Louisville Handicap

MUSKETIER READY FOR TOP EFFORT IN LOUISVILLE HANDICAP – It’s scarce to find a multiple graded stakes-winning, un-gelded horse still competing at age 9, let alone in top company, but Musketier-GER, fresh off back-to-back wins in the Elkhorn (GII) at Keeneland, has been installed as the 122-pound high weight and 9-5 favorite for Saturday’s 74^th running of the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs.  

The German-bred horse has been competing on the racetrack for seven years. Heck, he’s been around so long that gas prices averaged $1.87 when he made his Aug. 3, 2004 debut at Deauville in France. One might think that such a veteran would have lost a step; however, trainer Roger Attfield believes his horse is in top form.

“I haven’t had a chance to take a long look at the field yet,” said Attfield, who will also start Simmard in the Louisville Handicap. “But I know my horse (Musketier) is healthy and well and he’s been training very nicely for this race.”

Jesus Castanon, who rode Shackleford to a Preakness (GI) victory last week, will be aboard Musketier for the first time Saturday afternoon.

“His rider from last time (John Velazquez) was unavailable and I needed to find another rider,” Attfield said. “I’ve known Dennis Cooper (Castanon’s agent) for a long time and I know Castanon is a good jockey. We’ve had success together before and so I decided to go with him again.”

Castanon, who has ridden four mounts to victory at the meet, is well aware of Musketier’s class and ability.

“I don’t know a whole lot about the horse, but I know he’s really good,” Castanon said.

Castanon’s agent is also looking forward to Saturday’s race as the Louisville Handicap has been on his radar for some time.

“There aren’t too many races (1 ½ miles on turf) for a horse like that and I thought he might run in this one,” Cooper said. “I called Roger (Attfield) a long time ago and asked about getting this mount. He’s a great horse and we’re ready to roll.”

PADDY O’PRADO’S CONNECTIONS LOOK TO REPEAT SUCCESS WITH O’PRADO AGAIN – Just days after celebrating a win in the Dixie (GII) at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard, the connections of Paddy O’Prado were forced to retire their Grade I-winning colt after x-rays revealed a sesamoid injury. Although Paddy O’Prado’s retirement is a major blow to the barn, the duo of Donegal Racing and Dale Romans has been encouraged by the progress of a pair of promising 2-year-old colts.  

One of the colts, O’Prado Again, is named in honor of Paddy O’Prado. The $350,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase descends from the same family as First Samurai, winner of the Champagne Stakes (GI) and Hopeful Stakes (GI) as a 2-year-old in 2005. Romans is excited about O’Prado Again’s abilities and thinks the colt will make his debut before meet’s end.

“He’s a really nice horse,” Romans said. “I like him a lot.”

The son of El Prado, out of the Pulpit mare Leh She Run, might have a liking for the turf much like his namesake, who recorded all five of his wins on the lawn.

“He’s one that I think will be better on the grass,” Romans said.

The other 2-year-old is Dullahan, a half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing purchased the colt at the Keeneland September sale for $250,000.

Romans, who worked Dullahan five furlongs from the gate Wednesday in 1:02.60 on a fast Churchill Downs track, is looking forward to seeing the colt run in the afternoon.

“He’s a good one,” Romans said. “He’s definitely one to watch.”

RETIRED BRASS HAT TO BE HONORED SATURDAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Fred Bradley’s homebred Brass Hat – one of the greatest rags-to-riches stars in the history of Kentucky racing – will get a fond farewell from fans and the people closest to him during a Saturday ceremony at Churchill Downs.

            Churchill Downs’ farewell to Brass Hat is scheduled after Saturday’s fifth race, which is set for a post time of 2:55 p.m. (Eastern).  Brass Hat will make the trip to the Churchill Downs paddock with the horses that will run in the fifth, and the veteran star will remain in the paddock while the race is run.  The ceremony honoring Brass Hat and his connections will be conducted in the winner’s circle following the race.

            Trainer Buff Bradley, the owner/breeder’s son, announced this week that the 10-year-old gelded son of Prized would head into retirement.  The younger Bradley described Brass Hat on Friday as a “blue collar horse” who had become a hero and favorite to many racing fans.  Bradley said Brass Hat had been training well for a campaign at 10, but he decided it was time for Brass Hat to head back to the family’s farm near Frankfort.

            “He still really has the want-to,” Bradley said.  “If he was ready to run in the Louisville Handicap tomorrow, he’d be in the starting gate.  But he’s not ready and I thought it would just take too much time to get him ready to compete this year.”

            The Bradleys could never be accused of being overly ambitious with Brass Hat, who started his career as a 3-year-old in a race for $15,000 claiming horses on Jan. 29, 2004 at Turfway Park.  He finished second that day at odds of 32-1, but two starts later scored his first career victory in a 38-1 upset in Turfway’s $100,000 Rushaway Stakes.  By the end of his first racing season Brass Hat had also collected victories in the Ohio Derby (GII) and Indiana Derby (GII).

            He rebounded successfully from two major injuries during his career to compile a record of 10-8-5 in 40 races with earnings of $2,173,561.  Other highlights included victories at five in the Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park and the New Orleans Handicap (GII) at Fair Grounds.  Brass Hat also won the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap in 2007 and the 2005 Prairie Bayou at Turfway Park.  He shifted almost exclusively to the grass late in his career and scored emotional victories for the Bradleys in Churchill Downs’ Louisville Handicap (GIII) in 2009 and a major win as a 9-year-old in last year’s Sycamore (GIII) at Keeneland. 

            His numbers would be even more glittering had Brass Hat not been disqualified from a runner-up finish in the 2007 running of the $5 million Dubai World Cup (GI) at Nad Al Sheba.  He was disqualified after that race because of a medication violation on that international journey that the younger Bradley disputes to this day. 

          “It will be an emotional day, but no more emotional than watching him any other day,” Bradley said of his veteran star’s Saturday farewell.  “It has been so special to watch and be around this horse, especially in later years when he won the Louisville Handicap here and won the Sycamore at Keeneland last year at nine.  All my barn crew is going to walk over to the paddock with him, so I’ll get to share the moment with them.”

BARN TALK – Trainer Dale Romans has confirmed that Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image will be entered in Monday’s 8^th running of the Winning Colors (GIII). The 4-year-old daughter of Broken Vow captured the Humana Distaff (GI) here in her last start as part of the Kentucky Derby (GI) undercard. …

            Romans galloped Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford on Friday at 9:30 a.m. and said he’d firm the colt’s travel plans to New York on Friday afternoon. “It looks like he’ll leave here for Belmont on Saturday or Sunday and I need to decide if he’ll go by plane or van.” …

Romans couldn’t help but chuckle when he received a text message from a friend that included a picture of a congratulatory sign outside his alma mater, Butler High School, which is located just 3 ½ miles from Churchill Downs in the south end of Louisville. The sign read: Dale Romans: Preakness Winner, Butler Grad. “For four years, all they did was to try and kick me out,” Romans said. “Now that I’ve won the Preakness with Shackleford, they’ve got open arms and they’re showing me love!” …

Robby Albarado won the ninth race Thursday aboard Attractive Ride for trainer Merrill Scherer. The win was Albarado’s 915^th at Churchill Downs and moved him past Larry Melancon (914) for fourth place in career victories under the Twin Spires behind Pat Day (2,482), Calvin Borel (1,046) and Don Brumfield (925). …

After today, two Friday twilight programs (2:45 p.m. ET) remain during the Spring Meet and both include live music after the races in conjunction with the new five-week Paddock Concert Series: Corey Chisel and the Wandering Sons on June 3 and Wax Fang on June 10. “Downs After Dark” night racing with a 6 p.m. ET first post will return in earnest for the final three Fridays of the meet on June 17, June 24 and July 1. …

Nominations close Saturday for the 35^th running of the $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course. Hot Cha Cha won the 2010 Early Times Mint Julep. … 

MEET LEADERS - Shaun Bridgmohan and Corey Lanerie entered Friday’s program tied atop the jockey standings with 15 wins apiece, and were followed by Calvin Borel (12), Julien Leparoux (12), Miguel Mena (11), Jon Court (10) and Kent Desormeaux (10). …

The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (May 19-26) are Lanerie (9-for-33), Mena (8-for-28) and Borel (7-for-33). …

There’s a three-way tie atop the trainer standings with seven wins each between Tom Amoss, Steve Asmussen and Romans. They’re followed by Eddie Kenneally (5), Steve Margolis (5), Bob Baffert (4), Jim Baker (4), Greg Foley (4), Tim Glyshaw (4), Wayne Lukas (4), Mike Maker (4), Merrill Scherer (4) and Ian Wilkes (4). … 

Lukas’ clients, Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack, top the owner standings with four winners. They collected win No. 4 in Thursday’s fourth race when Manhattan Man collected his second win of the Spring Meet. The other two-time winning-horses this season are Distorted Love, She’s an Alpha Gam, Shot of Kela and Valid Citizen. …

WORK TAB – Carl R. Moore Management LLC’s Chamberlain Bridge, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) at Churchill Downs in November, worked four furlongs over a good Churchill Downs track on Friday morning in :49.80 for trainer Bret Calhoun. …

            Right Time Racing LLC’s two Kentucky Oaks (GI) starters Bouquet Booth and Street Storm both worked four furlongs over a good track for trainer Steve Margolis in :49.20 after the renovation break. …

            Tom McCarthy’s multiple GI-winner General Quarters went to the track shortly after the renovation break. The 5-year-old gray son of Sky Mesa worked five furlongs in 1:03.20 over a good track.

