Rachel Alexandra

The 137th running of the Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) at Churchill Downs will be the richest in history as the purse for America’s most prestigious race for 3-year-old fillies has been raised to $1 million guaranteed, which doubles the purse offered in 2010.

The record-setting Kentucky Oaks, scheduled for Friday, May 6, and the $2 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), the nation’s greatest race and one of America’s top entertainment events, head a schedule of 25 stakes races with total purses of $7.325 million set for Churchill Downs 2011 Spring Meet.  The 39-day meet opens with the first Kentucky Derby Week night racing event on Saturday, April 30 and will conclude with an Independence Day racing program on Monday, July 4.

The record purse for the Kentucky Oaks will make the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies the richest American race in that division. The increase will help boost the value of purses for six stakes races scheduled on the Oaks Day program to a record $2 million.  That total is second at Churchill Downs only to Kentucky Derby Day, which also features six graded stakes races – three of which are Grade I events – with total purses of $3.4 million.

“There is no weekend in American racing like Kentucky Oaks and Derby Weekend, and it is exciting to raise the purse for the Oaks to a level that reflects its status and importance as a sports and entertainment event,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack.  “The Oaks has enjoyed spectacular growth in recent years and the 2010 running won by Blind Luck was one of its greatest renewals.  The 2010 attracted a record crowd of 116,046 and all sources wagering set records with $10.6 million bet on the Oaks race, and $30.6 million was wagered on the entire Oaks card, a jump of 20 percent from the previous record.  The Oaks ranked eighth in the U.S. in betting on a single race in 2010, and wagering on the entire Oaks card ranked sixth.  Along with its wagering success, the Oaks clearly stands on its own as a spectacular entertainment event, and the fundraising partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and national television coverage on Bravo have opened doors to new fans of America’s greatest race for 3-year-old fillies.

“While some stakes races have gone on hiatus and others have had slight adjustments in purse levels, our overall stakes schedule is strong and attractive, and our ‘big event days’ – the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Stephen Foster Handicap – head a roster of stakes races that offers wonderful opportunities for horsemen in nearly every division.”

he 2011 Churchill Downs Spring Meet kicks off with a spectacular racing and entertainment program under the track’s permanent lights that features the $200,000-added The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial.  The Grade III Derby Trial is the final major prep for the Kentucky Derby, which will be run a week later.  The opening night celebration that kicks off the Spring Meet will be the first Derby Week racing session conducted under the lights in Churchill Downs history.

The last purse increase for the Kentucky Oaks came in 1996, when the purse was raised to $500,000-added for the race won by Pike Place Dancer.

Three straight Kentucky Oaks winners – Rachel Alexandra (2009), Proud Spell (2008) and Rags to Riches (2007) – went on earn Eclipse Awards as champion 3-year-old filly.  Two of those – Rachel Alexandra and Rags to Riches – defeated males in Triple Crown events in their next start as Rachel Alexandra won the Preakness (GI) on her way to Horse of the Year honors, and Rags to Riches defeated eventual Horse of the Year Curlin in the Belmont Stakes (GI).  Blind Luck, the 2010 winner, is a finalist to become the fourth consecutive filly to pull off that double when the 2010 Eclipse Award winners are revealed on Monday, Jan. 17, in Miami.

Other recent stars who won the Kentucky Oaks on their way to 3-year-old championship honors include Ashado (2004), Bird Town (’03), Farda Amiga (’02), Silverbulletday (’99), Open Mind (’89), and Tiffany Lass (’86).  Fillies that failed to win the Oaks but went on to earn Eclipse Award championship honors at the conclusion of their 3-year-old seasons include Wait A While (3rd in 2006), Banshee Breeze (2nd in ’98), and Go for Wand (2nd in 1990).

Along with the doubling of the Kentucky Oaks purse, other changes from last year in the 2011 Spring Meet stakes program include:

• Purses have been increased for the Churchill Downs Presented by Navistar (GII), which will grow by $50,000 to $300,000-added; the Alysheba Presented by Besilu Stables (GIII), which increases from $150,000-added to $300,000-added; and the American Turf (GII), which jumps by $25,000 to $200,000-added;
•  Purses will be lower for the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI), which carries a purse of $500,000-added, a reduction of $100,000; and the La Troienne (GII), which drops by $100,000 to $300,000-added.  The La Troienne decrease reflects a loss of $100,000 in Breeders’ Cup Stakes Program funding;
• The race previously known as the Northern Dancer is now named the Matt Winn, in honor of the legendary president of Churchill Downs who became known as “Mr. Derby” for his work in transforming the Kentucky Derby and its home track into international sports and entertainment icons during his 1902-1949 tenure at the track;
• Four races – the Fleur De Lis (GII), Kentucky Juvenile (GIII), the Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) and the race previously known as the Matt Winn – will go on hiatus for this year;
• The Edgewood Presented by Forcht Bank, a $100,000-added turf race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, returns after a one-year hiatus and will be run on Kentucky Oaks Day;
•  The $100,000-added Eight Belles Presented by ACS, A Xerox Company (GIII) will move from Kentucky Derby Day to Kentucky Oaks Day, and its distance has been changed to seven furlongs from its recent 7 ½ furlongs, and
• The five-furlong, Grade III Turf Sprint run in recent years on Kentucky Oaks Day has been moved to Kentucky Derby Day and is now named the Twin Spires Turf Sprint.

“It was difficult to place four quality stakes events on hiatus for this year, but our racing team
looked very closely at our events and stakes schedules at other tracks in our region and around the United States and that allowed us to put together the strongest possible stakes schedule for 2011,”  Flanery said.  “Of the 25 races on our 2011 stakes schedule, 16 are scheduled on those ‘big event days’ surrounding the Derby, Oaks and Stephen Foster.  These big days have proven extremely popular with fans and horsemen, as are our ‘Downs After Dark’ night racing programs.  The record $1 million purse should make the Kentucky Oaks even more attractive to fans, owners and trainers, and we are very excited about our Spring Meet kickoff under the lights and this year’s running of The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial, an important prep that could have an impact on the field for the Kentucky Derby.”

The stakes schedule for Churchill Downs 21-day Fall Meet, which runs from Oct. 30-Nov. 2 and will include the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships on for the second consecutive year on Nov. 4-5, will be announced later this year.

Memorable renewals of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), won by WinStar Farm’s homebred Super Saver, and the Kentucky Oaks (GIII), won by a nose by Blind Luck: brilliant performances by reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and rising star Blame; and four exciting evenings of “Downs After Dark” night racing were among the most magical moments of the 42-day Spring Meet at Churchill downs that concluded on Sunday, July 4.

The central human figure in many of the meet’s brightest moments moments was jockey Calvin Borel, who not only achieved his 1,000th career victory beneath the Twin Spires during the meet, but also won his first Spring Meet riding title.  He piloted Super Saver to victory in the Run for the Roses, an unprecedented third Kentucky Derby victory in four years, and was aboard for Rachel Alexandra’s return to form as the 2009 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner took the Fleur de Lis Handicap (GII) by 10 ½ lengths for her first victory of the year.

“Our renewals of the Kentucky Derby and Oaks, run under vastly different weather conditions, were among the most successful in history and American racing’s greatest weekend continues to display the best of the sports and entertainment aspects our industry offers,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs. “Our ‘Downs After Dark’ night racing is now clearly established as an entertainment option that is attractive to a wide range of age groups and all segments of the population in our city and region.  We were disappointed that overall field sizes during the meet were not as large as our fans would prefer, but that is an industry-wide concern and we thank our horsemen who worked hard to participate in our Spring Meet.  We look ahead to our Fall Meet and the return of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to our track for the next two years.”

