Miguel Mena

Martin Racing Stable LLC and Morgan Thoroughbred LLC’s Beat the Blues, a narrow loser to Grade I winner Sassy Image in the Winning Colors (Grade III) in May, overtook pacesetter Starlite Starbrite in mid-stretch and splashed home to a half-length victory over the rapidly-closing Little Polka Dot in the $48,637 Sunday afternoon feature at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Bret Calhoun and ridden by Miguel Mena, Beat the Blues covered the six furlongs on the “sloppy” main track in 1:10.36.

Beat the Blues rated in second behind Starlite Starbrite through opening fractions of :21.94 and :45.57. A 4-year-old daughter of Great Pyramid-IRE, Beat the Blues gained the lead at the eighth-pole, increased her advantage to as many as two lengths and held off a late rally from Little Polka Dot to win for the seventh time in her career.

Breaking from the gate as the 2-1 favorite in the field of six, Beat the Blues returned mutuels of $6.00, $3.60 and $2.60. Maggi Moss’ Little Polka Dot finished second and returned $4 and $3 with Jared Hughes’ Hot Hot Mama another four lengths back in third returning $3.60.

Nearly 1,000 breast cancer survivors, family members and friends were at Churchill Downs on Sunday for the annual "Horses & Hope Day at the Races."  The day honors the groundbreaking breast cancer outreach initiative of Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear that provides breast cancer information and free screenings to workers in Kentucky's horse industry, including many who have little or no health insurance coverage.  Gov. Steve Beshear joined the First Lady for the on-track celebration of the work of Horses & Hope and its partner, the Kentucky Cancer Program, during the daylong celebration at Churchill Downs.

The victory was worth $28,920 and increased Beat the Blues’ bankroll to $293,362 with a record of 7-3-2 from 15 lifetime starts.

Racing resumes Wednesday with a 10-race program that will begin at 12:40 p.m. EST.

William S Farish Jr’s Pool Play, the longest shot in the field of 11 older horses at 36-1, rallied from the back of the pack to beat Mission Impazible by a neck to win Saturday’s 30^th running of the Grade I, $561,300 Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi at Churchill Downs.

Much like Animal Kingdom who won Kentucky Derby 137 after racing exclusively on turf and synthetic racing surfaces, Pool Play excelled in his dirt debut, which came in the 6-year-old’s 28^th career start. He clocked 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.52 over a surface that was upgraded to “fast” after overnight rain caused the track to be rated “sloppy” for most of the 12-race card.

Pool Play paid $75.20, which was third highest winning payoff in the 30^th running of the race. Seek Gold ($185.40) was the largest in 2006, followed by Colonial Colony ($127.20) in ’04.

Locally-based jockey Miguel Mena, who notched the second Grade I win of his career, rode the winner for Canadian-based trainer Mark Casse, who has a string of horses at Churchill Downs with his son and assistant Norman. It was Casse’s fourth Churchill Downs stakes win and first since winning the 1988 WHAS-11 with One That Got Away – the same year he won the Spring Meet title with 29 victories.

Regal Ransom, the mild 9-2 favorite, broke alertly in the competitive cast and led the field through the first three quarters of a mile through fractions of :23.96, :48.74 and 1:13.37 with Worldly, Mission Impazible and Crown of Thorns in close pursuit. Pool Play was unhurried into stride and settled near the tail of field, only to be ahead of Giant Oak, the 9-2 second choice and 122-pound starting high weight. Pool Play commenced his rally with three furlongs to run as Mission Impazible grabbed the lead from a weakening Regal Ransom and went head-and-head with Duke of Mischief at the top of stretch. Pool Play circled nine-wide into the stretch, hit his best stride with a powerful late kick and just got up to nail Mission Impazible in the final strides.

"I was a little concerned early in the race because I felt like the fractions were a little soft,” Casse said. “I was also afraid that Miguel was going to have to go really wide, but he did a great job and only had to swing him out on the final turn. It was a great ride by him and the horse ran great.”

Pool Play, a Canadian-bred son of Silver Deputy who carried 116 pounds, rewarded his backers handsomely with mutuels of $75.20, $29.40 and $14.60. Mission Impazible, ridden by Javier Castellano, returned $8.40 and $5 with Apart under Julien Leparoux another 1 ¼ lengths back in third returning $4.40.

Duke of Mischief was another half-length back in fourth and was followed in order by Giant Oak, Flat Out, Crown of Thorns, Worldly, Equestrio, El Caballo and Regal Ransom.

The $327,127 winner’s share of the Stephen Foster purse boosted Pool Play’s career earnings to $909,556 with a record of 6-6-5 from 28 starts. This was the third stakes win of the dark bay horse’s career, which began on July 5, 2008. His only other graded stakes win came in the Grade III Durham Cup at Woodbine in 2009. In his previous start, Pool Play finished second in the Grade II Elkhorn at Keeneland, 1 ¼ lengths behind Musketier-GER.

The Stephen Foster Handicap was one of five stakes races on a 12-race program sponsored by Abu Dhabi. Trainer Ken McPeek won the $138,500 Matt Winn Presented by Emirates Equestrian Federation (Grade III) with Scotus and the $138,135 Regret Presented by Ethiad Airways (GIII) with Bizzy Caroline. The 48-year-old conditioner has won the last five Churchill Downs graded stakes races that he’s entered. This month, he also won the Dogwood with Salty Strike, Aristides with Noble’s Promise and the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap with My Baby Baby – all Grade III events.

Also, Banned became the fifth horse in track history to complete the American Turf-Jefferson Cup double with a two-length triumph in the Grade III, $106,215 Jefferson Cup Presented by Abu Dhabi. The stakes parade began with T M Fred Texas becoming the first winner of an Arabian race at the world-famous home of the Kentucky Derby with a 9 ¼-length score in the Grade I, $52,500 President of the United Arab Emirates Cup.

Racing continues Sunday with a 10-race Father’s Day program that includes a Pick 6 carryover of $19,254 and a Super High 5 carryover of $13,407. The Pick 6 begins with Race 5 (post time 2:51 p.m. EDT) and the Super High 5 will take place during Race 10 (5:25 p.m.). First post is at 12:45 p.m.

STEPHEN FOSTER HANDICAP QUOTES

Mark Casse, trainer of Pool Play (winner): “I was a little concerned early in the race because I felt like the fractions were a little soft. I was also afraid that Miguel (Mena) was going to have to go really wide, but he did a great job and only had to swing him out on the final turn. It was a great ride by him and the horse ran great.”

On first race over dirt surface: “It all started when he was training at Palm Meadows over the dirt surface there and Norman (Casse) would call me and say, ‘Dad, this horse loves the dirt!’ We didn’t get to run him on the dirt down there (Gulfstream Park), but then we brought him here and started thinking about it again. He was working really well and I called (owner) Bill (Farish Jr.) and told him that we could go the grass route, but it’d be nice to see if he can run over the dirt because there is a little race they’ll run here in the fall for $5 million (Breeders’ Cup Classic).”

Where to go from here: “I’ll talk it over with Bill and we’ll discuss our options. I am not sure that he will like every dirt surface so we’ll have to talk it over. He is actually over at Royal Ascot right now and it’s a shame he isn’t here. I called him right after the race to tell him we won and he said, ‘You’re kidding!’”

