Pat Day

(November 28, 2008) – Einstein, a 6-year-old son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck, collared 2-5 favorite Commentator at the head of the stretch and then held off a late surge from Delightful Kiss to win Friday’s 134th running of the $440,400 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) at Churchill Downs by 1 ½ lengths.

Trained by Helen Pitts, Einstein ran the 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:49.79. The victory was the fifth of the day for Leparoux, who earlier in the card established a Fall Meet record for victories.

            The Fall Meet concludes its 26-day run Saturday with the “Stars of Tomorrow II” card featuring all 2-year-olds. The 12-race program begins at 11:30 a.m. (ET) with general admission gates opening at 10 a.m.

            Highlighting the card will be two Grade II stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the main track: the $150,000-added Golden Rod for fillies that goes as the ninth race at approximately 3:28 p.m. and the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club that goes as the 11th race with an approximate 4:27 p.m. post time.

Also, reigning Horse of the Year and North America’s leading all-time money-earner Curlin will be paraded before the crowd between Races 5-6, and there’s a $23,365 carryover for the Z-5 (Super Hi-5), which requires bettors to pick the top five finishers in order, for the fifth race.

            Commentator, ridden by John Velazquez and carrying high weight of 124 pounds, led the field of seven through early fractions of :24.57, :48.58 and 1:12.64 with Einstein, toting 119 pounds, as his closest pursuer. Leparoux moved Einstein to the outside of Commentator at the top of the stretch, dueling on even terms for a sixteenth of a mile before beginning to draw clear.

Delightful Kiss, ridden by Calvin Borel, rallied from far back to be a clear second, but was no threat to Einstein, who took home the winner’s check of $267,588 to raise his career earnings to $1,634,019.

Racing for court-appointed owner Matthew Garretson, Einstein posted his first career graded-stakes victory on dirt. Einstein, who had run second to 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin in this summer’s Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) here, owns three Grade I victories on the grass.

Einstein rewarded his backers with mutuels of $11.80, $5.20 and $2.60. Delightful Kiss returned $10.80 and $3.80 in finishing 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Commentator, who paid $2.10 to show.

Completing the field in order were Magna Graduate, Wayzata Bay, Dominican and Anak Nakal.

Two races before the Clark Handicap, 2008 Belmont Stakes winner Da’ Tara finished third in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming race. Da’ Tara was the first Belmont Stakes winner to run at Churchill Downs since 1999 winner Lemon Drop Kid ran in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Leparoux broke a 23-year-old Fall Meet record for victories when he recorded his 56th win. The victory in the third race aboard Just Like William eclipsed the mark of 55 set in the 30-day meet of 1985 by Pat Day. Leparoux’s total entering Saturday’s card is 59.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE CLARK HANDICAP

JULIEN LEPAROUX (Jockey, EINSTEIN-BRZ, winner) – “I knew I had to stay close to Commentator and he broke sharp. I just kind of eased up a little bit on the outside. I just ran behind him all the way. When I asked him, he stuck his head in front of him and we were gone. It was done.”

Q: Did you work him in the morning?

“Yes. I breezed him last time and he breezed very good. We were expecting a good race from him, that’s for sure.”

Q: Was the game plan not to let Commentator get away?

“Yes, yes. The plan was to be right behind him and to not give him too much to do. Commentator is a very, very good horse and if you give him too much to do it would be tough.

Q: You were second aboard Einstein in the Stephen Foster. What was the difference today?

“That was a different race. It was a slow pace and he didn’t break very, very good that day. We came from the back and then finished. He still finished very good and just got beat by Curlin. Not bad.”

HELEN PITTS (Trainer, EINSTEIN-BRZ, winner) – “To be able to win a stake like that means the world to me but to get a graded stake on the dirt for him is super. It was kind of my main objective coming in here. He was second in a Grade I in the Stephen Foster. But to win a graded stake on the dirt for him, he deserves it more than anybody out there because I’ve never had a horse that loves his job and loves to train and loves to run as much as he does. When he turned for home, I knew he’d dig deep down inside to find all he could to get there. He’s a very special horse.”

Q: The game plan was to stay close, but isn’t there a fine line?

“There is. I mean, he worked him the other day and it was a big key. He rode him in the Stephen Foster but he had him close today and I think he realized that. In the Stephen Foster, I think he left him with a little too much to do. Today, they went :24 and change in the first quarter and he was perfect. It was a little bit out of Einstein’s style but at the same time they went slow enough where it wasn’t putting him totally out. I might have been second-guessing my own training at the three-eighths pole, but he pulled through for me. Just to have a horse like him means the world to me.”

Q: It was a nice win off the layoff . . .

“It was and I was hoping he hadn’t lost too much. That’s why everybody kept asking me, ‘Are you going to run? Are you going to run?’ I was going to let him tell me. When he worked like that last week and Julien said he did it all on his own, I figured he was ready.”

