Kent Desormeaux

Carolyn Wilson’s Arena Elvira outdueled longshot Afleeting Lady in deep stretch to grind out a win in the 96^th running of the $193,725 Falls City Handicap (Grade II) for fillies and mares by a neck on Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, Arena Elvira raced near the inside rail about two lengths behind pacesetters Juanita and Afleeting Lady as the former led the field of eight through fractions of :24.40, :49.04 and 1:12.83. The leaders got a jump on Arena Elvira on the final turn, but Alvarado switched her to the outside and she wore down the competition in deep stretch for the narrow win in 1:50.76 for 1 1/8 miles over a fast track.

“(Alvarado) made the right decision and went for the right spot leaving the quarter pole,” Mott said. “When they were turning for home, he had a choice to make of who to try to get in between and he selected the right spot.”

Alvarado suggested that despite winning his filly may not have handled the Churchill Downs dirt oval very well. “When we turned for home, she switched leads and I knew I had plenty of horse, but when she got real close to the other horse (Afleeting Lady) she didn’t really want to go by her,” Alvarado said. “I always thought I had enough horse to get there by the wire, though. She’s a nice filly. She ran great last time and ran well again today.”

Arena Elvira has won seven of her last nine starts – including four in a row – and seven of 12 overall. She collected her first graded stakes win in her previous start, the Turnback the Alarm (GIII) at Aqueduct on Nov. 4.

"We’ve brought her along very conservatively, never running in graded stakes until the last couple of times,” Mott said. “But it’s gotten her there. She’s got her confidence up and she’s handled every challenge.”

Arena Elvira is a Kentucky-bred daughter of 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper out of the Twining mare Two Item Limit. The victory was worth $116,506 and increased Arena Elvira’s earnings to $391,436.

Sent to post as the even-money favorite, Arena Elvira, who carried 121 pounds, returned $4, $3 and $2.80. Afleeting Lady, who carried 116 pounds under Kent Desormeaux at odds of 13-1, returned $8 and $4.40 in finishing three lengths in front of It’s Tea Time, who paid $5.20 to show under Manny Cruz while tacking 116 pounds. Juanita, Super Espresso, Brushed by a Star, Secret File and Riviera Chic completed the order of finish. Spring Party and Ravi’s Song were scratched.

Mott, Churchill Downs’ all-time leader with 656 wins, is enjoying a dream Fall Meet beneath the Twin Spires. This was his fourth stakes win of the 21-day meeting. He also won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic with Drosselmeyer; the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic with Royal Delta; and the Cardinal Handicap (GIII) with Deluxe. Overall, he leads all trainers with 84 local stakes wins, which is a dozen more than runner-up D. Wayne Lukas. This season, he boasts a record of 19-7-2-2—$4,144,208, which is good for a tie for fourth in the local trainer standings.

"It’s been good,” Mott said. “It’s not much fun when it doesn’t work out well, but it’s fun when it does work well.”

Arena Elvira also gave Mott his fourth win in the Falls City Handicap, one back of trainer Harvey Vanier’s record. Mott won the first division in 1985 with Donut’s Pride, the 1997 renewal with Feasibility Study and the 2000 edition with Bordelaise-ARG.

Racing resumes Friday with a 12-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m. (all times Eastern). Highlighting the card is the 137^th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) that drew a field of 13. Post time for the Clark, the 11^th race on the program, is 5:42 p.m.

FALLS CITY HANDICAP QUOTES

Bill Mott (by telephone from New York), trainer of Arena Elvira (winner): Q: You had a choice of staying at Aqueduct to run in the Go for Wand or ship here for the Falls City, and your decision worked out … “We looked like we’d be competitive in either spot, but this race was at the nine furlongs that she’s been running at.  It worked out. Sometimes you get lucky. There was a plane coming on Tuesday, and it worked out well.”

Q: What is her future – will she run next year? “I would imagine. She’s only four. I guess she deserves a little bit of a break right now and we’ll bring her back later on. But she’s stepped up. We’ve brought her along very conservatively, never running in graded stakes until the last couple of times. But it’s gotten her there. She’s got her confidence up and she’s handled every challenge.”

Q: She had to fight today. It looked like she was going to run on by, then Afleeting Lady came back and she had to dig in again … “I thought it was good and the boy (jockey Junior Alvarado) rode her good. He made the right decision and went for the right spot leaving the quarter pole. When they were turning for home, he had a choice to make of who to try to get in between and he selected the right spot.”

Q: You’ve had a very good Fall Meet, with the two Breeders’ Cup wins and now this stakes win and a top five spot in the leading trainer standings …“It’s been good. It’s not much fun when it doesn’t work out well, but it’s fun when it does work well.”

Kenny McCarthy, assistant trainer to Bill Mott who trains Arena Elvira (winner): “We figured the five (Juanita) was the speed and thought we’d get a good comfortable spot with her. Certainly around the turn she looked like she was under a little pressure, but I thought once she straightened out in the lane and switched leads that she would really finish up. It was a little close at the end, but I think she proved her mettle at the end today.”

Q. What’s the upside for this filly? “She’s definitely going the right way, so the sky’s the limit.”

Q. This has definitely been a meet to remember, right? “Definitely. We kicked things off with Mr. (James) Karp’s filly (Anecdote) giving Mr. Mott his 650^th win at Churchill Downs and we’ve just rolled since then.”

Junior Alvarado, rider of Arena Elvira (winner): “She was kind of bobbling throughout and not really handling the track. When we turned for home, she switched leads and I knew I had plenty of horse, but when she got real close to the other horse (Afleeting Lady) she didn’t really want to go by her. I always thought I had enough horse to get there by the wire, though. She’s a nice filly. She ran great last time and ran well again today.”

Dale Romans, trainer of Afleeting Lady (runner-up): “She’s doing good. She’s just been an improving mare all summer and fall, so she just keeps getting better and better.”

Q: What about that finish – she looked like she was beat and then she came back …“It looked like she was going to back way up, then she surged again. But she just couldn’t hold her off. That’s a good filly that beat her. I think she’s going to be tough next year.”

Kent Desormeaux, rider of Afleeting Lady (runner-up): “She’s still a little green, so I think there’s room for improvement, which is exciting, you know?  She’ll gain some racing maturity from that race. The other one (winner Arena Elvira) had an edge in experience over her, and it looks like the light went on with the other one a long time ago. We’ll get her light turned on after today, hopefully.”

“Rusty” Arnold, trainer of It’s Tea Time (third): “I was happy with her race. She made a huge run around the turn. She might have hung a little bit, but I think that was because of the pace. I was pretty happy with it.”

Manny Cruz, rider of It’s Tea Time (third): “She ran a big race. We sat off the pace and she gave a lot to me in the end. The pace was a little slower than I hoped and that didn’t help me. Hopefully we’ll get a better pace next time.”

Barry King’s Flashy Lassie, the longest shot in a field of seven 2-year-old fillies, charged through the Churchill Downs stretch, caught Five Star Momma inside the eighth-pole and edged clear late to win Saturday’s 111^th running of the Grade III, $109,300 Debutante Stakes by a widening length.

Flashy Lassie, trained by Garry Simms and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, returned mutuels of $37.20, $14.20 and $6.80 as she scored her second victory in as many starts. Terry Allen’s Five Star Momma was second returning $5.80 and $4.40. and Stoneway Farm’s Queen Teuta rallied to finish more than eight lengths back in third and returned $4.60 to show.  Bred in Kentucky by Mr. & Mrs. Hugh G. King, Flashy Lassie completed the six furlongs on the fast main track in 1:10.89.

The victory marked the first stakes win beneath the historic Twin Spires for Simms, who has waged a battle with melanoma since early 2010.

“I’ve had two bone marrow transplants and stem cells since December, but I’m doing well now,” Simms said. When asked how this win makes him feel, Simms responded by saying, “All the pain leaves!”

