River City Handicap

Anstu Stables’ Blues Street rallied from behind with a four-wide move around the final turn and kicked clear of his seven rivals in deep stretch to win Saturday’s 34th running of the $111,000 River City Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs by 4 ½ lengths over longshot Allie’s Event.

Robby Albarado rode the winner for his fourth River City Handicap triumph. He also won back-to-back renewals in 2001-02 with Dr. Kashnikow and the 2005 edition aboard America Alive. Retired Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day holds the River City record with six victories (1982, ’84, ’86, ’91, ’99 and 2000).

Blues Street, a 7-year-old Street Cry gelding trained by Eddie Kenneally, clocked 1 1/8 miles over “firm” going in 1:51.72, which is the slowest River City Handicap in 23 runnings at that distance on the Matt Winn Turf Course. The stakes record is 1:47.90 established by Dr. Kashnikow in 2001.

The River City was Blues Street’s 10th victory in 30 starts and first stakes victory since capturing the Grade II Marvin Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds in March 2010.

“He handled the turf,” Kenneally said. “There was a little give in the ground, even though it was listed as firm. He relaxed nicely behind the pace and he’s got a lot of class – he’s got a lot of back class, this horse. He’s good right now and it worked out well.”

Zimmer, the largest price in the betting at 18-1, led the field of older horses for three-quarters of a mile through fractions of :24.40, :49.29 and 1:14.20. Blues Street only had Allie’s Event beat down the backstretch. As the leaders began to falter into the far turn, Blues Street loomed with a wide rally in the clear to move into contention. He grabbed the lead with a furlong to run and widened his margin in deep stretch.

Eddie gave me the best instructions,” Albarado said. “He said he loves to be on the outside of horses and it was perfect the way it set up with all of the speed in the race. It kind of stretched the race out a little bit. I was just perched on the outside and when he made the lead he kept going. He didn’t wait for anyone.”

Blues Street, the 5-2 second choice and tacking 117 pounds, paid $7.40, $5 and $3.60. Allie’s Event, ridden by Leandro Goncalves at 114, returned $8.60 and $5.80. Gleam of Hope, also 117 with Corey Lanerie up, finished third, 1 ¼ lengths behind the runner-up after being jostled between horses at the start, and paid $4.

Tajaaweed, the 9-5 favorite and 119-pound starting high weight, finished fourth and was followed by Bergerac, Cherokee Lord, Zimmer and Plutonium.

The $66,756 first prize jumped Blues Street’s earnings to $647,383 for Stuart Subotnick, who races under the nom de course Anstu Stables. The Kentucky-bred’s record is 10-7-3 in 30 races.

Racing at Churchill Downs continues Sunday with a 10-race program that begins at 12:40 p.m. EST. The card features a Pick 6 carryover of $3,311 on Races 5-10 and a Super Hi-5 carryover of $7,311 in the finale.

RIVER CITY HANDICAP QUOTES

Robby Albarado, jockey on Blues Street (winner): “(Trainer) Eddie (Kenneally) gave me the best instructions. He said he loves to be on the outside of horses and it was perfect the way it set up with all of the speed in the race. It kind of stretched the race out a little bit. I was just perched on the outside and when he made the lead he kept going. He didn’t wait for anyone.”

Eddie Kenneally, trainer of Blues Street (winner): “He handled the turf course good. He had run one time over this turf course and he didn’t run bad, and it was a Grade I race here on Derby Day a couple of years ago (a fifth-place finish behind General Quarters and Court Vision in the 2009 running of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic). He handled the turf. There was a little give in the ground, even though it was listed as firm. He relaxed nicely behind the pace and he’s go a lot of class, he’s got a lot of back class, this horse. He’s good right now and it worked out well.”

Q: He’s raced sparingly. Has he had any particular issues? “He’s a 7-year-old, he’s going to be eight.  So he doesn’t need to race very often. When we ran him opening day at Keeneland, the plan was to give him six weeks and run him back in this race. The timing is ideal – I think six weeks is perfect for a horse like him. He gives everything when he runs, so there’s no real need to run him so often. But he doesn’t really have any issues.  He’s just an older horse that needs time, and to run his best race he needs to be fresh.”

Q: Robby said you gave him great instructions and said to keep him outside of horses? “He’s a one-run kind of a horse, and in some of his previous races when he didn’t have an option to go out and the rider chose to go up the middle or the inside and he got stopped. He just doesn’t start real quick. He’s a one-run kind of horse and when he gains momentum, he doesn’t need to be stopped and you’ve got a better shot of not being stopped when you go widest of all. Robby rode him to a T.”

Mike Stidham, trainer of Gleam of Hope (third at 6-1) – “He (Gleam of Hope) ran a decent race. He got bounced around leaving the gate. (Jockey) Corey (Lanerie) said he handled the course all right.”