PETE ANDERSON, trainer of DELIGHTFUL KISS (runner-up)

“He (jockey Calvin Borel) gave him a lot to do.  I like the guy’s riding and all that, but he just gave him a little too much to do.  But it was a big effort.  At one stage of the game he had to be close to 20 lengths off the lead, I would think.  Unless my eyes are bad, I would say he was close to that.  When the horse (Timber Reserve) scratched, it changed the complexion of the race.”

Q: Will Delightful Kiss return racing next year?

“I’m staying with this horse until he dies.  I’ll have him until he dies.  It’s better than the fountain of youth, having this horse.  It’s one of the great thrills in my life, and I’ve had a whole lot of them.  But this is one of the great thrills of my life – I love this horse.”

CALVIN BOREL, jockey on DELIGHTFUL KISS (runner-up)

“I wish the other horse (Timber Reserve) hadn’t scratched – I think he would have added a little more pace.  But he ran good – he ran his race.  He ran a huge race – no complaints.  This horse is doing good.”

NICK ZITO, trainer of COMMENTATOR (third as the 2-5 favorite)

“He wasn’t himself.  Like everything else, it could just be the effect of a long year for him, the way he is.  He puts everything into everything he does.  You know, Helen (Pitts) did a good job with Einstein – coming off a three-month layoff.  He’s a nice horse that finished second to Curlin.  But John (Velazquez) said Commentator was just skipping.  He wasn’t getting a good hold (of the track).  He just wasn’t himself.”

Q: Were you concerned throughout?

“When he left there I was happy, but down the backside he just couldn’t accelerate and get away, and I knew something was wrong.  John said he just wasn’t himself.”

JOHN VELAZQUEZ, jockey on COMMENTATOR (third)

“He struggled with the track.  He was good the first part of the race, but he got to the half-mile pole and I tried to encourage him, but it seemed like he was skipping – he was slipping and sliding a little bit.  That’s the first time he ever felt that he was not getting hold of the track, and he’s been everywhere.  But today he just struggled with it.  I got after him, but he just went through the motions.  He didn’t do like he can.”

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN, jockey on MAGNA GRADUATE (fourth)

“He ran OK.  He went around and had a good trip around there.  He was just fourth today.”

(November 28, 2008) – Jockey Julien Leparoux broke a 23-year-old Churchill Downs record for wins at a Fall Meet on Friday when he rode Just Like William to a head victory in the third race for his 56th triumph of the meet. It was his second win on the day. He also won the second race aboard Calabria.

            Hall of Fame rider Pat Day previously established the Fall Meet mark in 1985 when he rode 55 winners in a 30-day meet.

Day rode an average of 1.8 winners per day for the meet that ran 271 races. Day’s success rate was 28.6 percent (55 for 192).

            The current meet, which concludes Saturday, runs for 26 days and offers 268 races.

            Leparoux is hitting at a 29.2 percent win rate (56 for 192 through Race 3 on Friday) and averaging 2.2 winners a day. He had eight mounts remaining Friday and is named on nine mounts Saturday.

            “This has been kind of a chain [reaction],” Leparoux said. “I ride for Mike Maker who broke the record [for wins by a trainer at a Churchill Downs Fall Meet with 29 through Race 3 on Friday] and Ken [and Sarah] Ramsey, who broke a record, too. (Note: The Ramseys set a record for wins by an owner at Churchill Downs Fall Meet with 24 through Race 3 on Friday)

“When you ride for people who win . . . it’s been a good team. I really think that’s what made this happen. We’ve had a lot of success with Mike and the Ramseys.

            “What’s funny about this is that I never really thought about [breaking Day’s record] until I went to an appointment last Tuesday in Louisville and the guy told me ‘Just don’t beat him because we love Pat Day over here! Can you just tie it? Don’t beat him!’ I thought that was kind of funny. I like the Louisville people, but I’ve got to keep winning races.”

            Three of his victories have come in stakes and Leparoux’s best day of the meet came on Nov. 11 when he rode a record-tying single-day total of seven winners. He was blanked only one day, on Nov. 2, when he had nine mounts.

            Through Friday’s third race, Leparoux had ridden all but one of Maker’s 29 winners and 22 of the Ramseys’ 24 victors.

The record-breaking run has enabled Leparoux to close in on his fourth riding title at Churchill Downs. A 25-year-old native of Senlis, France, Leparoux also won titles in the 2006 and 2007 Spring Meets as well as the 2007 Fall Meet.

            After the Churchill Downs Fall Meet concludes Saturday, Leparoux plans to vacation for 10 days in Hawaii with his best friend from France before riding at the Gulfstream Park winter meet in Florida.

            “Then we’ll come back to work and get ready for Gulfstream,” Leparoux said. “You’ve got to follow the people you ride the most for and see what happens. We hope to get a good horse for the [Kentucky] Derby. That’s why you want to go to big places like this and where the best trainers go. Hopefully we can get lucky over there, too.

“For the past three years, I’ve been lucky to be with people who have had success. When you have people like that, you’ll have success, too,” said Leparoux, who is represented by jockey agent Steve Bass. “I’ve got thank everybody. You cannot do it alone.”