Flashy Lassie collected a graded stakes victory in just her second career start and picked up a winner’s check worth $66,411 to increase her bankroll to $77,211. Her other win was a nine-length romp in a race for $20,000 claiming horses at Churchill Downs on May 13.

Flashy Lassie was reserved in sixth position in the early going as Gold Mark Farm LLC’s Culotte, the 8-5 post time favorite, led the strung out field through fast fractions of :21.57 and :45.16. Desormeaux began to move with the daughter of Flashy Bull at the three-eighths pole and set his filly down for the drive at the top of the stretch. Flashy Lassie closed with a furious run on the outside and caught Five Star Momma, who was more than two-lengths clear in mid-stretch, near the finish and quickly drew clear.

Priscilla Vaccarezza’s My Due Process finished fourth in the Debutante and was followed in order by Tippy Toes, Culotte and Shocktime. Defy Gravity was a late scratch.

The six-furlong Debutante is the nation’s first graded stakes event for 2-year-old fillies and has been won by such accomplished runners as champions Bewitch, Alcibiades and Silverbulletday.

Racing continues Sunday at Churchill Downs with a 10-race program highlighted by a Pick 6 carryover of $98,241 that begins with Race 5 at 2:51 p.m. EDT. First post Sunday is 12:45 p.m.

DEBUTANTE STAKES QUOTES

Garry Simms, trainer of Flashy Lassie (winner): “I have to give all the credit to (jockey) Kent (Desormeaux). They were flying up front and he just took his time. I told him not to pay any attention to that maiden 20 (thousand dollar claiming) win because, believe me, she could have won a maiden special (weight). She’s a nice filly, has a ton of heart and does everything right. She’s smart. I bought her for $4,000 so this is a blessing.”

Q: On his battle with melanoma: “I’ve had two bone marrow transplants and stem cells since December, but I’m doing well now.”

Q: Well, how does something like this make you feel? “All the pain leaves! That’s what I tell everybody, ‘There’s nothing like winning a horse race.’”

Kent Desormeaux, jockey of Flashy Lassie (winner): “For a second-time starter, she was very mature and very professional. She was very well trained and I think that’s why she won today. I asked a lot of her for her second start. I took her back and she got dirt kicked in her face for the first time. She never hopped at all; she stayed flat and level and gave me a true ride. She laid it out there. She didn’t want to catch that filly the last eighth of a mile and I had to really get into her. She was fully extended.”

Corey Lanerie, jockey of Five Star Momma (second): “I had a good trip and she sat right off (the leaders) – just perfect and in a good position. When I got to the quarter pole I was on cruise control and sat her down. Maybe just before the sixteenth pole she started to get a little late with me and that’s when the winner ran me down.”

Calvin Borel, jockey of Queen Teuta (third): “She ran good. I was very impressed. I thought she finished up a little bit but they went quick early and backed ‘em up at the half (mile pole). She ran good, though.”

Robby Albarado, jockey of My Due Process (fourth): “She broke a little tardy, but I didn’t rush her. I got a good pace in front of me and drafted as much as I could. On the turn for home, she gave me a little run but it ended up being minimal.”

Leandro Goncalves, jockey of Culotte (sixth as the 8-5 favorite): “She broke out of the gate really fast and was a little fresh today. I tried to get to relax but she had way too much speed and she had company. After that, she just didn’t finish.”

Bret Calhoun, trainer of Shocktime (seventh as 5-2 second choice): “The two favorites (Culotte and Shocktime) went out there too fast, but (jockey) Miguel (Mena) did a good job of switching out. They were still rolling, though. The pace and probably coming back in two weeks was probably too much to ask.”

DUBAI MAJESTY’S CONNECTIONS GOING FOR THIRD WINNING COLORS – One year ago, Martin Racing LLC and Morgan Thoroughbred LLC’s Dubai Majesty scored the second of her back-to-back victories in the $100,000 Winning Colors (Grade III) under Miguel Mena – a key victory in what turned out to be an Eclipse Award championship campaign. 

            The Bret Calhoun traineed has since retired, so there will be no bid for a Winning Colors three-peat by the talented mare.  But her connections are seeking a three-peat of their own when the send Beat the Blues into the six-furlong feature on Monday’s special Memorial Day holiday card.

            Beat the Blues, a 4-year-old daughter of Great Pyramid-IRE, will face a field of 10 as she makes her second start against stakes company in the eighth running of the Winning Colors.

The Florida-bred is coming into the Winning Colors off an allowance victory over the Polytrack at Keeneland.  It was the first win for Calhoun with Beat the Blues, who has also won while in the barns of trainers Scott Volk, Robert Dibona, and Justin Sallusto.

Beat the Blues’ main rival Monday will be Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image, fresh off a 16-1 upset victory in the Humana Distaff (GI), her third stakes win at Churchill Downs. Trained by Dale Romans, Sassy Image will be ridden by Corey Lanerie, who currently sits atop the Spring Meet jockey standings.

The field for the Winning Colors, from the rail out (with jockey) includes Indian Ink (Fernando De La Cruz), Stephanie Got Even (Shaun Bridgmohan), Wind Caper (Jesus Castanon), Beat the Blues (Miguel Mena), Bell’s Shoes (Kent Desormeaux), Fortune Play (Freddie Lenclud), My New Lady (Jon Court), Sassy Image (Corey Lanerie), Starlite Starbrite (Leandro Goncalves), and Jocata (Calvin Borel). All horses will carry 118 pounds, except for Sassy Image, who will carry high weight of 124.

The Winning Colors will be the ninth race of a special 10-race Memorial Day program at Churchill Downs that begins at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). Approximate post time for the Winning Colors is 4:59 p.m.

 

STRONG FIELDS TAKING SHAPE FOR GRADE III ARISTIDES AND WINNING COLORS – Great racing is on tap at Churchill Downs next weekend as the racing program on Saturday, June 4 will feature a pair of Grade III stakes races in the $100,000-added Dogwood and the $100,000-added Aristides.

            The latter has a attracted an impressive group of probable starters (with trainers) headed by a pair of Grade I stakes winners in Rosemary Rausch and David Zell’s Capt. Candyman Can (Ian Wilkes), winner of the 2009 King’s Bishop, and Marianne and Brandon Chase’s Here Comes Ben (Charles Lopresti), winner of the 2011 Forego.

Twenty-three older sprinters were nominated for the 23^rd running of the six-furlong Aristides, which looms as an important early prep for the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI), which will be run over main track at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Nov. 5.

            Other Aristides “probables” include Zayat Stables’ defending Aristides winner Riley Tucker (Steve Asmussen); R.E.V. Racing’s Atta Boy Roy (Valorie Lund), winner of the 2010 Churchill Downs (GII) and runner-up in the Aristides; Richard, Bert and Elaine Klein’s Cash Refund (Steve Margolis) third in the 2010

Aristides and winner of a recent Churchill Downs allowance prep for this year’s renewal; Chasing Dreams Racing’s Noble’s Promise (Ken McPeek), fifth in the 2010 Kentucky Derby (GI) and a close fifth to Aikenite in the 2011 Churchill Downs on Derby Day; Homewrecker Racing and Avalon Farm’s Custom for Carlos (Eddie Kenneally), winner of the Mr. Prospector (GIII) at Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Park’s Count Fleet (GIII) in 2010, and runner-up to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Big Drama in this year’s Mr. Prospector; and Patrick Donahoe’s Posse Cat (Jinx Fires), a sharp allowance winner at Oaklawn Park in April.

            Listed as “possible’ for the Aristides is Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s Chief of Affairs (Bret Calhoun), fourth in last year’s Aristides and third to Smiling Tiger in the 2011 Count Fleet.

            The 37^th running of the Dogwood (GIII), a one mile race on the main track for 3-year-old fillies, closed May 21 with 23 nominations and its field of probable starters is headed by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s promising Might (Al Stall, Jr.), K.K. and V.D. Jayaraman’s Holy Heavens (Benard Chatters), who finished 13^th to Plum Pretty in the Kentucky Oaks (GI), and Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s Gran Lioness (Bret Calhoun).