Miguel Mena, jockey of Pool Play (winner): “The fractions were pretty soft so I didn’t want to get him too far back. I tried to save some ground with him and not go too wide. He was handling the track perfectly the whole time and turning for home I wheeled him out and he just exploded.

“This is probably the biggest win of my career. It is my second Grade I win (note: he previously won 2010 Grade I Test at Saratoga aboard Champagne d’Oro), but this time is more special because it’s at my home track, Churchill Downs. Louisville is my home and I’m very happy to win such a big race here.

“I am going to ride at Saratoga this summer and hopefully a win like this will help my business up there and get me some good horses.”

Todd Pletcher, trainer of Mission Impazible (runner-up): “It was a tough loss but a big effort.”

He had run poorly as the favorite in his previous start here in the Alysheba. Did you find any excuse for that effort and what convinced you to come back and try again in the Stephen Foster? “The horse has always trained pretty well at Churchill and we were kind of perplexed by his race. On that day the track was maybe a little dry and cuppy and he didn’t seem to love it, but he’s been training well and we’re looking for that Grade I with him, so we thought we’d give it another shot. We thought it would help if we got some rain leading into the race, then it was upgraded to fast (before the race). But it had some moisture in it, which I think helped him.”

Did you think you had it, or did you see Pool Play coming on the outside? “I knew it was going to be close. I thought we had a big shot and it was going to be close and that he would see that horse in time to kind of rally again. He got a good trip from the outside post and definitely ran his race.”

Where does Mission Impazible go now in this wide-open division? “I think we’ll probably take a look at the Whitney (at Saratoga) next and see how he comes out of it. We’ll take a look at that and go from there.”

Javier Castellano, jockey of Mission Impazible (runner-up): “He ran huge. It was a big race and a great performance. I’m so happy with the way he did it today. Unfortunately we lost the race by a bob, but I give all the credit to my horse. He’s a very nice horse and the way he traveled today made me so happy. He enjoyed when he got to the lead – he was just galloping. And when I asked him he took off. I thought I had it. I saw the horse (Pool Play) way outside, my horse never saw the other horse when he went by. I think he (Pool Play) surprised him. He’s a great horse and I think he belongs with this group. I think we can have a lot of fun with him.”

Al Stall Jr., trainer of Apart (third): “He’s shown us time and time again that he’s spotty, and that’s exactly what happened. Julien (Leparoux) said down the backside he wouldn’t trade places with anybody and it was great – he was as confident as he could be. Then Duke of Mischief came zooming on his outside and Julien said he just waited a little bit. He said maybe if he’d gone on and made him do it, he would have gone on. It looked like he was going to run in the middle of the pack, and he got beat a length, or a length and a quarter – whatever it was. He’s just done that to us. That’s why we always think maybe, maybe he’s going to turn the corner on us. There’s definitely something else there. There’s no question. He’s not cheating – he’s really just not there yet. Like I said, I’m thinking he’s ‘Deadsville’ and next thing he’s coming right back at ‘em.”

Julien Leparoux, jockey of Apart (third): “He ran great. It was the first time I had ridden him, so I didn’t know him that much. I thought I had so much horse, I could not wait to go. But when I asked him the other one (Duke of Mischief) came around me and kind of took my spot, and by the time he got going it was too late. I think if I would have asked him a little earlier he would have won it. I know him now, so next time he’ll be tough.”

David Fawkes, trainer of Duke of Mischief (fourth): “He ran his butt off all the way to the wire, he just finally got outrun a little bit. I’ve got no complaints. I really can’t complain. I’d love to win, but I got outrun.”

Joe Bravo, jockey of Duke of Mischief (fourth): “He ran great and he got everybody excited.”

Chris Block, trainer of Giant Oak (fifth): “He just flattened out. I don’t know. I’ll have to scope him and see if there’s an excuse.”

Shaun Bridgmohan, jockey of Giant Oak (fifth): “He was on the bridle early on.  The winner was behind me and I thought he was in comfortable position, but I got spun a little wide around the second turn – but he was running.  In the last part he kind of leveled out.  He didn’t quite follow through with the run that he’s always given me.  I had a good set-up for him, because obviously the winner came from behind me.”

 Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image collected her fifth win in six starts at Churchill Downs when she narrowly defeated Beat the Blues by a head in the eighth running of the Grade III, $111,600 Winning Colors for fillies and mares ages three and up on Memorial Day.

Sassy Image ran six furlongs over a “fast” track in 1:08.59 and was one of three winners for The Downs’ leading rider Corey Lanerie on Monday. Lanerie took over the mount from regular rider Robby Albarado, who had a pair of stakes engagements at Lone Star Park in Texas.

“I was lucky to get the mount on her today with Robby being out of town. Things have just seemed to fall into place this meet,” said Lanerie, who, at the halfway mark of the 39-day Spring Meet, had 23 winners, one more than Shaun Bridgmohan.

Starlite Starbrite broke fastest of all and led the field of nine fillies and mares through the first quarter mile in :21.54 with Beat the Blues pressing the pacesetter and Sassy Image rating patiently in mid-pack. Beat the Blues took the lead at the half-mile marker in :44.65 as Sassy Image ranged into striking distance with a five-wide move on the turn for home. The two battled down the stretch and Sassy Image, from the outside, wore down Beat the Blues in the final yards for the win.

“At the quarter-pole I thought I was definitely going to win, but I wasn’t so sure at the sixteenth pole,” Lanerie said. “When we hit the wire I knew we won.”

Sassy Image, who sprang a 16-1 upset in the Grade I Humana Distaff on Kentucky Derby Day, returned mutuels of $3.80, $2.60 and $2.40 as the odds-on 4-5 favorite. Beat the Blues, ridden by Miguel Mena, paid $6.20 and $4.60. Fortune Play, with Freddie Lenclud up, was 4 ½ lengths back in third and returned $8.40.

Jocata, Starlite Starbrite, Wind Caper, Stephanie Got Even, Bell’s Shoes and My New Lady completed the order of finish. Indian Ink was scratched.

Dale Romans trains Sassy Image for his older brother, who purchased the 4-year-old daughter of Broken Vow for $42,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale. She banked $66,426 for the win and improved her overall record to 13-6-2-1 with career earnings of $598,781.

"She loves this track and she ran good,” Romans said. “That was a little more work than I expected, but they ran so fast and there’s only so fast a horse can run.”

The Kentucky-bred filly has enjoyed tremendous success beneath the Twin Spires. At 2, she broke her maiden by 5 ¾ lengths and later won the Pocahontas (GIII) by two and the Golden Rod (GII) by 3 3/4. She faltered in two starts at Gulfstream Park this winter but it was discovered that she had an entrapped epiglottis and underwent surgery to correct the problem. Her three-length triumph in the Humana Distaff on May 7 was her first victory since taking the Sweet Chant at Gulfstream Park early in her 3-year-old season.

“We’ll look at a couple of different spots for her now,” Romans said. “We may go to Saratoga for the 

Ballerina (a Grade I, $250,000 seven-furlong sprint on Aug. 27). We’ll probably run her in one more sprint and  then give her a route race before the Breeders’ Cup (Ladies Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4). We’re going to try and make her a champion and to get that she’ll probably have to win the (Ladies’ Classic).”