Borel guided Super Saver to a 2 ½-length victory over Ice Box over a sloppy track in the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) before a crowd of 155,804, sixth-largest in Derby history and easily the largest attendance for a renewal of the Derby run over a wet track. The huge crowd that endured nearly day-long rains was rewarded when the clouds parted as the field stepped onto the track for the Kentucky Derby post parade and the sun was shining for both for the traditional singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” and the famed race itself.

Super Saver provided trainer Todd Pletcher with his first victory in the Kentucky Derby. Pletcher, who sent four runners in this year’s Run for the Roses, started his first Kentucky Derby runner in 1990 and prior to this year had saddled 24 starters without getting a sniff of the roses.

On the sun-splashed day before the Derby, Blind Luck rallied to defeat Evening Jewel by a nose in the 136th running of the Kentucky Oaks (GI) before a record crowd of 116,046. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Blind Luck gave trainer Jerry Hollendorfer his third victory in America’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies.    Wagering on the 2010 renewal of the Kentucky Derby race totaled $112.7 million, a 7.8 percent gain on all-sources betting from the 104.6 million wagered on the 2009 Derby.   Total betting on the 13-race Kentucky Derby Day card rose to $162.7 million, a 4.3 percent increase from the $158.0 million wagered on all Kentucky Derby Day races in 2009.

The 2010 renewal of the Kentucky Oaks was the most successful in history.  A record crowd of 116,046 watched the race and all-sources wagering on the Kentucky Oaks race was $10.6 million, an increase of 55 percent over 2009.  Total wagering on entire 12-race Kentucky Oaks Day racing program reached a record $36.0 million, an increase of 20 percent over the previous year.

The success of Kentucky Derby and Oaks Days allowed Churchill Downs to raise purses for its overnight races for the final three weeks of the Spring Meet by 10 percent.  It was the first in-meet increase in purses at Churchill Downs since a similar 10 percent purse hike in June, 2003.  This increase raised purses by about $3,000 per race.

But continued competitive pressure from tracks in racing states that supplement purses with casino and slot machine revenues or other purse subsidies contributed to a decline in average field size for the meet’s races.  The average field in the 439 races run during the 42-day Spring Meet consisted of 7.75 horses, down from 7.85 in 2009.

“Downs After Dark” night racing continued to be an immensely popular product as this year’s four sessions were conducted under Churchill Downs’ new permanent lights, which were installed over the winter at a cost of approximately $4 million.  The 2009 experiment with night race included three sessions under temporary lights.

An average of 27,139 patrons attended the evening programs, ranging from 24,625 to June 18 to 32,481 on July 2. Two more night programs are scheduled for the Fall Meet: Sunday, Oct. 31 and Friday, Nov. 19.   There was added luster to the June 11 launch of “Downs After Dark” racing under permanent lights retired U.S. Army General Tommy Franks, the one-time Commander of the United States Central Command, visited the track and turned on those lights to usher in the new era at Churchill Downs.

The 2010 renewal of the Kentucky Oaks marked it second year as part of a fundraising partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.  Because of that partnership Komen for the Cure later received a check for $118,346 to help fund the search for a cure for breast cancer.  Another Kentucky Oaks fundraising partnership resulted in a check for $30,000 to benefit Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear’s Horses and Hope breast cancer outreach initiative in Kentucky’s horse industry.

Stonestreet Farm and Harold McCormick’s Rachel Alexandra, the Churchill Downs-based Horse of the Year during her 3-year-old season that included a record-smashing 20 ¼-length victory in the 2009 Kentucky Oaks, made two appearances during the Spring Meet.  The first was a narrow loss to Unrivaled Belle in the La Troienne (GII) on the 2010 Kentucky Oaks undercard, but the champion followed that effort on June 12 with her dominant victory in the Fleur de Lis.

Four races after Rachel Alexandra’s return to the winner’s circle, Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Blame established himself as a major player in the handicap ranks and a contender for this fall’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs by erasing a four-length deficit in midstretch to defeat Battle Plan by three-quarters of a length in the $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI).

Other Grade I winners during the meet were owner-trainer Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, who captured the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic under Bejarano, and Mona de Momma, who defeated eight rivals including Eclipse Award winner Informed Decision, in the Humana Distaff.

Borel, who won the 1999 Fall Meet riding title outright and shared titles in the 2006 and 2009 Fall Meets, rode 52 winners during the Spring Meet to easily outdistance Corey Lanerie for his first Spring Meet title. One of those winners was Gray Hart’s Girl on June 4 to give the 43-year-old Borel his 1,000th Churchill Downs victory. Only Hall of Famer Pat Day (2,482) has ridden more winners at Churchill Downs.

Borel was reunited during the Spring Meet with his 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who returned to the races on July 4 in the Firecracker Handicap Presented by Thorntons (GII). Owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, Mine That Bird became the first Kentucky Derby winner to race at Churchill Downs since 2005 winner Giacomo returned to run fourth in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).  Mine That Bird finished a disappointing eighth in his 2010 debut, but new trainer D. Wayne Lukas continues to hope that the 2009 Derby winner will progress in the coming months and return to Churchill Downs in the fall for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Steve Asmussen won his third consecutive training title, saddling 24 winners. It was the fourth Spring Meet title for the two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, who also has won leading trainer honors four times during the Fall Meet. Asmussen’s roster of winner’s included Stonestreet Stable’s Kantharos, an impressive 9 ½-length winner of the 109th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor Stakes (GIII) for 2-year-olds on Saturday, July 3.  The victory by the unbeaten colt stamped him as an early contender for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) in November and the 137th Kentucky Derby (GI) next May.

Trainer Dale Romans, who finished second in the trainers’ race with 19 victories, hit the 500-victory milestone at Churchill Downs when Skipadate won the eighth race on June 17. Romans, a 43-year-old Louisville native, saddled his first winner at Churchill Downs on Nov. 12, 1987.

Maggi Moss earned her second leading owner title as she collected nine winners to edge Ken and Sarah Ramsey.  Moss’ other Churchill Downs title came in the 2007 Spring Meet.

MINE THAT BIRD ZIPS IN WORKOUT, COULD RACE THIS WEEKEND – Mine That Bird, upset winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), turned in a sharp five-furlong work on Monday at Churchill Downs in preparation for a possible return to racing at the historic track this weekend.

Jockey Calvin Borel was in the saddle as Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s 4-year-old Birdstone gelding zipped over a muddy track for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas in a “bullet”:59.80, the fastest work of 26 at the distance.

Churchill Downs clockers caught Mine That Bird in fractional times of :12.20, :24.20, :36.20 and :47.80 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.60.  The track had been listed as sloppy earlier in the morning following overnight rains, but was drying out by the time Mine That Bird stepped on the one-mile oval at around 8:30 a.m. (all times EDT), just after the mid-session break for track maintenance.

“I told Calvin we needed to let him do it with no prompting today, just let him do it on his own,” Lukas said.  “I told him I’d like to see him finish up and if he’d get it in a minute to 1:01, that would be about right.  Once I turned him loose and I rode over by the rail to see how deep it was, I thought ‘If he does that, he’s going to be really going good’.  And then he goes 59-and-four.”