            Might is a homebred full sister to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) and Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) winner Blame who brings a two-race winning streak into the Dogwood that includes an impressive allowance victory at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day.  Holy Heavens won Oaklawn’s Marsha Washington and finished second to Joyful Victory in the Honeybee (GIII) and third to that rival in the Fantasy (GII).  Gran Lioness won the Prima Donna at Oaklawn Park and finished sixth to Grade I winner Turbulent Descent in the Beaumont (GII) at Keeneland, her first start over a synthetic racing surface.

            Others listed as “probable” for the Dogwood include Angelica Zapata (Ron Pellegrini), fourth in the Eight Belles (GIII) on Kentucky Oaks Day; Fantasy of Flight (John Terranova), an impressive debut winner at Churchill Downs on Oaks Day in her only start; and Salty Strike (Ken McPeek), a narrowly beaten third in last year’s Debutante (GIII) who returned to form in a seven-length romp in a seven-furlong allowance race on May 20 at Churchill Downs.

            The list of “possible” starters for the Dogwood includes Henny’s Hurricane (McPeek) and Juanita (Mike Maker)..  .

            Ailalea won last year’s running of the Dogwood under Calvin Borel for trainer Todd Pletcher.  

    Entries for both the Dogwood and the Aristides will close on Wednesday, June 1.

LOUISVILLE HANDICAP WINNER KEERTANA’S HALF-SISTER POINTS TO MINT JULEP – Trainer Tom Proctor was still on cloud nine the morning after Barbara Hunter’s homebred Keertana scored a breathtaking photo-finish win over males in the 74^th running of Saturday’s Louisville Handicap (GIII).

             “I was so excited last night that I couldn’t even go to sleep,” Proctor said of the first victory by a filly or mare in the history of the Louisville, which was first run in 1895.

            While Proctor barn was thrilled with Keertana’s historic performance; the team hopes to make more noise in a couple of weeks with Keertana’s half-sister, Snow Top Mountain. The 4-year-old homebred daughter of Najran won the 2010 Arlington Oaks (GIII) is now being pointed to the 35^th running of the Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course on June 11.

            One might think that the half-sisters would have similar personalities, but Proctor says that couldn’t be further from the truth.

            “Keertana is one of the sweetest horses I’ve ever had and Snow Top Mountain is flat-out nasty,” Proctor said. “A couple of weeks ago my friend’s seven-month-old was petting Keertana and she just loved it. You wouldn’t want to do that with Snow Top (Mountain). You have to avoid being bitten by her when you walk down the shedrow.”

            The half-siblings out of Hunter’s homebred Storm Cat mare Motokiks might have differing dispositions, but Proctor has happily found that they have one thing in common.

            “They can both run,” Proctor said. “They definitely share that characteristic.”

            Snow Top Mountain will enter the Mint Julep off an impressive allowance victory on the Kentucky Derby (GI) undercard. The win improved her record to 4-6-0 from 12 starts with earnings of $270,102.

BARN TALK – Three-time Kentucky Derby winner Kent Desormeaux is leading the Churchill Downs jockey colony in Spring Meet stakes victories with three. Desormeaux’s stakes-winning mounts include Diva Ash in the Edgewood, Victoria’s Wildcat in the Eight Belles (GIII), and Aviate-GB in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII).  Three trainers are tied for most stakes victories with two each: Preakness (GI) winner Dale Romans, whose wins came in the Humana Distaff (GI) with Sassy Image and the Edgewood; Proctor, whose Louisville ‘Cap triumph with Keertana joined an earlier victory by Banned in the American Turf (GII), and three-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert, who won the Kentucky Oaks and Alysheba (GIII) with First Dude. …

            Leading Spring Meet jockey Corey Lanerie top all riders in turf victories with four. Overall, Lanerie had won with 20 of his 92 mounts heading into Sunday’s racing beneath the Twin Spires.  Trainers Dale Romans and Tom Proctor have three turf wins each to lead all trainers in that category. …

The majority of Shaun Bridgmohan’s 19 wins have come in sprints. The journeyman jockey was 16-for-51 in sprint contests heading into Sunday’s 10-race program. …

            Little Miss Muffet’s victory in the ninth race at Churchill Downs on Friday gave trainer Tom Amoss his third victory with a 2-year-old during the meet. Sum of the Parts and Culotte were the other winners for Amoss, who is a perfect 3-for-3 with juveniles this spring.   

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (May 21-28) are Corey Lanerie (9-for-35), Shaun Bridgmohan (6-for-28) and Miguel Mena (6-for-29). Brad Cox (4-for-7), Merril Scherer (3-for-7) and Steve Asmussen (3-for-15) are the hottest trainers over the same period. The hottest owners are Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. (3-for-6) and Ken Sentel and Merrill Scherer (2-for-2).     

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Dundalk 5 LLC’s  Dundalk Dust, upset winner of the 2010 Falls City Handicap (GII) for trainer Chris Block, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80, the third fastest move of 19 at the distance.

Eileen Hartis’ Princess Haya, winner of the 2009 Canadian (Grade II) at Woodbine, will carry top weight of 117 pounds and concede from 1-5 pounds to six rivals entered for Sunday’s 37th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

The Cardinal, won last year by Acoma, will go as the 10th race on Sunday’s 11-race post-Breeders’ Cup card that begins at 12:40 p.m. (all times Eastern). Post time for the Cardinal, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, is 5:15 p.m.

Trained by Carl O’Callaghan, Princess Haya enters the Cardinal off a seventh-place finish in the Yellow Ribbon (GI) at Hollywood Park on Oct. 2. Kent Desormeaux, who rode Indescribable to victory in the 2008 Cardinal, has the mount on Princess Haya, who will break from post position four.

The second high weight at 116 pounds is Carl Pollard’s Kiss Mine, trained by David Vance. Kiss Mine had a four-race turf win streak snapped in her most recent start, a seventh-place finish in the First Lady (GI) at Keeneland on Oct. 9. Robby Albarado, who won the 2002 Cardinal on Quick Tip, has the call on Kiss Mine, who will break from post position five.

The field for the Cardinal, from the inside out, is as follows: War Tigress (Rosemary Homeister Jr., 112 pounds), Romin Robin (Calvin Borel, 115), Askbut I Won’ttell (Shaun Bridgmohan, 113), Princess Haya (Desormeaux, 117), Kiss Mine (Albarado, 116), Paracaidas (Garrett Gomez, 114) and My Baby Baby (Julien Leparoux, 115).

Sequoia Racing’s Strong Commitment made a strong move around the far turn, drove past pace-setter Austons Sure Cure at the head of the stretch and went on to win Wednesday’s featured $50,131 Superbest allowance for 3-year-olds and up by 1 3/4 lengths over Longboarder at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Strong Commitment covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:43.66.

The victory, the second in 11 career starts for the Kentucky-bred son of Maria’s Mon, was worth $30,000 and increased Strong Commitment’s earnings to $92,950.

Strong Commitment returned $12.80, $4.80 and $3.80. Longboarder, ridden by Javier Castellano, returned $3.40 and $3 in finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Austons Sure Cure, who paid $4.80 to show under Robby Albarado.

Earlier on the program, jockey Rafael Bejarano became the 16th rider in Churchill Downs history to reach the 400-victory plateau when he guided Distant Sky to victory in the seventh race.

Racing continues Thursday with a 12-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m. (all times Eastern) and features the 33rd running of the River City Handicap (GIII) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Post time for the River City is 5:43 p.m.

John Oxley’s heavily favored Dancinginherdreams remained perfect in two starts by racing to a 5 1/4-length victory over Eden Star in the 42nd running of the $165,450 Pocahontas (GII) for 2-year-old fillies on Sunday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, who won Pocahontas for a second time, Dancinginherdreams is trained by John Ward, who also won divisions of the race in 1977 and 1978. Ward and Oxley also teamed up to win the 1995 Kentucky Oaks (GI) with Gal In A Ruckus and the 2001 Kentucky Derby (GI) with Monarchos.