Dan Peitz, trainer of Tajaaweed (fourth as 9-5 favorite) – He (Tajaaweed) had a rough trip. He was covered up and every time it looked like he had a spot to run someone would run up on the outside of him. We were probably running for second money, though. The winner was pretty impressive. I think with a better trip we could have been second.”

Jesus Castanon, jockey on Tajaaweed (fourth as 9-5 favorite) – “You either get racing luck or you don’t. I had him (Tajaaweed) covered up and thought I had a good shot at the five-sixteenths pole. He gave me a little kick, but he needed to give me more.”

RULER ON ICE BREEZES HALF-MILE IN PREP FOR CLARK HANDICAP – Ruler On Ice, winner of the Belmont Stakes (Grade I), has joined the roster of horses that will compete in the 137^th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) on Friday, Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs.

Ruler On Ice breezed five furlongs on Friday in :48.60 for trainer Kelly Breen  over a fast main track at Churchill Downs.  It was his first breeze since the Classic and his only major training move prior to the Clark.

Starting two lengths behind stablemate Nacho Friend and finishing even with his workmate at the wire, the Kelly Breen-trained Ruler On Ice recorded fractions of :24.60 and :36.60 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02. The four-furlong time was the 12^th fastest of 47 at the distance.

“It was excellent,” Breen said. “It was a textbook work and he seems to really like this track.”

George and Lori Hall’s will be entered in the Clark off a third-place finish behind Drosselmeyer and Game On Dude in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. It was the first start against older horses for the 3-year-old son of Roman Ruler.

“I’m very happy to report that he came out of the race in good order and he’s currently in great shape,” Breen said. “He’s eating well and training well. He’s a lean, mean fighting machine.”

Breen said Ruler On Ice came out of his Classic run in great condition, and the gelding's well-being and the uncertain nature of this year’s Eclipse Awards races were the major factors in the decision to run in the Clark.

“We’re thinking that if he wins this race then he is in the running for champion 3-year-old,” Breen said. “That would give us two Grade I wins and he would be beating older horses (in the Clark).”

Other horses working at Churchill Downs on Friday morning included Clark Handicap candidates General Quarters and Equestrio.

Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, a multiple Grade I-winner with over $1.2 million in earnings, breezed five furlongs on the main track in 1:01.80.  He covered the distance in fractional splits of :12.60, :25, :37.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.40.  The work was the 11^th fastest of 41 at the distance.

Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable’s Equestrio, third by a head to First Dude in the Alysheba (GIII) on Kentucky Oaks Day, breezed a “bullet” four furlongs in :47 for trainer Nick Zito. A 4-year-old son of Elusive Quality, Equestrio recorded fractions of :12.20 and :24 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.60.

STIDHAM HOPES GLEAM OF HOPE MAINTAINS FOCUS IN RIVER CITY – Gleam of Hope hasn’t been the most consistent or focused horse since he joined Mike Stidham’s barn earlier this year, but the 53-year-old trainer hopes that will change in Saturday’s 34^th running of the $100,000-added River City Handicap (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

“He came under our care this summer and we gelded him shortly after his win in the allowance at Arlington Park,” Stidham said. “He ran well as a first-time gelding (a runner-up finish to Princeville Condo in the Robert F. Carey Memorial at Hawthorne) and we’re hoping that gelding him will keep him focused and make him a more consistent horse.”

Gleam of Hope, a 4-year-old son of City Zip who won last year’s Jefferson Cup (GIII) at Churchill Downs, will break from post three under jockey Corey Lanerie as he returns to familiar surroundings at the Louisville track.

“I looked at the race and it is a very competitive field,” Stidham said. “There doesn’t appear to be any standouts.”

Since his runner-up effort in the Robert F. Carey Memorial, Gleam of Hope has worked twice over the Polytrack at Keeneland. In his most recent work on Nov. 12, he went five furlongs handily in :59, which was the fastest work of 30 at the distance.

“Both of his works since his last race have been very good,” Stidham said. “I know our horse is doing well and training well and I think he has a good shot.”

The River City is the ninth of 10 races on Saturday with a scheduled post time of 4:37 p.m. EST.

ASMUSSEN EYES 6,000^TH WIN ON 46^TH BIRTHDAY – Trainer Steve Asmussen has the chance to give himself a rare birthday present on Friday: a 6,000^th career training victory.

Asmussen, who turns 46 on Friday, recorded his first victory at age 20 at New Mexico’s Ruidoso Downs.  He entered Friday’s racing with 5,998 career wins and had 10 horses entered throughout the day at two racetracks: Churchill Downs and Remington Park. Below is a chronological listing of the 10 horses entered for Asmussen on Friday. All times listed are Eastern.