“He’s just blossomed out,” said Borel.  “How good is he?  I don’t know – but we’re going to find out.  I think he’s a good horse.  I don’t care what anybody says – he wasn’t a fluke.”

“I couldn’t be happier,” Lukas said.  “Every step has been right down the line.  I like the way that he’s changing – mentally and physically.  That’s the big thing.  We know he can run if everything’s right.  Physically, he’s so much stronger – he might be 150 pounds heavier than he was last year.  And mentally, he’s really getting good.”

Mine That Bird has not raced since a ninth-place run behind unbeaten Zenyatta in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) over Santa Anita’s synthetic Pro-Ride surface, but Lukas is ready to see the winner of Derby 135 wear one of his signature white bridles for the first time.  The closest opportunities for a return to racing come this weekend at Churchill Downs: a 1 1/16 mile allowance race on the main track at Churchill Downs on Saturday, July 3 and the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on turf on Sunday, July 4 – the closing day of the 42-day Spring Meet.

“We’d like to start him here,” Lukas said.  “I used that Firecracker as a back-up.  I know he’s never been on the turf.  I really don’t want to ship him.  I have the ($250,000)  Salvatore Mile (GIII on dirt on July 3) at Monmouth, but I’d like to just leave him in his own stall and try him.  If he gets beat, this first one is a means to an end.

“We’ll wait and see how the next two days look.  I have no reason to believe he won’t bounce back from this work.  He does every one of them so easy.  He has amazing efficiency of motion.  I’ve had some pretty good horses that I thought could get over the ground.  I don’t know if any of them got over it lighter than he does.”

Mine That Bird has failed to win in five races since his 50-1 shocker in the Kentucky Derby.  He finished a length behind eventual Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness (GI) and finished third to eventual 2009 3-year-old champion Summer Bird after grabbing a clear lead in the homestretch in the Belmont Stakes (GI).  But he faltered in his final three starts of the year, finishing third in the West Virginia Derby (GII) at Mountaineer Park and sixth in the Goodwood (GI) at Santa Anita before his dull effort in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

His career record stands at 5-2-2 in 14 races with earnings of $2,196,581.

HORSE OF THE YEAR RACHEL ALEXANDRA CRUISES OVER WET FOOTING, PREPARES TO TRAVEL – Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra completed a solid body of work during the spring and early summer at Churchill Downs with an easy five-furlong workout over sloppy footing on Monday at Churchill Downs.

Rachel Alexandra covered the distance under jockey and regular work partner Shaun Bridgmohan in 1:03 in her final major training before she travels north on Wednesday to summer at New York’s Saratoga Race Course.

Owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick, Rachel Alexandra worked over the wet track around 6:30 a.m. She covered the distance in fractional times of :12.80, :25.60, :38.40 and :50.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:17.

Trainer Steve Asmussen was pleased with the move and the said the sloppy track condition after overnight rains was no reason for concern as Rachel Alexandra stepped onto the one-mile main track for Monday’s training move.

“She handles it really well,” Asmussen said.  “She went good.  We’ve got travel plans this week and want everything to go smoothly.”

Asmussen had originally planned to ship Rachel Alexandra and most of his Churchill Downs division to Saratoga next week, but moved those plans up a week because of the heat wave that has settled over the Ohio Valley in recent weeks.

"It’s time,” said Asmussen.  “I’ll be very happy when she’s settled in there and we can get into our routine up there.”

Rachel Alexandra is coming off a 10 ½-length victory in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis (GII) at Churchill Downs on June 12, her first victory of 2010 following back-to-back upset losses in the New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds and the La Troienne (GII) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day, April 30.  Her 12-4-0 record in 17 races includes earnings of $3,216,730.

WORK TAB (Track: SLOPPY before maintenance break, MUDDY after break) – Acoma, defending winner of the Locust Grove (GIII), breezed a half-mile in :49 over sloppy footing. … Macho Again, winner of the 2009 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) breezed four furlongs on a muddy track in :51.60. … Kensei breezed five furlongs in 1:02 on a sloppy track. … Friesan Fire breezed six furlongs in 1:14.80.                                                  

DEBUTANTE WINNER JUST LOUISE FINE AFTER VICTORY – Eldon Farm Equine’s Just Louise was reported to be doing well Sunday morning, the day after her neck victory over Tristanme in the Debutante Stakes (GII)."She is doing good,” said Baldemar Bahena, assistant to trainer Dale Romans.

Romans indicated after the race that Just Louise would be pointed toward stakes action at Saratoga. The first 2-year-old filly stake at Saratoga is the Schuylerville (GIII) on July 23.

Bahena said the Romans horses heading to Saratoga would be leaving Churchill Downs beginning July 15.

Debutante favorite Salty Strike, who was caught in the last jump for second by Tristanme, was also doing well Sunday according to Philip Bauer, assistant to trainer Ken McPeek.

“She’s good this morning and she is tired,” Bauer said. “She ran hard, and to re-break again like she did at the quarter pole, that was pretty good.”

Bauer said the first two trucks shipping McPeek horses to Saratoga would be leave on Thursday with the possibility of Salty Strike being on board one of those trucks.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA, MINE THAT BIRD SET FOR MONDAY WORKS – There will be no racing at Churchill Downs on Monday, but there will still plenty of attention focused on the one-mile main track as 2009 Horse of the Year and Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) are scheduled to work.

Rachel Alexandra, a dominant 10 ½-length winner last out in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis (GII), is scheduled for her final work over her home track before the 4-year-old champion heads to Saratoga on Wednesday.  The Steve Asmussen trainee regularly works in trainer Steve Asmussen’s second set around 6:15-6:30 a.m. (all times EDT).

Mine That Bird continues to prep for his first race since ninth-place finish behind unbeaten Zenyatta in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) on the synthetic Pro-Ride    surface at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, is scheduled to breeze just after the maintenance break at approximately 8:30 a.m. for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.  Jockey Calvin Borel will be in the saddle for Mine That Bird’s move.

Mine That Bird could make his return to competition during the closing weekend of Churchill Downs Spring Meet.  There are two possible races for Mine That Bird: an allowance race 1 1/16-miles on the main track on Saturday, July 3, and the 4-year-old gelding is also nominated to the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on turf on Sunday, July 4.

WISE RIVER’S FIRECRACKER REQUEST: NO RAIN, PLEASE – Trainer Clark Hanna has one, simple request for the weather gods with regard to next Sunday’s 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course: Keep it dry!

Hanna trains Wise River, as solid and consistent a turf performer as there is as long as the course is firm.

“He just doesn’t like yielding turf and you have to hope for the best,” said Hanna, who has been training the 7-year-old Wise River since February 2008. “He is the best horse I have had and the most consistent. I’m a little hard-headed and have run him times I probably shouldn’t have because of yielding turf.”

Under Hanna’s care, Wise River has compiled a record of 12-4-3-1 in two-turn races on firm turf. Overall, the record in such races and conditions is 22-6-6-2 with his largest margin of defeat being only seven lengths in the Grade I Kilroe Mile last year at Santa Anita.

“He shows up every time and is usually 1-2-3,” Hanna said. “I even ran him short (5 ½ furlongs) this winter at New Orleans, which he doesn’t like, because he had no other spot to run and he was third.”
Wise River, a son of Belong to Me, broke his maiden at first asking in a one-mile turf test at Ellis Park. Three races later, Wise River opened his 3-year-old campaign by running second to Barbaro in the Tropical Park Derby (GIII).

