Macho Again

Thomas McCarthy’s General Quarters will be aiming for a slice of horse racing history, but rising stars Battle Plan and Blame will likely occupy the roles of favorites Saturday when 11 horses enter the starting gate for  the 29th running of the $600,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I) at Churchill Downs.

The Stephen Foster, run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, serves as the centerpiece of the 11-race Kentucky Derby Alumni Day program that also four others graded stakes. The day’s other major attraction is the $200,000-added Fleur De Lis (GII) for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up, which has attracted reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra as the favorite in a field of five.  First post time is 12:45 p.m. (all times EDT) with the Stephen Foster going as the day’s 10th race with a post time of 5:29 p.m.

Three previous Stephen Foster winners have gone on to win Horse of the Year honors in the year of their victory with the most recent being Curlin in 2008. Others were Saint Liam (2005) and Black Tie Affair (1991).

General Quarters, the 4-1 third choice in Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds for the Stephen Foster, will be attempting to join Lava Man as the only horse to win Grade I races on dirt, grass and a synthetic surface. General Quarters, who won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) in his most recent start, won the Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in 2009 over Keeneland’s Polytrack surface.

General Quarters returns to the dirt Saturday, a surface he raced on during the Fair Grounds meet as he returned from seven months away from the races after having a small chip removed from his right front knee. The 4-year-old gray colt had four runner-up finishes in four starts in New Orleans with the last coming in the New Orleans Handicap (GII) on March 27 to Overbrook Farm’s Battle Plan, the 5-2 morning line favorite in the Stephen Foster.

Alex Solis will have the mount on General Quarters, who will share the starting high weight of 120 pounds with Arson Squad and Blame. General Quarters will break from post position six.

The 5-year-old Battle Plan, a regally bred son of Empire Maker out of champion Flanders, is unraced since winning the New Orleans Handicap.  The Todd Pletcher trainee picks up two pounds from his Fair Grounds triumph and will carry 119 pounds in the Stephen Foster. Javier Castellano will ride Battle Plan, who has won his past four starts. Battle Plan will break from post position two.

Blame, owned by Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm, enters the Stephen Foster on a three-race win streak and is the 3-1 second choice in Battaglia’s morning line.. Trained by Al Stall Jr., the 4-year-old Blame opened his 2010 campaign with a victory in the W.D. Schaefer Stakes (GIII) at Pimlico after closing 2009 with scores in the Clark Handicap (GII) at Churchill Downs and the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland.

Garrett Gomez, who was aboard Blame for the first time in the victory at Pimlico, has the riding assignment Saturday. Blame will break from post position 11.

Jay Em Ess Stable’s Arson Squad is the veteran of the group at age seven. One of three millionaires in the race – General Quarters and Macho Again are the others – Arson Squad has won his past two starts in the Alysheba (GIII) here on April 30 and the Skip Away (GIII) at Gulfstream Park on April 3.

A five-time graded stakes winner, Arson Squad is trained by Rick Dutrow and will be ridden by Paco Lopez. Arson Squad will break from post position five.

One other Stephen Foster starter comes into Saturday’s race off a graded stakes victory: Duke of Mischief, owned by Alex and Joann Lieblong, Marilyn McMaster and trainer David Fawkes. Duke of Mischief, who will carry 116 pounds and be ridden by Eibar Coa, won the Oaklawn Handicap (GII) on April 3 in his most recent start. Duke of Mischief will break from post position four.

Back to defend his title in the Stephen Foster is West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, trained by Dallas Stewart. The 5-year-old gray will attempt to join Vodika Collins (1982-83) and Recoup The Cash (1994-95) as the only repeat winners of the race.  Macho Again, a well-beaten seventh to Arson Squad in the Alysheba in his only start of the year, is an 8-1 morning line risk as he defends his Foster title.

Macho Again will carry 116 pounds, break from post position nine and be ridden by Robby Albarado. Albarado, who has won the last three runnings of the Stephen Foster with Flashy Bull (2007), Curlin (’08) and Macho Again is attempting to become the first rider in Churchill Downs history to win the same Grade I race in four consecutive years. Pat Day won the Humana Distaff five consecutive years, but that was before the race attained Grade I status.

The field for the Stephen Foster (with jockey, weight and morning line odds), from the rail out, is as follows: A.U. Miner (Francisco Torres, 113 pounds, 30-1), Battle Plan (Castellano, 119, 5-2), Giant Oak (Shaun Bridgmohan, 115, 20-1), Duke of Mischief (Coa, 116, 6-1), Arson Squad (Lopez, 120, 8-1), General Quarters (Solis, 120, 4-1), Honest Man (Jose Lezcano, 115, 15-1), No Advantage (Calvin Borel, 117, 30-1), Macho Again (Albarado, 116, 8-1), Demarcation (Miguel Mena, 115, 30-1) and Blame (Gomez, 120, 3-1).

BREEDERS’ CUP WINNER TAPITSFLY BACK IN ROMANS BARN – Trainer Dale Romans’ attention has been focused in recent days on his pair of contenders for Saturday’s Preakness (Grade I) – Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’Prado, the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and Donald Dizney’s First Dude.  But there is another reason for Romans to smile as he now can look down his shedrow and see the gray head of Tapitsfly poking out of her stall door.

Frank L. Jones Jr.’s homebred daughter of Tapit was last seen on the track in an impressive victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf at Santa Anita, where she rallied from just off the pace to score a half-length victory under jockey Robby Albarado.

The promise of good things loomed for Tapitsfly after that race, which marked her third win in seven lifetime starts that also included a maiden win on traditional dirt at Saratoga and good efforts on dirt during the spring over her home track at Churchill Downs.  But she was forced to the sidelines by injury early in her 3-year-old season and returned to Romans barn at the Louisville track a few days ago.

