublin drew the rail in a strong field of eight for the seven furlong race that also attracted Forego (GI) winner and defending Kelly’s Landing winner Here Comes Ben; Captain Cherokee, the runner-up in the Portero Grande (GII), San Carlos (GII) and Palos Verde GII) at Santa Anita; and Cool Bullet, runner-up to Churchill Downs (GII) winner Aikenite in Keeneland’s Commonwealth (GII).

WEATHER – Sunday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 86. Monday: partly sunny and hot with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 95. Tuesday: mostly sunny and hot with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 95. Wednesday: mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 88. Thursday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 84. Friday: partly sunny, 83. Saturday: mostly sunny, 85.    

Peter J. Callahan’s Scotus outlasted Infrattini and Joe Vann after a stretch-long battle to win the 14^th running of the Grade III, $138,500 Matt Winn Stakes Presented by Emirates Equestrian Federation by one length on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The Matt Winn was one of five stakes races on the 12-race Stephen Foster Day program, which was presented by Abu Dhabi.

Scotus, ridden by Alan Garcia, covered 1 1/16 miles on a main track rated “good” in 1:44.12, and extended an impressive streak for her trainer Ken McPeek, who has won the last four Churchill Downs graded stakes races that he’s entered: the June 4 Dogwood (GIII) with Salty Strike; June 4 Aristides (GIII) with Noble’s Promise; June 11 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) with My Baby Baby; and the Matt Winn.

Scotus, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred Successful Appeal colt, sat behind pacesetters Wilburn, the 9-5 favorite in the field of seven 3-year-olds, and Joe Vann, who set fractions of :24.47, :48.27 and 1:12.45. Joe Vann had the lead at the one-mile marker at the head of the stretch, but Scotus responded from the outside when roused by Garcia, wore down that rival and held off a late run from Infrattini.

Scotus paid $18.40, $7.20 and $4 at odds of 8-1. Infrattini, ridden by Corey Lanerie, returned $4.80 and $3.20. Joe Vann, under Javier Castellano, was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $18.40.

The $84,154 winner’s share of the purse increased Scotus’ earnings to $121,054. This was his stakes debut and he improved his record to 5-2-1-2.

MATT WINN QUOTES

Ken McPeek, trainer of Scotus (winner): “I came very close to scratching him (Scotus). I debated all morning long whether this was the right spot for him or not. We were thinking that we were going to scratch if Joe Vann stayed in and we would run in the starter allowance tomorrow. Finally I called (owner) Pete Callahan and said, ‘These are the races we like winning and these are the kind of races we need to run in. Let’s just go with it.’”

What’s next on the radar? “I’m not sure where we will go from here. We will look at a lot of different options for him.”

On four Churchill Downs stakes races in a row: “The staff is doing a great job and we have a lot of nice horses for great clients.”

 

Alan Garcia, jockey of Scotus (winner): “I had a great trip and I knew I just had to be patient because of the long stretch. He ran a really great race and once he got running I knew I was going to get there.”

Paul McGree, trainer of Infrattini (runner-up): “I was pretty happy with him. He came running. He was pretty far back, but he did come running. Maybe he had a little traffic to go through in the last part.”

Corey Lanerie, jockey of Infrattini (runner-up): “He really came running – maybe I shook him up a little too late. I wish I’d have got him going earlier, but I didn’t want to move too early. He was pretty far back and I didn’t want to move him early and he came, but he was kind of just creeping and creeping. He ran to the wire.  In hindsight, I wish I’d have engaged him a little earlier.”

Mike Smith, jockey of Wilburn (fourth as the 1.90-1 favorite): “I’m disappointed. The only thing I can tell you is it didn’t seem like the track was speed favoring today at all. Normally when you get a wet track, you’d think it would be, wouldn’t you? He got on his lead and he got it easy. I don’t want sit here and make too many excuses for him. But all I can say is I know the track didn’t play for him and I was hitting the ground now and then that he wasn’t comfortable with.”

CHURCHILL TRAINERS LIKE 1-2 DERBY RUNNERS IN THE BELMONT – Trainers based at historic Churchill Downs have had the opportunity to see many of the contenders for the 143^rd running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI) up close and personal.

The top seven finishers in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) will run in Saturday’s Belmont; three of which are based at Churchill Downs: Zayat Stables LLC’s Nehro (second), Michael Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge’s Shackleford (fourth) and Tom Walters’ Santiva (sixth).  Also based at Churchill Downs is Donald Adam’s Prime Cut, third in the recent Peter Pan (GII) at Belmont Park.

After following the Triple Crown races and observing many of the Belmont contenders condition beneath the Twin Spires, many trainers on the Louisville track’s backstretch have made up their minds as to who will win the third jewel of the Triple Crown and the majority are thinking Animal Kingdom or Nehro.

“Animal Kingdom will win the Belmont,” trainer Paul McGee said. “I picked him in the Derby and the Preakness (GI) and I’m going to stick with him.”

Trainer Steve Margolis, who collected his 100^th win beneath the Twin Spires earlier in the meet, likes Animal Kingdom as well. “I’ll be rooting for Graham (Motion) and Animal Kingdom and I think he’ll win,” Margolis said. “But I also like Master of Hounds as a longshot possibility.”

“It’ll be a good race, but I don’t think anyone will beat Animal Kingdom,” trainer Scooter Dickey said.

Trainer Jimmy Baker, who has won with four of his 14 starters this meet, believes one of the favorites will cross the line first in the Belmont. “I like the favorites in the race,” Baker said. “Nehro will be fresh, Shackleford will be the pace and may hold on, and Animal Kingdom will be running at the end. One of those will win it.”

"How can you not like Animal Kingdom?,” said trainer Tom Amoss, who is currently tied with Dale Romans for second in the trainer standings with nine wins at the meet.

Trainer David Carroll is also in Animal Kingdom’s corner. “Animal Kingdom will win tomorrow (Saturday),” Carroll said.                                   

The other Belmont contender who has a lot of support on the Churchill Downs backstretch is Nehro.

“I like Shackleford and Animal Kingdom, but Nehro will be fresh and I think he’ll win,” trainer Bret Calhoun said.

Garry Simms, who has won with three of his ten starters this meet, also picked Nehro. “I hope Shackleford wins, but I’m going with (Steve) Asmussen’s horse (Nehro),” Simms said.