- END -

(November 27, 2008) – Domino Stud of Lexington, Inc.’s Miss Isella, getting a patented rail-skimming ride from Calvin Borel, won Thursday’s 93rd running of the $169,800 Falls City Handicap (GII) by a length over Skylighter on Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs.

            Miss Isella, a 3-year-old homebred daughter of 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm out of the Last Tycoon mare La Cucina, covered the 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:50.78. The victory, the fourth in 11 starts for Miss Isella, was worth $98,959 and more than doubled her career earnings to $192,743.

            The victory gave trainer Ian Wilkes his second career stakes score at Churchill Downs.

            Swift Temper, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, led the field of 11 through early fractions of :23.77 and :47.89 in the run down the backstretch as Borel had Miss Isella positioned in mid-pack and next to the rail.

            Leaving the backstretch, the field began to tighten with Swift Temper clinging to a precarious lead through six furlongs in 1:12.39. Turning for home, Miss Isella was eighth but had a clear shot along the fence that Borel took advantage of to surge to the lead in upper stretch.

            Borel, who won the Falls City last year on Kettleoneup, also won the 1996 renewal on Halo America, in 1999 on Silent Eskimo and in 2003 on Lead Story.

Carrying 116 pounds, Miss Isella returned mutuels of $32.60, $12.60 and $8.20. Skylighter, carrying 115 pounds and Julien Leparoux, returned $5.40 and $3.80 as the second choice with Tell It as It Is, ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson and carrying 115 pounds, finishing another length back in third and returning $11.40 to show.

            Swift Temper held on for fourth and was followed in order by Brownie Points, favored Spring Waltz, Tiz To Dream, Copper State, Stop a Train, Devil House and. Initforthekandy.

Leparoux rode three winners on the card to boost his Fall Meet-leading total to 54, one fewer than the 23-year-old record established by Pat Day.

The final two days of Churchill Downs’ 2008 Fall Meet will have special start times. Twelve-race cards on Friday (Clark Handicap Day) and Saturday (Closing Day/Stars of Tomorrow II) will begin early at 11:30 a.m. ET and grandstand admission gates will open at 10 a.m. ET.

Friday’s program is topped by the most lucrative race of the Fall Meet – the 134th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII). Commentator, Magna Graduate and Einstein (BRZ), who have combined to earn $5,769,604 in their stellar careers, headline the 1 1/8-mile race, which will go as Race 11 at approximately 4:29 p.m.

The complete Clark Handicap field from the rail out (with jockey, weight and morning line odds): Delightful Kiss (Calvin Borel, 116 pounds, 15-1), Magna Graduate (John Velazquez, 120, 4-1), Einstein (Julien Leparoux, 119, 3-1), Commentator (John Velazquez, 124, 1-1), Anak Nakal (Jesus Castanon, 118, 12-1), Timber Reserve (Kent Desormeaux, 116, 15-1), Wayzata Bay (Israel Ocampo, 117, 15-1) and Dominican (Robby Albarado, 115, 15-1).

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE FALLS CITY HANDICAP

CALVIN BOREL (Jockey, MISS ISELLA, winner) – “She broke good and we gave them a five- or six-length head start and we took ’em from there. We set our own fractions – :22, :47 or 8. Ian [Wilkes] doesn’t give too many instructions and says ‘You know how to ride.’”  

Q: Is this redemption from the non-disqualification in her last race?

“I can’t take anything away from the horse that beat me last time (Game Face), but I knew my filly would show up today. Ian and I talked and we knew it was a little close back-to-back, but we got a good race into her last time. I worked both of his horses (Miss Isella and seventh-place finisher Tiz to Dream) and he gave me the choice as to which one to ride. I think five or six months from now, you’re going to see a really good filly, this filly, because she’s just coming around.”

Q: Were you upset about the non-disqualification last time?

“Ian told me not to worry about it and to go about our business. We’re going to train our filly and we knew what we had with her; we knew how good she is. It was kind of depressing for the horse to get beat that way but that’s horse racing. It happens. . . She was there today when I wanted her and when the hole opened she was still there.”

Q: What is it about you and this race? [Note: Borel has won the Falls City Handicap five times: Halo America (1996); Silent Eskimo (1999), Lead Story (2003), Kettleoneup (2007) and Miss Isella (2008).]

“I don’t know. I am very lucky, I guess. It’s the end of the meet and fillies always seem to come ready at the end. . . It’s a wonderful ride. . . and I want to say hi to my [late] mama (Note: His mother Ella Borel passed away two weeks ago).” 

IAN WILKES (Trainer, MISS ISELLA, winner) – “She’s really just been improving. She really just turned the corner and got better and better.”

Q: She hadn’t been in a stakes before . . .

“No. I wanted to take a shot. I tried to get into a two-turn race but it didn’t go and we used the [Nov. 15 allowance optional claiming] seven furlongs just as a work into this. The filly ran great. I’m just so happy for this filly. It’s a shame that Mr. [Ken] Jones [of Guam who owned Domino Stud in Lexington with his wife Elaine] passed away not too long ago and a shame that he wasn’t here. He really loved this filly. That’s the biggest disappointment of it all because she’s just getting better and better.”