Leparoux was content to let Dancinginherdreams, the even-money favorite, race in midpack as Honey Chile under Michael Baze led the field of seven through fractions of :22.75 and :46.79 down the backstretch straightaway. Leaving the far turn, Dancinginherdreams had to wait behind Honey Chile, who was joined on the lead by Switching Gears and Gran Lioness.

At the head of the stretch, Dancinginherdreams slipped between Gran Lioness and Honey Chile and ducked down to the rail where she spurted clear past the three-sixteenths pole and cruised to the wire geared down by Leparoux.

Dancinginherdreams covered the mile on a fast main track in 1:38.59. The victory was worth $100,529 and increased the daughter of Tapit’s earnings to $124,529.

Dancinginherdreams returned $4, $2.80 and $2.40. Eden Star rallied for second under Kent Desormeaux and returned $9.20 and $5.40. Missyoulikecrazy, ridden by Corey Lanerie, finished another half-length back in third and paid $5.20 to show. It was another 3 ½ lengths back to Gran Lioness, who was followed in order by Days Like This, Switching Gears and Honey Chile.

Racing at the 21-day fall meet resumes Wednesday with a 10-race card that begins at 12:40 p.m. (ET).

POST-RACE QUOTES

Julien Leparoux (jockey, Dancinginherdreams, winner): “She ran good. I was in tight and she had a great pull; she does everything good. Today she broke a little bit better.”

John Ward (trainer, Dancinginherdreams, second): “That’s the way she trains in the morning, so to see it come back and do it in the afternoon is pretty good. I thought the racetrack was very difficult today, but she obviously overcomes what’s in front of her. I wouldn’t call it easy but she handled everything well. We will see her again in Florida and she needs to put some meat on her bones. But that’s what you’re looking for and I think she will run as far you want her to go.”

ERIC REED (trainer, Eden Star, runner-up): "She ran a little better than I thought she would.  I really like her a lot.  She’s just ultra-game.  That other filly (winner Dancinginherdreams) can really run.”
Q: What will you do with Eden Star now?

“We’re going to break her maiden.  Then we’ll take her to Florida and bring her back here in the spring.”

KENT DESORMEAUX (jockey, Eden Star, runner-up): "That was a great stretch drive for her – she was in the horse race.  The 3 (Dancinginherdreams) was long gone, but she was in the horse race for second place and she won.”

EDDIE KENNEALLY (trainer, Missyoulikecrazy, third): The winner is an exceptional filly and might be the leader of the division.  Being third in our first stake appearance – we’re happy with that.  We were third in a Grade II in the Pocahontas and that adds a little feather to our cap with this filly.”
Q: Will you look at the Golden Rod at the end of meet for her?
“We’ll look the Golden Rod.  We’ll definitely look at it.”

ROMANS, PLETCHER, SADLER HORSES TOP BUSY MORNING OF BREEDERS’ CUP WORKS SATURDAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – A beautiful, crisp autumn morning – complete with thick early frost on the turf course – greeted a crowd of Breeders’ Cup contenders from the prominent barns of Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans and John Sadler on a busy Saturday packed with works by Cup hopefuls.

The horses that will compete on Friday’s opening day of the first two-day renewal of the Championships at Churchill Downs turned in their final works for Pletcher, including his Ladies’ Classic (Grade I) duo of Cynthia DeBartolo’s Life At Ten and Edward Evans’ Malibu Prayer.

Life At Ten, working for the first time over the Churchill Downs surface, worked four furlongs in company with Colizeo, a 3-year-old colt who won the Northern Dancer (GIII) at Churchill Downs in June, covered the distance in :48.20.  She started a length back of her workmate and was a head back on the outside of Colizeo at the finish.

Pletcher said Life At Ten often has company in her works.

“To make sure that Life At Ten gets a good honest work, we put her in company,” he said.  “She generally does a little better in company and I thought this work went very smoothly.

“It was her first work here and I thought she got over the track very well.”

Malibu Prayer, on the other hand, won the Chilukki (GII) over the Churchill Downs last November.  The winner of the Ruffian (GI) worked a half-mile in :49.  Malibu Prayer covered her first quarter in :25 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.

“I thought Malibu Prayer was typical of herself, as she’s generally a very genuine work horse,” said Pletcher.  “I had her going :48-and-change with a last quarter in :23-and-change,  She had a good finish with a good gallop out and we’re very pleased with the way she was getting over the ground.”

Another Breeders’ Cup hope turning in her first work over the Churchill Downs track for Pletcher was E. Paul Robsham Stables, LLC’s R Heat Lightning, who is bound for Friday’s Juvenile Fillies (GI).  The winner of Saratoga’s Spinaway (GI)  breezed four furlongs in :48.40 and covered the distance in fractional splits of :12.40, :24 and :36 and galloped out five furlongs in :1:01.60.

"I thought R Heat Lightning worked well, which she usually does,” Pletcher said.  “She’s a very tricky filly to ride.  She’s a little bit difficult going to the pole, but once she set off in her work I thought it was very smooth with a good finish and a good first eighth gallop-out.  It was just what we were looking for.”

The most eventful moves of the morning for horses from the powerful Pletcher camp came on the Matt Winn Turf Course, where Bobby Flay’s More Than Real, bound for the the Juvenile Fillies Turf, worked in company with stablemate, Team Valor’s Pluck, a colt bound for the Juvenile Turf.

The pair hit the finish together in :49.80 over “firm” footing with the dogs up on the one-mile course, but the Pletcher duo found themselves outside of Arch Support, who is also pre-entered for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, in a three-way training move.

"It’s amazing that there were probably only four horses on the track and we managed to end up in company with another one,” Pletcher said.  “But it seemed to go well.  There was a little traffic to maneuver through and it kind of set More Than Real into the bridle a little bit and she was full of run throughout, and Pluck kind of got stuck out in the middle of the track.  But I thought both horses very well.”

All in all, it was a satisfactory morning for Pletcher’s Friday Breeders’ Cup contenders, with works scheduled Sunday morning from the horses that will run in next Saturday’s Cup races.  That group will include Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) contender Quality Road and Juvenile (GI) hopes Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty.  Also slated to work are Aikenite (Dirt Mile) and Rose Catherine (Turf Sprint).

“For the most part, these are all fit horses,” said Pletcher.  “They’re all running well and ready to go.”

Both of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) contenders trained by Romans – Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’Prado and Donald Dizney’s First Dude – worked five furlongs over their track on Saturday in their final major tune-ups for the big race.

First Dude, runner-up in the Preakness (GI) a close second to Classic rival Morning Line in the recent Pennsylvania Derby (GII), hit the track shortly after 7 a.m. (EDT) and covered the distance in 1:01.20 under former jockey Tammy Fox.  He worked in fractional times of :11.80, :24, :36.20 and :48.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.

Fox also was aboard Paddy O’Prado as the gray son of El Prado went to the track shortly after the mid-morning break for track maintenance.  The move by the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and winner of Arlington Park’s Secretariat  (GI) on turf was timed in 1:01.  Paddy O’Prado’s internal fractions for were :12.40, :24.40, :35.60 and :48 and the gray colt galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.

"Both of them worked just like we wanted,” Romans said.  “They galloped out strong, and kept galloping out.  The second eighth in the gallop-out was good.  So it’s exactly what we were looking for with both of them.  All the big work’s done.  Now we just take it easy.”

The Louisville-born Romans knows both of his 3-year-olds are outsiders in a Classic in which pre-race talk has centered on the exploits of unbeaten reigning champion Zenyatta, Blame, Quality Road and Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky.  Romans is happy with the progress of his horses, who are still at home and waiting for the world to come to them for next Saturday’s race.

“It’s a good feeling – no more stress,” he said.  “As long as everything’s good tomorrow, and we’re not expecting any problems, then we just coast from here.