"I like Nehro and I think he’ll like the distance (1 ½-miles),” trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi said.

Trainer Dallas Stewart was one of the few trainers to not select Animal Kingdom, Shackleford, or Nehro. “I think a longshot is going to win,” Stewart said. “I just don’t know which one.”

Tom McCarthy, who will saddle General Quarters in Friday’s featured ninth race, was unsure of who will win Saturday.

“Anyone’s guess is as good as mine,” McCarthy said. “It’ll be a good race and we’ll just have to wait and see.”

CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN INJURED, PROBABLY OUT FOR THE YEAR – Rosemary A. Rauch and David Zell’s Capt. Candyman Can is expected to miss most or all of the remainder of the 2011 racing season after apparently suffering an injury during his third-place run behind Noble’s Promise in last week’s $100,000-added Aristides (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Ian Wilkes said he’s not “100 percent” sure of the exact nature of the problem that has sent the 5-year-old gelded son of Candy Ride to the sidelines.  But Wilkes suspects that Capt. Candyman Can fractured his humerus bone in his left shoulder.  Capt. Candyman Can is due for a bone scan in a few days that should identify the exact injury.

Wilkes said the injury would knock Capt. Candyman Can out of training for “at least 90 days.”

The winner of the Grade I King’s Bishop at three, Capt. Candyman Can missed all of 2010 with a knee issue.  The Aristides was the fourth start of a 2011 campaign for Capt. Candyman Can that Wilkes had hoped would reach its climax in November in the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) at Churchill Downs.  He won his first two starts of the year and finished a close fourth to Aikenite in the Churchill Downs (GII) on Kentucky Derby Day prior to his run in the Aristides.

Wilkes believes the injury could have occurred at the start of the Aristides.  Capt. Candyman Can got away from the starting gate slowly after a slow loading process for the field of eight when one of its members was reluctant to enter the gate.

“It’s possible it happened at the start – he did stumble there, too,” Wilkes said.  “He didn’t finish the way he should – the way he normally does.  I have no doubt that he would have won the race if he was right.”

Capt. Candyman Can is stabled at Skylight Training Center, which is located about 30 minutes from Churchill Downs.  He is scheduled for rest on a farm after the bone scan is completed on Wilkes’ stable star.

Capt. Candyman Can has a career record of 8-2-2 in 16 races with earnings of $760,147.

STEPHEN FOSTER HANDICAP PROBABLES NEAR FINAL WORKS AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – A pair of probable starters for the $500,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi (GI) on June 18 at Churchill Downs will soon be putting in their final pre-race workouts at the historic track.

The Virginia H. Tarra Trust’s Clark Handicap (GI) winner Giant Oak is scheduled to tune-up for his Stephen Foster run on Sunday at Churchill Downs with a 6:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) workout for Chris Block. The 5-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway captured the Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park earlier this year prior to a fifth-place finish in the Alysheba Presented by Besilu Stables (GIII) on Kentucky Oaks Day.

Twin Creeks Racing Stable, LLC’s Mission Impazible, who won the New Orleans Handicap (GII) at Fair Grounds prior to a seventh-place finish in the Alysheba (GIII), will have his final workout prior to the Stephen Foster on Sunday at Churchill Downs, according to Todd Pletcher’s assistant trainer, Mike McCarthy.  Mission Impazilbe finished tenth behind Super Saver in the 2010 Kentucky Derby.

Other horses known to be under consideration for the Stephen Foster (with trainers) include Apart (Al Stall Jr.), Crown of Thorns (Richard Mandella), Duke of Mischief (David Fawkes), First Dude (Bob Baffert) and Regal Ransom (Saeed bin Suroor).

Weights for the 30^th running of the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) will be released Saturday.

KATHMANBLU WILL LEAD MCPEEK DUO IN REGRET – Five D Thoroughbreds and Wind River Stables’ multiple graded stakes winning filly Kathmanblu will return from a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (GI) to run in the 42^nd running of the $125,000-added Regret Presented by ETIHAD Airways (GIII) at 1 1/8-miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course on June 18.

Kathmanblu’s stablemate in the Ken McPeek barn, Catesby Clay’s Bizzy Caroline, a 3-year-old daughter of Afleet Alex who sprinted away to a seven-length victory in an allowance race at Churchill Downs on May 27, is also being pointed toward a start in the Regret.

Kathmanblu will be making her fifth start of the year in the Regret, but it will be her first on the turf since a victory in the Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park in January. McPeek’s assistant trainer, Philip Bauer, said he hopes Kathmanblu will appreciate a return to the turf and get back on the winning track.

“She’s been doing really well since the (Kentucky) Oaks and I think that turf is her best surface,” Bauer said. “On paper it looks like she will be tough to beat.”

The 3-year-old daughter of Bluegrass Cat has a record of 3-1-1 from five starts over the turf, including two stakes wins and a third behind More Than Real and Winter Memories in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII) at Churchill Downs last November.

Other horses under consideration to compete in the Regret (with trainers) include Bouquet Booth (Steve Margolis), Diva Ash (Dale Romans) and Excited (Todd Pletcher).

NEHRO WORKMATE PROBABLE FOR MATT WINN – George Bolton, Stonestreet Stables, LLC and Spendthrift Farm, LLC’s Dominus, who finished second behind Machen in The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII) in his most recent start, is being pointed towards a start in the 14^th running of the $125,000-added Matt Winn on June 18 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

  Dominus, a 3-year-old ridgling by Smart Strike out of the Lord At War-ARG mare Cuando, worked in company with Belmont Stakes (GI) starter Nehro on May 30 at Churchill Downs. The stablemates completed the six furlong work together in 1:12.20, which was the fastest of four, six furlong workers that morning.

Other horses known to be under consideration for the Matt Winn and their trainers include Alstom (Wayne Lukas), Bind (Al Stall Jr.), Infrattini (Paul McGee), and Uncle Brent (Lynn Whiting).

RUNNER-UP IN AMERICAN TURF POSSIBLE FOR JEFFERSON CUP RUN - William S. Farish and Skara Glen Stables’ Close Ally, runner-up to Banned in the American Turf Presented by Ram (GII)  on Kentucky Oaks Day and the  Lone Star Derby (GIII) on Memorial Day, worked three furlongs in :37.60 on a fast main track at Churchill Downs on Friday morning for trainer Neil Howard.