At Churchill Downs, Wise River has compiled a record of 11-2-3-2 on the Matt Winn Turf Course and owns the course record for 1 1/16 miles (1:39.83 established April 26, 2009). Wise River’s past two turf starts here have come on yielding courses with typical yielding-course results for him: eighth in this spring’s Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) and sixth in last year’s Firecracker.

Owned by Don Benge, Wise River enters the Firecracker off a victory in the Dallas Turf Cup Handicap at Lone Star Park on May 31.

“He came out of the Texas race fine and I like the space between the races,” Hanna said. “I could have run in the prep for the Firecracker (the Opening Verse on June 11), but this gave us an extra week and a half.”

A week out, everything is looking good for Hanna and Wise River, whose career bankroll is $494,567 with a record of 36-7-10-5.

“The long-term forecast looks decent,” Hanna said. “He likes this track a lot and I’d rather run him here. If he doesn’t run here, I might go to the West Coast for the race the end of next month at Del Mar (the Grade I Eddie Read at 1 1/8 miles on July 24). It stays dry out there.”

ACOMA EXPECTED STARTING HIGH WEIGHT FOR LOCUST GROVE – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma has been assigned 121 pounds by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman for Saturday’s 29th running of the Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) at a mile over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Acoma is expected to be the starting high weight in the race as Hot Cha Cha, assigned 122 pounds, is expected to bypass the Locust Grove for Modesty Handicap (GIII) at Arlington Park on July 17. Hot Cha Cha defeated Acoma by three-quarters of a length in the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) here on June 5 while carrying 120 pounds to 122 for Acoma.

Barbara Hunter’s Keertana, who finished a head in back of Acoma in the Mint Julep while carrying 120 pounds, was assigned 120 for the Locust Grove.

Other probable Locust Grove starters and their weight assignments are Alfred Nuckols Jr.’s Danzon (116), Vegso Racing Stables’ Happiness Is (114) and Magdalena Racing’s My Baby Baby (114).

Considered possible for the race is Hidden Brook’s Quiet Meadow (115).

Entries for the Locust Grove will be taken Wednesday.

BARN TALK – Trainer Bret Calhoun was all smiles Sunday morning after the 4 ½-length victory by Chamberlain Bridge in Saturday’s Arlington Sprint Handicap at 5 ½ furlongs. The race was a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) to be held here Nov. 6. “That’s the long-term goal. Now we figure out the best way to get here,” Calhoun said. “There is a race the end of July at Penn National (the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governors Cup Handicap at five furlongs) and then the Turf Monster ($250,000 on Sept. 6 at five furlongs) that he won last year at Philadelphia Park.” Options in October include the Woodford at Keeneland, a race Chamberlain Bridge won in 2008. …  

Another happy trainer Sunday was Dallas Stewart after his Seeking the Title won the Iowa Oaks (GIII) on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows by a half-length. Seeking the Title had been excluded from the Kentucky Oaks (GI) because of insufficient graded stakes earnings and then lost rider Kent Desormeaux in the Black-Eyed Susan (GII) at Pimlico when she tried to avoid a fallen horse. “We finally got a race without somebody falling down,” Stewart said with a chuckle of Seeking the Title, who had run sixth in the Acorn (GI) in her previous start. “She will go to Saratoga and may run in the Coaching Club of American Oaks (GI) on July 24 if it is not too quick. That’s a mile and an eighth and the further the better for her. She needs more ground and almost didn’t have enough last night.” Stewart also said multiple stakes winner Macho Again was on track to return to Saratoga with the Aug. 7 Whitney Handicap (GI) as his objective. …

Trainer Tom Proctor said that debut maiden winner Well Connected will be heading to Saratoga after his 1 ¾-length victory on Saturday after breaking from post position 12 in the five-furlong sprint. “I think I will look for an allowance race for him around seven furlongs because I don’t want to run him short again at this time,” Proctor said. “The mare (Indy Groove) was precocious and she won from five-eighths to a mile and an eighth.” Well Connected is the first starter for Indy Groove, who ran sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) here for Proctor in 2004.

WORK TAB – Northern Dancer (GIII) winner Colizeo worked a half-mile over a fast track in :48.40. … Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) winner General Quarters worked a half-mile in :49. … Dogwood (GIII) runner-up Tap Tap Tapping worked a half-mile in :50.20 and Jefferson Cup (GIII) winner Gleam of Hope worked a half-mile in :52. Eighth-place Kentucky Derby (GI) finisher Stately Victor work five furlongs at the Trackside Training Center in 1:00 over a fast track.

Eldon Farm Equine’s Just Louise and Craig Singer’s Salty Strike, impressive debut maiden winners in May at Churchill Downs, head a field of seven 2-year-old fillies entered for Saturday’s 110th running of the $100,000 Debutante (GIII) at six furlongs.

The Debutante will be the 10th race on Saturday’s 11-race card with an approximate post time of 5:29 p.m. (all times EDT). First post time Saturday is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Dale Romans, Just Louise scored a 3 ¼-length victory going five furlongs on May 28. Robby Albarado, seeking his third Debutante victory, was aboard for the maiden score and will ride Saturday. Just Louise will break from post position six.

Ken McPeek trains Salty Strike, who scored by 4 ¼ lengths going five furlongs on May 14. Calvin Borel, who won the 2002 Debutante on Awesome Humor, has the call on Salty Strike, who will break from post position one.

Trainer Steve Asmussen, who has saddled the Debutante winner four times, will be represented in this year’s renewal by the Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Tristanme, a maiden winner at Woodbine on June 5. Shaun Bridgmohan has the riding assignment on Tristanme, who breaks from post position five.

William Dorminy’s Internet Café, the only two-time winner in the field, will carry top weight of 120 pounds and break from post position seven under apprentice Oriani Rossi.

The field for the Debutante, from the rail out, is as follows: Salty Strike (Borel, 118 pounds), Bach Hamilton (Francisco Torres, 116), Tater Taunter (Corey Nakatani, 118), Big Sweets (Alex Solis, 118), Tristanme (Bridgmohan, 118), Just Louise (Albarado, 118) and Internet Café (Rossi, 120).

CHAMPION RACHEL ALEXANDRA TAKES IT EASY ON MUGGY MORNING AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra returned to serious training after her 10 ½-length romp in the $200,000-added Fleur de Lis (Grade II) on June 12 with an easy half-mile work on a muggy Monday at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Steve Asmussen’s 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro breezed four furlongs over a fast track in :51.20.  Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan was in the saddle as Rachel Alexandra covered the distance in fractional splits of :12.40 and :25.20 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:05.20.

"She went fine,” said Asmussen.  “It’s a ridiculously hot morning, you know?  That’s a big concern.  It’s time to get out and go north.”

Asmussen had planned to ship Rachel Alexandra to New York’s Saratoga Race Course on July 5, the day after the 42-day Spring Meet at Churchill Downs closes.   But as an unusually warm spring in the Louisville area turns the page to summer today, he is considering moving travel plans up a few days for Rachel Alexandra and other members of his Churchill Downs stable.

It was a humid 81 degrees when Rachel Alexandra breezed around 6:30 a.m. (all times EDT) and conditions were so humid that camera lenses immediately fogged up when lens caps were removed by photographers hoping to record the champion’s work.