The Winning Colors is named in honor of the 1988 Kentucky Derby winner, who is the most recent of three fillies to win the famed “Run for the Roses” at Churchill Downs. Past winners of the Winning Colors are Lady Tak (2004), Molto Vita (2005), Ever Elusive (2006), Miss Macy Sue (2007), Graeme Six (2008) and Dubai Majesty (2009-10). The latter won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.Churchill Downs will be dark Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Racing will resume Friday with an 11-race twilight program that begins at 2:45 p.m. ET. There will be a two-day Pick 6 carryover of $9,553 on Races 6-11, and a Super Hi-5 carryover of $5,689 in the finale.

                       WINNING COLORS QUOTES

Corey Lanerie, jockey of Sassy Image, winner: “I was lucky to get the mount on her today with Robby (Albarado) being out of town. Things have just seemed to fall into place this meet. I actually broke her maiden, but I lost the mount when she went to New York. She ran good for me today. At the quarter-pole I thought I was definitely going to win, but I wasn’t so sure at the sixteenth pole. When we hit the wire I knew we won.”

Dale Romans, trainer of Sassy Image, winner: “She loves this track and she ran good. That was a little more work than I expected, but they ran so fast and there’s only so fast a horse can run. We’ll look at a couple of different spots for her now. We may go to Saratoga for the Ballerina (a Grade I, $250,000 seven-furlong sprint on Aug. 27). We’ll probably run her in one more sprint and then give her a route race before the Breeders’ Cup (Ladies Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4). We’re going to try and make her a champion and to get that she’ll probably have to win the (Ladies’ Classic).”

Jerry Romans, owner of Sassy Image, winner: “I didn’t think she was going to get up, but she somehow did! She ran a great race and Bret’s filly ran an amazing race too. She (Sassy Image) is a once in a lifetime horse.”

Bret Calhoun, trainer of Beat the Blues (runner-up)

“You know, it’s tough.  It’s disappointing to get beat like that after you run such a huge race.  I’m happy with the way she ran, but very disappointed to get beat like that on the wire in a Grade III.  We were expecting a big race out of her, I really was.  I know Sassy Image is a great filly and a Grade I winner and I didn’t expect to beat her.  But I thought she had a big shot in there today and she ran up to expectations.  I’m just disappointed to get beat right there on the wire.”

Q: You won this race last year with Dubai Majesty and returned in the fall to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.  Could she be that type of filly?

“This filly, from the time we bought her, has just gotten better and better and I think she proved that today.  You never know where they’re going to go, but I thought today was a big step forward in that direction.  Oh sure, you’d always love to end up there.  I don’t know if she’ll end up there or not, but she took on what’s right now one of the best one-turn sprint fillies there is, and one that’s really got an affinity for this track.”

Miguel Mena, jockey on Beat the Blues (runner-up)

“I had a perfect trip.  She broke good and settled off the speed in a perfect spot.  Turning for home we made a run and just got outrun at the end. But my filly ran really hard.  We’ve got a pretty good filly with a big future.”

FREDDIE LENCLUD, jockey on FORTUNE PLAY (third)

“She ran well.  We wanted to kind of rate off the pace.  It was six furlongs, but there wasn’t a lot of speed in the race, so we wanted to lay third or fourth.  She made a nice run down the lane.  She tried hard.”

Sullimar Stables’ Get Stormy and William Stiritz’s Proceed Bee, Grade III turf winners in their most recent starts, headline a field of 10 3-year-olds entered for Sunday’s sixth running of the Grade III $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf.

The Commonwealth Turf, won last year by Nistle’s Crunch, is run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course and will go as the ninth race on Sunday’s 10-race card at 4:37 p.m. (all times EST). First post time is 12:40 p.m.

Get Stormy, trained by Tom Bush, has won his past three starts. The winning streak started with a pair of wins at Saratoga that included an allowance race at a mile on grass at Saratoga and the $80,000 Lure, also run at a mile on turf. Get Stormy then won the Bryan Station at Keeneland by 1 ½ lengths on Oct. 18 under Javier Castellano, who has the mount Sunday. Get Stormy will break from post position one.

Proceed Bee, who has won on grass, dirt and an all-weather track in 2009, won the Hawthorne Derby on Oct. 10 in his most recent start. Trained by Scott Becker, Proceed Bee won the Honor Glide at Arlington Park on Sept. 7 and last fall here on the closing-day “Stars of Tomorrow II” card won the Grand Canyon at a mile and a sixteenth on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Chris Emigh, who has been aboard Proceed Bee nine times in the gelding’s 14-race career including the past four starts, has the riding assignment on Sunday. Proceed Bee will break from post position 10.

The only graded-stakes winner over the Matt Winn Turf Course in the Commonwealth Turf field is Darley Stable’s Florentino (Jpn), who took the Grade II Jefferson Cup here in June. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Florentino will try to join Inca King as the only horses to win the Jefferson Cup and Commonwealth Turf. Inca King achieved his double in 2007.

Miguel Mena has the call on Florentino on Sunday, breaking from post position three. Florentino, Get Stormy and Proceed Bee will carry high weight of 123 pounds each, conceding 4-6 pounds to their rivals.

   The field for the Commonwealth Turf, from the hedge out, is as follows: Get Stormy (J. Castellano, 123 pounds), Pop Tarrt (S. Gonzalez Jr., 119), Florentino (Jpn) (M. Mena, 123), Street Move (J. Bravo, 119), Major Marvel (K. Desormeaux, 117), Quite a Handful (R. Albarado, 117), Grizzled Robert (J. Castanon, 119), Perfect Bull (D. Butler, 119), Spectacular Kid (L. Goncalves, 117) amd Proceed Bee (C. Emigh, 123).

Gold Mark Farm’s Backtalk charged past Flatter Than Me inside the sixteenth pole to win the 108th running of the $110,500 Bashford Manor Stakes (GIII) for 2-year-olds by a length at Churchill Downs on Friday.

            Ridden by Miguel Mena and trained by Tom Amoss, Backtalk covered the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:11.08 in defeating seven rivals. The victory was worth $66,455 and increased Backtalk’s earnings to $90,095 for two wins in two starts.

            Soundman, ridden by Jamie Theriot, was quickest out of the gate and led the field through the first quarter-mile in :21.98 and the half-mile in :45.84 with Flatter Than Me in closest pursuit under Robby Albarado. Mena had Backtalk about five lengths off the lead racing in a pack with Grand Slam Andre and Brassy Boy.

Entering the stretch, Flatter Than Me surged past Soundman. Mena angled Backtalk out from behind Flatter Than Me and squeezed by on the inside of Grand Slam Andre for clear sailing to draw clear and give Amoss his second victory in the race to go with Lone Star Sky’s triumph in 2002.

Backtalk is a son of 2004 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones out of the Affirmed mare Apasionata Sonata and a half-brother to graded stakes winner Bsharpsonata. With the victory, Backtalk became the first U.S. graded stakes winner for Smarty Jones.

Backtalk returned payoffs of $3.60, $2.60 and $2.20. Flatter Than Me paid $3.60 and $3.20 in finishing 1 ½ lengths ahead of Brassy Boy, who paid $4 to show under Corey Lanerie. Completing the field in order were Grand Slam Andre, Soundman, Westrock Gold, Vito Filitto and Even Wilder.