“They are outsiders, but they are both horses who are doing great, they’re both horses that have proven they run well on this racetrack and that they’re maturing and getting better.”

Sadler sent three of his four Breeders’ Cup candidates out for works after the morning renovation break with the fourth, Sidney’s Candy (Mile), scheduled to work on the grass Monday morning.

First up for Sadler was Tell a Kelly (Juvenile Fillies) with Calvin Borel up. Tell a Kelly worked six furlongs in 1:15.60 with fractions of :12.80, :25.40, :37.60, :50, 1:02.60 and out seven furlongs in 1:30.40.

Switch (Filly & Mare Sprint) was next up under Lupillo Alferez, working five furlongs in 1:01 with fractions of :11.40, :34.60 and out six furlongs in 1:16.60.

Borel then brought Hurricane Ike (Dirt Mile) out for a six-furlong work in 1:12.60. Fractions were :13, :25, :37, :48.80 and out seven furlongs in 1:27.20.

“They were all fine,” Sadler said. “Tell a Kelly is not a big work horse. Switch’s work was actually six furlongs and I got her in 1:13 and change and Hurricane Ike looks like a horse for course here. I thought the track was a little slow this morning.”

Morning bullets for four and five furlongs were provided after the break by Champagne d’Oro (Filly & Mare Sprint) and Smiling Tiger (Sprint).

Southern Equine Stable and Mike Smith’s Champagne d’Oro worked a half-mile in :.47.40 under jockey Miguel Mena. Fractions were :24.40, :35.40 and out five-eighths in 1:00.80 for the best of 36 at the half-mile distance. “I really wanted to go in :45 and the last eighth in 10 and change,” trainer Eric Guillot said, tongue firmly planted in cheek. “But the last eighth in :11 will have to do. We are ready.”

Smiling Tiger had a best of 41 five-furlong work under exercise rider Mario Urive in :58.40 in a move that came with some unexpected company.

Smiling Tiger started off about 10 lengths behind two sets of workers, a set for Ken McPeek that included fifth-place Kentucky Derby finisher Noble’s Promise and a set for Steve Hobby, including Telling, who was working for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Smiling Tiger went past the Hobby duo and then hooked the McPeek pair after three-eighths in :34.20 and finished on even terms with Noble’s Promise. Smiling Tiger galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.

Hobby was not happy with the morning developments.

“I wanted him to go in 1:02 or 1:03 and he didn’t need to eat all that dirt,” Hobby said of Telling, who was partnered by Greta Kuntzweiler and worked in company with Silent Money. “Fortunately, his last work at Delaware Park (on Oct. 23) was excellent.”

It marked the second consecutive year that Telling’s final pre-Breeders’ Cup work did not go as planned.
“I only worked him on the grass once and that was here last year before going out to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup,” Hobby said. “He got out there around the ‘dogs’ and just galloped and never worked.

Churchill Downs (GII) winner Atta Boy Roy (Sprint) worked a half-mile under Borel in :48.20 after the break, the fifth best of 36 at the distance. Fractions were :12, :24, :35.60 and out five furlongs in 1:02.60.

“I told him to go easy,” trainer Valorie Lund said of Borel. “Just start off even and finish.”

Atta Boy Roy is stabled at the nearby Trackside Training Center and Lund said she would bring the 5-year-old to Churchill Downs on Wednesday.

Red Desire (JPN) worked five furlongs on the main track in 1:00 under jockey Kent Desormeaux. Fractions were :12.80, :25, :36.20, :48 and out six furlongs in 1:13.40.

“She was fantastic getting over the ground, very smooth,” Desormeaux said of the filly who is cross-entered in the Filly & Mare Turf and Turf.  “I am hoping she does very well this year so they can bring her back next year for the Classic.”

Among the turf workers Saturday was Arch Support (Juvenile Fillies Turf) who covered six furlongs in 1:18.60. Fractions on the work were :14.80, :27.40, :40.80 and :54.20.

“I thought it was excellent,” trainer Gary Contessa said. “She was like 50 feet out in the middle of the course and then she got hooked up with two Todd Pletcher horses (More Than Real and Pluck) who were working a half-mile and she held her own.”

Working before the break was new Churchill Downs arrival Rinterval (IRE), who covered a half-mile in :49. Fractions for the work were :12.20, :24.60 and out five furlongs in 1:03.40. It was Rinterval’s second work here since finishing sixth in the Juddmonte Spinster (GI) on Oct. 10 at Keeneland, where she is stabled.

"We left at 4 in the morning last week to come over and work,” trainer Eric Reed said. “We came over last night and will stay here. I just wanted to let her get over the track and she seemed to handle it well.”

Other works included Due Date (Turf Sprint): Half-mile in :49 (:12.80, :25.60 and out five furlongs in 1:03.60) on the turf; Seeking the Title (Ladies’ Classic): Half-mile in :50.20 with Calvin Borel up (:12.80, :25.20 and :37.60. Out five furlongs in 1:04); My Jen (Filly & Mare Sprint): Half-mile in :48.60; A.U. Miner (Marathon): Half-mile in :48.60 (:12.20, :24.20 and :36.40. Out five furlongs in 1:01.80, six furlongs in 1:17); and, Prince Will I Am (Marathon): Half-mile in :49.40.

At Keeneland on Saturday morning, two 2-year-olds for Ken McPeek worked in company: Rogue Romance (Juvenile) and Harlan’s Ruby (Juvenile Fillies). The duo covered five furlongs in :59.40, the best of 33 at the distance, with fractions of :13, :24.60, :36.20 and :47.80. Rogue Romance galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.80. Also for McPeek, working on the turf in company were Bridgetown (Turf Sprint) and Kathmanblu (Juvenile Fillies Turf) who covered five furlongs in 1:01 (:37.6 and out in 1:14.20). Also on the turf was trainer Michael Stidham’s two Juvenile Turf pre-entrants, Rough Sailing and Willcox Inn, who worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 (:38 and out in 1:14.60). Working on the main track were Mad Flatter (Dirt Mile) going :46.40 for a half-mile, the second fastest of 64 at the distance, and Silver Timber (Turf Sprint), a half-mile in :48.40 (11th fastest of 64). …

Some works of note at other venues Saturday morning included Zenyatta (Classic) at Hollywood Park: six furlongs in 1:11.80; Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Blind Luck (Ladies’ Classic): five furlongs in 1:00; and Jaycito (Juvenile): six furlongs in 1:13.40.  Other Breeders’ Cup workers at other venues included Typhoon Slew (Juvenile Turf): Five furlongs in 1:02.80 at Trackside Training Center, the 11th best of 24 at the distance; Havre de Grace (Ladies’ Classic): Half-mile in :48.20 at Delaware Park; Rightly So (Filly & Mare Sprint): Half-mile in :47.60 at Delaware Park; Big Drama (Sprint): Half-mile in :46.40 and out five furlongs in :58.40 at Calder.

One work that did not place was one from Carl Moore Management’s Chamberlain Bridge for the Turf Sprint. “There was a little abscess in a foot yesterday and it popped this morning,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “We canceled the work and we will probably skip the breeze altogether. He will be back on the track in the morning.”

In addition to Pletcher’s contingent, other works on tap for Sunday include Classic pre-entrants Haynesfield and Espoir City (JPN), Acoma (Ladies’ Classic) at 6:30 with jockey Robby Albarado up, Mine That Bird (Dirt Mile) and Atoned (Marathon).

INTERNATIONAL STARS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE SATURDAY AFTERNOON – Defending Breeders’ Cup winners Goldikova (IRE) (Mile) and Midday (GB) (Filly & Mare Turf) and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (GI) winner Workforce (GB) are scheduled to arrive in Louisville early Saturday evening for their engagements in next weekend’s World Championships at Churchill Downs.

Also scheduled to arrive this afternoon was the Godolphin Racing European contingent.

Arriving this morning on a charter from New York were a string of horses for trainer Nick Zito, including Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) hopefuls Fly Down and Morning Line and Dirt Mile (GI) candidate Cool Coal Man.