“I think we’ve got to get out of this weather,” he said.  “The flag’s stuck to the pole today.”
Asmussen was concerned in the days after her victory on a hot afternoon in the Fleur De Lis that there might be some residual effect from her big effort in those conditions, but he said she appeared fine when she returned to training in the middle of last week.

“She acts like the rest of us do right now – it’s hot,” he said.  “Her weight’s good and she’s very sound, and her strength is good.  But it’s hot.  We’d all feel better if it was about 20 degrees cooler.”

Owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Farm and Harold McCormick, Rachel Alexandra’s has a career record of 12-4-0 in 17 races and has earned $3,216,730.  The Fleur de Lis victory was her first in three starts in 2010.

BARN TALK – Trainer Ken McPeek returned to the blast furnace that was Kentucky on Sunday night after 2 ½ weeks in England where he ran three horses at the Royal Ascot meet. “It was in the 60s over there and it was great for the horses,” McPeek said. “All three horses are doing well and will fly to New York on Wednesday.” Headlining the trio was fifth-place Kentucky Derby (GI) finisher Noble’s Promise, who ran fifth in the St. James’s Palace Stakes (GI) at a mile. McPeek’s other runners, both 2-year-olds, finished third: Tiz My Time in the six-furlong Group III Albany Stakes and Casper’s Touch in the Chasham Stakes at seven furlongs. First up on McPeek’s docket at Churchill Downs is Saturday’s Debutante Stakes (GIII), in which the trainer will seek his first victory in the race with Salty Strike. “She is a real nice filly and Calvin (Borel) will ride her,” McPeek said of the homebred filly owned by Craig Singer. Salty Strike broke her maiden in her first start on May 14, winning by 4 ¼ lengths in one of the faster five-furlong sprints of the meet (:57.79).  The two fillies right behind her that day, Blue Orleans and Le Mi Geaux, came back to break their maidens in their next starts. …

Trainer Tom Amoss said that plans are indefinite for Backtalk, who ran third Saturday night in the $400,000 Red Legend at Charles Town in his first start since finishing 20th in the Kentucky Derby. “He came out of the race fine and he is back here,” Amoss said. “The horse that won (Comedero) is a good horse and we knew that going in. We just took a chance.” …

Ready’s Rocket, one of only seven horses since 1976 to win eight times at Churchill Downs, gets his shot at No. 9 on Friday in the second race, a seven-furlong starter/allowance test.

WORK TAB – Hull, winner of the 2009 Derby Trial, worked a half-mile in :47.20 over a fast track, best of 54 at the distance. … Eight Belles (GIII) runner-up Visavis covered the same distance in :47.40, which ranked as the second-fastest half-mile work. … Other half-mile works of notes included Matt Winn winner Thiskyhasnolimit (:49), Aristides (GIII) winner Riley Tucker (:49.80), fifth-place Belmont Stakes (GI) runner Stay Put (:51.20) and four-time Churchill Downs stakes winner Acoma (:51.80). Grade I winner Hot Dixie Chick worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 and 2009 Jim Dandy (GII) winner Kensei worked six furlongs in 1:14.60.

READY’S ROCKET ENTERS EXCLUSIVE TERRITORY WITH CHURCHILL DOWNS VICTORY – Lost in all the hoopla of Blame’s thrilling Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) victory and the tour de force of Rachel Alexandra in the Fleur de Lis (GII) on Saturday was the triumph in the day’s first race by Ready’s Rocket.

The victory in the $10,000 starter allowance test was the eighth at Churchill Downs for the 7-year-old Ready’s Rocket, making him the seventh horse to achieve that many victories beneath the Twin Spires since 1976, which is the first year detailed information was gathered by Equibase.

No horse has won nine races here and trainer Tim Glyshaw is hoping Ready’s Rocket, now owned by Tampa Metro Stable, will get the chance.

There are a couple of starter races before the end of the meet,” Glyshaw said. “He is still eligible for a non-winners of two other/than, but that is going five furlongs on the turf. He is bred for the turf, but he is 0-for-3 on it. I will check with Calvin and see if he thinks he can do it, but I don’t really want to change anything.”

Calvin” is jockey Calvin Borel, who has ridden Ready’s Rocket to seven of his eight Churchill Downs victories.

"He obviously loves the surface here (with a record of 19-8-2-2), but the biggest difference between here and other tracks is he responds to Calvin for whatever reason,” said Glyshaw, who has saddled Ready’s Rocket to 11 of his 15 career victories.

Ready’s Rocket has won his past five starts at Churchill Downs, and is the only three-time winner of the 30-day-old meet. He returned the Glyshaw barn after a brief sojourn to Penn National.
“After he ran at Keeneland last fall, the owners wanted to run at Penn National because of the bigger pots,” Glyshaw said. “The opportunity arose to claim him back when he was in for $4,000 and we did and that race made him starter eligible again.”

Back in Kentucky after three off-the-board efforts in Pennsylvania, Ready’s Rocket was jogged on a farm until the Glyshaw stable returned from New Orleans. Glyshaw was not sure what he had when the current meet started.

“I was a little worried when he worked in 1:04 and 3 at the end of April,” Glyshaw said. “But Calvin said he was the same horse. He said those boys at Penn National just didn’t know how to ride him.”

At age seven, Ready’s Rocket “has his quirks,” Glyshaw said. “He is not overly friendly or a ‘lovey-dovey’ type. But he usually comes back and doesn’t pout after he gets beat.”

The most distinguished member of the eight-win club is Bet On Sunshine, who ran here from 1995-2002 and at age nine in 2001 won the Aristides (GIII) to become the oldest graded-stakes winner in track history

Other eight-time winners at Churchill Downs and the years they raced here are Canela (2005-08), Ahenium (1991-94), Crown Lease (1991-95), Lord Rusty (1993-2000) and Maxxed (1995-98). Canela is still in training and ran second on Sunday in a $4,000 claiming race at River Downs for trainer Joe Woodard.

DEBUTANTE ATTRACTS 18 NOMINATIONS – William Dorminy’s Internet Café and Butterfly Stable’s Iones Folly, who finished a nose apart in a May 31 allowance race here, head a list of 18 nominations to the 110th running of the $100,000-added Debutante Stakes (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs to be run June 26.

Internet Café is trained by John Hancock, who could have a second Debutante entrant in Bach Hamilton, a three-length maiden winner here on May 30. Bach Hamilton is owned by Dorminy.

One other intriguing nominee is Eldon Farm Equine’s Just Louise, a 3 ½-length debut maiden winner here on May 28. Just Louise is a half-sister to Sara Louise, winner of the Pocahontas (GIII) here in the fall of 2008 and runner-up to Rachel Alexandra in the 2008 Golden Rod (GII).

Other fillies under consideration for the race according to Churchill Downs officials are Gatewood Bell and Wesley Ward’s Nina Fever, a maiden winner at Keeneland who ran fifth against the boys in the Kentucky Juvenile (GIII) on April 30, and Perry Harrison’s Tater Taunter, a maiden winner here at first asking on June

Decelerator won last year’s Debutante to give trainer D. Wayne Lukas a record seventh victory in the race.  

Silverbulletday in 1998 is the most recent Debutante winner to return the following spring to win the Kentucky Oaks (GI). Rachel Alexandra ran was the Debutante runner-up in 2008.

Entries for the Debutante will be taken Wednesday.