"We had a chip taken out of her ankle,” Romans said.  “She’s back and looks better than ever, and we’ll start breezing her when we get back from Maryland.”

While she has run well on dirt, Tapitsfly is unbeaten in two races on the grass.  While offspring of the versatile stallion Tapit seem to run well on just about any surface, she is out of Jones’ mare Flying Marlin, a turf specialist who won on grass courses at Churchill Downs and Keeneland during her 18-race career.  Tapit’s other grass win came in the P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga.

Once Tapitsfly begins to breeze, Romans is hoping for quick progress and a chance for Churchill Downs fans to see her compete.

“We’ll try to make one race by the end of the meet,” he said.

Tapitsfly’s career record stands at 3-2-1 in seven races with earnings of $668,142.

LIKELY CONTENDERS FOR STEPHEN FOSTER ‘CAP WORK – A pair of likely contenders for Churchill Downs $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I) on June 12 were in action during training hours Friday morning at Churchill Downs as reigning champion Macho Again and Alysheba (GIII) winner Arson Squad appeared on the fast racing surface for morning works.

Both horses competed in the Alysheba on Kentucky Oaks Day.  Jay Em Ess Stables’ Arson Squad scored an impressive 2 ½-length victory for trainer Rick Dutrow while the Dallas Stewart-trained Macho Again struggled to finish seventh of in that 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up..

Arson Squad, who ran fourth to Macho Again in last year’s Foster, breezed five furlongs in :50 on Friday.  The move by the 7-year-old Brahms gelding ranked as the 16th fastest of 34 at the distance.  The Dutrow trainee won the Skip Away (GIII) at Gulfstream Park prior to the Alysheba and now has a career record of 8-1-4 in 27 races with earnings of $1,108,164.

West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again has not won in five races since his triumph in the 2009 Foster – a string that included a narrow loss to Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Woodward (GI) at Saratoga.

Macho Again breezed a half-mile in :49.20 – a move that ranked eighth out of the 34 at the distance.

Macho Again’s record stands at 6-6-0 in 23 races with earnings of $1,819,050.  He has run seven times at Churchill Downs, with a record of 3-1-0 in those races.  The Alysheba was the first start of the year for Macho Again, and his first race since a ninth-place finish behind Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Blame in the $400,000 Clark Handicap (GII) on Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs.

Blame makes his 4-year-old debut on Saturday in the Schaefer Handicap (GII) on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico.  A good effort there could earn the Al Stall Jr. trainee a start in the Stephen Foster.

Nominations for the Stephen Foster Handicap and other stakes races on the June 12 undercard will close Saturday, May 29.

PREAKNESS STAKES FESTIVITIES AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Advanced wagering on the Preakness 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 www.ChuckOlmsteadFund.com.

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 – Fred Bradley’s homebred Brass Hat, winner of the 2009 Louisville Handicap (GIII), continues to gear-up for a defense of that victory.  Trainer William “Buff” Bradley said Friday that the 9-year-old gelding would work Saturday in preparation for the $100,000-added at 1 ½ miles on turf on May 22.  Regular rider Calvin Borel will be out of town for the Preakness bid by Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver on Friday, so veteran Charlie Woods is expected to be in the saddle for Brass Hat’s work … Leading rider Calvin Borel flew to Pimlico Thursday night for rides aboard Tidal Pool, the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Oaks (GI) in the Black-Eyed Susan (GII) on Friday and Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver in Saturday’s Preakness.  Borel will return to Churchill Downs on Sunday to continue his pursuit of his first Spring Meet riding title at Churchill Downs.  Borel holds a 19-11 edge over Julien Leparoux in the race for leading rider.  Shaun Bridgmohan and Garrett Gomez are tied for third at 10 victories. … 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.

WORK TAB (Main: FAST) – Carter Handicap (GI) winner and Churchill Downs (GII) runner-up Warrior’s Reward breezed four furlongs in :49.80 under exercise rider Tracey Wilkes.  The Ian Wilkes trainee is being pointed toward the Metropolitan Handicap (GI) at Belmont Park and his work ranked as the 13th fastest of 38 at the distance.… Unforgotten breezed four furlongs in :50.60 for trainer Dallas Stewart. … Age of Humor, runner-up in the Bourbonette (GIII) at Turfway Park and 12th in the Kentucky Oaks, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 Friday over a fast surface at the six-furlong oval at Trackside Training Center.

Stronach Stables’ Einstein (Brz) will carry high weight of 123 pounds and break from the outside post in a field of 14 as he shoots for back-to-back victories in Friday’s 135th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) at Churchill Downs.

    Trained by Helen Pitts-Blasi, Einstein will attempt to become the first back-to-back winner of the Clark since Bob’s Dusty in 1977-78. Only two others have posted consecutive victories in the Clark: Hodge (1915-16) and Bold Favorite (1968-69).

    The Clark, run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, will go as the 11th race on Friday’s 12-race card that begins at 11:30 a.m. (all times ET). The race, like the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and the Kentucky Oaks (GI), has been renewed annually without interruption since the first race meet at Churchill Downs, then known as the Louisville Jockey Club, in 1875. Approximate post time for the 2009 Clark Handicap is 4:29 p.m.

    Despite his outside post in the large field, Einstein was installed as the 7-2 favorite by Churchill Downs linemaker Mike Battaglia.

    Einstein, who will be ridden for the first time by Rajiv Maragh, is one of three Grade I stakes winners in the Clark field. Einstein has accumulated four of his five Grade I victories on the grass with the fifth coming over the Pro-Ride surface at Saint Anita where he took the Santa Anita Handicap in March.  He was a hard-luck third in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) in his most recent trip over the dirt surface at his home track. Einstein will concede 2-10 pounds to his rivals in the Clark.