Racing resumes Saturday with an 11-race program beginning at 12:45 p.m. (all times EDT). Highlighting the card will be the 19th running of the $150,000-added Firecracker Handicap (Grade II) featuring defending champion Thorn Song in the eight-horse lineup. The Firecracker goes as Race 10 with a 5:29 p.m. post time.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE BASHFORD MANOR

TOM AMOSS, trainer of BACKTALK (winner)

            “I really thought that the extra distance going to six furlongs would be a benefit to him based on how he ran the first time. Around the turn, I wasn’t so sure that he was into it. A lot of that is education and the fact that it was only his second start. When he got out of tight quarters and when he was in the clear you saw him spurt and I think that’s a real positive sign for the future and more distance. We’ll see where it leads us.”

            Q: He had to overcome a lot today . . .

            “It was a rough trip. He stumbled out of the gate and he was in tight quarters and had to bull his way through down the lane. I was watching it live and . . . I hoped the trip was clean enough and that we didn’t have a problem. Fortunately, it was. Look, this was a great learning experience for him and it will help him moving forward.”

            Q: Is his large size a benefit when in tight quarters?

            “It had to. You know, to get in there and make room for himself, his size has to be a big part of it.

“You know Smarty Jones was the first Derby winner that I asked a trainer if I could come see him. I did that the day after the [2004 Kentucky] Derby. I went in the stall with him and he was much more refined than this horse. This horse is a much bigger horse than Smarty Jones was. But that’s about the only thing they got in common.

“Smarty Jones needed a good horse and hopefully this is it.”

Q: What’s next?

“Oh, I don’t know. We’ll sit down together as a team and make some decisions together.”

MIGUEL MENA, jockey of BACKTALK (winner)

            “My horse stumbled out of the gate, but luckily he got on his feet. I was kind of worried because he was running so green between horses. He has so much talent and when I asked him to run he really gave it to me and responded very well. He is such a great horse. He is going to keep learning and have a bright future.”

MERRILL SCHERER, trainer of FLATTER THAN ME (runner-up)

“He ran good, but the winner is an unbeaten horse – you never know what he is.”

Q: What will you do with Flatter Than Me?

“I’ll take him to Saratoga and try ‘em.  You might as well get beat by the best.  He deserves a chance against those horses.”

ROBBY ALBARADO, jockey on FLATTER THAN ME (runner-up)

“He ran a great race.  He’s got a lot of potential to be a very nice horse.  He’s fast enough and he rates kindly.  He’s got all the keys to be a good one.”

Q: Were you surprised that he rated so well – he showed so much speed in his earlier races?

“He’s a deceptive horse for as big as he is.  If he can harness some of that speed I think he’ll go a lot further and be a better horse.”

Q: Did you think Flatter Than Me was a winner in upper stretch?

“Oh yeah, no doubt – when I kicked for home I thought he was a winner.  That’s taking nothing away from the winner – he’s a very nice horse.  He’s a very nice Smarty Jones colt – and Smarty Jones liked this track.”

HAL WIGGINS, trainer of BRASSY BOY (third)

“I think he’s going to be OK.  He might be a step below these.  I thought (Tom) Amoss’ horse (Backtalk) ran a big, big race, and Merrill (Scherer)’s horse (Flatter Than Me) run a big race – he broke bad last time and I thought he would run good.  Amoss’ horse finished very, very strong –- he’s gonna be the horse that comes out of this bunch, I believe.”

Q: What will you do with Brassy Boy now?

“I don’t know – we might give him a little break.  I’ll kind of look around and see.  The little colt tried.  He was closer earlier than I thought he’d be, but Corey (Lanerie) said he’s kind of learning.  He doesn’t know what to do quite yet and he put himself into it a little early, but he’s going to be all right.  We’ll have some fun with him.”

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN, jockey on GRAND SLAM ANDRE (fourth)

“When he broke he made a left-hand turn, but once he straightened up he was good.”

Q: He ran well after that – did you ever think you had a chance after that start?

“Down the backside I got him to the outside and he grabbed the bridle a little bit and was starting to do things the right way.  Even in the middle of the turn, I still had horse and I was sitting on him, but for a young horse it was a lot to overcome.”

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Gold Mark Farm’s Backtalk, an impressive debut winner, and Millsap Stables’ homebred Brassy Boy, unbeaten in two career starts, head a field of nine 2-year-olds entered for  Friday’s 108th running of the Bashford Manor (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

    The six-furlong test on the main track will be the 10th race on Friday’s 11-race card that opens with a 2:45 p.m. (all times EDT) first post time. Post time for the Bashford Manor is 7:24 p.m.

    A $250,000 purchase as a yearling, Backtalk rallied wide from off the pace to win at first asking by 2 ¾ lengths over nine rivals in a five-furlong race on June 11. Backtalk is from the second crop of foals by 2004 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones and a half-brother to graded stakes winner Bsharpsonata.

    Tom Amoss, who trained 2002 Bashford Manor winner Lone Star Sky, trains Backtalk, who tuned up for the Bashford Manor with a half-mile work in :50 on Tuesday over a fast track. Miguel Mena will ride Backtalk and break from post position five.

    Brassy Boy broke his maiden for a $30,000 claiming tag going 4 ½ furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 29.  He then won a five-furlong allowance test on June 11 over a strong field that included Bashford Manor rivals Soundman and Flatter Than Me.

    Trained by Hal Wiggins, Brassy Boy is an Arkansas-bred by Storm and a Half out of the Dixie Brass mare Brass Doll. Brassy Boy, who worked three furlongs in :36.80 on Tuesday morning, is the fifth foal of Brass Doll and a full brother to stakes winners Brassie Prince and Doll and a Half.

    Corey Lanerie, who won the 2007 Bashford Manor aboard Kodiak Kowboy, has the call on Brassy Boy, who will break from post three under top weight of 120 pounds.

    Soundman, who has a record of 1-1-1 in three races, is one of two Bashford Manor contenders trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the Hall of Fame trainer who has won the Bashford Manor a record five times.  Lukas will also saddle Westrock Gold.

    Two other trainers with multiple Bashford Manor wins, Steve Asmussen and Todd Pletcher, will shoot for their third victories in the race. Asmussen sends out Grand Slam Andre and Pletcher will be represented by Mission Impazible.

    The field for the Bashford Manor, from the rail out, is as follows: Grand Slam Andre (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118 pounds), Westrock Gold (Julien Leparoux, 118), Brassy Boy (Corey Lanerie, 120), Mission Impazible (John Velazquez, 118), Backtalk (Miguel Mena, 118), Even Wilder (Jon Court, 116), Soundman (Jamie Theriot, 118), Vito Filitto (Calvin Borel, 116) and Flatter Than Me (Robby Albarado, 118).