The 3-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway is a possible starter for the 36^th running of the $100,000-added Jefferson Cup (GIII) at 1 1/16-miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course on June 18 Stephen Foster Day undercard.

Howard is also considering running Courtlandt Farms’ Perregaux in the Jefferson Cup. The 3-year-old son of Distorted Humor finished second beaten a half-length to Ronin Dax on May 27 in a one-mile allowance over the Matt Winn Turf Course in his most recent start, which served as his 2011 debut.

"I’m considering both of them (Close Ally and Perregaux) for the Jefferson Cup,” Howard said. “Only one is likely to start; however, I’m not sure which one that will be just yet. Robby Albarado will have the mount regardless of which one runs.”

Other horses known to be under consideration for the Jefferson Cup and their trainers include Banned (Tom Proctor), Derby Kitten (Mike Maker), Redboard (Garry Simms) and Swagger Jack (Darrin Miller).

BARN TALK – Stoneway Farm’s Exfactor gave trainer Bernie Flint his fourth 2-year-old win of the meet in the fifth race at Churchill Downs on Thursday. Cathy and Bob Zollars’ Daddy Nose Best was second and Donegal Racing’s Dullahan, a half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) winner Mine That Bird, finished third.

Right Time Racing LLC’s Street Storm, who finished eighth in the Kentucky Oaks (GI) in her most recent start, is being pointed to the Iowa Oaks (GIII) at Prairie Meadows on June 25, according to trainer Steve Margolis.

Nominations for the 111^th running of the $100,000-added Debutante (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs close Saturday. The Debutante, which is scheduled to be run on the main track at Churchill Downs on Saturday, June 25, was won last year by Eldon Farm Equine, LLC’s Just Louise under Robby Albarado for trainer Dale Romans. …

Churchill Downs will offer advance wagering all day Friday beginning at 11:20 a.m. for the 143^rd running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes to be run Saturday. A unique wager offered Friday by the New York Racing Association is the Brooklyn/Belmont double that links Belmont Park's two 1 1/2-mile marathon stakes events: Friday's Grade II, $150,000 Brooklyn Handicap for older horses and Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. …

Belmont Park's 13-race Belmont Stakes program will begin at 11:35 a.m. EDT, and will feature $1 million guaranteed pools for an all graded stakes Pick 6 (Races 6-11 starting at 2:34 p.m.) and Pick 4 (Races 8-11 starting at 3:59 p.m.). The 1 1/2-mile Belmont -- the third and final leg of the Triple Crown -- is scheduled as Belmont Park's Race 11 at approximately 6:36 p.m. The on-track simulcast of the Belmont will follow Race 11 and the racing will be prominently shown on television monitors throughout the facility, including the infield and paddock JumboTrons. ...

There will be a drawing ton win three Early Times prints by Marita Walizer on Saturday. Patrons may register for the drawing prior to 2 p.m. near Gate 17. Also, there will be an Early Times mascot race on the Matt Winn Turf Course following Saturday’s fourth race. …

The official drink of the Belmont Stakes, the Belmont Jewel (1.5 oz Woodford Reserve, 2 oz lemonade, 1 oz pomegranate juice), will be sold throughout the facility on Saturday.

Saturday’s Junior Jockey Club events for the kiddos include foam fun and a puppet show at 2:15 p.m.

WORKTAB – Courtlandt Farms’ Machen, winner of The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII) at Churchill Downs in his most recent start, also worked for Howard beneath the Twin Spires on Friday morning. The 3-year-old son of Distorted Humor completed the four furlong breeze in :51.40. …

Briland Farm’s Absinthe Minded, who finished second by a head to Awesome Maria in the Shuvee Handicap (GII) at Belmont Park in her most recent start, worked four furlongs in :48.00 Friday morning for trainer Wayne Lukas.  …

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (May 30- June 9) are Corey Lanerie (8-for-29), Julien Leparoux (7-for-26) and Calvin Borel (6-for-26). Bernie Flint (3-for-5), Ian Wilkes (3-for-10), Steve Asmussen (3-for-12) and Ken McPeek (3-for-13) are the hottest trainers over the same period. The hottest owners are Stoneway Farm (3-for-3), Lothenbach Stables, Inc. (2-for-2), and Charles E. Fipke (2-for-5).

WEATHER – Friday: mostly sunny with a 20% chance of isolated thunderstorms, 93. Saturday: partly sunny with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 90. Sunday: mostly sunny, 82. Monday: partly sunny, 83. Tuesday: mostly sunny with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 85. Wednesday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 89. Thursday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 88.

Chasing Dreams Racing 2008’s favored Noble’s Promise, the fifth-place finisher behind Super Saver in the 2010 Kentucky Derby, returned to Churchill Downs on Saturday and wore down Atta Boy Roy in the stretch to score a one-length victory in the star-studded 23^rd running of the $110,300 Grade III Aristides Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

            The victory by Noble’s Promise completed a memorable day for trainer Ken McPeek, who swept Saturday’s pair of featured Grade III races at the home of the Kentucky Derby.  McPeek also saddled Salty Strike to win the $109,300 Dogwood Stakes for 3-year-old fillies earlier in the day.

            Noble’s Promise, one of three Grade I stakes winners in the eight-horse field for the Aristides, rallied from fourth under jockey Alan Garcia and paid $5.20, $3.60 and $2.40.  Atta Boy Roy, the Aristides runner-up for the second consecutive year, led most of the way under Jesus Castanon before giving way in the final yards and returned mutuels of $11.00 and $5.40.  Capt. Candyman Can, who broke slowly under Calvin Borel, rallied in the stretch to finish a clear third and paid $2.40 to show.

            The winner scored his first graded stakes victory since a win in Keeneland’s Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity in October of 2009.  He had won last fall’s $85,000 Jimmy V Stakes during Breeders’ Cup Weekend at Churchill Downs.  In his previous start, Noble’s Promise had finished a close fifth to Aikenite in his first start of the year in the Grade II Churchill Downs Stakes on Kentucky Derby Day.

            The Aristides victory improved the career record of Noble’s Promise to 5-3-1 in 14 races and made the son of Cuvee racing’s latest millionaire.  The winner’s prize of $66,336 pushed his career earnings to $1,027,774.  The Aristides victory was the second for McPeek, who won the race in 2009 with Bold Start.  The winner covered six furlongs over a fast track in 1:08.74.