BARN TALK – Nominations close Saturday for the final three stakes of the Spring Meet scheduled to be run July 3 and 4. Scheduled for July 3 are the 109th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor (GIII) for 2-year-olds going six furlongs and the 29th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares going a mile on the turf.  Backtalk won the Bashford Manor last year and Closeout took the Locust Grove. The 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course is the closing day feature on July 4. Mr. Sidney won the 2009 Firecracker.

WORK TAB – Cash Refund, third in the Aristides (GIII) in his most recent start, worked five furlongs on the main track in :59, the fastest of 11 works at the distance. … Also working five furlongs was Kentucky Juvenile (GIII) winner Lou Brissie in 1:01, fourth fastest at the distance, in preparation for the Bashford Manor. …Works of note over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course (dogs up) were 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Tapitsfly (half-mile in :53.20), multiple stakes winner Chamberlain Bridge (half-mile in :50.40) and Driving Snow, prepping for the Firecracker, worked five furlongs in 1:05.60.

CHAMPION RACHEL ALEXANDRA WELL AFTER FLEUR DE LIS VICTORY – Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra was reported by trainer Steve Asmussen to be doing well on Sunday following her 10 ½-length victory in the $200,000-added Fleur De Lis Handicap (Grade II) on the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) undercard.

The win by the 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick was her first in three races in 2010.  Her previous victory had been a narrow win over older males in the Woodward (GI) at Saratoga to complete her championship campaign at three.  It was the first victory by a female of any age in that prestigious race, but she opened this year with narrow losses to Zardana (BRZ) in the New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds and Unrivaled Belle in the La Troienne (GII) on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs.

While Rachel Alexandra appeared to come out of the race well, Asmussen was concerned about whether there was any lingering impact from Saturday’s sultry weather conditions.  Temperatures on the humid day climbed to above 90, and the heat index hovered around 100 degrees.

“It was a very humid, oppressive type of afternoon,” Asmussen said.  “We’ll see if she shows any residual effect from the weather when she goes back to the track.”

If all continues to go well, Rachel Alexandra should resume her training on Wednesday. 

Rachel Alexandra covered the 1 1/8-mile distance in a faster time than the winning time for Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame in the 4-year-old colt’s three-quarter length victory in the $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap.  The winning time for Rachel Alexandra was 1:48.78, while Blame covered the nine furlongs in 1:49.37.

The win improved the career record for Rachel Alexandra 12-4-0 in 17 races and she has earned $3,206,730.  The champion has a record of 4-3-0 in eight races at Churchill Downs.

SARATOGA AWAITS STEPHEN FOSTER WINNER BLAME – Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame got to spend an extra day at Churchill Downs on Sunday as his Keeneland workmate Apart was entered in Sunday’s eighth race.

“They will both go back to Keeneland on Monday,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said Sunday morning as he watched Blame walk the shedrow at Barn 47.

Blame rallied to overcome a four-length deficit on Battle Plan to win the Stephen Foster and give Stall his second Grade I victory at Churchill Downs. Joyeux Danseur won the Turf Classic for Stall here in 1998.

“He overcame a slow pace and a bad post (11) yesterday,” Stall said of Blame, now a winner of seven of 10 starts. “There was only mild pressure on the leader (Battle Plan), but he started to bear down and when Battle Plan switched leads at the eighth pole, I figured that was it.”

Stall said he was not sure how long he would keep Blame at Keeneland before shipping to Saratoga, where the next objective for Blame is the $750,000 Whitney (GI) at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 7.

“Right now, we are just thinking about the Whitney,” Stall said. “It is tough to run two races like that at Saratoga (with the Woodward on Sept. 4 being the other). You can throw the Hawthorne Gold Cup (GII) into the mix. That’s a mile and a quarter on the same day (Oct. 2) as the Jockey Club Gold Cup (at Belmont Park) and we could ship up from Keeneland and back and that sets you up for November (and the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs).”

Despite the Stephen Foster victory, Stall found out that Blame was not the big story of Saturday.

“A friend of mine on the East Coast sent me a text saying that I win a Grade I, but Rachel Alexandra is on the cover of Monday’s Daily Racing Form,” Stall said.

PLETCHER ENJOYS ALMOST PERFECT 24 HOURS IN LOUISVILLE – Trainer Todd Pletcher flew into Louisville from New York shortly before noon on Saturday and was headed back to the Big Apple before noon Sunday. In that time span, his horses won three races at Churchill Downs, including two stakes, and trainer also picked up his trophy for winning the Kentucky Derby with Super Saver.

So, on a scale of one to 10, how did the brief stay in Louisville rate?

"It was a nine,” Pletcher said with a laugh. “If Battle Plan wins the Stephen Foster it is a 10. It was just about perfect.”

In his first Grade I test, Battle Plan surrendered late to Blame in losing by three-quarters of a length to have his four-race win streak snapped.

“I thought he gave a big effort yesterday for his first race over the surface,” Pletcher said. “The track had dried out a bit from earlier in the day and it was a bit cuppier. At the five-sixteenths pole, (jockey) Javier (Castellano) asked him for a bit more and the ground broke out from under him.”

Pletcher said that Battle Plan would return to New York on Wednesday and a schedule would be mapped out to keep Battle Plan and stable star Quality Road on separate paths.

Pletcher, whose day started with a victory by the 2-year-old maiden Blue Orleans in the fifth race, said that Northern Dancer (GIII) winner Colizeo and Regret (GIII) winner Caminadora would remain at Churchill Downs for the time being.

Regarding the 2-year-old Razmataz, a winner Friday night who gave Pletcher his 100th victory at Churchill Downs, the trainer said the July 3 Bashford Manor (GIII) “is a possibility. I want to see how he bounces back from Friday.”

BARN TALK – Owner-trainer Tom McCarthy said that third-place Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) finisher General Quarters remained on track for a return to the turf this summer at Arlington Park. “That’s the plan right now,” McCarthy said of the Arlington Handicap (GIII) on July 17 and the Arlington Million (GI) on Aug. 21. McCarthy said General Quarters was affected by the heat Saturday. “(Jockey) Alex (Solis) said the heat got him at the sixteenth pole,” McCarthy said. “He always finishes up well, but he got back here and ate all his supper last night and his breakfast this morning.” …

Trainer Tony Reinstedler reported all was well with Jefferson Cup (GIII) winner Gleam of Hope on Sunday morning. “Arlington Park is next,” Reinstedler said referring to the American Derby (GII) on July 17 and then the Secretariat (GI) on Aug. 21. Gleam of Hope signaled his readiness for the Jefferson Cup with a work last Sunday in company with Giant Oak, who ran fourth in Saturday’s Stephen Foster Handicap. “We changed things up a little bit because he can be lackadaisical and he worked in blinkers,” Reinstedler said. “The idea was to get him to settle and finish up well. He worked well in them and that gave us confidence going in.” …

    Drew Coontz, assistant to trainer Chris Block, said that Giant Oak would head back to Arlington Park on Wednesday. “He’s fine this morning,” Coontz said of Giant Oak, who finished 4 ½ lengths behind Blame. “He ran great for the company he was with.” …

    Trainer Paul McGee said that Demarcation, fifth in the Stephen Foster, and Worldly, runner-up in the Northern Dancer, were doing well Sunday morning. “I was pretty happy with him and so were the owners (Mr. and Mrs. John Amerman),” McGee said of Demarcation, who was a head behind Giant Oak. “He ran well in the Clark here last fall beaten only 6 ½ lengths, but he is just a cut below those horses.” McGee is not sure when Worldly, beaten a neck by Colizeo, would run next. “I will be running quite a bit at Arlington Park, but I would prefer to keep him on dirt rather than the Polytrack.” …

    Trainer Wally Dollase said he would have an idea “in a day or two” as to what would be next for Distinctive Dixie, runner-up to Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Fleur de Lis (GII). Distinctive Dixie got to within a half-length of Rachel Alexandra nearing the top of the stretch, but could get no closer as Rachel Alexandra drew off to a 10 ½-length victory. “For a fleeting moment there …” Dollase said of the upset possibility. “Did you hear my wife (Cincy) scream? I know I sure did! I’m proud of my filly. She hadn’t run in some time (six weeks) and she held on to get second over Jessica Is Back, who is a nice filly.”