The current stars of the 3-year-old crop – headed by Kentucky Derby (Grade I) winner Mine That Bird, Kentucky Oaks (GI) filly Rachel Alexandra and Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile – are among 13 three-year-olds doing battle in the 134th running of the Preakness (GI) at Pimlico.
 While several of those horses figure to be major players in the crop of Kentucky Derby-aged horses through the rest of the year, others that could be significant factors in the division are in the wings at Churchill Downs and awaiting their chance.
One is A. Stevens Miles Jr.’s Warrior’s Reward, an impressive winner over a strong allowance field on Kentucky Oaks Day.  Another is James C. Spence’s homebred Flying Pegasus, a strong runner-up to beaten Kentucky Derby favorite Friesan Fire in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds but idle since a poor effort behind that same rival in the $600,000 Louisiana Derby (GII) on March 14.  
The Ian Wilkes-trained Warrior’s Reward breezed four furlongs in :49.40 over a
“sloppy” track on Saturday at Churchill Downs.  The son of Medaglia d’Oro is being pointed toward a run in the $100,000-added Northern Dancer (GIII) for 3-year-olds on the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) undercard on June 13.  
Flying Pegasus, a son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus trained by Ralph Nicks, is finally ready to return to serious training after falling ill just after a disappointing eighth-place run in the slop in the Louisiana Derby.
Warrior’s Reward has been just below the radar of the 3-year-old picture after he
scored a 30-1 upset in his career debut on Jan. 31 at Gulfstream Park over a race that marked the racing debut of Nicanor, the full-brother to ill-fated 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.  He followed that with a runner-up finish to Dunkirk, the eventual runner-up in the Florida Derby (GI) who finished 11th in the Kentucky Derby.
    Wilkes gave Warrior’s Reward a chance to place himself on the Kentucky Derby trail with a run in the Tampa Bay Derby, but he finished eighth that day behind the victorious Musket Man, who would finish third in the Kentucky Derby; runner-up Join in the Dance, seventh in the Derby; and General Quarters, who would win the Toyota Blue Grass (GI) before running 10th in the “Run for the Roses.”
    Warrior’s Reward had a round of throat surgery to correct a breathing problem after the race at Tampa Bay, and then returned with his sparkling 2 ½-length allowance win over the well-regarded Munnings and Reynaldothewizard on Oaks Day.
    “To win the Derby you’ve got to be right on the first Saturday in May, and I wasn’t quite there,” Wilkes said.  “My horse didn’t get a race last year and that really hurt.  But things happen for a reason, and maybe that race at Tampa happened for a reason.”
    Warrior’s Reward has earned $58,980 while compiling his 2-1-0 record in those four races.  If all goes well, the 1 1/16-mile Northern Dancer will serve as a springboard to bigger races in the second half of the year.
    “There are plenty of races,” said Wilkes.  “I know there’s only one Derby, but it was probably the best thing that ever happened to him.  I gave him a little break, we did a little throat surgery on him and he’s a better horse now.”
    Meanwhile, Flying Pegasus is scheduled to return to serious training with a light breeze on Sunday that will be his first work since the Louisiana Derby.  Nicks said his colt fell ill after the Louisiana Derby and it took a while for Flying Pegasus to get back to the track.  
    Nicks can’t be sure, but Flying Pegasus is doing so well now he believes the infection that hit him a couple of days after the Louisiana Derby could have affected him in the race.
    “The last few days going into the Louisiana Derby, he got a little quiet,” said Nicks.  “It wasn’t enough to make you think anything was wrong, and we thought he might have just been settling.  But it’s obvious now that whatever hit him was coming.  He never had a fever or nothing until two days later.”
    Nicks said the infection proved to be stubborn, which extended his colt’s stay on the sidelines.
    “It took him forever,” he said.  “It just kept coming back.”
    Nicks had high hopes for Flying Pegasus from the moment the bay colt entered his barn and he won at first asking in a Churchill Downs maiden race on July 2.  He followed that with an allowance win at Delaware and then a second to recent Peter Pan (GII) winner Charitable Man in the Belmont Futurity (GII).  Friesan Fire finished third in that race.  
    It would prove to be the last start of the year for Flying Pegasus, who fractured a hind cannon bone in training after that race and underwent surgery to place a screw in the injured bone.  
    He returned from a five-month break with a strong runner-up effort behind Friesan Fire in the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star (GIII) at Fair Grounds that fueled hopes in his camp that the colt would make the Kentucky Derby, but those hopes were dashed by the Louisiana Derby run and the illness that followed.
    “We were scrambling the whole time trying to get to where we were,” Nicks said.  “I’m not too sure the Risen Star didn’t knock him out a little bit and lead to everything that happened.  But you’ve got the 3-year-old hype and do what you’ve got to do to get to the ‘big dance’.  Fortunately he got through it, but we’re dealing with some repercussions from it.”
    Although Nicks has had to be patient with Flying Pegasus, he is ready to get his colt back in competition and Sunday’s breeze will be the first step.  
    “He’ll have that little light breeze tomorrow and we’ll see where we go from there,” he said.  “He’s been galloping, so it won’t take him a long time to get ready.”

VETERAN BRASS HAT SHARP IN FINAL DRILL FOR LOUISVILLE – Fred Bradley’s homebred Brass Hat has never been known for dazzling speed in his morning workouts, but a sharp work on Saturday by the 8-year-old veteran could indicate the old boy is sitting on a big effort in next week’s $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII).
    Brass Hat tuned up for that 1 ½-mile turf test with a five-furlong breeze over a sloppy t rack in 1:01.  The work was a ‘bullet’ move under jockey Charles Woods Jr. as it ended up as the fastest of 20 at the distance.
    “He worked really well,” trainer William “Buff” Bradley said. “Charlie said he worked ‘awesome,’ and then said, ‘How’d he get beat?’  But that’s just Charlie.  He said he just sat on him the whole way, and that he just picked it up, put his head down and then galloped out good.”
    Brass Hat won the Grade I Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in 2006 and finished second in the $5 million Dubai World Cup (GI) on dirt before being disqualified for a medication infraction.  Despite the loss of that $1 million runner-up purse in Dubai, Brass Hat has won eight of 29 races and earned $1,825,814.
    He has yet to win in seven tries on the turf, but is coming off a good third-place finish to Spice Route in the Elkhorn (GIII) at Keeneland.  And he had very little luck in last year’s running of the Louisville in which he dropped far off a slow pace under jockey Calvin Borel, but rallied wide to finish fifth and was beaten only 2 ½ lengths by the victorious Lattice.  Borel will return to the saddle aboard Brass Hat next week.
    “Calvin took the blame last year – he had him too far back off that slow pace,” Bradley said.  “I’ve got to tell Calvin not to ride him like Mine That Bird – ride him like Rachel.”
    Brass Hat will bid to snap a 10-race losing streak in the Louisville.  He last visited the winner’s circle in the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs in September 2007.

PREAKNESS HORSES DUE BACK ON SUNDAY – A plane carrying Preakness (GI) contenders Rachel Alexandra, Pioneerof the Nile and Terrain is due to land at Louisville International Airport on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (EDT).
    Scheduled to make the trip from Baltimore-to-Churchill Downs by van are Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, General Quarters and the D. Wayne Lukas-trained duo of Flying Private and Luv Guv.