WEATHER - After a tumultuous week of rain and severe weather, the National Weather Service forecast for Louisville calls for clearing and sunny skies through Memorial Day: Friday, cloudy, 67; Saturday, partly sunny, 83; Sunday, sunny, 90; and Monday, sunny, 91.

KEERTANA HOPES TO MAKE HISTORY IN LOUISVILLE HANDICAP – Trainer Tom Proctor is confident that his mare Keertana can hold her own Saturday against males in the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (Grade III) at 1 ½ miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            “There’s a pretty good mare that’s won the last few Breeders’ Cup Mile races (Goldikova),” Proctor said. “If a mare is good enough then she can beat the boys. I could have shipped her and not run against the males, but I wanted to run her where I’m based; here at Churchill Downs.”

Barbara Hunter’s Keertana, a 5-year-old mare who won Keeneland’s Bewitch (GIII) last time out and finished a fast-closing third to Shared Account in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) at Churchill Downs, will take on nine male rivals. No filly or mare has won any of the previous 73 runnings of the Louisville Handicap.

Keertana’s major opposition could come from Stella Perdomo’s Musketier, a German-bred Canadian invader trained by Roger Attfield and the Louisville Handicap’s high weight at 122 pounds. Musketier, who has won the last two renewals of Keeneland’s Elkhorn Handicap (GII) for Attfield, will be ridden by Jesus Castanon.

“The Attfield horse that’s won the last two Elkhorns is going to be really tough,” Proctor said. “There are some nice horses in this field, but he (Musketier) is definitely the horse to beat.”

Other major players include Frank Mancari’s defending winner Free Fighter, who has failed to win in eight races since his 12-1 upset in the 2010 Louisville; Michael Bruder’s Guys Reward, a recent allowance winner at Churchill Downs who finished second for trainer Dale Romans at odds of 40-1 in last year’s Commonwealth Turf (GIII) won by Yankee Fourtune; and Lothenbach Stable’s Bearpath, runner-up to Free Fighter in last year’s Louisville Handicap and second to Telling in the 2010 Sword Dancer Invitational (GI) at Saratoga.

            “It’s definitely a tough race,” Proctor said. “But she’s fit and she’s ready to ready to go.”

POTENTIAL BELMONT STARTERS TRAINING AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – A handful of horses based at Churchill Downs are under consideration for the $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI), the third and final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown.  

Mike Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge’s homebred Shackleford returned to the Churchill Downs backstretch Sunday morning, the day after his triumph in the $1 million Preakness (GI). Trainer Dale Romans will train Shackleford as if he is going to start in the Belmont. The 3-year-old son of Forestry is expected to ship to New York in the next couple of days and will have a workout over the Belmont track before a final decision is made.

Tom Walters’ Santiva, who is probable to start in the final jewel of the Triple Crown, is scheduled to work on the main track Friday morning. Bad weather could delay the work until Saturday. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Santiva finished sixth in his last race, the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).

Donald Adam’s Prime Cut worked four furlongs in :50.20 over a fast Churchill Downs main track Wednesday morning. Trainer Neil Howard lists Prime Cut as “possible” for the Belmont. “We may run, but I want to see who else is going to be in there before I make a decision,” Howard said.

The Steve Asmussen-trained Nehro, runner-up to Animal Kingdom in Kentucky Derby 137, also is under consideration.

The 143^rd running of the Belmont Stakes will take place Saturday, June 11 at Belmont Park. The Bill Mott-trained Drosselmeyer won the 2010 Belmont for WinStar Farm.

BARN TALK – Former jockey Mark Guidry has made a return to the Churchill Downs backstretch to exercise horses for trainer Dale Romans. Guidry, who retired from riding at the conclusion of the 2007 Churchill Downs Fall Meet, is 19^th all-time in career Churchill Downs victories. Guidry’s biggest win under the Twin Spires came when he rode Lemons Forever to win the Kentucky Oaks (GI) in 2006. …  

Jockey Corey Lanerie led all riders last week with eight wins. Lanerie, who has 14 wins at the meet, is second in the jockey standings behind Shaun Bridgmohan with 15 wins. …

Nominations close Saturday for the 35^th running of the $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course on Saturday, June 11. Hot Cha Cha won the 2010 Early Times Mint Julep.

THIS WEEK - The extended holiday weekend of racing at Churchill Downs will feature two graded stakes races, a post-race concert and happy hours, a handicapping contest and three days of Junior Jockey Club events for the kiddos. …

Racing through Monday’s special Memorial Day program will begin daily at 12:45 p.m. ET, with the exception of Friday’s twilight card that begins at 2:45 p.m. ET. …

This week’s featured performer for Friday night’s Paddock Concert Series is Dawn Landes and the Hounds. Brooklyn-based Landes, who was born in Kentucky and raised in Louisville, recently released her fourth album entitled Sweet Heart Rodeo. Her voice, as pure and ringing as any folk, country or indie-rock diva, has been compared to icons Stevie Nicks and Janis Joplin. The concert will begin shortly after the final race around 8 p.m. ET. General admission will be its usual $3 until 7 p.m. but will increase to $10 thereafter. Reserved ticket packages, including a $20 ticket to the Budweiser Select Balcony, which features front-row access, a prime undercover balcony overlooking the paddock and stage, extended drink specials throughout the night and a special gift from Budweiser Select, are available for purchase online at ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets. …

Friday Happy Hours presented by Budweiser Select will take place in the paddock area from 6-8:15 p.m., with $2 Budweiser products, frozen specialty drinks and hot dogs showcased. The music of Eight Inch Elvis will entertain paddock patrons between races

            Saturday’s 11-race card is highlighted by the Grade III, $100,000-added Louisville Handicap, a 1 ½-mile turf test for older horses. It will run as Race 10 at 5:29 p.m. …

            There’ll be three days of crafts and games for children aged 3-10 at Churchill Downs’ Junior Jockey Club located near the Guest Services Booth inside Gate. 10. It’ll be open Saturday through Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Churchill Downs’ mascot Churchill Charlie will be on hand for photographs between 2-2:30 p.m. …

On Sunday, the adults can have their own fun and games in the “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest. It continues each Sunday through June 12 in the Champions Club Lounge with $4,000 in prize money and a coveted first prize package of $1,500 and a spot to compete in the Horse Player World Series each week. The entry fee is $25 (or 25,000 Twin Spires Club points). …

Monday’s special Memorial Day program will feature the Grade III, $100,000-added Winning Colors. Entries for the six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares will be taken Friday.

FREE FIGHTER HEADS HOME AFTER LOUISVILLE HANDICAP VICTORY – Louisville Handicap (GIII) winner Free Fighter headed back to his home base at Arlington Park Sunday morning after his upset two-length triumph over Bearpath in the 1 ½-mile marathon.

“He’s good this morning and we are going home,” said Drew Coontz, assistant to trainer Chris Block. “I am not sure what Chris has planned for him next.”

For Coontz, who has brought other Block runners to Churchill Downs the past couple of years, it was his first time to take the winner’s trophy back home.

“This was the first time I got to travel with this horse,” Coontz said. “I was at Tampa this winter with five horses and Free Fighter was at the Fair Grounds with Richie Scherer.”

Another new component of Free Fighter’s trip to Louisville was jockey Francisco Torres who rode the 5-year-old for the first time.

“Francisco got him to settle off the pace and I thought they were a good fit yesterday,” Coontz said. “I thought the horse was very collected in the paddock and he had his mind on business and it paid off.”

Trainer Ian Wilkes also had no immediate plans for Bearpath, who came out of the race in good order. Wilkes did rule out the closing-day one-mile Firecracker (GII), the only remaining graded turf stake for older horses for the meet that ends July 4.

ACOMA TARGETS EARLY TIMES MINT JULEP FOR 2010 DEBUT – There may not be a thoroughbred racehorse who loves Churchill Downs more than Acoma.

Helen C. Alexander and Helen K. Groves’ 5-year-old regally bred daughter of Empire Maker out of the Danzig mare Aurora never has lost beneath the Twin Spires, winning twice on the dirt and three times on grass.