WORK TAB – Tap Tap Tapping, runner-up in the Dogwood (GIII), worked five furlongs in 1:03.40 over a fast track. … Backtalk, winner of last spring’s Bashford Manor (GIII) and unraced since finishing last in the Kentucky Derby, worked six furlongs in 1:12.60.

Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra shrugged off a challenge from Distinctive Dixie at the head of the stretch and cruised to a 10 ½-length victory in the 36th running of the $214,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (GII) for fillies and mares on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Calvin Borel, who was posting his fourth victory of the afternoon, Rachel Alexandra won for the first time in three starts in 2010 after an undefeated eight-for-eight campaign in 2009. Rachel Alexandra is owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick and trained by Steve Asmussen.

Jessica Is Back, ridden by Garrett Gomez, took the lead out of the gate with Borel angling Rachel Alexandra to the outside of the leader going into the first turn. Jessica Is Back maintained a narrow advantage through fractions of :23.93 and :47.25 with Distinctive Dixie running a close third.

At the three-eighths pole, Rachel Alexandra swept past Jessica Is Back with Distinctive Dixie ranging up to her outside under Robby Albarado. At the head of the stretch, Distinctive Dixie got within a half-length of Rachel Alexandra, but that was as close as she would get.

Carrying high weight of 124 pounds on a muggy afternoon, Rachel Alexandra ran the 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:48.78. The victory was worth $132,680 and increased Rachel Alexandra’s earnings to $3,206,730 with a record of 17-12-4-0.

Rachel Alexandra, a 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of the Roar mare Lotta Kim, returned $2.20 and $2.10. Distinctive Dixie, carrying 116 pounds, paid $5.60 to place and finished two lengths in front of Jessica Is Back. Completing the field in order were Multipass and Made for Magic. There was no show wagering.

The Fleur de Lis Handicap trophy was presented by Nancy Lasala, executive director of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

FLEUR DE LIS HANDICAP QUOTES

CALVIN BOREL (jockey, RACHEL ALEXANDRA, winner): “She’s just getting back. You have to give her a chance. She’s a filly and she did the impossible when she was a 3-year-old. I think you’ll see a great future now. She did everything right today. (Trainer) Steve (Asmussen) told me just to run my race and see where were at. She showed up today. She felt the same. I just don’t think she was ready before. Steve knows what he’s doing. She showed up today. She was perfect and we couldn’t ask for more.”

STEVE ASMUSSEN (trainer, RACHEL ALEXANDRA, winner): “I’m very proud for everybody involved that she won. We are all grateful that (co-owner) Mr. (Jess) Jackson and (Jackson’s wife) Barbara (Banke) put a Horse of the Year back in training and take all the advice or criticism or whatever, but she is a tremendously sound filly. She’s a machine and she ran a great race today, and hopefully this is a step in the right direction for the rest of the year. It’s an honor to train a horse like her. We will take her back to the barn and there will be a lot of petting her, and peppermints, and loving on her.”
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DUKE OF MISCHIEF GETS ANOTHER SHOT AT GRADE I GLORY – Trainer David Fawkes had four options in mind for Duke of Mischief after the 4-year-old colt won the Oaklawn Handicap (Grade II) on April 3.

“We were looking at the Stephen Foster (GI) for a long time,” said Fawkes, who co-owns Duke of Mischief with Marilyn McMaster and Alex and Joann Lieblong. “We also considered the Lone Star Park Handicap (run May 31), the Cornhusker (Handicap, run June 26 at Prairie Meadows) and the Salvatore Mile (run July 3 at Monmouth Park).

“But with Quality Road running in the Met Mile and Rachel Alexandra maybe not at her best, the Stephen Foster looked like a good opportunity to win a Grade I with him.”

And so it was that Duke of Mischief vanned in to Churchill Downs from his home base at Calder Race Course in Miami. Regular rider Eibar Coa will be aboard Saturday when Duke of Mischief, the fourth choice at 6-1 on the morning line, breaks from post position four under 116 pounds in the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster.

Churchill Downs will mark the ninth track at which Duke of Mischief has run in what will be his 13th start. Duke of Mischief debuted in July 2008 as a 2-year-old but came out of that race “with just some baby stuff and we gave him some time off after that,” Fawkes said.

Seven months later, Duke of Mischief returned on the turf and broke his maiden.

“I owned his half-brother, Lord Robyn, and he liked the weeds,” Fawkes said of putting Duke of Mischief on the turf. “I ran him next in a stake and he probably should have won. A couple races after that, the race came off the turf and he ran really fast (winning by 11 ¾ lengths) and after that we started thinking about the Iowa Derby.”

A five-length victory in the Iowa Derby propelled Duke of Mischief to the Haskell Invitational (GI) and a fifth-place finish behind Rachel Alexandra.

“He got slammed into the rail early in the race by Summer Bird and lost a shoe,” Fawkes said.

Sub-par efforts in the Pennsylvania Derby (GII) and Oklahoma Derby followed to conclude Duke of Mischief’s 2009 campaign.

“He had an entrapped epiglottis,” Fawkes said. “He had surgery to correct that after the Oklahoma Derby and I know it had to be bothering him in Pennsylvania, too.”

After a three-month break, Duke of Mischief returned with a neck victory in the Fort Lauderdale Handicap (GIII) before hooking Quality Road in the Donn Handicap (GI).

“He always runs better with time off,” Fawkes said. “I am a big believer in the (Ragozin) sheets, and the numbers say he fits well here in this race.”

DISTINCTIVE DIXIE LINES UP TO TRY RACHEL ALEXANDRA AGAIN – If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

And so it is that Bob and Beverly Lewis Trust’s Distinctive Dixie will try again for a graded stakes victory and in the process take on reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra for a second time in Saturday’s 36th running of the $200,000-added Fleur de Lis Handicap (GII).

Fifth in the Fleur de Lis behind Miss Isella last year, the Wally Dollase-trained Distinctive Dixie ran fourth in the La Troienne (GII) on April 30, finishing 13 lengths behind Rachel Alexandra, who lost by a head to Unrivaled Belle.

“She has been training really well (since the La Troienne) and she worked gangbusters last week (a bullet :59.20 for five furlongs),” Dollase said. “She is definitely coming into the race better than last year. I would not run her if I didn’t think so.”

Second in the Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park the past two years, Distinctive Dixie has compiled a career mark of 15-4-5-2 for earnings of $231,596.

“She has had an excuse for when she doesn’t run her better races and we have always figured out why,” Dollase said, pointing to a leisurely :48.80 half-mile in the La Troienne as a factor in the 5-year-old Distinctive Dixie’s previous start.