BARN TALK – Domino Stud’s Miss Isella, upset winner over previously unbeaten One Caroline in the Louisville Distaff (GII) on Kentucky Oaks Day, breezed four furlongs on Saturday in :50.20 over a “sloppy” track.  The Ian Wilkes-trained daughter of 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm is scheduled to run next in the $200,000-added Fleur De Lis (GII) on the June 13 Stephen Foster Handicap undercard.  One Caroline, who is in training at Keeneland for trainer Rusty Arnold, is being pointed toward a rematch with Miss Isella in the 1 1/8-mile race. … Gold Square’s Lady Chace, a candidate for next week’s $100,000-added Winning Colors (GIII), breezed five furlongs in 1:02.20 over a “sloppy” track on Saturday for trainer Steve Margolis. The Tiznow filly finished third in the recent Giant’s Causeway on the Keeneland turf.  Others expected to run in the Winning Colors include Tiz To Dream, Keep the Peace, Marina Ballerina, Nadeshiko and Tar Heel Mom. … Also showing up on the Saturday work tab was 2008 Travers (GI) runner-up Mambo in Seattle.  The Neil Howard-trained son of Kingmambo, fifth behind Bullsbay in the Alysheba (GIII) on Derby Day, breezed five furlongs over “sloppy” going on Saturday in 1:03.80. … Miguel Mena took advantage of the absence of Julien Leparoux, Jamie Theriot and Calvin Borel – the top three riders in the Spring Meet heading into Friday’s racing program – to score four wins during the 10-race program.  Mena’s big day enabled him to slide past Theriot into second place in the Spring Meet jockeys’ race.  Leparoux has a meet-leading 22 wins, while Mena (17) and Theriot (16) are second and third.  Leparoux, Theriot and Borel were at Pimlico on Friday to ride in Preakness weekend races, and the Churchill trio was to be joined Saturday in Baltimore by Robby Albarado. … With no live racing on Wednesdays for the remainder of the Spring Meet, Churchill Downs will offer free general admission for ITW simulcast wagering on Wednesdays through the remainder of the Spring Meet

As trainer Tom Amoss stood in the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs following his 300th victory under the historic Twin Spires of the home of the Kentucky Derby, he recalled his first journey to the Louisville track.
    The 47-year-old New Orleans native picked a good day for that first visit.
    “I always, when I started training, aspired to train here at Churchill Downs,” said Amoss.  “My first day of racing at Churchill Downs was the 1979 Kentucky Derby that Spectacular Bid won.  I was a senior in high school and I came up with (fellow trainer) Al Stall and his family.  That morning, the morning of the race, I rode (trainer) Frank Brothers’ pony on the track. I always thought it would be wonderful to train here one day.”
    Amoss made it to Louisville and Thursday’s milestone win in the fifth race with Maggi Moss’ McGlamery Road made him just the ninth trainer in Churchill Downs history to achieve 300 victories at the track.  The eight who preceded him are: Bill Mott (615 wins), D. Wayne Lukas (466), Dale Romans (460), Bernie Flint (411), Jack Van Berg (335), Angel Montano Sr. (319), Steve Asmussen (314) and Forrest Kaelin (309).
    “I’m very proud it and I’m very proud for my staff,” Amoss said.  “These guys have all been with me a long time. Anybody that comes to the barn sees the same faces and I really feel we did it together.  It’s a good deal for everybody.”
    Among those 300 wins are a couple of personal highlights.  Amoss ranks last spring’s victory by Moss’ Indian Chant in the Aristides (GIII) at the top of that roster.
    “That was a wonderful win,” Amoss said.  “That’s something that was really exciting to me and to the staff.  That and maybe Lone Star Sky’s (2002) Bashford Manor (Grade III) win.  Those two are the ones that quickly come to mind.”
    Amoss, who won last year’s Spring Meet training crown to go with an earlier spring crown he earned in 2002, has 36 horses in training at Churchill Downs.  His horses have run well at the meet with a record of 4-7-3 in 19 starts entering Friday’s 10-race program – an in-the-money rate of 74 percent.  His win total is tied for third in the “leading trainer” race behind co-leaders Steve Asmussen and Wesley Ward, each of whom has six wins heading into Friday’s racing at Churchill Downs.
    Along with his success at Churchill Downs, Amoss has enjoyed tremendous success at Fair Grounds in his hometown of New Orleans.  Amoss has exactly 800 wins at Churchill Downs’ sister track in the Crescent City.

STEWART AIMS MACHO AGAIN TO GRADE I STEPHEN FOSTER – West Point Thorughbreds’ Macho Again came out of a disappointing fifth-place finish in the $150,000-added Alysheba (GIII) on Kentucky Oaks Day in good shape and is now being pointed toward the $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI), the track’s top race for older horses on Saturday, June 13.
    The Dallas Stewart-trained runner-up to Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) Big Brown in the 2008 Preakness (GI) was favored in the Alysheba following an impressive win over a “sloppy” track in the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap (GII) at Fair Grounds on March 14.  But he was far back early behind a slow pace in the 1 1/16-mile Alysheba and was never contention, although he did close ground late to finished just 4 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Bullsbay.
    But Stewart liked what he saw when the son of Macho Uno returned to serious training on May 11 with a half-mile work in :49 over a “fast” local surface.  
    “He’s doing good,” Stewart said.  “He was probably up against it with the pace last time.  He ran well and was coming on, and maybe a little more distance will help him out. He’s ready to roll.”
    The 1 1/8-mile Foster is expected to attracted two-time Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) winner Einstein, the runner-up to two-time “Horse of the Year” Curlin in the 2008 Stephen Foster.
    The Alysheba marked the first time in four starts that Macho Again had finished worse than second at Churchill Downs.  He scored an emphatic 5 ½-length victory in his career debut here in late October of 2007 and notched an upset victory in last year’s Derby Trial prior to his outstanding run in the Preakness.  His other loss here was a narrow defeat to eventual Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner Monba in an allowance race that followed his maiden win in the fall of his 2-year-old season.
    Macho Again’s career slate stands at 5-4-0 in 17 races with earnings of $1,078,323.  His New Orleans ‘Cap win is his only victory in three 2009 starts.
    Stewart has never won the Stephen Foster Handicap, but did saddle Dollar Bill for a runner-up finish behind Godolphin’s Street Cry in 2002.

SPICE ROUTE TOPS WEIGHT ASSIGNMENTS FOR LOUISVILLE HANDICAP, BRASS HAT PROBABLE STARTING HIGH WEIGHT – Spice Route, winner of Keeneland’s Elkhorn (GIII) in his most recent start and the runner-up to Marsh Side in last fall’s Canadian International (GI) at Woodbine, has been assigned high weight of 121 for next Saturday’s 72nd running of the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs.
    Co-owned by Harlequin Stable, Ralph Johnson and trainer Roger Attfield, the 5-year-old son of King’s Best is not considered a likely starter in the 1 ½-mile race over the Matt Winn Turf Course, but would concede from three to 11 pounds to the 27 other horses nominated to the race.
    Veteran Better Talk Now, winner of the 2004 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI) at Lone Star Park, and Churchill Downs-based veteran Brass Hat, winner of the 2006 Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulstream Park and runner-up in that year’s $5 million Dubai World Cup (GI) before being disqualified for a medication violation, were weighted at 118 pounds by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman.
    Brass Hat, an 8-year-old gelding owned and bred by Fred Bradley and trained by Bradley’s son William “Buff” Bradley, is scheduled to run in the Louisville and is expected to be its starting high weight.  He finished a late-running third to Spice Route in the Elkhorn and prior to that was a fast-closing fifth to Proudinsky in the Mervin Muniz Jr. Handicap (GII) at Fair Grounds.
    The son of Prized closed strongly off a very slow pace to finish fourth to Lattice in last year’s running of the Louisville.
    Others considered likely for the race include Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Furthest Land, a 4-year-old Smart Strike gelding won finished eighth to Einstein in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI), and Kim and John Glenney’s Transduction Gold, who was assigned 114 pounds.
    