    West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again claimed his Grade I over the Chruchill Downs dirt in June at the expense of Einstein in the Stephen Foster. The Dallas Stewart-trained Macho Again, who got seven pounds from Einstein in the Stephen Foster, will carry 121 pounds in their Friday rematch and be ridden by Robby Albarado. Macho Again, the 9-2 second choice on the morning line, will start from post position two.

    Mitchell Ranch, Frank Lewkowitz and Joe Rice’s Bullsbay got his Grade I victory at Saratoga this summer in the Whitney in which he defeated Macho Again. Bullsbay, ninth to Furthest Land in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) over the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita, will tote 119 pounds in the Clark.  The Graham Motion-trained son of Tiznow will break from post position nine under Jeremy Rose.

    Three Clark entrants come into Friday’s race off Grade II victories: Godolphin Racing’s Etched, Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame and Jill Baffert and George Jacobs’ Misremembered.

    Etched, who will be ridden by Alan Garcia and carry 120 pounds, won the Meadowlands Cup for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin last out on Oct. 16; Blame, who will be ridden by Jamie Theriot and carry 117 pounds, won the Fayette for trainer Al Stall, Jr. at Keeneland on Oct. 31; and the Bob Baffert-trained Misremembered, who will be ridden by Victor Espinoza and carry 116 pounds, won the Oct. 3 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park.

    The field for the Clark Handicap, from the rail out, is as follows: You and I Forever (J. Valdivia Jr., 115 pounds, 20-1), Macho Again (R. Albarado, 121, 9-2), Giant Oak (S. Bridgmohan, 115, 20-1), Demarcation (J. Castanon, 116, 20-1), Blame (J. Theriot, 117, 6-1), Anarko (Chi) (L. Goncalves, 113, 50-1), Anak Nakal (J. Bravo, 116, 30-1), Etched (A. Garcia, 120, 6-1), Bullsbay (J. Rose, 119, 6-1), Kiss the Kid (P. Lopez, 118, 15-1), Timber Reserve (K. Desormeaux, 114, 20-1), Misremembered (V. Espinoza, 116, 8-1), Dubious Miss (C. Borel, 116, 10-1) and Einstein (Brz) (R. Maragh, 123, 7-2).

EINSTEIN WORKS FOR CLARK; MARAGH PICKS UP MOUNT – Trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi was talking to a passer-by about her stable star Einstein (Brz) when fellow trainer Dallas Stewart rode past on his pony.

“Tell it like it is, Helen,” Stewart said with a laugh. “Tell him how you’re gonna kick Macho Again’s rear end.”

“Hey, Macho’s already got me once this year,” Pitts-Blasi said referring to Macho Again’s victory over Einstein in June’s Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I).

The rematch comes Friday when Einstein and Macho Again are expected to be the starting high weights in the 135th running of the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII).

Owned by the Stronach Stable, Einstein worked a half-mile in :48.60 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 early Sunday morning under Kelly Likes. It was Einstein’s first work since finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) on Nov. 7, the worst showing of his 29-race career.

“I have no answer,” Pitts-Blasi said of the Breeders’ Cup. “We couldn’t find anything. He went very well this morning and I was pleased."

Pitts-Blasi has worked Einstein in the past, but opted for Likes on Sunday for the work over a fast track.

“I wanted to take some weight off him and Kelly is lighter than I am and I could watch him,” Pitts-Blasi said.

Regular rider Julien Leparoux will miss the final two days of the meet to ride in the Japan Cup and Pitts-Blasi has enlisted New York-based Rajiv Maragh to ride Einstein in the Clark.

CARROLL CELEBRATES ACOMA’S “BIGGEST WIN” IN CARDINAL – Trainer David Carroll was still beaming Sunday morning after Acoma’s hard-charging head victory over You Go West Girl in Saturday’s Cardinal Handicap (GIII).

“Absolutely it was her biggest win,” Carroll said of Acoma, who rebounded from a last-place showing in the Grade I First Lady at Keeneland on Oct. 10. “I walked into the paddock and she was 12-1 and I was surprised. My wife Kim gets on her every day and said she was as good as she has ever been. She gets better in the fall.

“She got nothing out of the Keeneland race. We took her to Dr. (Larry) Bramlage to check her out to make sure we didn’t miss anything and she got a clean bill of health.”

A regally bred daughter of Empire Maker out of the Danzig mare Aurora, Acoma is 5-for-5 in her career at Churchill Downs for her owners Helen Alexander and Helen Groves.  Three of those wins – including the 2008 Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) and last fall’s Mrs. Revere (GII) – have been on turf and all in stakes competition.  She also won the Grade III Dogwood on dirt in 2008.

“They are great people to train for,” Carroll said. “They breed to race and this filly … even if she couldn’t run, I could look at her all day. She is so gorgeous, a great combination of talent and looks.”

Carroll said Acoma came out of the Cardinal in good shape and likely was looking at some down time.

“We will probably have the same plan as last year and send her to Payson Park for some R & R and then join us at the Fair Grounds,” Carroll said. “We got her a little early this year for the Azeri at Oaklawn and then she bounced in the Apple Blossom. I don’t foresee doing that again, but it is up to Miss Helen (Alexander).”
    
FIELDS TAKING SHAPE FOR KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB, GOLDEN ROD – Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has won the Golden Rod (GII) a record five times and the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) a record four times, is expected to have a shot at building on those marks when both races are renewed on Saturday.