• Churchill Downs, Race 1, 4:30 p.m., #3 Banded (5-2 morning line)
• Churchill Downs, Race 3, 5:27 p.m., #3 Grinning Gang (3-1)
• Churchill Downs, Race 6, 7:00 p.m., #2 Beer Garden (5-1) and #9 Quiet Command (12-1)
• Remington Park, Race 1, 7:30 p.m., #1 Lucky Gold Coin (8-1) and #9 Basalt (10-1)
• Remington Park, Race 4, 8:54 p.m., #13 La Belle Bear (also-eligible, 7-2)
• Remington Park, Race 5, 9:22 p.m., #4 Letsgetitonmon (7-2)
• Remington Park, Race 8, 10:46 p.m., #3 Pleasantly Blessed (6-5) and #6 Acanella (5-1)

Asmussen, who has won 10 leading-trainer titles at Churchill Downs and is currently second in the trainer standings behind Mike Maker with nine wins at the Fall Meet, would be just the fifth trainer to reach the 6,000 victory milestone. A two-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer, he recorded his 5,000^th victory with Passion Rules at Woodbine on Sept. 11, 2009.

BARN TALK – Preston Stables LLC’s Clark Handicap-hopeful Flat Out is scheduled to breeze at Churchill Downs between 6-7 a.m. Saturday morning for trainer Scooter Dickey. Greta Kuntzweiler will be in the irons for the work, but Alex Solis will have the mount in the Clark. …

Summer Tremor, a half-sister to 2005 2-year-old champion colt Stevie Wonderboy, will make her second start in Saturday’s fifth race at Churchill Downs. Trained by Rusty Arnold, Summer Tremor is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the field of 10. …

It is “Pony Up for Charity” weekend beneath the Twin Spires. Patrons attending Churchill Downs during the weekend’s races will have the opportunity at all food and beverage points of sale to add $1 or more to their tab to benefit the day’s designated charitable organization. Proceeds from Friday will be donated to the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, Saturday’s proceeds will be donated to The Lord’s Kitchen and Sunday’s donations will benefit Horses and Hope.  

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockey over the last five racing days (Nov. 11-17) is Julien Leparoux (9-for-31). Dale Romans (4-for-11) and Mike Maker (4-for-12) are the hottest trainers over the same period and Ken and Sarah Ramsey (4-for-10) are the hottest owners.

WORKTAB – Bobby Flay’s Super Espresso, seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (Grade I) in her most recent start, breezed four furlongs in company with Giant Sensation on a fast main track at Churchill Downs on Friday morning in :47.80 for trainer Todd Pletcher. Super Espresso recorded fractions of :12.20,, :24.20, :35.80 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.60 and six furlongs in 1:14.20.  She is nominated to the $175,000-added Falls City Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the main track on Thanksgiving Day. …

Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s Gran Lioness breezed four furlongs on the main track in :49.80 for trainer Bret Calhoun. The work was the 28^th fastest of 47 at the distance. Gran Lioness has not raced since finishing third to Salty Strike in the Dogwood (GIII) at Churchill Downs in June.

PEITZ SEES TAJAAWEED AS ‘HORSE TO BEAT’ IN SATURDAY’S RIVER CITY – Shadwell Stable’s Tajaaweed, winner of the Arlington Handicap (Grade III) in July, faces eight rivals as the 119-pound high weight in Saturday’s 34^th running of the River City Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs, but trainer Dan Peitz sees the 6-year-old son of Dynaformer as the one to beat.

“I haven’t really analyzed the race too much, but I looked it over and we’re the high weight and look to be the horse to beat,” Peitz said.

Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia believes the public will also see Tajaaweed as the horse to beat and made him the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the River City, which will be contested at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Tajaaweed, who will break from post eight under Jesus Castanon, will enter the River City off a sixth-place finish in Keeneland’s Shadwell Turf Mile (GI), a race in which he faced such accomplished runners as three-time Eclipse Award-winner Gio Ponti, Get Stormy, Sidney’s Candy – all contenders in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) – and Wise Dan, winner of the Firecracker Handicap (GII) at Churchill Downs.

“We were taking a shot in the Shadwell (Turf Mile) and were hoping to get third or fourth,” Peitz said. “It might have been a little short for him and he really didn’t get the kind of pace he needed to close.

“The River City distance is more what he wants and the competition is softer.  He’s had two really good works at Trackside and is coming into the race in good shape.”

The River City will be the third start on the Matt Winn Turf Course for Tajaaweed. He finished fifth in an allowance race in June of 2010 and this spring he was second to Turallure in the Opening Verse.

“Both of his races on the turf at Churchill have been pretty good,” Peitz said. “I know he was fifth in the allowance, but he was very wide throughout. Then he only lost by a length to Turallure in the stake. If he runs the same race he did in the Opening Verse then I think it might make him a winner.”