            “It’s always fun to win two stakes in one day,” McPeek said.  “He’s a nice horse and now he’s a millionaire. There were some other nice horses in the race, but I thought they would have a tough time beating him today.”

            Noble’s Promise joined third-place finisher Capt. Candyman Can and Here Comes Ben, who finished sixth, as Grade I stakes winners in the strong Aristides field.  The field also included the 1-2-3 finishers in the 2010 Aristides in Riley Tucker, Atta Boy Roy (who also won the Grade II Churchill Downs over the track in 2010) and Cash Refund.  Hurricane Ike won the Grade III The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial in 2010.

            Cash Refund blew out of the starting gate to take the early lead in the Aristides, but was joined after the opening quarter by Atta Boy Roy, who had the lead at the half-mile in a swift :44.46, and Noble’s Promise moved under Garcia to join the leading duo.  Capt. Candyman Can, Here Comes Ben, and Riley Tucker all broke slowly, with the former making the steadiest progress of that trio as the battle continued on the front end.  Atta Boy Roy and Castanon pushed clear of Noble’s Promise and Cash Refund at the top the stretch, but Garcia sent the eventual winner after the leader and Capt. Candyman Can launched a bid on the far outside.  The top pair battled through the latter part of the stretch before the stubborn Atta Boy Roy gave way late and Noble’s Promise pushed clear.  

            Good Lord, the second longest shot in the field at 34-1, hopped at the start but rallied to finish fourth, three lengths behind Capt. Candyman Can.  He was followed past the finish by Riley Tucker, Here Comes Ben, Hurricane Ike and early pacesetter Cash Refund.          

ARISTIDES POST-RACE QUOTES

Alan Garcia, jockey on Noble’s Promise (winner)

“It was a very good trip for me and my horse. I was able to keep him relaxed behind the leaders in third. Finally I asked him at the top of the stretch and he ran very well. I had plenty of confidence in my horse and I knew he was going to win. It was definitely worth the trip (to Churchill Downs).”

Ken McPeek, trainer of Noble’s Promise (winner)

“I felt like he (Noble’s Promise) could improve three or four lengths off his last race. That race (the Churchill Downs (GII)) was a tough one coming off a layoff so we backed off him since then. He’s a nice horse and now he’s a millionaire. There were some other nice horses in the race, but I thought they would have a tough time beating him today.”

            “I think we did a good job of trying to stretch him out for the Triple Crown last year. He only got beat six lengths in the (Kentucky) Derby (GI), but we were really stretching him out as far as he could go and he didn’t embarrass us, but running that far wasn’t his game. I think he’s found his niche with sprinting. I’d love to run him in the Vanderbilt (GI on Aug. 7) and the Forego (GI on Sept. 3) at Saratoga and then bring him back here in the fall for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.”

On winning both stakes on the card:

“It’s always fun to win two stakes in one day.”

Valorie Lund, trainer of Atta Boy Roy (runner-up)

“He ran really well.  If we didn’t have to hook that other horse the result might have been different, but somebody’s got to go after Cash Refund.  You can’t leave him alone on the lead.” 

Q: Are you thinking fall and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint again with this horse?

“That’s what I’m thinking.  We’ll have to take it step-by-step, but that would be what I’m thinking because I think he’s every bit as good this year as last.  We’ll just go on through the season and battle through the summer.”

Q: What were you thinking at the head of the stretch?

“I thought he might hold him (Noble’s Promise) off.  I could see that horse coming and I’m thinking, ‘We’ve already done an awful lot of work up here.’  He almost held on.  Jesus said he was so incredibly game and a classy horse – and, of course, I like to hear that.”

Q: But you knew that …

“Oh yes, I knew it.  But I still like to hear it.  I’m like a proud mother.”

Q: Will he stay here or will you ship back to Canterbury?

“We’ll go back to Canterbury and train over that surface.  It’s a real kind surface, plus he swims.  So they’ve got a pool there.  They’ve got a kind surface and I like it – it’s nice and deep, so he gets a lot out of it.  It’s a great surface to train on, so I’ll train him there and ship.”

Jesus Castanon, jockey on Atta Boy Roy (runner-up)

“He ran big and he gave a good kick.  He was doing it easy and when I got to the quarter-pole I let him pick it up and he really gave me a nice kick, but we just got beat.   When the other horse (winner Noble’s Promise) came to me with about 70 yards to go, my horse was trying so hard to keep up with that one.”

Ian Wilkes, trainer of Capt. Candyman Can (third)

“He ran good.  He broke a little bad today.  He stood in the gate a long time.  You can’t break that bad.  You have to be able to jump and run.”

Q: You had a little hope at the head of the stretch …

“He used himself to get into position.  He ran good.  You can’t complain.  He brings his ‘A’ game.”

Calvin Borel, jockey on Capt. Candyman Can (third)

“He didn’t break that good and I was kind of disgusted with that, but he showed up and he tries hard.  I thought I might get ‘em at the head of the stretch, but he kind of faltered there.  But he tried.  These are good horses.”

Craig B Singer’s Salty Strike took the lead approaching the top of the stretch and drew away to an emphatic 3 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s 37^th running of $109,300 Grade III Dogwood Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.

            Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s heavily favored Might, a full sister to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame who left the starting gate as the odds-on choice at 4-5, faded to fifth in the Dogwood field that was reduced to six fillies by the late scratches of Juanita and Henny’s Hurricane.

            Ridden by Manny Cruz, who scored his first career stakes victory at Churchill Downs, Salty Strike started a sweep for trainer Ken McPeek of the two Grade III stakes races offered by the historic track on Saturday.  McPeek also won the $110,300 Aristides with Noble’s Promise.

            The 5-1 third choice in the Dogwood, Salty Strike scored her first career stakes victory and won for the third time in four career starts at Churchill Downs as she returned mutuels of $12.80, $4.80 and $3.20.  IEAH Stable’s Fantasy of Flight, making only her second career start under jockey Robby Albarado, finished second and returned $4.60 and $3.20.  Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s Gran Lioness held well under Jamie Theriot to finish 1 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up in third and paid $3.60 to show.

            The victory by Salty Strike improved the career record of the homebred daughter of Smart Strike to 3-1-1 in seven races and the winner’s purse of $67,090 boosted her career earnings to $152,492.  She completed the one mile distance over a fast track in 1:35.39.