Lukas is expected to send Westrock Stables’ Decelerator into the 66th running of the Golden Rod and Activity Report in the 83rd running of the Kentucky Jockey Club. Both races are at 1 1/16 miles on the main track and serve as centerpieces of the closing-day “Stars of Tomorrow II” card that features 12 races exclusively for 2-year-olds.

As of Sunday, Churchill Downs racing officials had five fillies considered as probable to line up against Decelerator, the winner of this summer’s Debutante (GIII) who ran second in the opening-day Pocahontas (GIII) behind Sassy Image.

In addition to Sassy Image, other Pocahontas runners expected to come back in the Golden Rod are third-place finisher All Due Respect, fourth-place finisher Vivid Colors and sixth-place finisher Vertical Vision. Also expected to run is Canadian Storm, a maiden winner at Philadelphia Park.

The Golden Rod was won last year by Rachel Alexandra, the first of nine consecutive victories for the filly.
The Kentucky Jockey Club lineup is expected to feature the 1-4 finishers from the opening-day Iroquois (GIII) in Thiskyhasnolimit and Gleam of Hope. Also considered as probable for the race is William’s Kitten, who ran eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) in his most recent start.

Other probables are Call Shot, Callide Valley, Mr. Saturdaynight and Super Saver.

Entries for both races will be taken Wednesday.

BARN TALK – Four Roses Thoroughbreds’ Anak Nakal, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Jockey Club, is scheduled to arrive Monday for an expected run in the Clark Handicap. Winner of the Grade II Pennsylvania Derby last year, Anak Nakal finished third in the Meadowlands Cup (GII) behind Clark probables Etched and Kiss the Kid in his most recent start. Jill Baffert and George Jacobs’ Misremembered, winner of the Indiana Derby (GII) in his most recent start, is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday from his Southern California base. …

Apprentice Oriana Rossi posted her first victory at Churchill Downs in Saturday’s fifth race with a rail-skimming ride aboard Ship’s Cabin ($17.40). It was Rossi’s 16th career win with the other victories coming at Ellis Park and Turfway Park. She recorded her first victory on Aug. 16 at Ellis Park. …

Trainer Steve Asmussen saddled two winners here Saturday to boost his career total at Churchill Downs to 350, fifth all time at the track. Lone Cypress ($5.60) won the third race and Jackpot Joanie ($5) took the seventh to give Asmussen 14 winners for the meet and a four-victory advantage over Dale Romans in the race for leading trainer.  The latter is a half-sister to Summerly, who provided Asmussen with a victory in the 2005 Kentucky Oaks.  Asmussen has won six training titles here – three spring and three fall – and was the leading trainer during the 2009 Spring Meet. …

Even though A. Stevens Miles Jr.’s Warrior’s Reward ran second in the Saturday nightcap, trainer Ian Wilkes was pleased with the effort in the six-furlong sprint, a runner-up finish in which he just failed to catch Flavor after being six lengths back at the eighth pole. “I expected him to run a good race and I thought he ran tremendous,” Wilkes said of the 3-year-old who was vanned off the track at Keeneland five weeks previous after finishing fifth in the Perryville (GIII). “He made up a lot of ground the last eighth. I am going to give him a little break and yesterday I wanted to give him a good experience before the break.”       

STEWART: MACHO AGAIN “READY TO ROLL” FOR CLARK – The heavy lifting is all done and according to trainer Dallas Stewart, Macho Again is “ready to roll” for Friday’s 135th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II) at Churchill Downs.

“I feel good about our chances,” Stewart said of Macho Again, who is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds. “I like where we are, he loves this track and he worked great yesterday (five furlongs in 1:01.20).”

Macho Again has compiled a record of 5-3-1-0 at Churchill Downs with his biggest victory coming in June’s Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) in which he defeated likely Clark rivals Einstein (Brz) and Bullsbay.

The Clark will be Macho Again’s first start since finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) on Oct. 3.

“There was no pace in that race and things just didn’t pan out that day,” Stewart said.

Macho Again came down with a cough after the Jockey Club that forced Stewart to cancel a trip to Santa Anita for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). Since recovering from the brief setback Macho Again has had three five-furlong works.

The 4-year-old colt’s top effort of 2009 in which he also won the New Orleans Handicap (GII) was a runner-up effort to Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner and top Horse of the Year contender Rachel Alexandra in the Woodward (GI) at the Clark Handicap distance of 1 1/8 miles.

“That was a great race,” Stewart said of the Saratoga race in which Macho Again came the closest of any horse this year to Rachel Alexandra in falling a head short. “One more jump … that would have made my year.”

Stewart said that Macho Again would ship with his barn to the Fair Grounds at the end of the meet with the initial plans for 2010 being the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita on Jan. 30 or the Donn Handicap (GI) on Feb. 6 at Gulfstream Park.

GIANT OAK MAKES BELATED RETURN TO CHURCHILL DOWNS – After running second in last fall’s Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) here Giant Oak appeared on many watch lists as a contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).

However, instead of running here on the first Saturday in May, Giant Oak will make a belated encore appearance beneath the Twin Spires on the last Friday in November in the Clark Handicap.

  “We had bad luck with him in New Orleans,” said Drew Coontz, assistant to trainer Chris Block. “In the Risen Star (GIII), that was a train wreck. A narrow track with 13 head and no pace. Then two hours before the Louisiana Derby (GII) there was a major downpour.”

Giant Oak went on to run second in the Illinois Derby (GII) under Shaun Bridgmohan, but Block pulled the colt from Kentucky Derby consideration because he did not feel he was seasoned enough for the Run for the Roses.