BARN NOTES – Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel will not be adding to his milestone victory total for a couple of days as he has traveled to Pimlico to ride Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness.  Borel became only the fourth rider to win 900 races in the 135-year history of Churchill Downs to win 900 races when he piloted Patton’s Creek Farm’s War Eagle Lady to a 14 ¾-length romp in Thursday’s sixth race.  Borel, who won Fall Meet riding titles at Churchill Downs in 1999 and 2006, ranks fourth in total wins at the track and trails only retired Hall of Famers Pat Day (2,482 wins) and Don Brumfield (925) and active veteran Larry Melancon (907).  The 42-year-old native of St. Martin, La. will return to Churchill Downs on Sunday. … Also out of town on Friday and Saturday to ride in Preakness weekend races at Pimlico are leading rider Julien Leparoux and Jamie Theriot, who ranks second in the Spring Meet standings. Robby Albarado, sixth in the standings heading into Friday’s racing, will ride at Pimlico on Saturday. … Leparoux had a pair of wins on Thursday to increase his lead over Theriot in the early stages of the battle for the Spring Meet’s leading jockey to 22-16. … With no live racing on Wednesdays for the remainder of the Spring Meet, Churchill Downs will offer free general admission for ITW simulcast wagering on Wednesdays through the remainder of the Spring Meet. … Secret Gypsy, winner of the Distaff (GII) at Aqueduct but last of nine to Informed Decision in the Humana Distaff (GI) on Derby Day, breezed four furlongs over a “good” track in :49.20 on Friday.  It was the first work for trainer Ronny Werner’s 4-year-old daughter of Sea of Secrets since her disappointing Derby Day outing.
    
ENJOY THE PREAKNESS SIMULCAST ON SATURDAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Churchill Downs will take on a Pimlico-feel for a simulcast of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, complete with yellow, white and black bunting and flowers and live Dixieland and Big Band music.
Fans will get a choice of a free Mine That Bird or Rachel Alexandra button while supplies last in the paddock area. Also, Black-Eyed Susan specialty drinks and coastal food specials will be sold at select locations throughout the facility. And between races in the paddock area, the “World’s Largest Black-Eyed Susan” will be on display, and select customers will get a chance to compete in “Crab Races” – they’ll be in costumes dressed as crabs – with the final scheduled for later in the day on the Matt Winn Turf Course.
Post time for Churchill Downs’ Preakness simulcast is 6:15 p.m. (all times EDT)
Early arrivals to Churchill Downs on Preakness Stakes Day can take part in the new “Get in the Game” Handicapping Seminar that will feature informative and in-depth analysis of races and handicapping topics. Churchill Downs racing analyst Jill Byrne hosts the seminar each week and will be joined Saturday by jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.   The seminar is held paddock area at 11:45 a.m. (note: event will be held in the ITW area on the second floor of the clubhouse if there is inclement weather).

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES IN CHURCHILL DOWNS’  JUNIOR JOCKEY CLUB –  Decorating paper horses highlight this weekend’s activities at Churchill Downs’ Junior Jockey Club 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 both Saturday and Sunday for photographs between 2-2:30 p.m. The Junior Jockey Club, designed for children age 3-10, is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

KENTUCKY OAKS WINNER RACHEL ALEXANDRA WORKS FOR NEW BARN – Possible Preakness candidate Rachel Alexandra, a record-smashing 20 ¼-length winner of the Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) tuned up for a possible bid for Saturday’s $1 million Preakness Stakes (GI) with an easy four-furlong work on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
    The 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, working for the first time for new trainer Steve Asmussen, covered the half-mile distance over a “fast” track in :48.40.  Exercise rider Dominic Terry was in the saddle as Rachel Alexandra turned out fractional times of :12.40 and :24.40 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.  The move ranked 13th  among 81 works at the distance.
    “I thought it went beautiful,” Asmussen said.  “I’m surprised the racetrack dried out so well considering they cancelled (races) two days ago.
    “She’s a beautiful filly.  I think she’s doing extremely well.  Every sight of her has been impressive and I’m just very happy to get this light move in this morning under very good conditions.”
    Rachel Alexandra was transferred from the care of trainer Hal Wiggins to Asmussen when the filly was purchased for an undisclosed price early last week by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Farm and Harold McCormick.   Jackson had indicated that the filly would be made a supplemental entry to the Preakness, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, if she continued to do well in her new barn.  But Asmussen said on Sunday that a decision on Rachel Alexandra’s Preakenss bid had yet to be made.  
    “That’s Mr. Jackson’s discretion – whatever timetable he wants to be on,” said Asmussen.  “We’re just very fortunate to have her in our care and we’ll just communicate what we think we’re seeing.”
    Asmussen won the Preakness in 2007 with eventual “Horse of the Year” and 3-year-old champion Curlin, who rallied to edge Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Street Sense in that race.  He declined to speculate where Rachel Alexandra fits among the males being toward Saturday’s race at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course.
    “I think it’s like all races – you only worry about what you can take care of,” he said.  “The filly has proven what a tremendous mare she is.  Mr. Wiggins has done a remarkable job with an amazing filly and we’re just very fortunate to be around her.”
    Rachel Alexandra’s win in the Kentucky Oaks was her fifth consecutive victory – all in stakes competition – and lifted her career earnings to $958,354.  Her career record stands at 7-2-0 in 10 races.

UNBEATEN HULL ZIPS FIVE FURLONGS IN PREAKNESS DRILL – Unbeaten Derby Trial (GIII) winner Hull tuned up for a possible run in the Preakness with a sharp five furlong work over a “fast” track on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
    Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Team Valor International and Gary Barber’s 3-year-old son of 1994 “Horse of the Year” Holy Bull covered the distance in :59.40.  Jockey Miguel Mena was aboard for the “bullet” move that was the best of 35 at the distance.
    The Dale Romans-trained colt covered the distance in fractions of :23.20 and :35.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.80.
“He worked really good – I had him in :59-flat,” Romans said.  “It looked like he was doing it easy.”
    Romans said there’s no final decision at this point on whether Hull will run in Saturday’s second jewel of the Triple Crown at Pimlico.  He said the status of Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra, who could be made a supplemental entry to the race, would be part of the discussion.
    “It makes it a tougher decision to go,” Romans said.  “We’re going to sit down and talk about it on Tuesday and see if we want to go up there and run against her.  Right now, I think we’re still gonna go, but we’ll see what happens.  She changes the dynamics of the whole race.”
    Hull figures to be prominent from the start if he runs in the Preakness, but Romans said Rachel Alexandra would figure to be close by at all points of the race.
    “She’s true speed that keeps on going,” he said.  “She’s real quality.  I don’t know it’s going to be for a filly to come back in two weeks – I think it’s harder for the fillies than it is for the colts.  But I’m sure if Steve (Asmussen) takes her over there, then she’s ready to go.”
    Romans had high hopes for Hull going into his stakes debut in the Derby Trial on April 25, which is run at Churchill Downs’ one-turn mile distance.   He was impressed by the colt’s effort in that four-length win and that’s why the 1 3/16-mile Preakness is being considered so strongly.
    “We knew he was good, but when you’re stepping up into stakes company for the first time there’s still some unknowns,” said Romans.  “But he proved he can run with anybody, because that was a solid field of horses.”