So, it is fitting that trainer David Carroll plans to launch Acoma’s 2010 campaign than at Churchill Downs. Based on her perfect record under the Twin Spires, it is hard to imagine a better place to get Carroll’s stable star rolling.

“We are looking forward to getting her started back,” Carroll said. “The Beverly D. is our big goal for the summer.”

The $750,000 Beverly D. (GI) at Arlington Park will be run Aug. 21, and the road there for Acoma begins in the $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) on June 5 at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Acoma won the race last year.

Acoma closed out 2009 with a win in the Cardinal Handicap (GIII), her fourth Churchill Downs stakes triumph. After that November victory, she received a long break.

“She did not go to Payson Park (in Florida) until mid January and we didn’t get her back in the barn until the first of April,” Carroll said of Acoma, who has strung together a consistent work pattern since April 12. “She is a bigger, heavier filly this year and is doing fantastic.”

Acoma has compiled a career record of 14-8-1-2 with earnings of $665,999. She has won six graded stakes; four on turf and two on dirt.

OXBOW RACING’S FLAT OUT BACK IN TRAINING – Oxbow Racing’s Flat Out, who briefly jumped onto the 2009 Kentucky Derby trail with a victory in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, is back in training after being sidelined by injury.

“He’s galloping on the farm in Paris and hopefully he will be here by the end of the meet,” trainer Scooter Dickey said. “We hope to have a fall campaign with him.”

Flat Out came to Churchill Downs last spring after a sixth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (GII) but still with designs on running in the Kentucky Derby. However, less than two weeks before the Run for the Roses, it was discovered Flat Out had a stress fracture in his shoulder.

“That has healed, but then he had a problem with quarter cracks,” Dickey said. “The foot separated from the wall this spring and they have just let the foot grow back. He looks good at the farm.”

BARN TALK – Lady Luck had not been on the side of trainer Bill Connelly the past two Spring Meets here. After Berlioz won Saturday’s fifth race for his second victory of the meet, it appears Lady Luck has changed barns. “You just can’t figure it out. It can drive you crazy sometimes,” said Connelly, who has five winners from 10 starters with an additional second and third. Last spring, Connelly had only one winner from 24 starters and in 2008 notched three winners from 40 starters. “Check the seconds in 2008,” Connelly said with a wry grin. “I think I had 13 that meet.” Sure enough, 13 seconds and six thirds to give Connelly a better than 50 percent in-the-money mark. “You’ve just got to go on.” …

Silverfoot may have not have achieved a fourth Louisville Handicap victory on Saturday in finishing eighth, but his half-sister did find the winner’s circle. Chrysalis Stables’ Silver La Belle, a 3-year-old daughter of Langfuhr, broke her maiden in her fourth start for trainer Dallas Stewart. Silverfoot, now 10 and winner of the Louisville Handicap in 2004, 2005 and 2006, is a son of With Approval.

WORK TAB – Two runners from the Kentucky Derby were on the Sunday work tab, topped by ninth-place finisher Mission Impazible who breezed a half-mile in :47.80. That move by the Todd Pletcher-trained winner of the Louisiana Derby (GII) was the fourth fastest of 59 at the distance. Backtalk, 20th in the Derby, worked the same distance for trainer Tom Amoss in :50:60, 42nd fastest of the morning over a fast track. Other works of note included the return to the tab of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf winner Tapitsfly who worked three furlongs in :38.80. Other half-mile works included Lexington (GII) winner Exhi (:49.40), fifth-place Kentucky Oaks (GI) finisher Ailalea (:49.40) and Kentucky Juvenile (GIII) winner Lou Brissie (:50). Five-furlong workers included 2009 Derby Trial winner Hull (1:01.80) and multi graded-stakes winning turf standout Chamberlain Bridge (1:02.40). At the Trackside Training Center, 2009 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Furthest Land worked five furlongs in :59.20, the fastest of 11 at the distance. Also working five-eighths at Trackside were 14th-place Kentucky Derby finisher Dean’s Kitten (1:00.40) and 12th-place Kentucky Oaks finisher Age of Humor (1:02.20). 

HORSEMEN’S GOLF SCRAMBLE RETURNS ON JUNE 8 – The second annual Horsemen’s Golf Scramble will be held Tuesday, June 8 at the Glenmary Country Club in Fern Creek, Ky., to help raise funds for the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs. The cost of the golf outing is $100 per player with four players to a team. Players will be treated to an 11 a.m. lunch. The 18-hole tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. There will be contests for the longest drive, closest to the pin, and a hole-in-one in which someone could win a 2010 Toyota Corolla from Oxmoor Toyota. Registration is due Friday and entry forms can be found at the Backside Learning Center or by visiting www.derbymusuem.org/backsidelc.

Thomas Fedro Sr. and Team Block’s Free Fighter, ridden by Francisco Torres, surged past dueling leaders Eagle Poise and Telling on the far turn and went on to win the 73rd running of the $113,800 Louisville Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs by two lengths over Bearpath.

    Telling, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, led the field of 10 through leisurely fractions of :25.72 and :51.25 with Eagle Poise and Jamie Theriot in closest pursuit and Free Fighter racing third in the clear on the outside of the leaders. Entering the backstretch, Eagle Poise moved to the inside of Telling to take command through six furlongs in 1:16.20 and the mile in 1:41.45.

    Approaching the far turn, Blushing Bear, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., attacked the leaders along the hedge while Torres swung wide with Free Fighter. Only Free Fighter continued to surge as he opened a daylight advantage in the stretch and had more than enough to hold off 2009 Louisville Handicap winner Brass Hat initially and then Bearpath.

    Trained by Chris Block, Free Fighter completed the 1 ½ miles on a “yielding” Matt Winn Turf Course in 2:31.30. The victory was worth $67,028 to the 5-year-old Illinois-bred son of Out of Place and increased his bankroll to $305,878 with a career mark of 20-7-1-3.
    
    Free Fighter, who had been winless in two previous starts over the Churchill Downs turf course, returned $27.20, $12.40 and $8 under 115 pounds. Bearpath, carrying 117 pounds and ridden by Freddie Lenclud, paid $6.80 and $4.60 with Brass Hat finishing third another 1 ¼ lengths back under Tony Farina and paying $2.80 to show under a 119-pound impost.

    It was another 2 ½ lengths back to Silver Mountain, who was followed in order by favored Telling, Blushing Bear, Eagle Poise, Silverfoot, March to Victory and Hidden Glance. Spy in the Sky was scratched.

    Racing continues Sunday with a 10-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m. (EDT). There’s a one-day Pick 6 carryover of $3,929 on races 5-10.

LOUISVILLE HANDICAP QUOTES

FRANCISCO TORRES (jockey, FREE FIGHTER, winner): “Couldn’t draw it any better. I had two horses in front of me and my horse was relaxed. He was just waiting for me to push the button. When I pushed the button he responded turning for home and he kind of opened up; it was catch me if you can and they didn’t. When you go so slow fractions you have to sprint off and wait for them at the three-eighths pole to go on and steal the race and I did. I let my horse jump on the bridle and at the three-eighths pole I caught them and bolted to the quarter pole. He opened up and in simple words ‘stole it’ and it all paid off. It’s the icing on the cake (winning a stakes race here). Not only is it a great feeling but I want the trainers here to know that I’m back.”

DAVID BLOCK (co-owner, FREE FIGHTER, winner): “He had a good start, he settled nicely and ran a great race. When he kicked home, he wasn’t letting anyone by him. He’s an Illinois-bred and we entered him last week for a race at Arlington for Illinois-breds but it was rained off the turf so we brought him here. The rest is history. He loves the mile-and-a-half distance and if he runs in anything shorter he flattens out. Churchill Downs is his favorite track. We were very fortunate to get ‘Cisco’ (jockey Francisco Torres) to ride this horse. He (Torres) is full of potential. I don’t think we will look at running against Illinois-breds anymore. He can run all day and can be hot blooded, but in the paddock we took him away from the other horses and he was cool, calm, and collected. [Trainer] Chris [Block] is in Chicago at Arlington Park today. He is saddling three today, including one in the American Derby.”

FREDDIE LENCLUD (jockey, BEARPATH, second): “I had a trip on the rail and it wasn’t the position I would have liked but the race just kind of set up like that so I just had to be patient. Around the turn, I had to let him pick it up behind Brass Hat and it made him finish down the lane.”

WILLIAM “BUFF” BRADLEY (trainer, BRASS HAT, third): “Tony [Farina] gave him a good trip and he ran a good race. He made a nice run turning for home, but just didn’t have enough late. Me and dad (Fred Bradley) will sit down with a couple of Coronas and think about his next start.”

TONY FARINA (jockey, BRASS HAT, third): “He’s just an old horse and he knows what he has to do. I had a nice hold on him and at the six-furlong pole, I said I had to get out of here and make sure I am in the right spot. He did exactly what I asked him to do. When I was turning for home, he felt like a winner. He was just a little tired the last sixteenth of a mile.”