Q: What’s next?

“She’s only three so I think she’s got a long year next year. When the daughters get back from Guam, I think they’re going to sort out their horses, the farm and everything. I know she’s nominated to the

January sale (Keeneland’s January Horses of All Ages Sale from Jan. 12-17) but whether she goes in is another thing. We’ve just got to wait and see what they want.”  

JULIEN LEPAROUX, jockey on SKYLIGHTER (runner-up)

“She ran a good race.  I don’t really have any excuse.  She just ran out of gas a little.  She came up at the quarter-pole like she was going to win and just got beat.”

EMMA-JAYNE WILSON, jockey on TELL IT AS IT IS (third)

“I thought she really ran well coming off those races on Polytrack and the grass.  She’s always given a good account of herself on those surfaces and it really says something about her that she could come out her and be competitive on a dirt track.  It was good.  She’s always trained on the dirt track at Woodbine – we have a dirt training track there – and she loves it out there.  So it wasn’t so much of a question for me – I knew she would be competitive and I was just really happy to see that she showed up and handled everything very well.  The one thing I wasn’t sure of was whether she would handle the kick-back.  They can train over it all they want, but if they don’t like the kick-back it’s a big deal.”

Q: Did you think you had a shot at it when you turned for home?

“At every point in the race I thought I had a shot to get it done.  Until we hit the wire and I was third I thought I could win.  She brought her game face today and coming around the turn she was making her typical move and handling the dirt really well, and I thought if we were good enough we’d get there.  We ran third and it was a good effort.”

Q: The Falls City marked your first ride at Churchill Downs…

“This was the first time ever – first-time visited, first time I’ve ever been on the track.  It was excellent.  I took a moment coming back after the race to take in the grandstand.  I’ve watched Kentucky Derbies from the time I was growing up and watching horse racing.  It was really neat to be here and look up at the grandstand, so I made sure I took a moment from myself when I galloped her back.  It was good.  Hopefully there’ll be more adventures and they’ll be as successful as this one.”

Q: Hopefully you’ll get back here on the first Saturday in May…

“Yeah, we always have our fingers crossed for one of those.”

ROBBY ALBARADO, jockey on SPRING WALTZ (6th as the 2-1 favorite)

“We had a great trip.  She made a nice run around the turn, but she just leveled off the last part.  I don’t have any excuses.”

- END -

(November 23, 2008) – Naveed Chowhan’s Control System took control in deep stretch and then held off a late charge from Awsugahnow to win Sunday’s featured $44,260 Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation purse at Churchill Downs by three-quarters of a length.

            Trained by Bernie Flint and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Control System ran the seven furlongs on the fast main track in 1:23.95. The victory was the seventh in 12 career starts for Control System, a 4-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Lion Hearted. Her career bankroll swelled to $368,844 with Sunday’s winner’s check of $25,544.

            Sent off as the favorite in the field of eight, Control System returned $7.60, $4.20 and $3.20. Awsugahnow, ridden by Calvin Borel, returned $4.20 and $3.20 and Victorianna, under Julien Leparoux, finished another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $3.80 to show.

            Leparoux rode three winners on the Sunday card to increase his Fall Meet-leading total to 50 with four days remaining in the meet that ends Saturday. The Churchill Downs Fall Meet record for victories by a jockey is 55, set by Pat Day in 1985. Robby Albarado is second in the standings with 33 winners.

            Live racing resumes Wednesday at Churchill Downs with a 10-race program that begins at 12:40 p.m. ET. There’s a $15,063 carryover in the Race 3 Z-5 (Super Hi-5), which requires bettors to pick the top five finishers in order.

Action over the final three days – 12-race cards on Thanksgiving Day, Friday and Saturday – will start early at 11:30 a.m. ET.

- END -

(November 15, 2008) – Team USA beat Team World by the slimmest of margins, 10 points to 9 ½, in Saturday’s inaugural “Rider Cup” for charity at Churchill Downs.

The five-race series, which awarded points to team representatives for their respective placings in each race, came down to the final leg. Team USA had an 8-6 ½ advantage, but Team World, which showcased jockeys born outside the United States, had Ramon Dominguez aboard 4-5 favorite Game Face in Race 8. With three points awarded for a win, Calvin Borel aboard 6-1 fourth choice Miss Isella had to secure two points for second to secure the victory for Team USA.

Game Face edged Miss Isella by head and Team USA prevailed.

“I knew I had to run second to get it for the team,” Borel said. “Heck, she ran so good I almost won the race. She ran a heck of a race, she’s a real runner. I knew we had to run second if [Game Face] won to hang on. We did it and got lucky. It was a lot of fun.”

“Those guys actually thought they were going to beat us,” said Robby Albarado, who earned five points for Team USA with a win aboard O’Sotopretty in Race 4 (the first leg in the series) and a runner-up effort on Orangspangledgator in Race 7. “We had a lot of fun; we should do this again.”

One mount for each race was selected by celebrity team captains. Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day represented Team USA and Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero Jr. captained Team World. No jockey could be chosen more than twice in the series.