Owned by the Virginia Tarra Trust, Giant Oak spent the summer running on the grass at Arlington Park where he had made a spectacular debut as a 2-year-old. Giant Oak returned to the dirt in the Indiana Derby (GII) on Oct. 3 in which he ran second.

“Chris had wanted to try him back on the dirt,” Coontz said. “He ran very well in the Indiana Derby and we were very pleased.”

However, after the Indiana Derby, bumps in the road continued to emerge for Giant Oak.

“Five days after the Indiana Derby, he stepped on an Allen’s wrench with his right front,” Coontz said. “We shipped him to Keeneland a week before the Fayette (on Oct. 31). I flew in Thursday night and the next morning we were going to train and he was off in the left front and we had to scratch him.”

Giant Oak shipped directly to Churchill Downs instead of returning to his home base in Chicago and had three works, the most recent being Saturday morning, a bullet five furlongs in :59.80 with Bridgmohan up.

“He’s been doing great since he got here,” Coontz said. “He has worked well and this morning I got him in a minute.”

ONE CAROLINE SIDELINED; DERBY WEEK RETURN EYED – One Caroline, the talented 4-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song who won her first five career starts, has been sidelined by an injury that occurred during a third-place finish to Malibu Prayer in the Nov. 7 running of the Chilukki (GII).

“When she wasn’t nominated to the Falls City (Handicap), I figured somebody would be calling,” trainer Rusty Arnold said. “She got hurt in the Chilukki, has had surgery and is now on the farm.”

Owned by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and the Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust-2008, One Caroline suffered her first career loss in the Louisville Distaff (GII) here on May 1. Shortly after that, she suffered an injury that sidelined her until the Chilukki.

“It is not the same injury and she has not been retired,” Arnold said of One Caroline, who ran third in the Chilukki. “The plan is to have her join the barn in Florida in February and try to run her (at Churchill Downs) Derby Week.

“The goal is to run in the Louisville Distaff, the same race she ran in this year.”

One Caroline suffered her first career defeat in that Kentucky Oaks Day race when she ran second to Miss Isella.

BARN TALK – For the followers of leading riders Calvin Borel and Julien Leparoux, mutual clerks were printing money on Friday at Churchill Downs. Borel and Leparoux, who have opened considerable daylight in the race for leading rider, combined to sweep the early Pick 4 resulting in payoffs that boggled the mind. Leparoux won the opener on Next May ($18.40), Borel won the second on Unreachable Star ($23) and third on Misleader ($10.60) and Leparoux took the fourth on Turfiste ($10.20). The rolling doubles came back $225.20, $199.80 and $72.20; the rolling Pick 3s returned $1,619.20 and $1,024; and, the Pick 4 returned $5,825.20 for a $2 bet. Borel added two more victories on the Friday card – Cielo Classic ($12.60) in the eighth and Haven’s Honey ($15) in the ninth for a $71.20 double – to open an 18-16 lead on Leparoux. Shane Bridgmohan is third with 12 victories.

WORK TAB – Dubious Miss was on the track a little after 6 a.m. Saturday with jockey Calvin Borel up to work five furlongs in 1:01 over a fast track in preparation for Friday’s Clark Handicap. “I got him in :26 the first part and :35 the last three-eighths,” trainer Paul McGee said. “Perfect.” McGee also worked Demarcation a half-mile in :50.80 for a probable start in Friday’s River City Handicap (GIII). Also working toward the River City was Pleasant Strike, who covered a half-mile in :48.60 for trainer Todd Pletcher. … Pocahontas (GIII) winner Sassy Image worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 for trainer Dale Romans in readying for next Saturday’s Golden Rod (GII). Other juveniles working five furlongs toward a likely closing-day stakes engagement on the “Stars of Tomorrow II” card were Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) nominees Callide Valley (1:00.60) for trainer Eddie Kenneally and Mr. Saturdaynight (1:01.80) for Romans. … Working at the Trackside Training Center for trainer Mike Maker were Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) winner Furthest Land (half-mile in :50.40) and Kentucky Jockey Club probable William’s Kitten, the eighth-place finisher in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI), who worked a bullet five-eighths in 1:00.

EINSTEIN ASSIGNED TOP WEIGHT OF 123 FOR CLARK HANDICAP – The most recent time Einstein (Brz), Macho Again and Bullsbay met in the same race was the Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I) here on June 13 with Einstein conceding 7 pounds to the two rivals.

Should they line up as expected next Friday in the 135th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII), the gap will be smaller.

Einstein, owned by Stronach Stables, was assigned the top weight of 123 pounds by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman, one fewer than in the Stephen Foster in which he finished third behind Macho Again and a neck ahead of Bullsbay.

Macho Again, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, and Bullsbay, owned by Mitchell Ranch, Frank Lewkowitz and Joe Rice, carried 117 pounds each in the Foster. For the Clark, Macho Again was assigned 121 and Bullsbay 119.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Furthest Land, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) in his most recent start, was assigned the Clark’s second high weight of 122 pounds.

Einstein, winner of the Clark last year, and Bullsbay turned in poor performances over the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) finishing 11th and ninth, respectively, in their most recent starts. Macho Again has not run since finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) at Belmont Park on Oct. 3.

Other horses considered as probable for the 1 1/8-mile main track test by Churchill Downs racing officials are Godolphin Racing’s Etched (120), Hardacre Farm’s Kiss the Kid (118), David Holloway Racing’s Dubious Miss (116), Virginia Tarra Trust’s Giant Oak (115), Edmund Gann’s You and I Forever (115) and Circle E Racing, Caesar Kimmel and Philip Solondz’s Timber Reserve (114).

Entries for the Clark Handicap will be taken Tuesday.