Robby Albarado, who has ridden Distinctive Dixie to one of her two victories at Churchill Downs, will have the mount Saturday.

“Robby has also worked her before and he likes her,” Dollase said. “We think she is a special filly and deserves a chance in here.”

JOHARMONY BRINGS DELACOUR BACK TO CHURCHILL DOWNS ON HER OWN – “I have been in this barn many times, but this is the first time with my own horse,” trainer Leigh Delacour said as she got Joharmony settled into the stakes barn for Saturday’s 41st running of the $125,000-added Regret (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies.

A former exercise rider and assistant to Graham Motion, Delacour traveled often with Motion’s horses and one of her regular traveling companions was Film Maker, who closed her career with a runner-up finish to Ouija Board in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) at Churchill Downs.

Delacour was with Motion for a decade before going out on her own with her husband Arnaud in 2007 with a public stable.

“I got my exercise rider’s license when I was 15 before I got my driver’s license and my mom drove me to Laurel to work,” Delacour said.

In Joharmony, Delacour has a filly riding a four-race win streak that includes an allowance score at Keeneland and then a victory in the Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico on May 14. A daughter of Johar out of the Dynaformer mare Dynamia, Joharmony debuted last September at Laurel, but then didn’t race again until January at Tampa Bay Downs.

“There was a lot of rain last fall and the turf season (in the Mid-Atlantic region) ended early,” Delacour said. “We shipped to Tampa, and they had a lot of rain there early and her first race was taken off the turf.”

After a turf win, Delacour tabbed Keeneland as the next stop for Joharmony.

“We wanted to go to Keeneland to get her some earnings, plus I thought she fit,” Delacour said. “A lot of times, horses from Tampa Bay get excluded from races as opposed to those who have run at Gulfstream and have more money.”

Joharmony passed her Keeneland test by a neck and then won the Hilltop by 4 ½ lengths, both times under Javier Castellano who will be aboard Saturday.

“Javier has gotten to know her and trusts her,” Delacour said. “She deserves an opportunity against graded company and we are cautiously optimistic.”

The Delacours, married in 2007, traveled many of the same circuits as Arnaud was an assistant to Christophe Clement. When Leigh was traveling with the $2 million earner Film Maker, Arnaud often traveled with Snowdrops (GB), a six-time stakes winner and earner of nearly $600,000.

“Dr. (John) Chandler, who bred Joharmany, owned and bred her dam Dynamia and he sent us a DVD of her races,” Delacour said. “We started playing it and there was she racing against Film Maker and the next race against Snowdrops, which means she ran against some top mares.”

BARN TALK – Stephen Foster Handicap second morning-line choice Blame arrived at Churchill Downs at 10 a.m. Thursday from Keeneland. Also arriving Thursday was No Advantage, runner-up to Blame in the W.D. Schaefer (GIII) at Pimlico on May 15. …

California invader Made for Magic, one of four challengers for Rachel Alexandra in Saturday’s Fleur de Lis Handicap, made her first visit to the main track at Churchill Downs Thursday morning after arriving on Wednesday afternoon. Made for Magic is scheduled to school in the paddock during Thursday’s sixth race.

Newly elected Hall of Famer Randy Romero will be signing copies of his biography, “Randy Romero’s Remarkable Ride,” on Sunday in the Paddock Pavilion. …

 Nominations close Saturday for the 110th running of the $100,000-added Debutante (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the main track. Last year’s Debutante was won by Decelerator for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. …

Dale Romans, third in the trainer standings with 11 victories this meet, will have four chances Friday to become the second Churchill Downs conditioner with 500 victories at the track. Sitting on 499 wins, second only to Bill Mott’s 630, Romans has no entries Thursday but Friday night will send out Why Us in the third, Ride On Josephine in the fifth, Peruvian Hero in the seventh and Yate’s Black Cat in the 10th. …

 Also closing in on a Churchill Downs milestone is Shaun Bridgmohan, currently the second-leading rider at the meet with 23 victories. Bridgmohan has 289 career wins at Churchill Downs and would become the 19th rider to hit the 300-victory plateau.

KENTUCKY DERBY LEGENDS OF THE 1970S TO SHINE ON ALUMNI DAY – Saturday is Kentucky Derby Alumni Day at Churchill Downs, saluting connections of some of the stars from the 1970s.

There will be a commemorative print giveaway sponsored by GE that will be distributed to the first 5,000 guests through the gates that open at 11 a.m. (EDT).  From 1-3 p.m. in the Paddock Pavilion, connections of some of the Kentucky Derby winners from the 1970s will be on hand signing the print.
Connections on hand for the autograph session will be:

• 1970 – Dust Commander: Trainer Don Combs and jockey Mike Manganello.
• 1972-73 – Riva Ridge and Secretariat: Owner Penny Chenery and jockey Ron Turcotte.
• 1974 and 1976 -- Cannonade and Bold Forbes: Jockey Angel Cordero Jr.
• 1975 – Foolish Pleasure: Jockey Jacinto Vasquez.
• 1977 – Seattle Slew: Trainer Billy Turner and jockey Jean Cruguet.
• 1978 – Affirmed: Owners Patrice Wolfson and Steve Wolfson Sr. and jockey Steve Cauthen

Others scheduled to attend include: Don Brumfield (1966, Kauai King), Pat Day (1992, Lil E. Tee), Seth Hancock of Claiborne Farm (1984, Swale), Chris McCarron (1987, Alysheba; 1994 Go for Gin); Bobby Ussery (1967, Proud Clarion; 1968, Dancer’s Image) and Lynn Whiting (1992, Lil E. Tee).

Also, this year’s winning jockey Calvin Borel, trainer Todd Pletcher and owners/breeders Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt of WinStar Farm will be on hand to collect their Kentucky Derby trophies in a winner’s circle ceremony after the fifth race.

ASHER TO SPECIAL “GET IN THE GAME” TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE -- John Asher will host a special edition Saturday of the “Get in the Game” seminar in which he will talk to the winning connections and discuss their historic journey through their Triple Crown victories and Kentucky Derby wins in the 1970s.
“Get in the Game” will be located in the paddock starting at 11:30 a.m. and will be featured on all in-house monitors.

Fans also will be able to save up to 50 percent on discounted products from the Official Art of the Kentucky Derby Collection starting at 11:30 a.m. and lasting until 6 p.m.

JOCKEY TRADING CARD GIVEAWAY, AUTOGRAPH SESSION SLATED SUNDAY -- The first 2,500 guests to arrive on Sunday, June 13 will receive a free set of jockey trading cards. Gates will open at 11 a.m. (EDT) on Sunday with the trading cards being distributed at Gates 1, 10, and 17.

The cards feature a mixture of current and Hall of Fame jockeys not limited to Churchill Downs’ current jockey colony. Churchill Downs jockeys will be available for an autograph session in the Paddock Pavilion from 11 a.m. to noon.

OFFICIAL LIMITED EDITION RON TURCOTTE BOBBLEHEAD SALES SET SUNDAY -- Official limited edition Ron Turcotte bobbleheads will be on sale between the Churchill Downs store and Gate 17 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 13.

Turcotte, who won the Triple Crown aboard Secretariat in 1973, will be on site to autograph and sell his limited edition bobbleheads.

Only 1,973 of these bobbleheads were manufactured with 500 being available for purchase at $50 each. A portion of the funds raised from the sale will be donated to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.