Points were awarded on a 3-2-1 scale for first-, second- and third-place finishes in each race. If neither jockey hit the board, the rider with the best finish was awarded a half-point.

Team USA had the most points at the conclusion of Race 8, was crowned the winner and a $10,000 donation will be made to the charities of the winning team’s choice. The charities of the Team World will receive a $5,000 donation.

“I can’t say enough about the jobs the jockeys had done and Churchill Downs for stepping forward and making these donations available to our charities,” Day said. “It’s been a great day. Thank you, Churchill Downs, for hosting this event and to all the riders who participated. Angel and I had a great deal of fun. We’re all greatly appreciative of the effort.

“We’ll get together with the riders and see where they want the money to go. They’re the ones out here working on this miserable day (rainy and 39 degrees).”

- END -

(November 14, 2008) – Retired Hall of Fame jockeys Pat Day and Angel Cordero Jr. will captain Team USA and Team World, respectively, in the inaugural “Rider Cup” for charity on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Churchill Downs.

The unique event will showcase American-born jockeys versus foreign-born jockeys in a competition for points in Races 4-8.

Before each of the five designated races, the celebrity team captains will choose one jockey to represent their respective team with hope of earning coveted points. No jockey can be chosen more than twice in the series.

Points will be awarded on a 3-2-1 scale for first-, second- and third-place finishes in each race. If neither jockey hits the board, the rider with the best finish will be awarded a half-point.

The team with the most points at the conclusion of Race 8 will be crowned the winner and a $10,000 donation will be made to the charities of the winning team’s choice. The charities of the second-place team will win a $5,000 donation.

Based on Saturday’s entries for Races 4-8, Team U.S.A. will be comprised of Robby Albarado (born in Lafayette, La.); E.T. Baird (Chicago, Ill.); Calvin Borel (St. Martin, La.); Kent Desormeaux (Maurice, La.); Julio Garcia (Santurce, Puerto Rico); Tracy Hebert (Erath, La.); John McKee (Cincinnati, Ohio); Brandon Meier (Elk Grove, Ill.); Larry Melancon (Breaux Bridge, La.); Perry Ouzts (Lepanto, Ark.); Hector Rosario Jr. (Fajardo, Puerto Rico); and Bill Troilo (Philadelphia, Pa.).

Team World will be Shaun Bridgmohan (Kingston, Jamaica); Aldo Canchano (Huancayo, Peru); Jesus Castanon (Mexico City, Mexico); Ramon Dominguez (Caracas, Venezuela); Inez Karlsson (Goteberg, Sweden); Julien Leparoux (Senlis, France); Miguel Mena (Lima, Peru); and Diego Rodriguez (Guanajuato City, Mexico).

Before the start of the Rider Cup, Hall of Fame jockeys Pat Day and Angel Cordero Jr. will take part in a free autograph session with area horse racing fans from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second floor of the clubhouse near the PEB jockey and trainer murals.

Saturday’s 10-race program also will feature the 36th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap, a Grade III event for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course. The Cardinal will go as Race 9 at approximately 4:37 p.m. ET.

The first race of the day is scheduled for 12:40 p.m. ET with the Rider Cup covering Races 4 (2:06 p.m. ET) through 8 (4:06 p.m. ET).

The first 5,000 paid and pre-paid admissions when gates open at 11 a.m. on Saturday will receive a free collectable hurricane glass that salutes jockey Robby Albarado, courtesy of GE.

COMMENTATOR SETTLES IN FOR CLARK HANDICAP BID - Tracy Farmer's Commentator has answered a lot of questions in his five-year racing career. But the question of how good a horse he could be was answered at Churchill Downs on a cold November day in 2004.

Commentator had won his first four starts, but on Nov. 25 he was trying a flat mile for the first time.

"I remember that race. Pat Day rode him and he had the rail," trainer Nick Zito said. "He won by eight that day and Mr. Farmer and I were both here and after that race I thought, ‘Wow, this is a great horse.' "

Commentator returned to Churchill Downs on Wednesday and was on the track Thursday morning under regular exercise partner Carlos Correa as he began preparations for a run in the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) to be run Friday, Nov. 28.

 Commentator, now seven, has won four of five starts this year, with the victories coming by an average of nearly 12 lengths. In his two starts at the Clark distance of 1 1/8 miles, Commentator has won the Massachusetts Handicap by 14 lengths and the Grade I Whitney by 4 ¾ lengths.

"He has had a great year and in popularity, he is one of the top horses in America," said Zito, a two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer who also won the 2003 Clark with Quest.  Zito's Clark victory came via the disqualification of the recently retired veteran Evening Attire, who was placed second that day as Zito's horse was elevated to the top spot.

Commentator, who has come back twice from cannonbone fracture injuries, has won 13 of 20 starts and earned $1,841,936. The son of Distorted Humor ranks as one of Zito's all-time favorites that he has had in his barn.

"He's gotta be, no question," Zito said. "He's a great horse, one of the best, to do what he has done to come back like he has. It is a tribute to the horse, the owner and the people in the stable."