SWIFT TEMPER, UNBRIDLED BELLE SHARE FALLS CITY TOP WEIGHT – Mark Stanley’s Swift Temper and Team Valor International’s Unbridled Belle, both Grade I stakes winners during their impressive careers, were assigned top weight of 122 pounds by Racing Secretary Ben Huffman for Thursday’s 94th running of the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII) for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

Trained by Dale Romans, Swift Temper ran fourth behind Miss Isella in last year’s Falls City and was second to the same rival in this June’s Fleur De Lis (GII) at 1 1/8 miles.  Her brightest moments this year came in back-to-back victories in the Ruffian (GI) at Belmont Park and the Delaware Handicap (GII) at Delaware Park.

Unbridled Belle is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Monday and join Swift Temper in the starting gate. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Unbridled Belle won Turnback the Alarm Handicap (GIII) at Aqueduct in her most recent start on Oct. 31.  She won the Grade I Beldame at Belmont Park in 2007.

Other fillies and mares considered as probable for the Falls City by Churchill Downs racing officials are Vision Racing’s Copper State (116), John and Glen Sikura’s Seranading (116) and Magdalena Racing’s Best Lass (114). Regarded as possible starters are Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein’s Whirlie Bertie (117) and Jerry Jamgotchian’s Sweet and Flawless (111).

Entries for the Falls City will be taken Sunday.

BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE WINNER FURTHEST LAND TOPS RIVER CITY WEIGHT LIST – Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Furthest Land, a three-time winner of the turf this year and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) over a synthetic surface in his most recent start, was assigned top weight of 123 pounds by Racing Secretary Ben Huffman for next Friday’s 32nd running of the $100,000-added River City Handicap (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

The Green Lantern Stables’ Karelian, who dead-heated with the Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation in last year’s River City, was assigned the next high weight at 122 pounds. Karelian is not expected to run in this year’s race.

Demarcation, who was assigned 117 pounds, is nominated to both the Clark Handicap and River City Handicap and no decision has been made as to which race the 5-year-old gelding will go in.

“I entered him this morning in a money allowance for Tuesday,” trainer Paul McGee said of Demarcation. “If it doesn’t fill, I won’t lose any sleep over it because he can come back in the River City. That’s the direction we’re leaning, but the Clark has not been ruled out.”

The probable starting high weight at 121 pounds is Rahy’s Attorney. Owned by Elle Boje Farm, Dean Reed, Mitch Peters and Jean and Jim MacLellan and trained by Ian Black, Rahy’s Attorney has won three of six starts in 2009 including scores in the King Edward Handicap (GII) and the Nijinsky (GII) at Woodbine.  He upset Ventura to win last year’s Woodbine Mile (GI) at Woodbine.

Other horses considered by track racing officials to be probable for the River City are Catherine Day Phillips and Todd Phillips’ Jambalaya (120), Nyala Farm’s Banrock (119), Kiaran McLaughlin’s Brave Tin Soldier (117), Edward Evans’ Pleasant Strike (116), Ashbrook Farm’s Wicked Style  (116), Eldon Farm Equine’s Wheels Up At Noon (115), Paul Gutheil’s Cryptolight (114) and  Robert Courtney Jr.’s Rahystrada (114).

Entries for the River City Handicap will be taken Tuesday.

JOCKEYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO JULIA BRIMO FUND -- On Saturday, Nov. 28, jockeys across North America will be asked to contribute one mount fee to the Julia Brimo Fund, set up to assist with her expenses during rehabilitation for her injuries.

Brimo suffered head and back injuries in a spill at Keeneland on Oct. 30 and is currently a patient at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.  Early next week, she is expected to be transferred to the Lyndhurst Centre, a leading spinal cord rehabilitation facility also in Toronto.In honor of Brimo and to raise awareness of the plight of seriously injured jockeys, riders across North America will wear two patches on their boots that day.  One patch will feature her name, “Julia”, on it while the other will highlight the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).

The Julia Brimo Fund was established at Fifth Third Bank by Cindy Werner, the wife of trainer Ronny Werner.  Contributions can be made to the Fund by sending a check made out to the Julia Brimo Fund and sent to Cindy Werner at 1116 Flat Rock Road, Louisville, KY 40245.

BARN TALK – Freddie Lenclud, the only apprentice rider to win a race at the current Fall Meet, will have a new agent when the meet ends next Saturday and a new winter destination. “Doc Danner is going to have my book and I am going to Oaklawn Park the first of the year,” said Lenclud, who has ridden six winners through the first 13 days of the meet. Lenclud, who had entertained thoughts of riding at Aqueduct in the winter, will remain in Kentucky to ride at Turfway Park through December before going to Arkansas

WORK TAB – West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, prepping for next week’s Clark Handicap, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 over a “fast” track Friday morning. The move was the 11th fastest of 20 at the distance. … Vision Racing’s Copper State, working for an expected start in Thursday’s Falls City Handicap, worked a half-mile in :49, the 20th fastest of 47 at the distance.    

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Weight assignments for the Clark will be announced Friday.

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

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

However, it’s not going to happen.

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

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

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

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

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

Weights for the River City will be announced Friday.    

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CATALANO LOOKS TO 2010 WITH BREEDERS’ CUP WINNER SHE BE WILD – Trainer Wayne Catalano was back at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning, reunited with Nancy Mazzoni’s She Be Wild, winner of last Friday’s $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I) at Santa Anita.

“Everything had to go right and it did,” said Catalano, who spent a few days in Chicago before returning to Churchill Downs. “When they put that other horse (Connie and Michael) in there, I knew there would be some speed to run at.”

Now a winner of four of five career starts, She Be Wild will spend the winter in Florida. Catalano has not mapped out a 3-year-old campaign yet for She Be Wild, who has done all of her racing on all-weather tracks.

“I have no concern about her running on the dirt, because she has a dirt pedigree and she won on Polytrack,” Catalano said of the daughter of Offlee Wild out of a Seeking the Gold mare.

It was the second Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies victory for Catalano, who also saddled Dreaming of Anna to score here in the 2006 World Championships.

“She was a grass horse who won on the dirt,” Catalano said.

McPEEK EYES MORE CALIFORNIA CASH WITH BREEDERS’ CUP RUNNERS – Trainer Ken McPeek started five runners in last weekend’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita and four of them brought home checks for a combined haul of $837,000.

For the time being, the quintet is remaining in California, along with Teamgeist (Arg) who ran sixth in the Grade II Las Palmas on Friday.

“The stakes program at Hollywood Park is the main reason, and some of them may stay out there through the winter,” McPeek said.

“Beautician (second in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies) needs more time than three weeks,” McPeek said of the decision to point for the Dec. 20 Hollywood Starlet over the Nov. 28 Golden Rod here.
“Noble’s Promise (third in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile) will probably be 2-1 or less in the (Dec. 19) CashCall Futurity and that is $750,000.”

Bridgetown, who ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and House of Grace, who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, most likely will resurface Thanksgiving Weekend at Hollywood Park."

Bridgetown is a one-mile max 2-year-old now and the Generous (on Nov. 28) is a mile and the race here (the Grand Canyon) is a mile and a sixteenth,” McPeek said. “With House of Grace (pointing for the Nov. 29 Miesque), it’s the same thing and those races out there are for $100,000 and the ones here are $60,000.”
Connie and Michael, who finished eighth in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is slated to test allowance company at Hollywood and Teamgeist is being pointed to the Bayakoa Handicap (GII) on Dec. 5.

“Connie and Michael needs the Polytrack the way she goes,” McPeek said. “With Teamgeist, why bring her back here and then turn around and ship her back out?”

EMIGH OK AFTER FALL; MAY RETURN SUNDAY – Journeyman rider Chris Emigh is expected to return to the races on Sunday after being involved in a spill in Wednesday’s sixth race.

“They released him from the (Norton Audubon) hospital last night and I dropped him off at his hotel about 9,” said Terry Miller, agent for Emigh. “He had a slight concussion and was real sore. I think he will be off all mounts for a couple of days and possibly be back Sunday.”

Emigh’s mount, Silent Candy, appeared to clip heels with Dreaminofjosephine in the far turn of the one-mile grass race causing Emigh to be unseated. Silent Candy did not go down and was caught by outriders in the upper stretch.

McGEE JUVENILES STRUT THEIR STUFF – For the second time in two racing days, trainer Paul McGee visited the winner’s circle with a stylish 2-year-old. On Sunday, it was Worldly, who fought back after being headed to win by a nose. On Wednesday, it was Pick and Pray, a 9 ¾-length winner.

Worldly, a full brother to millionaire runner Suave, won at a mile and a sixteenth in his third start rallying to edge Colizeo after that rival ran by Worldly and opened a half-length lead in the stretch. “The heart, that part you can’t teach,” McGee said.

Pick and Pray was making her dirt debut on Wednesday. “That is why we skipped Keeneland,” McGee said. “Before her first start at Arlington (on Polytrack), I told Sam (owner Samantha Siegel) that I really liked her and then she runs eighth, beaten 20 lengths,” McGee said. “Her second start was much better, but when she worked here on the dirt, she smoked it. She worked very, very well.”

Both juveniles likely will return to the races at the Fair Grounds in the winter.

Worldly is nominated to the (Nov. 28) Kentucky Jockey Club (GII), but we are leaning against that,” McGee said. “We have a filly named Rapid Racer, who won a straight maiden race at Keeneland (on Oct. 15), pointed for an allowance race closing weekend and we don’t want to run the two against each other.”
 
BARN TALK -- Jockey Julian Leparoux, winner of the past two riding titles here and five overall, will be out of town Saturday to ride in seven stakes at Calder on Florida Million Day. A winner of five races the past two racing days to move into a five-way tie for second with six victories, Leparoux has six mounts for trainer Marty Wolfson and one for trainer Tom Proctor. … Leandro Goncalves, currently the leading rider at the meet with seven victories, will ride this winter at Oaklawn Park according to agent Steve Elzey.

WORK TAB – West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, prepping for an expected run in the Nov. 27 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII), worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 over a “fast” track after the renovation break for trainer Dallas Stewart. The move was the third fastest of 28 at the distance. … Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image, winner of the Nov. 1 Pocahontas (GIII), worked a half-mile in :48, the second fastest of 36 at the distance, for trainer Dale Romans. Sassy Image is being pointed to the closing-day Golden Rod (GII). … Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) and 10th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), worked a half-mile in :49.40, 12th fastest of 36 at the distance.

ALBARADO HOPES FAST START CARRIES OVER TO BREEDERS’ CUP  WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – Jockey Robby Albarado closed out the month of October on a high note by winning the riding title at the 17-day Keeneland meet with 25 victories.

He did not cool off when the calendar turned to November as he won four races on Sunday’s initial card of the 21-day Fall Meet. Albarado, who won his first Churchill Downs riding title in the 2008 Spring Meet, will head to California after today’s 10-race card to ride three horses in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

His mounts on Friday are Tapitsfly in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf for trainer Dale Romans, Beautician in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) for trainer Ken McPeek and on Saturday he rides Court Vision in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) for trainer Rick Dutrow.

Albarado, whose one Breeders’ Cup victory came aboard two-time “Horse of the Year” Curlin in the 2007 Classic at Monmouth Park, shared his thoughts on his three runners at Santa Anita

Albarado has partnered Tapitsfly in four of her six starts and was aboard for her two wins, including the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga. Tapitsfly will break from post position 10 in the 1 1/16-mile race.

The 10-hole will not be a problem for her because she has tactical speed and will be forwardly placed in the race,” Albarado said. “She worked very well over the turf course out there. Dale (Romans) is a great horseman and he knows what it takes to win these kinds of races and she is doing good. I think she is better on the grass and has a bigger turn of foot.”

Albarado rode Beautician in her debut, which she won here in June.

“I rode her the one time and then she was well matched against Hot Dixie Chick, which is the horse that I rode in two stakes at Saratoga, and I think she is phenomenal,” Albarado said. “She got knocked around a little bit in her last race at Keeneland (a fifth-place finish in the Darley Alcibiades) and didn’t get a chance to show how good she is. Hopefully she will get a clean trip out there.”

Albarado rode Court Vision for the first time in the Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland and posted a nose victory over Karelian. It was Court Vision’s first start in more than three months.

“The Shadwell was a good race for him coming back off the longer races and cutting back in distance,” said Albarado of Court Vision, who will break from post position one in the Mile. “I thought he was great. He will be coming at the end, that’s for sure.”

ONE CAROLINE RETURNS TO CHURCHILL DOWNS ON FRIDAY – It has been more than six months since One Caroline was last seen at Churchill Downs, but she will return on Friday following a van ride from her home base at Keeneland for Saturday’s 24th running of the $150,000-added Chilukki.

“She’ll be here tomorrow to school and then run Saturday,” said Jack Bohannan, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold.

Owned by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and the Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust-2008, One Caroline won her first two career starts during the 2008 Spring Meet at Churchill Downs and then started 2009 with three spectacular victories at Gulfstream Park, highlighted by a 6 ½-length score in the Grade II Rampart.

   The 4-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song suffered her only defeat when Miss Isella beat her by three-quarters of a length in the Louisville Distaff (GII) on May 1.

“She had a lung infection the day she lost,” Bohannan said. “She was one work away from the Fleur De Lis (on June 13) when she got hurt (chip). We were extremely disappointed because she had been training so well.”

One Caroline did not return to the track until September. She has had five works in preparation for the Chilukki with the most recent coming Sunday, a :49 half-mile move at Keeneland. 

“She has been working effortlessly and training as well as she ever has,” Bohannan said. “She does everything so easy.”

LENCLUD SETS HIS SIGHTS ON BIG APPLE IN WINTER – Apprentice Freddie Lenclud, who began riding in this country during this year’s Spring Meet at Churchill Downs, posted his first two victories beneath the Twin Spires on Wednesday afternoon.

“It was exciting,” said Lenclud, a 22-year-old native of France. “I really want to do well here because this is my home now.”

Lenclud won the first race on Talk to Nick ($16) and the ninth on Golden Country ($48.80).
After the Churchill Downs Fall Meet closes on Nov. 28, Lenclud is hoping to take his tack on the road to New York.

"I hope to go to Aqueduct when this meet ends,” Lenclud said. “They run five days a week there to only three days at Turfway Park. New York in the winter is a good place for a bug rider.”

WORK TAB – West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) in June and narrow loser to “Horse of the Year” front-runner Rachel Alexandra in the Woodward (GI), worked five furlongs over a “fast” track in 1:02 after the morning renovation break for trainer Dallas Stewart. The work was the third fastest of 25 at the distance. Macho Again is being pointed to the Nov. 27 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. … Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, winner of this spring’s Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) and 10th-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), worked three furlongs in :37.80, his third three-eighths move since returning to the track after having surgery to remove a chip from his right front knee.

Kentucky Oaks (Grade I), Preakness (GI) and Woodward (GI) winner Rachel Alexandra – the 3-year-old filly who is a front-runner for honors as America’s “Horse of the Year,” returned to her home base at Churchill Downs early Wednesday.

    Owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has settled into familiar surroundings in trainer Steve Asmussen’s Barn 38 following a long van ride from Saratoga, where she spent much of the summer and the early days of fall.  She arrived at Churchill Downs around 4 a.m. (EDT).

    “She walked the shed this morning,” Asmussen said.  “It was a little cool here this morning, but it feels great.  She’s in her stall resting comfortably.”

    Rachel Alexandra has no racing objectives on her near horizon.  Jackson has reiterated his stance that she will not compete in the Breeders’ Cup early next month at Oak Tree at Santa Anita and Asmussen said his superstar filly has been taking it easy since her dramatic victory over Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) winner Macho Again and other males in the Woodward on Sept. 5.

    “We’re just trying to keep her happy,” he said.  “I’m very pleased with her attitude and her weight and how she’s doing.  I think the time in Saratoga with everything gone was very beneficial to her.  It just took a lot of the pressure off.”

    The filly has won all eight of her starts in 2009, with three of those wins coming at the expense of males.  She defeated Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness as well as Belmont Stakes, Travers (GI) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) winner Summer Bird in the Haskell Invitational (GI) at Monmouth Park.  Her Woodward win was the first by a female in that prestigious fixture, a race in which she was pressed on a hot pace throughout and fought off the late charge by Macho Again.

    “After reading all the quotes, I thought (trainer) Graham Motion’s quote summed it up as he said, ‘She had 10 reasons to lose and didn’t use any of them,’” Asmussen said.  “I don’t think anything will ever do it justice unless you were there.”

    If Rachel Alexandra does not race again this year, Jackson has indicated she will compete next year as a 4-year-old.  After her perfect eight-race campaign thus far in 2009 her career record has improved to 11-2-0 in 14 races with earnings of $2,948,354.