            Salty Strike’s only loss at Churchill Downs came in a close third-place finish to Just Louise in last year’s $100,000 Grade III Debutante Stakes in early July.  McPeek’s filly fractured a cannon bone in that race and did not return to competition until mid-February.  Salty Strike was coming off a seven-length victory in a May 20 allowance race at Churchill Downs that was her first win since a successful racing debut at the same track just over a year earlier.                        

            “She has really come around,” McPeek said. “I’d like to keep her sprinting on the dirt. I think we will look at sending her to the (Grade I) Test at Saratoga.”           

            Fantasy of Flight, coming off an impressive victory in her career debut during Kentucky Derby Week, shot to the lead when the starting gates open and held a two-length advantage down the backstretch over Gran Lioness, Salty Strike and the favored Might.  Cruz turned Salty Strike loose on the far turn and she made a quick three-wide move to grab the lead and quickly drew clear as the rest of the strung out field gave chase down the stretch.

            Might, a winner of two of three starts for trainer Al Stall Jr. prior to her stakes debut in the Dogwood, made a mild rally under Julien Leparoux near the top of the stretch, but faltered in the drive and was beaten by nearly six lengths. 

            “Julien said she was traveling fine down the backside and just didn’t go on,” Stall said.  “She didn’t seem to be the worse for wear when I watched her jog back and walk off.  So, I don’t know.  She has no excuses as far as I can see right now.” 

            Angelica Zapata finished fourth, and was followed by Might and Holy Heavens.

DOGWOOD STAKES QUOTES

Manny Cruz, rider of Salty Strike (winner)

“This is my first stakes win at Churchill Downs. I hope this is just the first of many more to come.

            “She (Salty Strike) sat perfectly in the race. I took her outside because I knew I had a ton of horse and I didn’t want to take any chances. When I asked her to move, she responded and broke away from the group.”

Ken McPeek, trainer of Salty Strike (winner)

“She (Salty Strike) has really come around. She was injured here in the Debutante last year (stress fracture to cannon bone), but we got that fixed and she was able to come back this year. She wasn’t herself in the race at Oaklawn (Honeybee (GIII)) and then she really didn’t like the Polytrack at Keeneland.”

            “We took her off Lasix for her last start and she really responded and so we didn’t put her on Lasix again today. She doesn’t need it, it seems to dull her out, and we especially didn’t want to put her on it with the heat today.”

            “I’d like to keep her sprinting on the dirt. I think we will look at sending her to the Test (GI) at Saratoga.”

Robby Albarado, rider of Fantasy of Flight (runner-up)

“She ran a huge race.  She just couldn’t hold off the winner.  That winner is a really good filly – I’ve ridden her before.  So it’s no shame to finish second to her off just one race.  My horse ran a big race and looks like she has a really bright future.”

 Julien Leparoux, rider of Might (fifth as the favorite)

“We got a very good spot, but she just never picked it up for me at the end.  I don’t know.  She felt real good all the way around.  It seemed like I had plenty of horse underneath me.”

Q: At what point did you think you were in trouble?

“When I asked her to accelerate on the turn, around the quarter pole.  I asked her, and she didn’t really kick.”

Al Stall Jr., trainer of Might (fifth as the favorite)

“Julien said she was traveling fine down the backside and just didn’t go on.  He didn’t alert us to any problems and she came back fine, it seemed like.  So I really don’t know right now.  She didn’t seem to be the worse for wear when I watched her jog back and walk off.  So, I don’t know.  She has no excuses as far as I can see right now.”

Thoroughbreds and Wind River Stables’ Kathmanblu swept to the lead at the head of the stretch and drew off by 8 ½ lengths to win the 67th running of the $163,800 Golden Rod Stakes (GII) for 2-year-old fillies on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Ken McPeek and ridden by Julien Leparoux, Kathmanblu raced third in the early stages of the 1 1/16-mile race as Gran Lioness led the field through fractions of :24.28 and :48.85.

At the midway point of the final turn, Missyoulikecrazy made the first move at Gran Lioness with Kathmanblu just to her outside. Kathmanblu shot to the lead at the head of the lane and never was threatened in completing the distance on a fast main track in 1:44.48.

The victory was worth $99,525 and increased Kathmanblu’s earnings to $320,731 with a record of 3-1-1 in six starts. It was the first victory on dirt for Kathmanblu, who had won the Jessamine at Keeneland in October and then ran third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII) here on Nov. 5.

Kathmanblu is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Bluegrass Cat out of the Devil’s Bag mare Abba Gold.

Favored in the field of seven, Kathmanblu returned $4.60, $3 and $2.80. Missyoulikecrazy, ridden by Robby Albarado, paid $4 and $3.40 with Suave Voir Faire finishing 1 ¼ lengths back in third under Sal Gonzalez Jr., and paying $6.40 to show.

Second-choice Aide finished three lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Gran Lioness, Sweet Deal to Win and Missed the Point.

The Fall Meet concludes Sunday with an 11-race program that begins at 12:40 p.m. (EST).

GOLDEN ROD QUOTES

Julien Leparoux (jockey, Kathmanblu, winner): “I had a good trip. She broke good; she was very relaxed laying third. And when I asked her she finished very good. I was riding her all the way. I was waiting for the one (Aide) to come, but I looked at the TV and she obviously won easily. I don’t know how good she can be. That’s not my job; that’s the trainers’ job. I think she is really good on both turf and dirt. I think she is a very good filly on the turf. And she proved today she can run on the dirt, too. We’ve got options.”

Kenny McPeek (trainer, Kathmanblu, winner): “She is now a big time Oaks prospect. She’s not a big filly; she is a little compact filly, and as the months go on she has gotten better and better. I’ll think she will keep going as a 3-year-old. In the Breeders’ Cup she had a troubled trip; it seemed like not a whole lot went right that day. Obviously she is a good, talented filly. This time of year we got enough time to come back in three weeks here and you’re going to find out if they like this surface then you got to do it now, she was doing well so there was no hesitation at all. We will probably put her on the shelf for a while. At this point, we will take her to Gulfstream for the winter and take it one day at a time. She probably won’t run until late February or early March. I like to have two races in them before the Oaks.”

Robby Albarado (jockey, Missyoulikecrazy, second): “She will be fine. She kicked it in there late. She ran her race.”