WEATHER MAKES CALLWOOD DANCER FEEL RIGHT HOME - Rainy, cool weather greeted Three Chimneys LLC's Callwood Dancer when she arrived at Churchill Downs on Wednesday night from her home base at Woodbine in Toronto.

            "It's kind of like home," said Sue Lorimer, who took Callwood Dancer out for a jog over a muddy main track Thursday morning in preparation for Saturday's 36th running of the Cardinal Handicap (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            The 4-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Danehill Dancer has three victories and two runner-up finishes from six starts this year at Woodbine for trainer Roger Attfield, who is expected to be on hand Saturday.

            "She has just really matured this year," said Lorimer, who was Callwood Dancer's regular exercise rider last winter at Payson Park and off and on during the year at Woodbine. "We knew the ability was there and over the winter, she put on weight and really filled out."

            Callwood Dancer owns a victory in this year's Grade II Nassau and in her two most recent starts ran second, finishing ahead of fillies that shone brightly at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita on Oct. 24.

            In the Grade II Canadian, Callwood Dancer finished two lengths in front of Forever Together, who came back to win not only the Grade I First Lady at Keeneland but the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI). In the Grade I E.P. Taylor, Callwood Dancer finished a head in front Sealy Hill, the 2007 Canadian "Horse of the Year" and runner-up to the undefeated Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic.

Callwood Dancer, who will break from post position five in the 10-horse Cardinal field, is the only runner in the race to have placed in a Grade I grass event this year.

DEFENDING WINNER THORN SONG HEADS LIST OF RIVER CITY ‘CAP NOMINEES - Zayat Stables' Thorn Song, winner of the 2007 running of the River City Handicap (GIII), heads a list of 34 nominees to this year's renewal of the race to be run Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            Ninth in his most recent start in the Breeders' Cup Mile (GI) at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, Thorn Song won the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile last month at Keeneland, and this summer won the Grade II Firecracker, upsetting the favored Einstein, here at Churchill Downs.

            Trained by Dale Romans, Thorn Song could become the third repeat winner of the River City. Other back-to-back winners of the River City are Same Old Wish (1996 and '97) and Dr. Kashinkow (2001 and '02).

            Other graded stakes winners on the turf nominated to the River City are Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Stream of Gold and Don Benge's Wise River. Stream of Gold, trained by Mike Maker, won the Mac Diarmida (GII) at Gulfstream Park on March 16 and Wise River, trained by Clark Hanna, won the Carey Memorial (GIII) at Hawthorne on Sept. 27.

            Weight assignments for the race will be announced Saturday.

BARN TALK - Trainer Mike Maker added to his meet-leading victory total Wednesday when Proven Quality won the second race and Jumponthebandwagon took the nightcap. Maker has saddled 19 winners as the 26-day meet hit the halfway mark Wednesday.  This weekend, Maker could break the Fall Meet record of 20 set by Dale Romans in 2003. Maker has no entries Thursday, but has one on Friday and three Saturday. Jumponthebandwagon was owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and gave the couple their 14th win of the meet. The Fall Meet record of 15 was set in 1965 by T. Alie Grissom and the Ramseys can break that this weekend with three horses entered on Saturday. ... Julien Leparoux, who rode a Churchill Downs-record seven winners on Tuesday, added two winners Wednesday and hit the halfway mark of the meet with 33 victories. The Fall Meet record is 55, set by Pat Day in 1985. ... While Maker has dominated most of the headlines regarding trainers this meet, Dave Kassen is quietly having a stellar autumn racing session. Quick Notice, owned by Butterfly Stable and Jan Nilsen, won Wednesday's sixth race to give Kassen his third winner from just five starters. "The horse ran real good yesterday," said Kassen, whose 60 percent winning rate leads all trainers with three victories or more. Kassen had two winners from 12 starters here last fall, but did not run here in the spring. "Arlington Park opened around Derby Day, and that kind of leaves Churchill Downs out in the spring," said Kassen, who has 13 horses stabled here. ... The maiden victory in Wednesday's fifth race by Overbrook Farm's 2-year-old Big Surf gave the 11-year-old mare Surfside her second winner of the meet joining full sister High Surf. Surfside, who was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and owned by Overbrook, clinched an Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly in 2000 when she defeated males in the Clark Handicap. Big Surf, the third foal out of Surfside, was making her second career start for trainer Todd Pletcher. High Surf, a 3-year-old also owned by Overbrook and trained by Dallas Stewart, had won a 1 1/8-mile allowance race on Nov. 2 in her grass debut for her second career victory in seven starts. Big Surf and High Surf are daughters of Storm Cat.

INAUGURAL "RIDER CUP" ON SATURDAY - Retired Hall of Fame jockeys Pat Day and Angel Cordero Jr. will captain Team U.S.A. and Team World, respectively, in Saturday's inaugural "Rider Cup" for charity.

The unique event will showcase American-born jockeys versus foreign-born jockeys in a competition for points in Races 4-8.