TERRAIN WORKS IN COMPANY FOR PREAKNESS  – Adele Dilschneider’s Terrain tuned up for a probable run in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes by working five furlongs in company with Map of the World in 1:02.60, 19th fastest of 35 at the distance.
With jockey Jamie Theriot up, Terrain broke off about two lengths behind Map of the World with Julien Leparoux up. Terrain drew even at the eighth pole and finished on even terms.
     “I had worked a few horses earlier in the morning and the track was fast. I didn’t want any lights out work,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said. “He is ready to run. He got dialed in today. I told Jamie just to sit behind him and when he chirped to him, he was right on him and they finished heads up. Jamie was happy with him.”
    Stall has not named a rider for Terrain for the Preakness.
    The work was the third for Terrain since his fourth-place finish in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I) on April 11. He had worked in :47.60 in company for a half-mile on April 24 at Keeneland and then turned in a :50.40 half while working solo on May 3, also at Keeneland.

GENERAL QUARTERS TO BREEZE ON MONDAY MORNING – With exercise rider Justin Court up, General Quarters galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break.
Owner/trainer Tom McCarthy plans to work the 10th-place Kentucky Derby finisher an easy half-mile Monday morning before the break with Court up.
“I just want to give him a little bit of a maintenance move,” McCarthy said. “I will breeze him a slow half, just something to take the edge off.”
General Quarters, winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I), is scheduled to leave early Tuesday morning by van to Pimlico for the Preakness.

BAFFERT GETS HIS DERBY … A WEEK LATE – “I got my Derby,” a smiling Bob Baffert said Sunday morning upon his return to Churchill Downs after a successful foray to Texas where Peachtree Stable’s Mythical Power won Saturday’s Lone Star Derby (Grade III) by 7 ½ lengths.
The Derby that eluded Baffert the week before was, of course, Kentucky Derby 135 in which his Pioneerof the Nile finished second to Mine That Bird.
With exercise rider George Alvarez up, Pioneerof the Nile galloped a mile and a half after the renovation break.
“It was great to gallop on a fast track,” Baffert said.
Pioneerof the Nile is scheduled to work Monday morning, most likely after the renovation break. Joe Steiner, who handled Pioneerof the Nile’s two pre-Derby works here, is flying in to Louisville on Sunday night and is slated to be aboard in the morning.

BOOKEND DERBY FINISHERS GALLOP EARLY SUNDAY -- Galloped Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and 19th-place finisher Flying Private both galloped before the renovation break Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.
Mine That Bird, owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, galloped a little more than two miles with exercise rider Charlie Figueroa up.
    “He’s doing super, as good as ever,” said Figueroa, who has been the regular morning exercise partner for Mine That Bird since arriving in Kentucky on April 21. “I know he hasn’t backed off. There is no regression at all.”
    Trainer Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr. was pleased to see the first “fast” track in the morning since Wednesday.
    “I can’t believe how fast they can get it good here,” Woolley said of a track that went from “muddy” during the latter part of training hours Saturday to “fast” fewer than four hours later.
    Mine That Bird is scheduled to train here the next two mornings and leave for Pimlico around mid-morning on Tuesday.
    Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said that Flying Private, owned by Robert Baker and William Mack, would not train here Tuesday because of an early departure time by van for Pimlico.

BARN TALK – Stone Legacy, runner-up to Rachel Alexandra in the Kentucky Oaks, worked a half-mile in :49.20 after the renovation break. The move was the 27th fastest of 81. The D. Wayne Lukas trainee leaves Tuesday for Pimlico where she is scheduled to run in Friday’s Black-Eyed Susan (Grade II).
    Trainer Tom Amoss notched Churchill Downs career victory No. 299 in Saturday’s ninth race with a triumph by Double Espresso. Eight trainers have reached the 300-win plateau, led by Bill Mott’s 615. Amoss has three chances on Sunday’s card to join the club: Best Buddy in the second, I Know It’s True in the fourth and Mining for Silver in the eighth.

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and Team Valor International and Gary Barber’s undefeated Hull ran his winning streak to three with a four-length victory over Kensei in the 85th running of the $112,000 Derby Trial (Grade III) on opening day of the 52-day Churchill Downs Spring Meet.

Trained by Dale Romans, who posted his 20th career stakes victory at Churchill Downs, Hull swept past dueling leaders Silver City and Checklist at the head of the lane and then repulsed a late bid by Kensei, who was ridden by Robby Albarado.

Ridden by Miguel Mena, who scored his second career Churchill Downs stakes victory, Hull returned mutuels of $8.80, $5.40 and $4.40. Kensei, owned by Stonestreet Stables and Gulf Coast Racing, paid $13.80 and $7.40 in finishing 1 ¾ lengths ahead of  Starlight Partners’ Checklist, who held third over Rendezvous by a half-length under Shaun Bridgmohan, paying $9 to show.

Silver City and Checklist dueled through fractions of :21.78 and :44.29 with Hull racing three-wide just off the pace. Mena pulled even with the leading duo midway around the final turn and began opening daylight on Checklist as the field straightened for the wire.

Completing the field in order were favored Silver City, Gato Go Win, Santana Six and Tintim Por Tintim.  Time for the 7 ½ furlongs over a track rated “fast” was 1:30.21.

A Kentucky-bred son of Holy Bull out of the Chimes Band mare Band Queen, Hull’s victory was worth $67,357 and increased his career earnings to $107,800.

DERBY TRIAL STAKES QUOTES

DALE ROMANS (trainer of first-place finisher Hull) – “I loved what I saw out there today. He relaxed off the pace, and when the rider asked him to run, he really exploded. He’s as good as anybody around right now. He’s opened up in all three of his races. We entered in the Lexington but we had this race as our backup. Everything had to be perfect if he ran in that race (Lexington), because he was coming back so soon after the Turfway race (on April 2), and when he drew post 12, we didn’t hesitate to scratch him and point for this. We’ll take a look and see what happens in the Derby, who goes on from there and who doesn’t. The Preakness is a possibility for him right now.”

MIGUEL MENA (rider of first-place finisher Hull) – “It went great. There were really fast fractions, but he broke good and was in the bridle happy. I didn’t take to take him back and break his momentum.”

On handling the fast fractions and finishing:
“It’s just unbelievable. Not any horse can do it – only special horses.”

On how far Hull might be able to run:
“I breeze him in the morning and think he can run any distance.”

ROBBY ALBARADO (jockey of second-place finisher Kensei) – “I had a good trip. I was right in there behind the horse who was the eventual winner. We both kicked at the same time. He kicked away from me. The winner is a nice horse, but I like my horse, too.”

JULIEN LEPAROUX (jockey of fifth-place finisher and favored Silver City) – “He came away good and he ran hard early. He just got tired. That’s all.”