Eddie Kenneally (trainer, Missyoulikecrazy, second): “She ran really well, we are very happy. It was her first time around two turns and the filly that just won the race just ran in the Breeders’ Cup, so we are happy with the effort our filly put forward. We had a good trip, but we just got out run. She will head down to Florida and we will look at the races at Gulfstream.”

Garrett Gomez (jockey, Aide, fourth): “I had a good trip. She didn’t quite have it today, but look for her down the road.”

Wind River Stables and Five D Thoroughbreds’ Kathmanblu, a troubled third to More Than Real in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade II) in her most recent start, and Adele Dilschneider’s homebred Aide, a dazzling 19 ¾-length allowance winner here on Oct. 31, head a field of seven 2-year-old fillies entered to compete in Saturday’s 67th running of the $150,000 Golden Rod Stakes (GII).

The Golden Rod, won last year by Sassy Image, will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track and goes as the co-featured ninth event on the 12-race “Stars of Tomorrow II” card devoted exclusively to 2-year-olds. Post time for the Golden Rod is 4:42 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post time for the program that also features the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) is 12:40 p.m.

Trained by Ken McPeek, Kathmanblu debuted on the dirt in a 4 ½-furlong sprint here in June, finishing eighth. Since then, the daughter of 2006 Kentucky Derby (GI) runner-up Bluegrass Cat has found herself at home on the grass with a record of 2-1-1 in four turf races that includes a four-length victory in the Jessamine at Keeneland.

Churchill Downs handicapper Mike Battaglia has installed Kathmanblu as the narrow 8-5 favorite in his morning line odds for the Golden Rod.  Julien Leparoux, who won the Golden Rod in 2007 aboard Pure Clan, has the call on Kathmanblu, who will break from post position four.

Aide, the 9-5 second choice in the Golden Rod., runs for the team that took the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) with Blame.  The daughter of Arch will break from post one under Garrett Gomez, who rode Blame in the Classic for Dilschneider and trainer Al Stall Jr., Blame’s co-owner/breeder and trainer, respectively.  She broke her maiden at second asking on Polytrack at Turfway Park prior to her eye-catching Churchill Downs allowance win at the Golden Rod distance.

Also in the field are the third- and fourth-place finishers from the opening-day Pocahontas (GII), Missyoulikecrazy (7-2) and Gran Lioness (6-1), respectively. Robby Albarado, who won the 1997 Golden Rod on Love Lock, has the call on Missyoulikecrazy, who will break from post position two and Shaun Bridgmohan will ride Gran Lioness, who breaks from post position six.

The field for the Golden Rod, from the rail out (with rider and morning line odds), is as follows: Aide (Gomez, 9-5), Missyoulikecrazy (Albarado, 7-2), Missed the Point (Tony Farina, 15-1), Kathmanblu (Leparoux, 8-5), Suave Voir Faire (Sal Gonzalez Jr., 20-1), Gran Lioness (Bridgmohan, 6-1) and Sweet Deal to Win, (Jon Court, 20-1). All starters will carry 119 pounds.

KUNTZWEILER COMEBACK GAINS MOMENTUM WITH FLURRY OF CHURCHILL DOWNS WINS – When jockey Greta Kuntzweiler anticipated a return to riding after a lengthy stay on the sidelines because of a substance abuse issues, she was worried about the reception she would receive from horsemen and fans on the Kentucky racing circuit.

Since the 34-year-old Kuntzweiler had enjoyed good success at Churchill Downs and other Kentucky tracks, legal problems stemming from her issues had resulted in considerable media coverage.  So her struggle with the substance abuse issues was very public, and her concerns were clearly legitimate.  But the Kuntzweiler comeback that started at Churchill Downs in early July is now in its fifth month, and this week at Churchill Downs has produced some of its brightest moments.

First came a victory on Wednesday, Nov. 17 aboard Robert Mondun’s homebred Wealth To Me in the featured ninth race.  The win aboard the Bill Ford-trained 3-year-old Tapit gelding was the first beneath Churchill Downs’ venerable Twin Spires for Kuntzweiler since April 28, 2004.

That milestone was followed quickly by two more wins during the “Downs After Dark” night racing card on Friday, Nov. 19.  Kuntzweiler guided Columbine Stable’s Philogyny ($11) to a victory in the fourth race and owner-trainer Judith Parke’s Charma Posse ($29.20) to win the eighth.

But that first victory aboard Wealth To Me on Wednesday provided a special thrill for Kuntzweiler, as the end of the long victory drought at the home of the Kentucky Derby provided a sense of relief as her return to riding continues.

"It was awesome,” said Kuntzweiler.  “I was so happy to do it for Bill because they’ve been so good to me.  You know I rode his (Wealth To Me) mother, Wealthy Belongings, so it was a lot of fun.”

Kuntzweiler had come incredibly close to getting her first Churchill Downs victory during the very first week of her Kentucky comeback on a pair of mounts for trainer Tom Proctor.  The first came on June 24, the first day of her return, when she lost an allowance race by a head aboard Proctor’s Broken Dreams.  Even more tantalizing was her photo-finish loss aboard the Proctor-trained Happiness Is on July 3 in the one-mile Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) on the Matt Winn Turf Course.  Dismissed by fans at odds of 48-1, Happiness Is led from the start, but had to settle for runner-up honors when she was nailed in the final jump of a blanket finish by the victorious Danzon.

That narrow loss was a disappointment, but the result offered proof that Kuntzweiler still possessed the talent to succeed on a big stage, and it provided momentum for her return to riding.

“I remember the two horses I rode for Tom, and he said ‘It just goes to show you there’s no Hollywood endings in racing’,” recalled Kuntzweiler.  “But I had a really good summer.  Things are a little slower than I kind of wish they would be, but that’s just how it goes.  You’ve got to figure out how to maintain a positive attitude and try to get through the slower parts.”

Her good summer was highlighted by a memorable September Saturday at Ellis Park on which Kuntzweiler won five races that included a victory aboard Turallure in the Cliff Guilliams Handicap.  Her return has been a series of steps, and this week’s success has been a very positive one.

“I was really worried that I was going to struggle,” Kuntzweiler said of her return.  “I was nervous about how people would accept me.  I think I was embarrassed, more than anything.  But it’s been more than I could have hoped for – it really has.”