Before each of the five designated races, the celebrity team captains will choose one jockey to represent their respective team with hope of earning coveted points. Points will be awarded on a 3-2-1 scale for first, second and third place finishes in each race. If neither jockey hits the board, the rider with the best finish will be awarded a half-point.

The team with the most points at the conclusion of Race 8 will be crowned the winner and a $10,000 donation will be made to the charity of the winning team's choice. The charity of the second place team will win a $5,000 donation.

Pre-race selections by the captains will be showcased on-track with Churchill Downs' John Asher serving as host.

Based on Saturday's entries for Races 4-8, Team U.S.A. will be comprised of Robby Albarado (born in Lafayette, La.); E.T. Baird (Chicago, Ill.); Calvin Borel (St. Martin, La.); Kent Desormeaux (Maurice, La.); Julio Garcia (Santurce, Puerto Rico); Tracy Hebert (Erath, La.); John McKee (Cincinnati, Ohio); Brandon Meier (Elk Grove, Ill.); Larry Melancon (Breaux Bridge, La.); Perry Ouzts (Lepanto, Ark.); Hector Rosario Jr. (Fajardo, Puerto Rico); and Bill Troilo (Philadelphia, Pa.).

Team World will be Shaun Bridgmohan (Kingston, Jamaica); Aldo Canchano (Huancayo, Peru); Jesus Castanon (Mexico City, Mexico); Ramon Dominguez (Caracas, Venezuela); Inez Karlsson (Goteberg, Sweden); Julien Leparoux (Senlis, France); Miguel Mena (Lima, Peru); and Diego Rodriguez (Guanajuato City, Mexico).

DAY, CORDERO AUTOGRAPH SESSION ON SATURDAY - Before the start of Saturday's inaugural "Rider Cup" for charity, Hall of Fame jockeys Pat Day and Angel Cordero Jr. will take part in a free autograph session with area horse racing fans from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second floor of the clubhouse near the PEB jockey and trainer murals.

HORSES AND HOPE ON SUNDAY - "Horses and Hope," a new initiative created by Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear with the Kentucky Cancer Program, will be held Sunday. The event, centered on the women who work in the barn areas at Kentucky racetracks, is designed to provide breast cancer awareness, education, screening and treatment referral.

            In conjunction with the event, the color of pink will be scattered throughout Churchill Downs on Sunday, including the saddle towels for the featured fifth race that will honor "Horses and Hope." Pink will also be featured on jockey's arm bands, groom's vests, outriders, flags, bunting and trophies for winning horse owners. There also will be a special pink cosmopolitan drink on sale with proceeds going to "Horses and Hope."

            More than 900 cancer survivors are expected to attend the races in Millionaire's Row Four and Skye Terrance Five on Sunday. After the fifth race, there will be a group picture near the Aristides statue in the paddock garden.

ROBBY ALBARADO GLASS GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY - The week's promotional calendar is highlighted by the second of three collectable hurricane glass giveaways that salute popular Cajun jockeys who ride at Churchill Downs. A Robby Albarado glass, sponsored by GE, will be given away to the first 5,000 paid and pre-paid admissions on Saturday, Nov. 15.

            Fans who receive the glass can come back to Churchill Downs on Sunday, Nov. 16 for an autograph session with Albarado on the second floor of the clubhouse (time to be announced).

            A glass depicting Calvin Borel, sponsored by Thorntons, was given away Nov. 8. The Kent Desormeaux glass, presented by Kentucky Derby Party, will be given away on Nov. 22.

FRIDAY HAPPY HOURS - New Orleans-themed "Friday Happy Hours" - featuring $2 Budweiser Select, $2 hurricanes, $2 Fischer's hot dogs and live jazz music by Hambone - will be held Friday from 3-5 p.m. in the upper Jockey Club's paddock balcony area.   

(November 11, 2008) – Jockey Julien Leparoux rode seven winners on the Veterans Day card Tuesday at Churchill Downs to match the single-day record of Hall of Famer Pat Day who initially set the mark on June 20, 1984, when he rode all eight races on that day’s card.

Leparoux, a 25-year-old native of Senlis, France, also rode six winners from nine mounts at Churchill Downs on June 27, 2007.

Leparoux, who has won three riding titles at Churchill Downs and holds a commanding lead during the 26-day meet that concludes Nov. 29, won on the first seven mounts of his nine rides on the card.

Leparoux’s winning mounts were Diva’s Gold ($6.40) in the first, Yikes ($7.80) in the second, Troutdale ($8.40) in the third, Gerivello ($10.40) in the fourth, Variant ($11) in the fifth, Majestic Feline ($4.40) in the seventh and Runway West ($12) in the eighth.          

“I got a little lucky picking up the one mount for Calvin (Borel),” said Leparoux, who took over for Borel on Troutdale because Borel’s mother died Monday night and the rider took off his mounts. “I really wanted to win it for Calvin.

“This was just my lucky day.”

Leparoux, who now has 285 career victories at Churchill Downs where he first rode in the 2005 Fall Meet, finished eighth aboard Rocketinthegate, an 8-1 shot, in the ninth race and came home second aboard 3-1 second choice Sinister in the 10th.