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN (jockey, TELLING, fifth): “I had a good trip. He was on the lead nice and easy and just got a bit tired. But I had a good trip.”

STEVE HOBBY (trainer, TELLING, beaten favorite, fifth): “It was his second start of the year, and he was rank in the early going. The yielding turf didn’t help us. He got tired.”

COREY  LANERIE (jockey, SILVERFOOT, eighth): “I had a good trip. When I broke out of the gate I was in a comfortable position. I called on him at the three-eighths pole but he just didn’t have anything in him.”

DALLAS STEWART (trainer, SILVERFOOT, eighth): “He had good position; he just didn’t have it today. He settled nicely, and looked comfortable, but just didn’t have that kick. We will probably look at Shelbyville, meaning going home for him . . . retirement.”

NOTES: This was the first Churchill Downs stakes win for jockey Francisco Torres, 40, since winning three local stakes in 2000 (the Louisville Handicap, Dogwood and Aristides). It was his ninth Churchill Downs stakes win overall.  

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will host the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7, 2011 and the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 6, 2011. The track’s 2010 Spring Meet continues through Sunday, July 4. Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5 and 6, 2010. Churchill Downs tickets are available at Tickets.ChurchillDowns.com or by calling (502) 636-4400. Additional information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at ChurchillDowns.com.

- END -

Fred Bradley’s veteran Brass Hat will face 10 rivals Saturday as he attempts to become the seventh horse to score multiple victories in the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII).

The 73rd running of the 1 ½-mile test over the Matt Winn Turf Course will go as the 10th race on Saturday’s 11-race program with an approximate post time of 5:29 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post time is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Buff Bradley, the popular Brass Hat rallied to win the 2009 Louisville Handicap by a half-length over Spice Route. Calvin Borel, who was aboard that day for his third Louisville Handicap triumph, has the call on Brass Hat, who will carry top weight of 119 pounds and concede 2-6 pounds to his rivals. A fast-closing second in the Elkhorn (GII) at Keeneland on April 23 in his most recent start, the 9-year-old Brass Hat will break from post position five.

One of those rivals is Chrysalis Stables’ Silverfoot, a three-time winner of the Louisville Handicap and another popular veteran who is now 10-years-old.  Trained by Dallas Stewart, Silverfoot won this race in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Silverfoot, who will be ridden by Corey Lanerie, will carry 115 pounds and break from post position nine.

Other multiple winners of the Louisville Handicap are Chorwon (1997-99), List (1971, 1974), Cabildo (1967-68), Tartan Man (1966, 1969) and Little Fitz (1960-61).  Chorwon and Silverfoot are the only horses to win multiple runnings of the Louisville since the race was moved to the grass.

Three horses share second high weight in the field at 117 pounds headed by Lothenbach Stables’ Bearpath. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Bearpath won the Pan American (GIII) at Gulfstream Park in March and gave apprentice jockey Freddie Lenclud his first graded stakes victory. Lenclud will be back aboard Saturday on Bearpath, who will break from post position one.

Also carrying 117 pounds are Maynard Farm and B A Man Stable’s Blushing Bear and JoAnn and Alex Lieblong’s Telling.

Trained by James Dodgen, Blushing Bear finished third in the Elkhorn in his most recent start. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount Saturday. Telling, trained by Steve Hobby, won the Grade I Sword Dancer last summer at Saratoga and was fourth in his 2010 debut last month at Keeneland. Shaun Bridgmohan has the mount Saturday.
    
    The field for the Louisville Handicap, from the hedge out, is as follows: Bearpath (Lenclud, 117 pounds), Blushing Bear (Hernandez Jr., 117), Telling (Bridgmohan, 117), Free Fighter (Francisco Torres, 115), Brass Hat (Borel, 119), Eagle Poise (Jamie Theriot, 115), March to Victory (Julien Leparoux, 114), Spy in the Sky (James Lopez, 114), Silverfoot (Lanerie, 115), Silver Mountain (Miguel Mena, 113) and Hidden Glance (Alex Solis, 113).

DERBY 136 PLAYERS STATELY VICTOR, DEAN’S KITTEN WORK AT TRACKSIDE LOUISVILLE – With the experience of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) now two weeks in the rear-view mirror, the pair of “Run for the Roses” participants trained by Mike Maker – Thomas and Jack Conway’s Stately Victor and Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Dean’s Kitten – returned to serious training on Saturday at Churchill Downs’ Trackside Louisville training center.

Stately Victor, who finished eighth behind Super Saver on Derby Day, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 over the fast six-furlong oval under exercise rider Derrick Smith.  Dean’s Kitten, who checked in 14th in the 20-horse Derby field, breezed five furlongs under Marvin Jiminez, worked a half-mile in :49.40.

“They both came out of the race well and they worked excellent this morning,” Maker said.

The Derby runners will be embarking on separate paths for the remainder of their 3-year-old campaigns.  Stately Victor, the winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) over Keeneland’s synthetic Polytrack course, would return to the Triple Crown trail with a run in the $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 5.  Maker said Dean’s Kitten, a homebred son of 2004 turf champion Kitten’s Joy and winner of the Lane’s End (GII) on Turfway Park’s Polytrack surface,, would focus on grass and synthetic courses through the summer.  His near-term goal is the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (GI) on June 19at Virginia’s Colonial Downs.

Maker thought Stately Victor ran well in a ruggedly-run Derby and the son of Ghostzapper should be well-equipped to handle the Belmont’s 1 ½-mile distance.

"Stately Victor, I think, ran a decent race,” said Maker.  “He had some trouble, along with a bunch of others and that was that.”

Also working for Maker on Saturday at Trackside Louisville was the Ramseys’ Furthest Land, upset winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Oak Tree at Santa Anita last fall.  He has not raced since a last-place finish behind Gloria De Campeao in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (GI) at Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse on March 27.   Maker has no firm plans for a return to racing by Furthest Land, but is encouraged by his progress.

“It’s still up in the air,” said Maker.  “I think he recovered from Dubai a lot better than we were expecting, but we’ll just wait ‘til he’s ready and see what’s out there.”

Another Maker worker was the Ramsey’s Accredit, winner of the Churchill Downs (GII) in 2009.  The 5-year-old breezed a half-mile in :49.20.

VETERAN BRASS HAT PREPS FOR LOUISVILLE ‘CAP DEFENSE WITH CHURCHILL DOWNS WORK – With a bid for a repeat victory in the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII) just a week away, Fred Bradley’s homebred veteran Brass Hat tuned-up for the 1 ½-mile turf test with a sharp five furlong work on the dirt on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

The 9-year-old gelded son of Prized zipped the five-eighths mile distance in 1:00.40 under veteran jockey Charles Woods Jr., as regular rider and workout partner Calvin Borel was in Baltimore to ride Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver in the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course.  The move was the third-fastest of 23 at the distance over a fast racing surface.

Trainer William “Buff” Bradley, the owner-breeder’s son, is thrilled with the spark displayed by his veteran star as Brass Hat approaches his third start of the year.  He opened the season with an eighth-place run behind Bearpath in the Pan American (GIII) at Gulfstream Park and followed it with a strong runner-up finish to Musketeer in the $200,000 Elkhorn (GII) on the Keeneland turf.

That runner-up finish improved Brass Hat’s career recrd to 9-7-4 in 35 races and boosted his earnings to $2,087,110.  Those numbers include a victory on dirt in the Donn Handicap (GI) and a runner-up finish (later vacated because of a medication infraction) in the $5 million Dubai World Cup in 2006 – highlights of a career that began with a runner-up finish in a race for $15,000 claiming horses in January 2004 at Turfway Park.

A few days after his Elkhorn run, Brass Hat traveled to Frankfort, Ky., where the farm of his owner, a former Kentucky state senator, is located.  The international exploits of the veteran who was bred and raised on the elder Bradley’s farm have made him a folk hero to residents near that city and Brass Hat was honored in Kentucky’s capital city with a day named in his honor.

"It was so cool,” recalled Buff Bradley.  “I took him off the trainer and put him in a portable stall – a 10’ x 20’ stall that was open all the way around – and he never turned a hair.  He worked the crowd like a true politician.  He ate peppermints out of all the kids’ hands, and Calvin came and spoke.  We had two governors there – Brereton Jones and Julian Carroll – and (former Keeneland Association President) Ted Bassett came and spoke,”

The event that honored both Brass Hat and his owner-breeder was a fundraiser for a museum in Frankfort.

“It turned out to be a great day,” said Buff Bradley.  “He got to go home for a few days and they had a little party for him and everything.  But since then he’s come back to the track and done very well.  We’re on target to run next weekend.”