Two domestic charters are scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Sunday; one from California that will include the 1-2 finishers in this spring’s Kentucky Oaks (GI), Blind Luck and Evening Jewel, and one from New York that will include leading Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII) contender Winter Memories.

Two flights are scheduled for Monday arrival headed by a flight from Ireland bringing the Ballydoyle contingent for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Slated to arrive from Baltimore-Washington are horses for trainers Graham Motion and Tony Dutrow including Havre de Grace for Dutrow who is a top contender for the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI).

The undefeated defending Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner Zenyatta is scheduled to arrive at Louisville International Airport shortly before noon Tuesday. On the same flight is expected to be one of her major rivals, Lookin At Lucky, for trainer Bob Baffert.

On Tuesday afternoon, a flight from New York is scheduled to bring $4.6 million earner Gio Ponti, who is cross-entered in the Classic as well as the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI).

DEFENDING CHAMP DEMARCATION ASSIGNED 117 POUNDS FOR ACK ACK – The Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation, 10-1 upset winner for trainer Paul McGee in last year’s Ack Ack Handicap (GIII), has been assigned 117 pounds by racing secretary Ben Huffman for the 18th running of the $100,000-added race scheduled for Friday.

The impost is the same as that assigned to Super Derby (GII) winner Apart, who is expected to start in the 1 1/16-mile main track event. Apart is trained by Al Stall Jr., and owned by Adele Dilschneider.

Marianne and Brandon Chase’s Here Comes Ben was assigned top weight of 122 pounds, but the Charles Lopresti trainee is pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) next Saturday. Second high weight at 119 pounds is Mrs. Fitriani Hay’s Redding Colliery, who is being pointed to the Grade I Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare on Nov. 26.

Next on the weight list is David Holloway Racing’s Dubious Miss at 118 pounds.  Dubious Miss, who is also trained by McGee, is entered in today’s Fayette (GII) at Keeneland.

Entries for the Ack Ack will be taken Tuesday.

MARY’S FOLLIES HEADS TO FLORIDA AFTER MRS. REVERE VICTORY – Paul Pompa Jr.’s Mary’s Follies did not stick around Louisville long after her 1 ½-length score in Saturday’s Grade II Mrs. Revere in stakes-record time over the Matt Winn Turf Course under Kent Desormeaux.

“I’ve got a van picking her up Sunday and taking her straight to Gulfstream Park,” trainer Rick Dutrow said by phone Saturday night. “I am going to let her regroup and get over this one and train up to her next one.”

Mary’s Follies is now 2-for-2 on the turf with her other grass win coming in the Boiling Springs (GIII) at Monmouth in June. Prior to the Mrs. Revere, Mary’s Follies had finished sixth in the $750,000 Fitz Dixon Cotillion (Grade II) at Philadelphia Park on Oct. 3.

“She had been training real good since her last race, which was kind of surprising since she ran such a dull race,” Dutrow said. “She had been training very, very good and we felt like we couldn’t turn down the opportunity last time because that purse was so big and she had run good over that Philadelphia track.

"We felt like we had to take a shot, which was very stupid. But she came out of it the right way and she fired a bullet (Saturday).”

Whatever Mary’s Follies’ next race will be, it figures to be on the lawn.

“I haven’t looked for a race yet, but we will definitely point for a grass race,” Dutrow said. “Even if it comes off, she likes the mud.”

EINSTEIN, MACHO AGAIN HEAD CLARK HANDICAP NOMINEES – Stronach Stable’s Einstein (Brz) and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, winners of the past two major handicap races for older horses here, head a list of 23 nominations for the 135th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) to be run Nov. 27.

Trained by Helen Pitts-Blasi, Einstein is the defending champion in the Clark. Should Einstein run in the Clark, he would be coming back to the races in less than three weeks after finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) on Nov. 7 at Santa Anita, the worst showing in his 29-race career.

Macho Again won the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap here in June and defeated Einstein in the process. Trained by Dallas Stewart, Macho Again has not run since finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) on Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

Other Grade I winners nominated to the Clark are Mitchell Ranch, Frank Lewkowitz and Joe Rice’s Bullsbay, winner of the Whitney at Saratoga as well as the Grade III Alysheba here, and Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Furthest Land, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI).

Three horses that won Grade II events in their most recent starts are also among the nominees. They are Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame, winner of the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland on Oct. 31; Darley Stable’s Etched, winner of the Meadowlands Cup (GII) on Oct. 16; and Jill Baffert and George Jacobs’ Misremembered, winner of the Indiana Derby (GII) at Hoosier Park on Oct. 3.

Weight assignments for the Clark will be announced Friday.

DEFENDING CHAMPS WON’T MEET AGAIN IN RIVER CITY HANDICAP –When the nominations came out for the 32nd running of the River City Handicap (GIII), there were two prominent names among the 27 nominees: Amerman Racing Stables, LLC’s Demarcation and Green Lantern Stables’ Karelian.

Those two dead-heated for the victory in last year’s running of the River City, so the possibility existed of the same horses dead-heating in the same race a year later.

However, it’s not going to happen.

“Karelian’s not running. We’re running Wicked Style in there,” said Jack Bohannan, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold.

“I’m not sure which race we’ll go in,” said Paul McGee, trainer of Demarcation who is nominated to both the River City and the Clark Handicap. “(Owner) Mr. (John) Amerman is up in the air on it too.”

Demarcation won the Grade III Ack Ack on dirt here on Nov. 6 for his first victory since last year’s River City that is run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Wicked Style, owned by Ashbrook Farm, ran third in the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland over Polytrack in his most recent start on Oct. 31. In three turf starts in 2009, Wicked Style has two victories and a second-place finish.

Three graded-stakes winners on the turf in 2009 are among the nominees headed by Rahy’s Attorney, winner of the Nijinsky (GII) and King Edward Handicap (GII) at Woodbine this summer. The others are Brave Tin Soldier, winner of the Cliff Hanger (GIII) at the Meadowlands in October and the mare Tizfiz, who took the San Gorgonio (GII) at Santa Anita in January.

Weights for the River City will be announced Friday.    

NOMINATIONS OUT FOR CLOSING WEEKEND STAKES – Grade I winners Swift Temper and Unbridled Belle top the list of 18 fillies and mares nominated to the 94th running of the Falls City Handicap (GII) to be contested on Thanksgiving Day.

Swift Temper took the Ruffian in September at Belmont Park and three times this year has gotten the best of Unbridled Belle, a five-time graded-stakes winner who won the Grade I Beldame in 2007.

Weights for the Falls City, which is run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, will be announced Friday. Miss Isella won last year’s Falls City, a race in which Swift Temper finished fourth.

Closing day of the 21-day meet on Nov. 28 is “Stars of Tomorrow II” and will feature 12 races exclusively for 2-year-olds. Highlighting the day will be the 83rd running of the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) and the 66th running of the Golden Rod (GII) for fillies.

The Kentucky Jockey Club, won last year by Beethoven, drew 37 nominations including the top three finishers from the opening day Iroquois: Thiskyhasnolimit, Uh Oh Bango and Soaring Empire.

The Golden Rod, won last year by Rachel Alexandra, attracted the top three finishers from the opening day Pocahontas in Sassy Image, Decelerator and All Due Respect among the 23 nominations.

BARN TALK – Calvin Borel’s four-win day on Saturday gave him 11 victories through the first 10 days of the 21-day meet and a two-win advantage over Julien Leparoux and Shaun Bridgmohan in the Fall Meet race for “leading rider.” Borel’s four-bagger came in races 5-8 and the Calvin backers in the crowd were richly rewarded. Borel won with Win Grammy Boy ($12) in the fifth, High Spirit ($16.40) in the sixth, Choice Play ($11.60) in the seventh and Cosmic ($9.60) in the eighth. The rolling doubles returned $146.60, $96.40 and $76.80 and the rolling Pick-3s paid $637 and $783.20. …

 Stronach Stable’s Harlem Rocker ran second to Cosmic on Saturday beaten a head in his first start since being disqualified from first in last November’s Cigar Mile (GI) at Aqueduct. “The reason he ran here instead of New York is because he was entered twice up there and the race didn’t go,” said Michael Dilger, who oversees trainer Todd Pletcher’s Churchill Downs string. “A win would have been nice, but he ran well and that sets him up for his next race. He will head to Florida after this meet closes (Nov. 28).”