At the conclusion of Tuesday’s card, Leparoux had a 31-19 lead over Robby Albarado in the jockey standings.

In the featured $48,000 Veteran’s Day Purse, Gulf Coast Farms’ Distorted Passion rallied from off the pace under Shaun Bridgmohan to score a 2 ½-length victory over Silent Street.

Distorted Passion, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Distorted Humor, covered the seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:23.87 in winning for the second time in 10 career starts.

Distorted Passion returned mutuels of $5.80, $3.60 and $2.60 as the favorite in the field of nine. Silent Street, ridden by E.T. Baird, paid $4 and $3, while Sheltered, ridden by Robby Albarado, returned $3.60 to show.

POST-RACE QUOTES – JULIEN LEPAROUX

 “It is always special to win a race. I just got lucky today and was on some good horses.”

Q: Did the thought of winning so many races in a row enter his mind?

“Not really. I just wanted to keep riding my races. To win seven is a bit surprising. Pat Day is the only one who has done it here. I had won five races a few times and six in one day last year, but seven is the best.

            “When I first started here three years ago as an apprentice, my goal was to win 50 races a year. This is good. This is a dream come true for me.”

On his mount in the last race, Sinister, who ran second, beaten 2 ¼ lengths:

            “He ran a very good race. The winner was just the best horse.”

- END -

The elite of the professional golfing world will combine with the best of Thoroughbred racing on Friday, Sept. 19, as historic Churchill Downs hosts “Soiree Under the Spires,” an exclusive gala that serves as the premier social event of The Cup Experience during Ryder Cup week in Louisville.

“The presence of The Ryder Cup in Louisville places our city in the international spotlight, and is a great honor for our entire community,” said Dave Tompkins, senior vice president of Churchill Downs Incorporated.  “Certainly, Churchill Downs is thrilled to bring the PGA’s best to the home of the Kentucky Derby for this exclusive event.  ‘Soiree Under the Spires’ is a must for out-of-town fans hoping to experience Louisville’s greatest landmark, and also gives local residents a chance to enjoy a personal, once-in-a-lifetime experience with PGA players and officials.”

The exclusive event will include entertainment by Grammy Award-winning artist Michelle Branch and will be attended by the elite of the racing and golfing world, including former Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman, winner of the 1996 Open Championship and the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year in 1996; Fuzzy Zoeller, who won the 1979 Masters in his first appearance in the event and the 1984 U.S. Open; jockey Pat Day, winner of the 1992 Kentucky Derby and a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey; and retired jockey and NBC sports commentator Gary Stevens, whose credits include three victories in the Kentucky Derby and a leading role in the 2003 movie Seabiscuit.  Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, Churchill Downs Incorporated CEO Bob Evans and former University of Louisville basketball coach Denny Crum also plan to attend, as well as an assortment of sports celebrities, international dignitaries, PGA players and local media celebrities.

Ticket prices for the event range from $500 to $1,000, and limited quantities are still available.  More information is available by calling Angela Shelman at (502) 894-9768 or by sending an e-mail to soiree@thecupexperience.com.

The evening at Churchill Downs includes a sampling of Kentucky bourbons, America’s only native spirit, and offers an up-close view of horses from the Kentucky Horse Park in the paddock area.  The party then moves to the elegant members-only Turf Club for a cocktail reception and live entertainment, followed by a sumptuous Kentucky-themed dinner served in the world-renowned Millionaires Row, perennial gathering place for the Kentucky Derby’s most exclusive clientele.  Guests will enjoy picturesque views of the beautiful racecourse from both areas.

The evening will also include both live and silent auctions.  Items up for auction will include tickets to the 2009 Masters and 2009 Kentucky Derby; a Mercedes Benz smart car donated by Smart Center Louisville; a custom Cup Experience motorcycle from Derby City Custom motorcycles; trips to Ireland, Hilton Head, S.C., Los Angeles, and Chicago; rare autographed golf and racing items; and an original Tiger Woods painting by acclaimed artist Billy Lopa.

Proceeds from Soiree Under the Spires will benefit a number of local charities, including the Fightmaster Cup, Kentucky Harvest/Blessings in a Backpack, Brandon’s House Counseling Center, the Michael Quinlan Brain Tumor Foundation, the Louisville Deaf Oral School, the Robby Albarado Foundation to assist homeless and socially-economically disadvantaged individuals in the Louisville area, and the West Louisville Performing Arts Academy.

The Ryder Cup, professional golf’s top international match play competition, is one of the most prestigious events in all of sports.  The 37th Ryder Cup will be played at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Sept. 16-21, 2008.

Metro Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson formed the Louisville Host Committee to oversee the community’s support for the 2008 Ryder Cup.  The Host Committee created The Cup Experience, a not-for-profit organization that is operating and promoting a series of community-wide events and activities prior to and during the Ryder Cup.  For more information on The Cup Experience – presented by regional supercenter Meijer – go to www.thecupexperience.com.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2009. The track’s 2008 Fall Meet runs from October 26 through November 29. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record six times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.