The Louisville figures to offer an enticing match-up of what could be billed as the “Senior Tour” of Kentucky racing as Brass Hat’s rivals could include Chrysalis Stable’s Silverfoot, a three-time Louisville ‘Cap winner (2004-06) who is now 10 years old.

"I’ve been watching him train and I’d be surprised if he didn’t go in there,” Bradley said.  “It looks like he’s doing very well, too.”

Whatever happens next Saturday and the rest of the year with Brass Hat is a bonus for Bradley and his father.  Their star has suffered a pair of significant injuries during his racing career, but has come back in stakes-winning form from each setback.

"I thought he was done at five,” Bradley said.  “So the last four years have been great.  We truly didn’t expect it.  It wasn’t going to break out hearts if he didn’t get to run after everything he had already done for us.  He’s been something.”

STAKES STARS DOT SATURDAY CHURCHILL DOWNS WORK TAB – Several stakes winners were among horses that turned in serious workouts in perfect spring weather on Saturday at Churchill Downs.  
    Multiple Grade I winner Court Vision, a narrow runner-up to General Quarters in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) on Kentucky Derby Day, breezed four furlongs in :51 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Trainer Eddie Kenneally sent out Custom for Carlos, a candidate for Churchill Downs’ $100,000-added Aristides on June 29, out for a four-furlong move in :49.40.  The move by Homewrecker Stable and Avalon Farm’s winner of this year’s Count Fleet (GIII) and Mr. Prospector (GIII), ranked 23rd out of 42 at the distance.

David Holloway Racing’s Dubious Miss, a candidate for the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) on June 12, breezed five furlongs in 1:03.40 for trainer Paul J. McGee.  The 6-year-old E. Dubai gelding won the Ben Ali (GIII) over the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland last time out.

Silverbulletday (GIII) winner Jody Slew, 13th for trainer Bret Calhoun behind Blind Luck in the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI), breezed four furlongs in :49.80.

WEEKLY HANDICAPPING CONTEST WILL OFFER PRIZE MONEY, TRIP TO HORSEPLAYER WORLD SERIES – This spring’s “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest at Churchill Downs will offer $4,000 in prize money each week and five prize packages to compete in the Horseplayer World Series in Las Vegas.

First prize each week will be $1,500 and a five-day, four-night trip to Las Vegas to compete in the Horseplayer World Series, which is scheduled for Feb. 16-19, 2011 at the Orleans Resort and Casino.
The popular handicapping contest will begin this Sunday and continue every Sunday through June 13.

The “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest is a game of skill that tests the player’s ability to handicap Thoroughbred racing. Each contestant will start the day with a $24 imaginary bankroll and may only wager exactly $2 to win and $2 to place on six designated races from Churchill Downs.

the contest costs $30 per entry ($25 for Twin Spires Club members) and is limited to 400 entries with a limit of three entries per person.  Registration is scheduled in the Champions Club Lounge on the second floor of the clubhouse on Sundays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

BARN TALK – Nominations close Saturday, May 15 for a pair of upcoming stakes races at Churchill Downs: the $100,000 Aristides (GIII) for 3-year-olds & up at six furlongs on Saturday, May 29, and the $100,000-added Winning Colors (GIII) at six furlongs for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up to be run on Memorial Day, May 31.  Nominations can be made online at www.churchilldowns.com or by phone (502.636.4470) or fax (502.636.4598) before midnight (EDT) on Saturday.

BOREL HAPPY WITH SUPER SAVER, PREAKNESS POST – A winner of three of last four runnings of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), jockey Calvin Borel will bid Saturday for his second consecutive victory in the $1 million Preakness, the second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, aboard WinStar Farm’s Derby winner Super Saver.

Borel is scheduled to ride in eight of Thursday’s nine races at Churchill Downs, then boards a flight to Baltimore and Pimlico Race Course, where hopes to help keep the Triple Crown hopes of owner/breeder WinStar and trainer Todd Pletcher alive.  Super Saver was installed as the 5-2 favorite for the Preakness and the son of Maria’s Mon drew post eight in a field of 12 3-year-olds.

“I’m very happy,” Borel said Thursday at Churchill Downs.  “I worked him the other morning and Todd was very pleased.  “He galloped out good, switched leads perfect right at the eighth pole.  You can’t ask for a better place.”

Last year, Borel abandoned longshot Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird to ride Kentucky Oaks (GI)-winning filly Rachel Alexandra in the 1 3/16-mile second jewel of the Triple Crown.  Stonestreet Stable and Harold McCormack’s future Horse of the Year and Borel held off the late-running Mine That Bird to take the 2009 Preakness.  His 2007 Kentucky Derby winner, James Tafel’s Street Sense, was nipped at the Preakness finish by future two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.

Four of the horses that faced Super Saver at Churchill Downs – third-place Derby finisher Paddy O’Prado, beaten favorite Lookin At Lucky, Dublin and Jackson Bend – are back for another try at Borel’s Derby winner in the Preakness, with seven horses stepping into Triple Crown competition for the first time.

“We’ve got a couple of new shooters, but I don’t think they’ve got the class this horse has,” Borel said.  “What I like about this colt is he’s peaking.  He’s lightly-raced coming into here, but I think that’s a big plus.  It might not be, but in my opinion I think it is.”

Borel and agent Jerry Hissam continue to limit media opportunities for the popular rider in the days leading up to the Preakness.  Those limits are to allow Borel to maintain focus on Saturday’s goal: to win the Preakness and take dead aim three weeks later on the Belmont Stakes (GI) with a chance to become the first 3-year-old to sweep the elusive Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.

“We’re going to go out there and try our damndest to win it,” Borel said.  “If we can get away with this one, we’ll worry about the next one.  But we’re just going to worry about this one now.”

Borel will ride at Pimlico on Friday and Saturday in a light schedule that includes the mount on favored Tidal Pool for trainer D. Wayne Lukas in Friday’s Black-Eyed Susan (GII) for 3-year-old fillies. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             HOT MARGOLIS HAS HIGH HOPES FOR COOL BULLET – One of the hottest trainers thus far at Churchill Downs hopes that playing it cool will pay off in Saturday’s featured ninth running of the $100,000 Matt Winn Stakes.

Steve Margolis started Thursday’s race with five victories – one win back of current leading trainer and two-time Eclipse Award-winner Steve Asmussen – and will look to improve that total Saturday when he saddles Robert and Lawana Low and Winmore LLC’s Cool Bullet in the seven-furlong Winn.

The gelded son of Preakness winner Red Bullet returns to competition six weeks after a 4 ½-length romp in the $50,000 Hansel at six furlongs on Polytrack at Turfway Park.  The victory was the third in seven races for Cool Bullet, who had tried the Kentucky Derby trail over the winter, but returned to one-turn distances following an eighth-place finish to Conveyance in Oaklawn’s Southwest (GIII) at 1 1/16 miles.

“We thought the Hansel would be a good race to get him back on course, as opposed to the [one-mile The Cliff’s Edge] Derby Trial (GIII) and it worked out really well,” Margolis said.  “He couldn’t be training any better.  We’ve had four really nice moves over the track.”

Calvin Borel rode Cool Bullet in the Hansel, but will be at Pimlico on Saturday to ride Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver in the Preakness.  Brian Hernandez Jr., who was aboard Cool Bullet in his first five starts, will be back in the saddle for the Matt Winn.  Cool Bullet’s five foes include Iroquois (GIII) winner Thiskyhasnolimit, winner of last fall’s Iroquois (GIII) at Churchill Downs and the beaten favorite in the $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) won by Super Saver, and the John Sadler-trained Privilaged, a good third to D’Funnybone in Gulfstream Park’s Swale (GII) at the Winn distance of seven furlongs last out.
That’s a lot of quality in a six-horse field, but Margolis likes the chances of Cool Bullet in the Winn, a race Margolis just missed winning a year ago when he saddled Richard, Elaine and Bert Klein’s Cash Refund to a runner-up finish behind Capt. Candyman Can.

“He’s a nice little gelding,” Margolis said of Cool Bullet.  “He trains very good, he’s a very handy little horse and does everything right.”

Cash Refund, last year’s Winn runner-up, continues to train toward a run in the $100,000-added Aristides (GIII) at six furlongs.

Margolis is also looking at plans for the Kleins’ 3-year-old Stay Put, an allowance winner on Kentucky Derby Day that is being considered for a run in the Belmont Stakes (GI), the third jewel of the Triple Crown on June 5.  He said the Broken Vow colt is nominated to the $125,000 Northern Dancer (GIII) on June 12 at Churchill Downs, but a bid by the Kleins for the 1 ½-mile Belmont is very possible.

The horse is improving,” Margolis said.  “You only get so many chances to run in the Belmont.  We’re just going to wait and see what happens out of the Preakness.  We’ve got the Northern Dancer in our backyard, too, so we don’t really have to make any decisions now.”