She also knows that every media reference to the progress of her comeback and most conversations about her career will include references to her public battle with substance abuse.  But Kuntzweiler said she does not see that as a negative thing.

“That’s part of me now,” she said.  ‘Hopefully, someone that’s had a problem might see that and see that you can turn it around.  I’m OK with it being tied to my name as long as people know that I’m doing good and I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Kuntzweiler’s winter plans are uncertain.  She plans to ride the Holiday Meet at Turfway Park after the Churchill Downs Fall Meet concludes on Sunday, Nov. 28.  She has applied for a license to ride at Oaklawn Park when that meet opens in late January, but said she is “leaning toward” staying in Kentucky to ride the Winter-Spring session at Turfway.

While she hopes her business will be brisk wherever she rides over the winter, Kuntzweiler seems content to take it as comes and keep working to sustain the trust of those who have supported her in her comeback and regain the confidence of others.

At this point, it’s a case of so far, so good.

“People are still nice to me and supportive,” she said.  “Everyone seems to be following how I’m doing, and when I do well they seem really happy for me.”

 While she fell just short of a storybook return to riding back in July, Greta Kuntzweiler seems to know it’s not too late to continue the chase of that elusive “Hollywood ending.”

TWO-YEAR-OLDS SHADOW WARRIOR AND CASPER’S TOUCH LIGHT UP FRIDAY NIGHT – A crowd of 15,583 was on hand for Friday night’s “Downs After Dark” program at Churchill Downs and a couple of 2-year-old maiden breakers offered glimpses of being possible stars of the future.

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Shadow Warrior won the fifth race by three lengths, covering the one-turn mile in 1:37.56. Two races later, Magdalena Racing’s Casper’s Touch scored by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:37.36.

“He (Shadow Warrior) ran green the first time he ran and this time, he put himself in the race,” said Jack Bohannan, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold. “Last night was the first time he had been on dirt to train or run and that was a concern.”

Shadow Warrior had run fourth in his debut at Keeneland on Oct. 21. A son of A.P. Indy, Shadow Warrior likely will head to Florida with Arnold’s main string for the winter.

Arnold trained Shadow Warrior’s dam, Victory Ride, who compiled a career record of 9-5-1-2 that included a victory in the Grade I Test and earnings of $390,391. Shadow Warrior is a half-brother to Victory Ride’s first foal, Magical Ride, a graded-stakes placed filly who also was trained by Arnold.

Casper’s Touch was coming off a five-month layoff to score in his third career start. Casper’s Touch had debuted in April at Keeneland on Polytrack and then ran third at Royal Ascot in June in the Chesham Stakes on turf.

“He had a small chip in an ankle from the race in England,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “It was nothing major, but we got it taken care of. He would have been a Breeders’ Cup horse if not for that.”

Casper’s Touch is a son of Touch Gold out of the Saint Ballado mare Lizzy Cool.

“He’s a nice colt and next for him is the Holy Bull,” McPeek said of the $400,000 Grade III race at a mile at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 30.

McPeek has had four Kentucky Derby starters, and his most recent one, Noble’s Promise, worked five furlongs in 1:04.20 early Saturday morning under Julien Leparoux as a prelude to next Saturday’s $250,000 Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile (GI) at Aqueduct. Fifth in the Kentucky Derby, Noble’s Promise won the Jimmy V. “Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up!” overnight stake here on Nov. 5.

STATELY VICTOR WORKS TOWARD LIKELY CLARK HANDICAP START – Tom and Jack Conway’s Stately Victor, one of three 3-year-olds considered as possible starters for Friday’s Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI), worked five furlongs at the nearby Trackside Training Center on Saturday morning in 1:01.60.

Trained by Mike Maker, Stately Victor’s time over the fast track was the second fastest of 16 at the distance. In his most recent start, Stately Victor ran third in the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland on Oct. 30.

The Clark would represent Stately Victor’s first start at Churchill Downs since finishing eighth in this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) behind Super Saver. Stately Victor has been assigned 116 pounds for the Clark, for which entries will be taken Tuesday.

Two other Clark probables worked Saturday morning at Keeneland.

Morton Fink’s Successful Dan, the likely starting high weight at 121 pounds, worked five furlongs over the Polytrack in 1:00.40 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.60 for trainer Charles Lopresti. A winner of five of seven career starts, Successful Dan won the Fayette in his most recent start.

Adele Dilschneider’s Apart, winner of the Ack Ack Handicap (GIII) here on Nov. 5 in his most recent start, worked a half-mile in :49.80 for trainer Al Stall Jr. Assigned 118 pounds, Apart is riding a three-race win streak that also includes a victory in the Super Derby (GII).

Also working for Dilschneider and Stall was Golden Rod (GII) hopeful Aide, who worked a half-mile in :49.80 in company with Chef Eric. A winner of two of three starts, Aide won an opening-day allowance test here by 19 ¾ lengths in her most recent start.

A possible Golden Rod rival for Aide, Wind River Stables and Five D Thoroughbreds’ Kathmanblu worked five furlongs over a fast track at Churchill Downs in 1:01.40, third fastest of 44 at the distance. Winner of the Jessamine on grass at Keeneland last month, Kathmanblu finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII) in her most recent start.

Other works of note at Churchill Downs included Mark Stanley’s Quiet Temper, who covered five furlongs in 1:01.60. Trained by Dale Romans, Quiet Temper is nominated to Thursday’s 95th Falls City Handicap (GII). … Preston Stables’ Central City, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) in his most recent start on Nov. 6, breezed three furlongs in :37.80 for trainer Ronny Werner in his first work since the World Championships.

BARN TALK – The 4-year-old Electric Alphabet completed a two-day double for offspring by All Electric by winning Friday night’s ninth race. In Thursday’s 10th race, Touch for a Shock, a 3-year-old, prevailed. Clifford Grum owns both geldings, Cecil Borel trains the half-brothers and Calvin Borel rode both. Touch for a Shock’s sire is Touch Gold and Electric Alphabet is by Alphabet Soup. …

Women trainers accounted for the first four places in Friday night’s eighth race, resulting in a $40,872.60 superfecta for $2. Charma Posse, trained by Judith Parke and ridden by Greta Kuntzweiler, was the 13-1 winner. Running second was the Vicky Oliver-trained Canadian Storm, the 3-1 favorite in the field of 12. Rallying for third was the Sandra Adkins-trained Harmony Heaven (68-1) under Oriana Rossi. Completing the superfecta was 26-1 longshot Point and Click, trained by Kathy Jarvis. The $2 trifecta was worth $4,425 and the $2 exacta returned $137.60. …

Seeking the Title, ninth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI) in her most recent start on Nov. 5 here, is scheduled to ship to New York on Tuesday for the $250,000 Gazelle (GI) for 3-year-old fillies to be run at 1 1/8 miles on Saturday at Aqueduct.