Trainer Bill Mott, the leading conditioner all time at Churchill Downs, recorded his 625th victory beneath the Twin Spires when Soldier Field was moved up to first place via disqualification in Saturday’s 10th race. Closest to Mott on the all-time list is Dale Romans with 481 with nine of those coming at the current meet.

WORK TAB – Giant Oak, who is pointing toward the Clark Handicap, worked seven furlongs in 1:29.60 over a fast track Sunday morning after the renovation break for trainer Chris Block. The 3-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway lost narrowly to Beethoven in last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club (GII)… Vosburgh (GI) winner Kodiak Kowboy worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Paul Pompa Jr.’s Mary’s Follies rolled to a 1 ½-length victory over Keertana in stakes-record time to win the 19th running of the $206,500 Mrs. Revere (Grade II) for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

    Ridden by Kent Desormeaux for trainer Rick Dutrow, Mary’s Follies covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:41.73 to shave more than a second off the stakes mark of 1:42.86 set by Snow Dance in 2001.

    Desormeaux gave Mary’s Follies a ground-saving trip in the field of 14 as War Kill and Romacaca led the field through fractions of :24.23, :48.57 and 1:12.50. Leaving the far turn, Mary’s Follies angled off the hedge and hit the top of the stretch three wide with a clear shot at the leaders.

    Mary’s Follies breezed past Romacaca in the upper stretch, spurted clear and had more than enough to hold off Keertana, who was ridden by Jesus Castanon. Romacaca, ridden by E. T. Baird, held on for third another length back and finished a neck ahead of favored Hot Cha Cha, ridden by James Graham.

    A Kentucky-bred daughter of More Than Ready, Mary’s Follies’ victory was worth $116,509 and increased her earnings to $317,889. Now 2-for-2 on the grass, Mary’s Follies improved her career record to 9-4-3-1.

    Mary’s Follies rewarded her backers with mutuels of $20.80, $11.40 and $8.40. Keertana returned $14 and $7.80 with Romacaca paying $10.80 to show.

    Racing resumes Sunday with a 10-race program headlined by the sixth running of the $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (GIII) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. First post time Sunday is 12:40 p.m. (all times ET) with the Commonwealth Turf going at 4:37 p.m. as the ninth race.

    There is a 10-day carryover of $164,755.24 in the Pick 6 that requires bettors to pick the winners in Races 5-10. Also, there is a $10,273.67 carryover in the Super Hi-5 that requires bettors to select the first five finishers in order in the 10th race.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE MRS. REVERE

RICK DUTROW, trainer of MARY’S FOLLIES, winner (via telephone from a New York apartment): “She was training unbelievable for the last month. It looks like she might be just a grass horse. She’s a nice little filly. The jock gave her a great ride, and she had a great trip. All good there.”

KENT DESORMEAUX, jockey of MARY’S FOLLIES, winner: “When I was in the paddock before the race I was told that I had a loaded gun underneath me. All I had to do was aim and pull the trigger. She (Mary’s Follies) put me into a great position. She broke very smart and put us into a very energetic spot, and that set us up very well for the rest of the trip. She was really full of run when crossing under the wire today. She was really breathing fire today. This one really seems to have found herself on the turf. We beat a very good bunch of proven horses. She is just a very nice filly.”

TOM PROCTOR, trainer of KEERTANA, runner-up: “You can’t be five-wide on both turns and the winner be on the fence – and that’s not cussing the jockey, that’s cussin’ the post position.  The winner gets through on the fence and mine on both turns was four-or-five wide.  That’s the way it goes.
    “This was a tough race and the reason this race came up like this is that everybody had their horse running all year long.  And kudos to whoever was in this race, because a lot of them had run at a high level all year long, and that’s why the race came up so tough.  Usually you don’t see that – you see one or two of those come in like that, but all these trainers kept their horses around all year long.  
    “She’ll get a break similar to what we did last year.  We’ll go to Ocala (Fla.) and give her a couple of months off, then we’ll start back up and have her ready for Keeneland, hopefully.”

JESUS CASTANON, jockey on KEERTANA, runner-up: “She ran good.  We talked this morning, Tom (Proctor) and me, and we figured there was going to be a little more speed and the pace was going to be a little tough in the beginning.   But everything just went the opposite way and I was up there close.
    “I really can’t take anything away from her – she really gave me a nice race.  It was just one of those deals.  This horse responds really good when you get to the stretch – she really kicks in.  My filly was chasing the winner, but she just got through on us.”

PHILIP SIMS, trainer of HOT CHA CHA, fourth as the favorite: “She ran well, she just had a little traffic trouble.  And the pace was a little slow.  I was expecting (a half-mile) in :46 or :47, but they went in :48-and-change and three-quarters in (a minute) 12, and I thought ‘Uh-oh.’  But they finished up in a pretty fast time.”
Q: She’s had a great year … “She’s been a lot of fun this year.  She’ll get a little time off and come back here next spring.”

JAMES GRAHAM, jockey on HOT CHA CHA, fourth as the favorite: “I might have taken her back a little bit too far.  I thought they were going to go a little quicker, but I was already committed to sitting on her.  I should have asked her a little earlier, but that’s racing today.  She run a good race – it just wasn’t her day today.”

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CONNIE AND MICHAEL WORKS FIVE FURLONGS FOR BREEDERS’ CUP START – With jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard, Anthony Bonomo Jr.’s Connie and Michael tuned up for her engagement in next Friday’s Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita by working five furlongs in 1:01 over a “fast” track at Churchill Downs.

"She went out for a breeze with a capital B,” Desormeaux said after the work that occurred after the track re-opened after the morning renovation break. “She was just cruising out there and she galloped out strong.”

A daughter of Roman Ruler, Connie and Michael did not make her racing debut until Oct. 17 when she romped by 7 ¾ lengths after exiting the 12 hole in a seven-furlong Keeneland sprint. Connie and Michael is scheduled to fly to Santa Anita on Saturday to join the rest of trainer Ken McPeek’s Breeders’ Cup cast.

Other McPeek runners for the World Championships include Magdalena Racing’s House of Grace for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Peter Callahan’s Beautician for the Juvenile Fillies, Melnyk Racing Stables’ Bridgetown for the Juvenile Turf and Chasing Dreams Racing 2008’s Noble’s Promise for the Grey Goose Juvenile.

Connie and Michael is one of nine Breeders’ Cup runners that Desormeaux is confirmed on as of today.

“I am going to be busy, and that’s how I like it,” said Desormeaux, a three-time Kentucky Derby-winning rider. “I’ll ride here Thursday and catch a plane after the card and get out there around 11 that night.”

Other World Championships mounts for Desormeaux, who has won three Breeders’ Cup races, according to his agent Mike Sellito are: Summer Bird (Classic), Mushka (Ladies’ Classic), Dynaforce (Filly & Mare Turf), Mr. Sidney (Dirt Mile), Gangbuster (Marathon), Piscitelli (Juvenile), Whatsthescript-IRE (Mile) and Interactif (Juvenile Turf).

LEPAROUX CONFIRMED ON NINE BREEDERS’ CUP MOUNTS – Of the four Churchill Downs-based riders other than Kent Desormeaux headed to next week’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Julien Leparoux figures to be the busiest.

According to agent Steve Bass, Leparoux is confirmed to ride in nine of the 14 races over the two days of the Championships that begin Friday.

Topping the list is defending Filly & Mare Turf (GI) winner and Eclipse Award filly and mare turf champion Forever Together. Other Leparoux mounts are Churchill Downs-based Einstein-BRZ (Classic), Informed Decision (Filly & Mare Sprint), She Be Wild (Juvenile Fillies), Rainbow View (Ladies’ Classic), Aspire (Juvenile), Becky’s Kitten (Juvenile Turf), Lisa’s Kitten (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Silver Timber (Turf Sprint).

Also heading out to Southern California to compete in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships are Calvin Borel, Robby Albarado and Shaun Bridgmohan, who have a combined six confirmed mounts as of today.

Borel has one mount, Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Classic.

Albarado is confirmed on Tapitsfly in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Beautician in the Juvenile Fillies next Friday and on Court Vision on Saturday in the Mile.

Bridgmohan has two mounts for trainer Steve Asmussen: Jungle Tale in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Kodiak Kowboy in the Sprint.

ACK ACK, CHILUKKI FIELDS TAKING SHAPE – Senior Vice President/Racing Donnie Richardson said that fields for next weekend’s two graded stakes, the Ack Ack (GIII) and the Chilukki (GII), both at a mile on the main track, are beginning to take shape.

The Ack Ack, scheduled to be run on Friday for 3-year-olds and up, closed with 30 nominations. Entries will be taken Tuesday and heading the list of probables for the $100,000-added Ack Ack is B. Wayne Hughes’ My Pal Charlie, trained by Al Stall Jr.

Winner of last year’s Super Derby (GII), My Pal Charlie is winless in eight starts in 2009. However, his best effort of the year came at Churchill Downs came on Derby day when he ran second in the Grade II Churchill Downs.

Also considered probable for the Ack Ack are Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu, a two-time graded-stakes winner on the grass at Churchill Downs, and Robert Yagos’ Spotsgone.

The $150,000-added Chilukki for fillies and mares is expected to mark the return to the races of One Caroline for trainer Rusty Arnold.

Owned by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and the Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust 2008, One Caroline has not raced since finishing second to Miss Isella in the Grade II Louisville Distaff on May 1. It was One Caroline’s first loss after she opened her career with five consecutive victories. She was injured while preparing for the Fleur De Lis (GII) in June.

Also considered as “probable” to compete in the Chilukki, which will be run Saturday, Nov. 7, is Mark Stanley’s Swift Temper. Trained by Dale Romans, Swift Temper has won the Ruffian (GI), Delaware Handicap (GII) and the Sixty Sails (GIII) in 2009.

Other Chilukki probables include Westrock Stables’ Be Fair, Briland Farm’s Color Me Up and Michael Pressley, John Ferris, Mike Riley, Lee Robey and Barry Higgins’ Payton d’Oro. Listed as “possible” for the race are Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein’s Whirlie Bertie and World Thoroughbred Racing’s Don’ttalktome

Entries for the Chilukki will be taken Wednesday.

WORK TAB – Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters worked three furlongs in :37.80, his second three-eighths breeze since returning for surgery to remove a chip in his right front knee. Winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) and 10th-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), General Quarters was sidelined after a ninth-place finish in the Preakness (GI). … Martin Racing Stable and Dan Morgan’s Dubai Majesty, winner of the Buffalo Trace Franklin County at Keeneland in her most recent start on Oct. 16 and the Winning Colors (GIII) at Churchill Downs this spring, worked a half-mile in :49.80 for trainer Bret Calhoun.

2010 CHURCHILL DOWNS WALL CALENDAR GIVEAWAY ON OPENING DAY – The first 5,000 fans in attendance on Sunday, Nov. 1 – opening day of the 2009 Fall Meet – will receive a free 2010 Churchill Downs Wall Calendar, sponsored by Humana. The colorful calendar features major event listings and vivid and memorable images from the Kentucky Derby and around the historic racetrack.

Opening day of the anticipated 21-day stand doubles as “Stars of Tomorrow I” with 11 live races entirely devoted to rising 2-year-old stars who have aspirations of trail-blazing their way to next year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (GI). The featured events are the open Iroquois and the fillies’ Pocahontas, a pair of Grade III, $100,000-added events run at one mile on the main track.

The day will also will feature the debut a new free Sunday morning public workout program from 8-10 a.m. entitled “Daybreak at the Downs” and a special 2-year-old handicapping seminar and breakfast in the Paddock Pavilion from 9-11:30 a.m.

Admission gates will open at 11:30 a.m. and first post is 12:40 p.m. ET.

Churchill Downs 120th Fall Meet, featuring world-class horse racing, will continue for a four-week stand through Saturday, Nov. 28.

General admission is $3, but only $1 for senior citizens and members of the track’s free-to-join Twin Spires Club. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Parking is free in the Longfield Avenue lot (Gates 10 & 12) and $3 in all other lots. Valet parking is $5.

For more information or to reserve seats, call (502) 636-4400 or visit www.ChurchillDowns.com.

SPECIAL 2-YEAR-OLD HANDICAPPING SEMINAR SET ON OPENING DAY FROM 9-11:30 A.M. – Churchill Downs will host its annual “Stars of Tomorrow” 2-Year-Old Handicapping Seminar on Sunday, Nov. 1 in the Paddock Pavilion from 9-11:30 a.m.

Churchill Downs racing analyst Jill Byrne will host this year’s seminar with jockey Jon Court, trainer Ian Wilkes and workout clocker John Nichols. The quartet will provide insight on how to improve handicapping skills for 2-year-old racing and in-depth analysis of the entire “Stars of Tomorrow I” racing program with a question and answer session.

One of the most attractive aspects of the seminar is a special trip to the saddling paddock for an up-close inspection of a 2-year-old and its confirmation, behavior and equipment.

The cost to attend is $25 and includes breakfast buffet, official program, Brisnet.com past performances, and a reserved seat in Skye Terrace 5. There also will be a raffle for door prizes, including a VIP day at the races, two rounds of golf at Belterra Casino Resort & Spa, signed framed photographs of past Kentucky Derby winners and a chance to watch a race from the Churchill Downs announcer’s booth with track commentator Mark Johnson.

Call (502) 636-4400 for reservations.

“WHO’S THE CHAMP?” HANDICAPPING TOURNAMENT RETURNS SUNDAYS & WEDNESDAYS – Churchill Downs’ popular “Who’s the Champ” Handicapping Tournament will return for the 2009 Fall Meet with contests every Sunday and Wednesday through Nov. 22.

Horse racing fans can pit their handicapping skills against the best Louisville has to offer for twice-weekly cash prizes and an invitation to the Sunday, Nov. 22 final. The top two finishers in the final will win coveted berths in the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping Championship XI scheduled for Jan. 29-30 at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas.

Prize money for each contest, which requires participants to place mythical $2 Win and Place wagers in Races 3-9, totals $4,000, including a $1,400 first prize.

The top 25 unique participants in each contest through Wednesday, Nov. 18 will be invited to the Nov. 22 final.

The participation fee for each contest is $30 and includes complimentary lunch. It’s discounted to $25 for Twin Spires Club members. Registration will take place in the Champions Club Lounge on the second floor of the clubhouse from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on contest days. Additional contest seating will be available in the Churchill Downs Lounge when necessary.

NEW “DAYBREAK AT THE DOWNS” FREE EVERY SUNDAY FROM 8-10 A.M. – “Daybreak at the Downs” – patterned after Kentucky Derby week’s well-attended “Dawn at the Downs” – will make its debut on opening day, Sunday, Nov. 1, and take place every Sunday from 8-10 a.m. throughout the 2009 Fall Meet.
Churchill Downs’ racing analyst Jill Byrne will host the program with select special guests and she’ll describe the on-track action and provide insightful commentary as hundreds of horses prepare for their upcoming races in morning workouts.

Daybreak at the Downs” is free to attend each Sunday. Complimentary coffee, donuts and milk will be served to attendees.

Interested patrons should park in the Longfield Lot and enter through Gate 10. The “Daybreak at the Downs” will be presented in Sections 116-117 of the clubhouse. Visitors are welcome to stay for a day at the races free of charge.