VETERANS TOP LOUISVILLE HANDICAP NOMINATIONS - Former victors Brass Hat and Silverfoot top the 33 nominees for the 73rd edition of the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII) to be run Saturday, May 22 at 1 ½ miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Fred F. Bradley’s Brass Hat will be looking for his first victory since taking the 2009 Louisville Handicap for trainer William “Buff” Bradley. Brass Hat recorded a second place finish in his last start, the Elkhorn Stakes (GII) at Keeneland on April 23.

Chrysalis Stables LLC’s Silverfoot, at age 10, looks to regain his winning form as a previous winner of this race in 2005 and ‘06. One of two three-time winners of the Louisville, the salty veteran is just $52,000 shy of hitting the $1 million mark with $948,365 in earnings for trainer Dallas Stewart.

Other notable nominees include Lothenbach Stables Inc.’s Bearpath, who two starts back took the Pan American (GIII) at Gulfstream Park, and Johanna L. Glen-Teven’s Musketier (GER), the winner of the Elkhorn Stakes.

PREAKNESS STAKES FESTIVITIES AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Advanced wagering on the Preakness Stakes will be offered all day Friday at Churchill Downs, plus the Black-Eyed Susan/Preakness Double – similar to the Oaks/Derby Double – will connect Friday’s Grade II, $175,000 Black Eyed Susan and Saturday’s $1 million Preakness.

The pageantry of the Preakness Stakes will be featured prominently at Churchill Downs on Saturday with the simulcast of the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown from Pimlico.

The first 5,000 fans attending Churchill Downs will receive a free Super Saver/Calvin Borel commemorative button in the paddock area while supplies last. Also, Black-Eyed Susan specialty drinks will be on tap at Churchill Downs at select locations, plus Dixieland and Big Band music will be performed in the paddock area and Millionaires Row 4 and 6.

Additionally, the Crab Derby returns as select customers will be in crab costumes competing in races throughout the day, with the final being held on the Matt Winn Turf Course immediately after Race 7.
Post time for the Preakness Stakes simulcast is 6:15 p.m. ET, which immediately follows the 11th and final live race at 5:58 p.m. ET.

SATURDAY’S SEVENTH RACE TO HONOR OLMSTEAD – For the second consecutive year, Churchill Downs will run the Chuck Olmstead Memorial on Preakness Stakes Day to honor the memory of the popular Louisville telvision newsman who passed away in March 2009 after an aneurysm ruptured in his brain.

The second annual Chuck Olmstead Memorial will be run as Race 7 on Saturday at approximately 3:57 p.m. ET.

Olmstead, who was a 34-year veteran at WHAS-11, was a longtime fan of Thoroughbred racing. Both he and his signature hat were broadcast fixtures in the Churchill Downs paddock on Kentucky Derby.
With tremendous encouragement from the community, Chuck’s widow, Candy Olmstead, has established a special fund in her husband’s memory through Norton Healthcare Foundation to support screenings and education provided by Norton Neuroscience Institute. These screenings will help detect aneurysms before they rupture, increase awareness of symptoms of ruptured brain aneurysms and, perhaps, save lives in the process.

More information can be found and pledges can be made online at ChuckOlmsteadFund.com.

TURN 3 TO PERFORM DURING FRIDAY HAPPY HOURS – This week’s “Dress to Impress” Friday Happy Hours from 4-7 p.m. in Churchill Downs’ paddock area will showcase live music by Turn 3, $2 Budweiser Select, $2 mojitos and $2 hot dogs. Also, one male and one female deemed “most stylish” will a $100 wagering voucher and $250 gift certificate to a local Louisville area boutique, respectively.

ASHER WILL BE SPECIAL ‘GET IN THE GAME WITH JILL BYRNE’ GUEST – Churchill Downs vice president of racing communications John Asher will be Saturday’s “Get in the Game with Jill Byrne” special guest. Byrne and Asher will provide insight and analysis of the Preakness Stakes plus select races at Pimlico Race Course and Churchill Downs. The half-hour program will begin at 11:45 a.m. in the paddock area and will be televised on television monitors throughout Churchill Downs.

WEEKLY HANDICAPPING CONTEST WILL OFFER PRIZE MONEY, TRIP TO HORSEPLAYER WORLD SERIES – This spring’s “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest at Churchill Downs will offer $4,000 in prize money each week and five prize packages to compete in the Horseplayer World Series in Las Vegas.

First prize each week will be $1,500 and a five-day, four-night trip to Las Vegas to compete in the Horseplayer World Series, which is scheduled for Feb. 16-19, 2011 at the Orleans Resort and Casino.
The popular handicapping contest will begin this Sunday and continue every Sunday through June 13.

The “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest is a game of skill that tests the player’s ability to handicap Thoroughbred racing. Each contestant will start the day with a $24 imaginary bankroll and may only wager exactly $2 to win and $2 to place on six designated races from Churchill Downs.

The contest costs $30 per entry ($25 for Twin Spires Club members) and is limited to 400 entries with a limit of three entries per person. Registration will be open Sundays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the Champions Club Lounge on the second floor of the clubhouse. 

BARN TALK – Churchill Downs based jockeys Robby Albarado (four mounts), Calvin Borel (three mounts including Super Saver in the Preakness), Garrett Gomez (eight mounts, including Dublin in the Preakness) and Julien Leparoux (eight mounts, including Pleasant Prince in the Preakness) will be riding at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday.

WORK TAB (Main: FAST … Turf: FIRM, dogs up) – Louisville Stakes (GII) winner Atta Boy Roy zipped four furlongs under jockey Calvin Borel in :47.20, the fastest work of 26 at the distance … Three-time Louisville Handicap (GIII) winner Silverfoot breezed five furlongs on turf in 1:03.20 … Lost Aptitude breezed four furlongs on turf in :49.40 for trainer Dale Romans … You Go West Girl breezed three furlongs on turf in :37.60 for trainer Tom Proctor.

OWNERS TURN DOWN OFFER FOR MINE THAT BIRD – Trainer Chip Woolley said Friday morning that an offer to purchase Mine That Bird, winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), has been turned down by owners Mark Allen of Double Eagle Ranch and Dr. Leonard Blach of Buena Suerte Equine.

    “After considerable thought, Mark and Doc made the decision not to sell,” Woolley said. “I’m happy. I spent 25 years looking for this horse and I sure didn’t want to lose him.”

    Woolley did not identify the potential buyer nor disclose the size of the offer.

Woolley said he received a call Tuesday night saying Mine That Bird would be vetted on Wednesday, which he was. After Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby on May 2, the owners received several inquiries about the gelding but no offers had been made. Wednesday’s exam marked the first time Mine That Bird had been vetted.

    With regular morning partner Charlie Figueroa up, Mine That Bird back-tracked once around accompanied by a pony Friday. Woolley plans to have Mine That Bird walk Saturday and jog again Sunday before resuming regular training on Monday to begin preparation for the West Virginia Derby (Grade II) on Aug. 1.

    With Mine That Bird staying put, Woolley said he probably would keep the Derby winner at Churchill Downs another four weeks.

    “I’d like to get him up there (at Mountaineer in Chester, W.Va.) early enough to have two breezes over the track,” Woolley said. “We may leave around (July) 16th or 17th to give him time to gallop once there before he works.”

LANERIE ENJOYING SOLID SPRING MEET – If jockey Corey Lanerie did not envision having a solid spring in Kentucky, he might have gotten an inkling of what could happen on April 4, the second day of the Keeneland meet.

    “I was just sitting in the room an hour before the race (the Grade I Ashland) and fell into the garden spot,” said Lanerie, who picked up the mount on Hooh Why when Rene Douglas became ill and could not ride.

    Hooh Why upset Stardom Bound in the Ashland and Lanerie was off an running to a top-10 finish in the Keeneland rider standings with an average win mutuel of $44.40.

    Lanerie entered Friday night’s card with 25 victories during the current Churchill Downs meet, good for six in the rider standings.

    “Things are going great, I’m working hard and my agent (Terry Miller) is doing a good job,” said Lanerie, a 34-year-old native of Lafayette, La. “And, it helps to be lucky. I have ridden a lot of longshots.”

    Lanerie’s best meet here was Spring 2007 when he rode 28 winners on the heels of 27-win campaigns in the spring in 2005 and 2006.

    “I am on track to surpass my goal of 30,” Lanerie said. “Things are falling into place. I am getting on better horses and riding a lot more horses.”

    Lanerie’s best day was May 16 when he rode three winners and his top Churchill Downs victory came on Acoma in the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (Grade III) on June 6. His average win payoff of $16.10 is surpassed by only Jon Court ($22.10) and Jesus Castanon ($17.90) among the top 10 riders in victories.
    After the Churchill Downs meet closes on July 5, Lanerie plans to spend the summer riding at Ellis Park.