ACK ACK WINNER APART RETURNS TO KEENELAND; CLARK BID POSSIBLE – Adele Dilschneider’s Apart, a three-quarter length winner of Friday’s $100,000-added Ack Ack Handicap (GIII), settled back into his home base at Keeneland on Sunday with a return trip to Churchill Downs possible at the end of the month.

“The (GI) Clark (Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare on Nov. 26); maybe,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said. “He’s going back to Keeneland and I’ll talk it over with his owner.”

Stall won the Clark last year with Blame and Apart, a workmate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner earlier in the year, has followed almost an identical path in his 3-year-old year.

“He is with Blame on the calendar,” Stall said of Apart, who had won the Super Derby (GII) in the race before the Ack Ack, a race Blame had run second in in 2009. “We thought dirt was Apart’s best surface and he was not proven on Polytrack.”

Blame went from the Super Derby last year to a victory in the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland over Polytrack, while Apart came to the Ack Ack over the Oct. 30 Fayette.

“We had our eye on Charlie Lopresti’s horse (Successful Dan, who was stabled two barns away in the Rice Road stable area at Keeneland) and he ran like we thought he would in the Fayette,” Stall said. “We have a lot of respect for his horse.”

Nominations for the Clark close Wednesday and Successful Dan likely will be listed among the nominees. Another likely nominee is the Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation, who finished second in the Ack Ack.

“The Clark is possible,” trainer Paul McGee said of Demarcation, who ran eighth behind Blame in last year’s race. “Let’s say he will be nominated.”

MALIBU AT SANTA ANITA MAY BE NEXT FOR NOBLE’S PROMISE – Chasing Dreams Racing 2008’s Noble’s Promise made his return to the races a successful one on Friday when he scored a 2 ¼-length victory in the Jimmy V. “Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up!” overnight stake at six furlongs.

It was the colt’s first victory since the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland in 2009 and first in a sprint since September 2009.

The (Grade I) Malibu (on Dec. 26) going seven-eighths at Santa Anita would be a great race for him,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “And, we may look at some races in Hong Kong and Japan. But I will probably keep him at seven-eighths.”

Following his victory in the Breeders’ Futurity, Noble’s Promise closed out 2009 with a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) and a runner-up effort behind Lookin At Lucky in the CashCall Futurity (GI). This year, the colt was second in the Rebel (GII), fifth in the Arkansas Derby (GI), fifth to WinStar Farm’s Super Saver in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and fifth in the Group I St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“I think he did well to go as far as he did this year,” McPeek said of Noble’s Promise, a son of Cuvee out of a Clever Trick mare. “He is a talented, fast horse, but he is bred for shorter distances.”

CHILUKKI WINNER DISTINCTIVE DIXIE COULD RETURN IN FALLS CITY – A little layoff turned out to be a good thing for the Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust’s  Distinctive Dixie, who came off a four-month break to win Saturday’s Chilukki (GII) for her first graded stakes victory.

“After the Indiana race (the Shelby County Arts Handicap on July 7 at Indiana Downs), we gave her a break because she had run so hard here against Rachel Alexandra,” said Aimee Dollase, assistant to her father Wally, referring to Churchill Downs’ mid-June Fleur De Lis (GII) in which Distinctive Dixie ran second to the 2009 Horse of the Year.

“It was more mental than anything. After the break, she has been a totally different horse. She is a filly that gives you everything she has and wants to do too much. Now she is more relaxed and does things within herself.”

Dollase said the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII) is a possibility for Distinctive Dixie, who owns a 6-3-1-0 mark over the track.

“She loves this track and you may as well strike while the iron is hot,” Dollase said. “The plan now is to run her next year as a 6-year-old.”

Three horses have completed a Chilukki-Falls City double with the most recent being Halory Leigh in 2004.

BARN TALK – Harvey Clark and Andrew Albstein’s Yankee Fourtune, wire-to-wire winner of the Hawthorne Derby (GIII) as the even-money favorite in his most recent start, headlines a list of 39 nominees for the seventh running of the $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (GIII) to be run Saturday at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Trained Kiaran McLaughlin, Yankee Fourtune is undefeated in four starts on the grass. Entries for the Commonwealth Turf will be taken Wednesday. Get Stormy won the 2009 renewal of the Commonwealth Turf. …

Augustin Stable’s Fugitive Angel, winner of four consecutive starts that include a score in the Valley View (GIII) at Keeneland, heads a list of 36 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 20th running of the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (GII) to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course on Nov. 20. Mary’s Follies won last year’s Mrs. Revere. …

Trainer David Fawkes, who earned his first Breeders’ Cup victory when Big Drama won the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) on Saturday, said he may return to Churchill Downs before the end of the meet with Duke of Mischief for the Clark Handicap. Fawkes said that Duke of Mischief, who finished eighth behind Blame in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) this summer, has been nominated to the Clark. …

Drew Coontz, assistant to trainer Chris Block, said that Askbut I Won’ttell came out of her Sunday victory in the Cardinal Handicap (GIII) in good order. Block is keeping a small string of horses at Churchill Downs and one who is staying here is Giant Oak, who was placed fourth in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Marathon (GIII). “He is going to go the track in tomorrow morning to train,” Coontz said. “I am not sure what their plans are for him.” Giant Oak ran fourth to Blame in last year’s Clark Handicap. …

Robby Albarado, who has ridden 10 winners through the first six days of the 21-day fall meet, is three wins away from joining the 900-win club at Churchill Downs. Albarado, who has one leading rider title here (Spring 2008), could pass Larry Melancon (914) for fourth all-time beneath the Twin Spires at his current pace. …

In addition to the $500,000-added Clark Handicap and the Falls City Handicap, nominations close Wednesday for two other final week stakes: the centerpieces of the Nov. 27 “Stars of Tomorrow II” card for 2-year-olds, the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for fillies and the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII).