Larry Melancon

MELANCON TO CLOSE OUT LONG CAREER SUNDAY – Larry Melancon began riding quarter horses when he was nine years old and got his jockey’s license to ride Thoroughbreds at age 16 in 1971.

On Sunday, five weeks shy of his 55th birthday, Melancon will saddle up one last time riding War Clan for longtime client Bill Mott.

"I had no idea that this would last this long,” Melancon said Friday morning. “I got to ride some good horses and those were the ones that kept you going and getting up in the mornings."

Melancon first came to Churchill Downs in 1974 and has won at least one race every meet since except for the three he did not ride – Fall 1974, Spring 1979 and Fall 1993 when he was sidelined by fractured ribs.

In all, Melancon has ridden 941 winners at Churchill Downs, third all time behind only Pat Day (2,482) and Calvin Borel (1,019). His 46 stakes wins at Churchill Downs rank fourth all time. For his career, Melancon has 2,857 victories with more than $60.6 million in purses.

Melancon, who has three winners this meet, rode in the Kentucky Derby four times, the first in 1976.

“I was on Amano, and he was third at the head of the stretch,” Melancon said of the James Padgett-trained runner who finished fourth in the field of eight. “The horse that ran third, Elocutionist, I told them they ought to go on to the Preakness because LeRoy (Jolley) was going to send Honest Pleasure after Bold Forbes and that’s what he did and Elocutionist ran by both of them.”

That was Melancon’s best Kentucky Derby finish as he wound up 14th on Bachelor Beau in 1986, 10th on Smilin Singin Sam in 1994 and 16th on Keats in 2001.

Melancon considers his biggest Churchill Downs victory the 2001 Stephen Foster Handicap, then a Grade II, on Guided Tour.

“He beat Captain Steve that day,” Melancon said. “It is kind of hard to pick one top horse that I rode here. I rode a horse named Rapid Gray and I also rode Weekend Surprise (dam of 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy).”

“I won a stake for my mom with a Louisiana-bred named Kazliv,” Melancon said. “It was the Gentilly Stakes. I’ve got a few other tapes, but that would be the first one.”Melancon, who has only had 15 mounts this meet, plans on staying in the racing business somewhere down the road.

As for his immediate future, Melancon said, “I don’t know yet. I’m going to take a little time off and visit my grandson.”

DRIVING SNOW MAKES LONG-AWAITED RETURN IN FIRECRACKER – A few days before the 2008 Bourbon Stakes (GIII) at Keeneland, trainer Darrin Miller received a four-legged present from overseas named Driving Snow (GB).

The gray colt had won one of four races in Ireland and was purchased privately by Tommy and Bonnie Hamilton’s Silverton Hill Farm. One of 17 horses left in his wake in his maiden victory was Sea The Stars, who lost for the only time in a nine-race career that ended with European Horse of the Year honors in 2009.

“That’s a nice feather in his cap,” said Miller, who is preparing Driving Snow for his second U.S. comeback.

After finishing a fast-closing second to Bittel Road in the Bourbon, Driving Snow did not race again for nine months. In his lone 2009 start, Driving Snow won a stakes race at Indiana Downs.

“Between (age) two and three, it took awhile to get him right,” Miller said. “We were unable to get him started until July.”

Miller had hopes of making the Secretariat (GI) at Arlington with Driving Snow, but the colt fractured his left cannon bone in a workout after the Indiana victory and that took care of 2009.

Is it frustrating to go through all the issues with a colt with proven talent?

“Yes,” Miller said without hesitation. “He was out until February of this year and just trying to get him there (is a battle). But he has been good since he has come back and we targeted the Firecracker. It is the best spot for him in the way of timing.”

Freddie Lenclud will have the mount in Sunday’s Firecracker and break from post position one.

SECRET GYPSY BACK IN TOP FORM AFTER IOWA ROMP – Richland Hills and John Kuehl’s Secret Gypsy signaled her return to top form with a stylish 4 ¾-length victory Friday night in the six-furlong Saylorville Stakes at Prairie Meadows.

"“It seems like she is back,” a relieved trainer Ronny Werner said of the 5-year-old mare who has turned in two solid efforts following a string of four consecutive losses.

After winning the Distaff Handicap (GII) in March 2009 at Aqueduct, Secret Gypsy went into a tailspin with poor efforts in the Humana Distaff (GI) and the Finney on turf at Saratoga. This year did not start much better with a third-place finish in the Queen on March 27 at Turfway Park and a fifth-place finish at 1-2 odds in a stake at Indiana Downs on May 3.

“Physically, she was back, but not mentally,” Werner said.

Secret Gypsy got one more chance and made the most of it with a runner-up finish to Dubai Majesty in the Winning Colors (GIII) here on May 31. She used that as a springboard to the Iowa victory.

"“She has stepped up and run two good races,” Werner said. “I was really pleased with her second here to come back and beat Hot Dixie Chick, who is a nice filly, for second.”

Werner plans to send Secret Gypsy to join his string at Delaware Park on Tuesday with a couple of August options in mind.

“The plan right now is to run at Monmouth or Saratoga,” Werner said. “There are a couple of races there within a week of each other and it will be one spot or the other.”

The $150,000 Regret is scheduled for Aug. 1 at Monmouth and the $150,000 Honorable Miss (GII) is Aug. 8 at Saratoga. Both races are six furlongs.

BARN TALK – Calvin Borel, and Steve Asmussen moved a day closer to securing human titles for the Spring Meet that concludes Sunday.

Borel, seeking his first Spring Meet riding title, holds a 46-37 lead over Corey Lanerie after both riders notched two victories each Thursday. Borel is named on nine mounts on Friday night’s card, nine on Saturday and 10 on Sunday. Lanerie, who never has won a riding title here, is named on eight mounts Friday, 10 on Saturday and eight on Sunday.

Asmussen, seeking his third consecutive meet title, has a 22-16 edge on Dale Romans. Asmussen has five horses entered Friday, two on Saturday and five on Sunday. Romans has seven entrants Friday, three on Saturday and seven on Sunday. Tom Amoss, who also has 16 victories, has one more starter at the meet. …

Julien Leparoux wasted little time getting back to the winner’s circle, scoring on his first two mounts after being sidelined for more than six weeks by a back injury suffered at Pimlico on May 14. He got Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Class of Fifty Two ($3.60) up in the nick of time to win Thursday’s fifth race and took the sixth on Joseph Riccelli, Julie Levine and Eddie Kenneally’s Ticondero ($8.40).

Class of Fifty Two’s victory gave the Ramseys five winners for the meet and moved the couple within three victories of meet-leading owner Maggi Moss. The Ramseys, winners of the past five meet-leading owner titles and a record 16 overall (eight  Spring and eight Fall), have four horses entered Friday, four on Saturday and six on Sunday. …

Friday night alert: Jockey Victor Lebron, who has ridden two winners on each of the first three “Downs After Dark” programs, is named on five mounts tonight. Lebron, who has ridden of nine of his 14 winners at the meet the past two weeks, plans to stay in the area this summer to ride mainly at Ellis Park and in Indiana and then ride the fall circuit at Turfway Park, Keeneland and back at Churchill Downs, which he hopes to use a springboard to a winter excursion to Gulfstream Park. …

Lewis Lakin’s Pure Clan, sidelined for two months because of a bruised left front foot, returned to trainer Bob Holthus’ barn and is scheduled to go to the track Saturday morning.                        

WORK TAB – Winning Colors (GIII) winner Dubai Majesty worked a half-mile before the renovation break over a fast track in :49.60 in preparation for next Saturday’s $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (GI) at Calder. … Decelerator, winner of the 2009 Debutante (GIII) worked three furlongs in :35.40, best of eight at the distance.

It’s 900 wins under the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs and counting for jockey Larry Melancon, who reached the mark Thursday when he guided A.P. Xcellent to a front-running victory in the eighth race.

“He won like a 3-5 shot should,” said Melancon, who rode A.P. Xcellent for trainer Niall O’Callaghan. “It felt good (to reach 900) and it’s quite an accomplishment and it was nice to do it for people I ride a lot for.”

Only two riders have more victories at Churchill Downs than Melancon; Pat Day with 2,481 and Don Brumfield with 925.

Melancon first began riding at Churchill Downs in the spring of 1974, and two years later found himself in the first four Kentucky Derbys in which he has ridden.

“I was on Amano, and he was third at the head of the stretch,” Melancon said of the James Padgett runner who finished fourth in the field of eight. “The horse that ran third, Elocutionist, I told them they ought to go on to the Preakness because LeRoy (Jolley) was going to send Honest Pleasure after Bold Forbes and that’s what he did and Eloucutionist ran by them both.”

In 1986, Melancon was back in the Kentucky Derby with Blue Grass Stakes winner Bachelor Beau for Phil Hauswald.

“We came out of the tunnel right behind Snow Chief and the crowd roared and he got real rank,” Melancon said. “Groovy was in the Derby that year and I thought he was going to run over the top of Groovy.”

O’Callaghan gave Melancon a leg up on his other two Kentucky Derby mounts with Smilin Singin Sam in 1996 and Keats in 2001. And, it was O’Callaghan who gave Melancon a leg up on what the rider considers his biggest Churchill Downs win.

“I won the Stephen Foster (in 2001) on Guided Tour,” Melancon said. “He beat Captain Steve that day. But it is kind of hard to pick one top horse. I rode a horse named Rapid Gray and I also rode Weekend Surprise (the dam of 1992 “Horse of the Year” A.P. Indy who was the sire of A.P. Xcellent).”

Now 52, the native Breaux Bridge, La., has no plans to hang up the boots in the immediate future.

“As long as I stay healthy and keep my weight, it’s a good thing to keep me getting up in the mornings,” Melancon said.

The quest for 1,000 began Friday afternoon with two mounts, both for trainers for whom he has ridden for years, Steve Penrod and Bill Mott.

RECAPTURETHEGLORY EYES SECOND CHURCHILL DOWNS PAY DAY -- When last seen racing under the Twin Spires, Recapturetheglory ran a respectable fifth in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (GI) behind Big Brown, earning a $60,000 check in the process.

On Friday morning, Recapturetheglory was back on the Louisville track, galloping a mile and a half under regular morning exercise partner Lara Van Deren in preparation for Saturday’s $175,000-added Northern Dancer (GIII).

“He really likes it here and he galloped great this morning,” said Van Deren, who was here with the Louie Roussel III trainee all through the run up to the Kentucky Derby.

After the Derby, Recapturetheglory came down with a fever that knocked him out of a run at the Preakness. And, there was another issue.

“He had a bruised foot that didn’t show up until a week after the Derby,” Van Deren said. “The fever he spiked the day after he got it and was OK, but there was no way he could have run in the Preakness. There is no telling how long that would have knocked him out.”

Recapturetheglory, who is co-owned by Roussel and Ronnie Lamarque, returned to Chicago on May 12 but did not return to the track for nearly a week.

“We started jogging him six days after we got back there, and since then he has been doing great,” Van Deren said.

Jockey E.T. Baird, who rode Recapturetheglory to victory in the Grade II Illinois Derby and also in the Kentucky Derby, will have the mount Saturday in the Northern Dancer and break from the rail in the seven-horse field that also includes Kentucky Derby runners Pyro (eighth) and Visionaire (12th).

“JOCKEY TALK” FEATURES LEPAROUX, LANERIE – Jockeys Julien Leparoux and Corey Lanerie will be the featured guests Saturday for “Jockey Talk” – a Churchill Downs program that allows horse racing fans to mingle with their favorite riders.

“Jockey Talk” takes places in the paddock area from 11:30 a.m.-noon (all times Eastern) each Saturday throughout the remainder of the Spring Meet that closes July 6. The program gives fans the chance to meet, visit, receive autographs and take pictures with selected riders.

Entering Friday’s card, Leparoux was third in the rider standings with 37 victories. Lanerie has ridden nine winners.

HRTV ONSITE FOR STEPHEN FOSTER SUPER SATURDAY – HorseRacing TV (HRTV) will be at Churchill Downs on Saturday for “Horse of the Year” Curlin’s return to the races in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI). Host Peter Lurie, who is making his first visit to Churchill Downs, will be joined by Caton Bredar to report on the latest developments surrounding Stephen Foster Super Saturday.

ENTRIES SOUGHT FOR MONDAY HORSEMEN’S POKER TOURNAMENT – Playing spaces are still available for a charity Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament set for Monday, June 16 in the Triple Crown Room of the Jockey Club Suites at Churchill Downs. The tournament, which offers a grand prize of $10,000, is scheduled to feature racing celebrities that include Hall of Fame trainer and four-time Kentucky Derby winner D. Wayne Lukas and Hall of Fame jockeys Don Brumfield and Gary Stevens.

Registration is scheduled to begin Monday at 5 p.m. (all times EDT) and the tournament starts at 6 p.m. Cash prizes will be paid to the top 10 finishers and a special prize of a clubhouse box to the 2009 Kentucky Derby is available without playing.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the lifestyle and substance abuse programs at Churchill Downs. The event is sponsored by Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, and the Churchill Downs Racing Committee.

The tournament is limited to 250 players with a tax-deductible buy-in of $225. Information is available by calling the Kentucky HBPA office at (502) 363-1077 or the Churchill Downs Horsemen’s Lounge at (502) 636-4830.

BARN TALK – Tom Amoss grabbed the advantage in the race for leading trainer at the Spring Meet when Cardinal Stables’ Tovah ($5.40) won the fourth race on Thursday’s card. The victory gave Amoss 22 victories through 34 days of the 52-day meet and one more than Ken McPeek. … Four jockeys posted riding doubles Thursday, including the meet’s top two riders, Robby Albarado and Miguel Mena. Albarado holds a 45-41 lead in victories over Mena. Other riding doubles were completed by Calvin Borel and Jamie Theriot. …Nominations close on Saturday, June 14 for the $100,000-added Debutante Stakes (GIII) at six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies. The Debutante will be run on June 28. Information is available by calling Churchill Downs Racing at (502) 636-4470 or nominations made be made via fax at (502) 636-4479.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – IEAH Stable, Lewis Lakin and Pegasus Holding Group Stables’ Pure Clan breezed an easy three-eighths in :39.60 over a fast track before the renovation break for trainer Bob Holthus in preparation for Saturday’s $200,000-added Regret (GIII). … Gary and Mary West’s Keep the Peace, runner-up in the Forward Gal (GII) and La Troienne (GIII) worked a half-mile in :49, the sixth fastest of 42 at the distance, for trainer Eddie Kenneally.

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

Through Thursday, June 12 Jockeys Starts 1-2-3

 

Robby Albarado 168 45-21-23

Miguel Mena 226 41-30-30

Julien Leparoux 208 37-38-39

Calvin Borel 219 33-33-33

Shaun Bridgmohan 143 29-27-18

Jamie Theriot 161 27-25-13

Jesus Castanon 176 21-15-19

Brian Hernandez Jr. 126 11-20-14

Elvis Trujillo 71 10-10-18

Corey Lanerie 133 9-19-15

Larry Sterling Jr. 71 9-8-9

Trainers

Tom Amoss 52 22-7-9

Ken McPeek 51 21-7-4

Steve Asmussen 76 16-14-12

Dale Romans 94 11-21-16

Mike Maker 40 11-7-4

Ian Wilkes 34 10-6-5

Eddie Kenneally 41 8-8-8

Greg Foley 51 7-9-7

Cody Autrey 43 7-8-8

Steve Margolis 33 7-6-6

Wesley Ward 26 7-5-5

Paul McGee 33 7-5-2

Nick Zito 19 7-5-1

Three (3) trainers tied with six (6) wins

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey 40 12-6-8

Maggi Moss 20 10-3-3

Zayat Stables, LLC 35 7-7-7

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein 28 6-7-3

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable 11 5-1-0

Padua Stables 7 4-1-0

Eliah and Lisa Kahn 4 4-0-0

Eight (8) owners tied with three (3) wins

(June 12, 2008) – Veteran jockey Larry Melancon secured his 900th riding victory at Churchill Downs when he guided A.P. Xcellent to a front-running two-length score over Wise River in Thursday afternoon’s $47,400 D.D. Williamson’s Leadership Challenge purse for 3-year-olds and up.

Melancon, a 52-year-old native of Breaux Bridge, La., trails only Hall of Famer Pat Day (2,481) and Don Brumfield (925) in career victories at Churchill Downs. Forty-seven of those wins have come in stakes, also third all-time at the Louisville track.

Owned by Mrs. S.K. Johnston Jr., Marco Bommarito and the Molly Malone Racing Club and trained by Niall O’Callaghan, A.P. Xcellent covered the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1.48.96 in defeating three rivals.

A.P. Xcellent returned payoffs of $3.20 and $2.10. Wise River, ridden by Jamie Theriot, paid $4 to place.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of A.P. Indy, A.P. Xcellent posted his first victory on grass in seven tries and increased his overall record to four wins in 18 starts for earnings of $359,725. In 2007, A.P. Xcellent placed in two graded stakes on the synthetic track at Hollywood Park, including a runner-up finish to Lava Man by a nose in the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup.

Earlier on the card, Louis O’Brien’s Raving Rocket won his 11th consecutive race. Trained by Ralph Martinez, Raving Rocket prevailed by a length over Moment of Song. The streak, which began on June 12, 2007, has been compiled at seven tracks. Robby Albarado was aboard for Thursday’s victory.

Also, the final race of the day produced a record payoff for the new Super Hi-5 wager, which requires bettors to pick the top five finishers in order. Only one winning ticket purchased in Southern California had the combination of 12-7-6-2-4, and it was worth $66,598.20, which bettered the $35,179.30 reward on June 1.

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(May 22, 2008) – Multiple graded stakes-winning geldings Brass Hat and Silverfoot headline a field of 11 older horses entered in Saturday’s 71st edition of the $150,000-added Louisville Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

Seven-year-old millionaire Brass Hat will attempt to land his first win on grass, while 8-year-old Silverfoot pursues an unprecedented fourth triumph in the 1 ½-mile Louisville Handicap, a race he won from 2004-06.

Fred Bradley’s homebred Brass Hat, who’ll break from post 5 as starting high weight with 117 pounds, was deemed the mild 7-2 morning line favorite by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. Silverfoot, who landed post 9, is the 9-2 second betting choice and will carry 115 pounds.

The open turf marathon for 3-year-olds and up also attracted graded stakes winners Lattice, Transduction Gold and Birdbirdistheword, as well as Fort Harrod runner-up Save Big Money and Keeneland allowance winners Pickapocket and Biggerbadderbetter. Firerock Base, Lord Carmen and Spider Power-IRE complete the field.

Brass Hat’s résumé includes victories in the 2004 Ohio Derby (GII) and Indiana Derby (GII) at age three; the Donn Handicap (GI) and New Orleans Handicap (GII) in 2006; and $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap last September. He also finished second to Electrocutionist in the 2006 Dubai World Cup (GI) but was later disqualified because of a medication infraction.

Overall, Brass Hat boasts a record of 8-5-1 and earnings of $1,753,819 in 24 starts. He has yet to win in four races on turf, but finished third in his most recent outing over grass, the $200,000 Elkhorn Handicap at Keeneland on April 25.

“He can run on grass or dirt, it really doesn’t matter,” said trainer William “Buff” Bradley, the owner/breeder’s son. “We just feel like he likes the grass and we want to prove he can run on the grass.”

Calvin Borel, who piloted another three-time Louisville Handicap winner, Chorwon, to victories in 1997 and ’99, will take over the reins on Brass Hat, replacing Willie Martinez who rode the horse in his last 18 starts. Martinez is now based at Pennsylvania’s Presque Isle Downs.

Chrysalis Stables’ Silverfoot skipped last year’s Louisville Handicap after three consecutive wins in the race. He’s winless in four starts this year and finished fifth in the Elkhorn, a quarter-length behind Brass Hat. Four of his nine career wins have come over the Churchill Downs turf course for trainer Dallas Stewart.

Here’s the complete Louisville Handicap field from the rail out (with jockeys, assigned weight and morning line odds): Lattice (Robby Albarado, 114, 5-1); Biggerbadderbetter (Corey Lanerie, 113, 10-1); Spider Power-IRE (James Lopez, 113, 10-1); Transduction Gold (Miguel Mena, 114, 15-1); Brass Hat (Calvin Borel, 117, 7-2); Save Big Money (Shaun Bridgmohan, 113, 6-1); Pickapocket (Elvis Trujillo, 114, 8-1); Birdbirdistheword (Jesus Castanon, 113, 15-1); Silverfoot (Jamie Theriot, 115, 9-2); Lord Carmen (Larry Melancon, 114, 10-1); and Firerock Base (Julien Leparoux, 114, 10-1).

Melancon has a chance to win his fifth Louisville Handicap with his scheduled ride on Lord Carmen. The 52-year-old native of Breaux Bridge, La., shares the stakes record of four victories with Steve Brooks. He won his first Louisville Handicap 30 years ago on It’s Freezing in the 1978 renewal.

Trainer Ken McPeek, who is scheduled to saddle the duo of Biggerbadderbetter and Birdbirdistheword, has won the Louisville Handicap twice before: Pisces, who finished in a dead heat with Classic Par in 2002, and Drilling For Oil last year. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott (Pickapocket) won a division of the race in 1991 with Chenin Blanc. Trainer John Glenney (Transduction Gold) won the 2003 renewal with Kim Loves Bucky, who holds the stakes record of 2:14.09.

The Louisville Handicap will run as Race 10 at approximately 5:51 p.m. (all times Eastern) on an 11-race program that begins at 1:15 p.m. Churchill Downs admission gates will open Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

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