VETERAN BRASS HAT SHARP IN FRIDAY DRILL – Fred Bradley’s millionaire Brass Hat  turned in a strong five-furlong work Friday morning over a fast Churchill Downs main track under Calvin Borel as he prepared for his next start.

“He went in 59 and 3 and out (six furlongs) in 1:12 and 4,” trainer William “Buff” Bradley said of the move that was the second fastest of 22 at the distance. “Calvin said he was hitting the ground good.”

The work was the second for Brass Hat since he won the Louisville Handicap (Grade III) on May 23. Brass Hat had worked five furlongs last Saturday in 1:00.40.

After the Louisville Handicap victory, Bradley sent Brass Hat to the family farm in Frankfort for a week off.
“He came back real good after the break,” Bradley said. “Usually after he runs, he goes right to the farm so we can let him be a horse for a while.”

The $750,000 United Nations Handicap (Grade I) at Monmouth Park at 1 3/8 miles on the turf on July 4 is one target Bradley is looking at for Brass Hat, who now has earned $1,892,360.

“We are leaning that way or the race a week later at Chicago,” Bradley said, referring to the $200,000 Arlington Handicap (Grade III) at 1 ¼ miles on the turf. “We have to make a decision soon on which way to go.”

MILESTONE WATCH – Badger Barry’s victory in Thursday’s seventh race gave trainer Greg Foley his 298th career winner at Churchill Downs. Foley has no horses entered Friday, but two on Saturday: Oh Charlie Boy in the fifth and Cajun Prize in the 10th and two on Sunday: Q Mac’s Phone in the sixth and Hickory Dee in the 10th. The victory was Foley’s 13th of the meet, marking his best spring since winning 14 races in 2007. His best spring came in 2006 with 18 winners.

    Bill Connelly, who has saddled 998 winners in his career, has Sweetasnails entered in Friday night’s 11th race.

BARN TALK – The victory by Tally Up in Thursday’s fifth race gave owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey their 16th win of the Spring Meet. Runaway leaders in their quest for a record-extending 15th meet title, the Ramseys sent out 20 winners last spring, one fewer than their top total achieved in 2006. The spring record is 27, established in 1984 by A.J. Foyt Jr. during a 93-day meet.

    Even though Calvin Borel trails Julien Leparoux by four victories (52-48) in the chase for leading rider, Borel is far in front in purse money won with $3,369,275. Leparoux is next in money won with $2,212,980. With 11 days of racing remaining in the 45-day Spring Meet, Borel should to surpass his total of $3,376,606 in earnings amassed in 2007 and could top Rafael Bejarano’s record total of $3,460,332 established in 2006. Borel will be out of town on Saturday to ride in three stakes at Arlington Park on the track’s Prairie State Festival card.

WORK TAB – Be Fair, fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Oaks behind Rachel Alexandra, worked a bullet half-mile in :46.80, best of 41 at the distance, for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Sam P., ninth behind Street Sense in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40, fifth best of 22 at the distance, for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Fred Bradley’s homebred Brass Hat did not stick around Churchill Downs very long Saturday after his victory in the Louisville Handicap.
    “After he cooled out, we took him back to the farm (in Frankfort),” trainer William “Buff” Bradley said. “I took him out to his paddock at 6:30 this morning. He is doing great and we will keep him here the next five to seven days.”
    It was a day of firsts for Brass Hat and for Bradley, who trains the 8-year-old gelding for his father. It was the first grass victory in eight starts for Brass Hat and first win in 609 days, dating back to the Sept. 22, 2007 Massachusetts Handicap. For Buff Bradley, it was also his first stakes victory at Churchill Downs.
    “I believe it was my first stakes win there,” said Bradley, who saddled his first winner in 1993 at Churchill Downs. “It was pretty exciting with the home crowd cheering him on. It was a big boost to the whole barn and for my dad having the patience with him. There are not many 8 year-olds out there running.”
    After the victory, Bradley mentioned the $750,000 United Nations Handicap (Grade I) at 1 3/8th miles on July 4 at Monmouth Park as the next possible target for Brass Hat.
    “That would work out pretty good time-wise,” Bradley said. “The (Stephen) Foster in three weeks is too quick, plus you know that Einstein would be in there. We are not trying to run him (Brass Hat) in the ground.”

WOOLLEY EAGER TO TAKE NEXT STEP WITH MINE THAT BIRD – The countdown to the Belmont Stakes (Grade I) is on for trainer Chip Woolley and his Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Mine That Bird.
“I am definitely looking forward to it,” Woolley said of the June 6 Belmont Stakes. “He is starting to bloom already again. He is going to stretch his legs in the morning, working an easy three-eighths.”
Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby, could be aboard for the work.  Mine That Bird is scheduled to work after the mid-morning break for track maintenance.
 After his Kentucky Derby victory, Mine That Bird ran second to Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness in an effort that validated his Derby score to many.
Woolley already was convinced the Derby victory was no mirage.
“It was not a fluke in my mind,” said Woolley, sporting a huge new belt buckle acknowledging the Derby victory. “He got past 18 super horses in a quarter of a mile. That validated him to me. That was not impossible, but right next to it.
“The only other trainer I heard say it was not a fluke was Bob Baffert. He said flukes don’t win the Derby.”
Woolley is comfortable with Mine That Bird’s conditioning heading into the Belmont and not feeling any pressure.
“(Owners) Mark (Allen) and Doc (Leonard Blach) told me that at this point it is just a race at a time,” Woolley said. “Everything is gravy from here on out and just enjoy it.”

PREAKNESS, OAKS WINNER RACHEL ALEXANDRA SET FOR MONDAY WORK – Stonestreet Stable and Harold McCormick’s Rachel Alexandra, winner of the Preakness (GI) and Kentucky Oaks (GI) in her last two starts, is scheduled to work for the first time since her May 16 Preakness victory on Monday at Churchill Downs.
    The 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro is scheduled to head to the track with the second set of horses for trainer Steve Asmussen around 6:15 a.m.
     Rachel Alexandra galloped early Sunday morning under exercise rider Dominic Terry.  
    The filly’s status for the June 6 Belmont Stakes has not been decided.  She has won six consecutive races.  All of those wins came in stakes events in a string that started with last fall’s Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs.

EINSTEIN RETURNS TO WORK TAB WITH DRILL FOR FOSTER – Midnight Cry Stable’s Einstein (BRZ) worked a half-mile in :49.40 with jockey Julien Leparoux up before the renovation break over a fast track on Sunday morning. It was Einstein’s first work since winning the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Grade I) on May 2.
    “He was ready to do something,” trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi said. “This was perfect this morning. He’ll work again next Sunday.”
    The work, the first of three in preparation for the June 13 Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I),  was the highlight of the weekend for Pitts-Blasi, who celebrated a birthday Saturday and nearly got a victory in the final race when Fundy ran second in a maiden special weight race.
    So, Helen, which was the most exciting aspect of the weekend: celebrating her birthday or watching Einstein work?
    “Watching him work,” Pitts-Blasi said without hesitation.
    In the Foster, Einstein will be trying to achieve a unique feat of sweeping three consecutive Grade I events on different surfaces. He won the Santa Anita Handicap on March 7 over a synthetic surface and took the Derby Day race on turf. The Stephen Foster is run on the main track.
    That first-ever sweep of consecutive races on the different surfaces would also make Einstein only the second horse to collect Grade I victories on traditional dirt, turf and a synthetic surface.  Lava Man is the only horse to achieve that feat.
    Einstein finished second to two-time “Horse of the Year” Curlin in last year’s Foster and returned in November to win the $500,000 Clark Handicap (GII) on dirt.
    
APPRENTICE LENCLUD MAKES U.S. DEBUT – Freddy Lenclud officially joined the Churchill Downs riding colony on Saturday when he made his United States debut aboard Causation in the seventh race. Causation, at 76-1 odds, finished sixth in the eight-horse field.
    “It was fun,” said Lenclud, a 22-year-old native of France. “He ran OK. The trainer (Phil Thomas) said to sit back and finish down the lane.”
    Lenclud, who won a couple of apprentice races last year in England, is working as an exercise rider for trainer Ian Wilkes.
    “I came over here on holiday last year to visit a friend of mine, Florent Geroux, at Arlington Park,” Lenclud said. “I spent three months there and worked horses for Bill Mott. I really liked it and got to know some trainers. I came back in December and started working for Ian at Gulfstream.”
    Lenclud would like to stick around Kentucky and ride later this year at Ellis Park and Turfway Park.

MILESTONE WATCH – Veteran Churchill Downs conditioners Lynn Whiting and David Vance moved to within one victory of joining the 300-win club beneath the Twins Spires on Saturday. Whiting won the opener with Keepinonestepahead for his 299th win and Vance equaled that two races later with Citizen John.
Vance sends out Silver Light in today’s second race in his bid for No. 300. On Monday, Vance will send out Pinpoint in the fourth and Silver Bayer in the seventh. Whiting has no starters today. Nine trainers have 300 victories or more at Churchill Downs.
Whiting’s most notable victory under the Twin Spires came with W.C. Partee’s Lil E. Tee in the 1992 Kentucky Derby.  Vance’s most notable win was an upset by Carl Pollard’s Caressing in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI).
Robby Albarado’s victory in Saturday’s fifth race aboard Tizsilk gave him 3,997 for his career. Albarado has six mounts today in his bid to become the 56th North American rider to reach 4,000 wins.
Ken McPeek, who has 999 career victories, goes for No. 1,000 in today’s seventh race with Cobbler’s Reef.

BARN TALK – Calvin Borel’s five-win day Saturday moved him past Larry Melancon and into third place all-time at Churchill Downs with 909 victories. Melancon has 907 wins. Next in Borel’s sights is Don Brumfield, who rose 925 winners at Churchill Downs. Pat Day is the all-time Churchill Downs leader with 2,482 victories.
Dolphus Morrison’s Abbott Hall, winner of the Happy Ticket last September at Louisiana Downs, was injured during her third-place finish in a turf allowance race at Churchill Downs last Friday. “She is at a clinic in Lexington and the vet over there said it is chunk, not a chip in her right front knee,” trainer Hal Wiggins said. “They might have to put a screw in it just to keep her comfortable.”
    Nominations close Saturday for the five stakes that make up the June 13 Reunion Day card, highlighted by the $600,000-added Stephen Foster (Grade I) at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Other stakes that day are the $200,000-added Fleur De Lis (Grade II) for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 1/8 miles on the main track, the $150,000-added Jefferson Cup (Grade II) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, the $100,000-added Northern Dancer (Grade III) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16th miles on the main track and the $150,000-added Regret (Grade III) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
 
WORK TAB – Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) runner-up Stone Legacy worked a half-mile in :49.20 over a fast track Sunday morning for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The move was the 13th fastest of 62 at the distance. Owned by the Marylou Whitney Stable, Stone Legacy had finished sixth in the Black-Eyed Susan (Grade II) at Pimlico on May 15. … James Spence’s Flying Pegasus continued on the comeback trail with a half-mile work in :49.40 for trainer Ralph Nicks. The work was the second for Flying Pegasus since he was sidelined by a lung infection after finishing sixth in the Louisiana Derby (Grade II).

GENERAL ELECTRIC PARTNERS WITH CHURCHILL FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND GIVEAWAY – Churchill Downs has partnered with General Electric to giveaway GE stainless steel products in an on-track sweepstakes offer that continues through Monday’s finale of the three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend.
  A prize drawing is being conducted daily afterr the seventh race and that daily winner will take home his or her choice of a new refrigerator, range, dishwasher or microwave oven, courtesy of GE. Registration for the drawings is being conducted in a tent in the paddock area.  The first 5,000 entrants each day will receive a free GE koozie.
Sunday, May 24 is “GE Day at the Races” at Churchill Downs. Employees of General Electric who show their employee ID badge at Gate 10 will receive complimentary admission for themselves and their guests, as well as reserved seating in either Sections 115-116 or Millionaires’ Row 6.

JUNIOR JOCKEY CLUB ACTIVITIES FOR MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY – Churchill Downs’ Junior Jockey Club for children 3-10 continue through Monday’s final racing session of the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Special activities between 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. include decorating “Triple Crowns” on Sunday, and outdoor games on Monday.
The Junior Jockey Club is located near the Guest Services Booth inside Gate. 10. Coloring books, crayons, individual games and reading material are available as well, and Churchill Downs’ mascot Churchill Charlie will be on hand each day for photographs between 2-2:30 p.m.

NO LIVE RACING THIS  TUESDAY-THURSDAY, FREE ADMISSION TO THURSDAY SIMULCASTS – Following Monday’s special Memorial Day racing program, Churchill Downs will be dark on Tuesday, May 26; Wednesday, May 27; and Thursday, May 28. There will be no on-site simulcast wagering May 26-27. Churchill Downs will be open for simulcast wagering May 28 and will offer free general admission for patrons to place wagers on outlets around the country in the ITW area on the second floor of the clubhouse.

Fred Bradley’s veteran Brass Hat collared favored Spice Route (GB) in deep stretch and edged clear to win Saturday’s 72nd running of the $111,800 Louisville Handicap (Grade III)  by a half-length at Churchill Downs.
    In giving jockey two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel his fifth victory of the afternoon and third in the Louisville Handicap, the 8-year-old Brass Hat snapped a 10-race losing streak and covered the 1 ½ miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 2:28.44. William “Buff” Bradley, the owner’s son, trains Brass Hat, who posted his first victory in eight starts on grass and notched his first win since taking the Massachusetts Handicap on Sept. 22, 2007, at Suffolk Downs.
    Thabazimbi, ridden by Julien Leparoux, bounded to an uncontested lead and took the field through early fractions of :24.76, :48.95, 1:13.72 and 1:38.96. Brass Hat was content to race back in fifth place and did not begin to pick up the pace until he approached the far turn.
Thabazimbi disposed of a challenge from Transduction Gold at the head of the stretch, but was soon tackled by Spice Route and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. Borel and Brass Hat followed Spice Route and joined the leaders with an eighth of a mile to run. Thabazimbi was the first to fold at the sixteenth pole leaving the battle between Brass Hat and Spice Route, with the former prevailing in the final yards.
Sent off as the third choice in the field of nine, Brass Hat returned mutuels of $14, $4.80 and $3. Spice Route returned $2.60 and $2.10.  Thabazimbi finished another 2 ¼ lengths back in third and paid $2.40 to show. Completing the field in order were My Happiness (ARG), Silver Mountain, Gangbuster, Always First (GB), Transduction Gold and Why Tonto.
The victory, the ninth in 30 career starts for the homebred son of Prized out of the Dixie Brass mare Brassy, was worth $66,546 and raised Brass Hat’s career earnings to $1,892,360.
Borel equaled his second-best day in victories at Churchill Downs with his five wins. He won six races on July 5, 2007 and had a five-win day on Oct. 30, 1997. Borel’s other winners Saturday were Keepinonestepahead ($9.40) in the first, Dobra ($6.20) in the second, Lord and T. ($4.40) in the seventh and War Eagle Lady ($3.20) in the ninth. For the day from 10 mounts, Borel added two seconds and a third-place finish to his five victories.
    Racing resumes Sunday with a 10-race card beginning at 12:45 p.m. EDT.

LOUISVILLE HANDICAP POST-RACE QUOTES

CALVIN BOREL, jockey of BRASS HAT (winner)
“When [Always First] ran up to us on the final turn, I thought that we better go get ‘em. And he just ran them down. Class. He’s got so much class. You know, he ran a good race last time at Keeneland. He only got beat 2 ¼ lengths and he got a little tired. He needed that race. The ‘Old Man’ is now almost a hundred thousand from $2 million in career earnings! He’s all class.”
Q: How about the five-win day?
“It’s all in the hands.”

‘BUFF’ BRADLEY, trainer of BRASS HAT (winner)
“Walking through the grandstand, a lot of fans were excited to see the old horse back and doing well.”
Q: You had to be pleased with the pace scenario. . .
“All the way around. Fred and I were talking and we really though Calvin had him placed well. The only concern we had was when it was time to start going and he wasn’t really picking them up as fast as we thought he would. But he kept grinding it out and really showed his class and his heart to win. He’s just got so much desire to keep doing it right now; he’s just really into it.”
Q: What’s next?
“Right now, we’ve got to drink some Coronas and think about it. [The Grade I, $750,000 United Nations at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Monmouth Park on July 4] is a thought . . . The timing would be pretty good on that one. Of course, we’d love to stay at Churchill, our home track, but the [Grade I, $600,000 Stephen] Foster [on June 13] is in three weeks and it’d be awfully tough; we’d have to run against Einstein.”
Q: On owner Fred Bradley, Buff’s father:
“He’s given me all the time with him and that’s the reason he’s 8 years old and still running.”

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN, rider of SPICE ROUTE (runner-up)
“I had a great trip.  I got to the inside and tried to save as much ground as I could from the position that I had.  I thought he tried hard.  He gave me what he had.”
Q: Did you feel the old boy Brass Hat coming at you on the outside?
“I could hear him breathing down my neck from a ways away.  I was just hoping that I could spurt away from him.  My horse tried hard and hung in there.”

JULIEN LEPAROUX, jockey on THABAZIMBI (third)
 “He’s got a big stride.  I didn’t really want to take a big hold on him.  Again, he has a big stride and he was comfortable, but he just wanted to do a little bit too much in the first part, and he got a little tired. A mile and a half might to a little too far, but I think they want to try him again. He ran big.  It was his first time against stakes horses, so it was good.”