Since the Opening Verse, Turallure has recorded wins in the Bernard Baruch (GII) and Ricoh Woodbine Mile (GI) and finished second by a nose to Court Vision in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“I wish Tajaaweed would have moved up after the Opening Verse as much as Turallure did,” Peitz said.

The River City is the ninth of 10 races on Saturday with a scheduled post time of 4:37 p.m. EST.

LEPAROUX EYES FIFTH STRAIGHT FALL MEET TITLE – Julien Leparoux recorded his 23^rd win of the meet aboard Cozzetti in Wednesday’s eighth race and entered Thursday’s action with a 23-to-15 lead over Corey Lanerie in his pursuit of a fifth consecutive Fall Meet riding title at Churchill Downs.

“Things are going really well again this meet,” Leparoux said. “I’ve had good momentum and have been getting on some good horses. It’s going great.”

Leparoux, who has won eight riding titles overall beneath the Twin Spires, has collected 526 career victories at Churchill Downs and already ranks tenth among all-time leading riders as the historic track.  Despite his rapid and sustained success, the 28-year-old native of Senlis, France is still hungry for more.

“Winning never gets old and I’m always trying to win,” Leparoux said. “I’m always trying to ride the best horses.”

Leparoux has definitely collected a lot of hardware as he counts 36 stakes victories at Churchill Downs during his relatively brief career at the Louisville track, but one race is conspicuously missing from his resumé.

“I want to win a Kentucky Derby,” Leparoux said. “That is the ultimate goal. Every year we are looking for a horse that might be the one to get me there.”

Leparoux has ridden in five Kentucky Derbys with his best effort being a fifth-place  finish aboard Sedgefield in the 2007 renewal. This year Leparoux rode favored Dialed In to an eighth-place finish.

At the conclusion of the Fall Meet, Leparoux will move his tack to Miami to ride at Gulfstream Park.

MORALES RECORDS HIS SECOND RIDING DOUBLE OF FALL MEET – Leading apprentice-rider Roberto Morales recorded his second riding double of the 2011 Fall Meet on Wednesday at Churchill Downs with wins aboard Sympathy Act in the third race and Killin Time in the finale. The two wins brought Morales’ total to four for the meet, which ties him for sixth in the overall jockey standings.

“The meet is going great,” said agent Julio Espinoza, the ninth all-time leading rider at Churchill Downs with 642 victories. “He’s got a lot of talent and always gives 100%. He’s also versatile and can ride speed horses or come from the back.”

Morales, a 21-year-old native of Aibonito, Puerto Rico, has made a lot of noise on the Kentucky-circuit since he moved his tack to the Bluegrass State in May. He recorded one victory from a handful of mounts at the end of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, but then second in the Ellis Park jockey standings to three-time Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel.

Morales followed the strong effort at the Henderson track by capturing his first career riding title in the Fall Meet at Turfway Park, where he rode 32 winners from 121 mounts.

“He rode great throughout the whole meet at Turfway,” Espinoza said. “If we had another day or two, we would have broken (Julien) Leparoux’s Fall Meet record (36 wins).”

Espinoza attributes Morales’ success to his work ethic and eagerness to learn.

“He works hard in the morning and exercises a lot of horses,” Espinoza said. “I try to teach him as much as I can and it’s helping.”

At the conclusion of the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, Morales will move his tack to Turfway Park for the Holiday Meet, which begins Dec. 1.

BARN TALK – The Virginia Tarra Trust’s Giant Oak will attempt to defend his title in the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade I) on Friday, Nov. 25.  The son of Giant’s Causeway will ship to the Louisville track Tuesday, according to Drew Coontz, assistant trainer to Chris Block. Giant Oak will enter the Clark off a third-place finish the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (GII). …

In other news at the Chris Block barn, Never Retreat, who breezed six furlongs in 1:14.40 at Churchill Downs on Sunday, will ship to Hollywood Park on Monday for a start in the Matriarch (Grade I) on Nov. 25. Never Retreat won the First Lady (GI) at Keeneland in her most recent start. …

Ready’s Rocket, winner of 10 races beneath the Twin Spires, came out of his most recent race at Churchill Downs last Thursday with a displaced palate, according to trainer Tim Glyshaw. An 8-year-old gelded son of More Than Ready, Ready’s Rocket will be pointed to a starter-allowance race at Churchill Downs on closing day of the 21-day Fall Meet on Nov. 27.

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockey over the last five racing days (Nov. 10-16) is Julien Leparoux (9-for-30). Mike Maker (5-for-11) is the hottest trainer over the same period and Ken and Sarah Ramsey (4-for-7) are the hottest owners.

WORKTAB – Jay Em Ess Stable’s Worldly breezed five furlongs in 1:03.20 on a good main track at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning for trainer Paul McGee. The work was the ninth fastest of 13 at the distance. …

Charles Cella’s Uncle Brent, winner of the Northern Spur at Oaklawn Park, breezed five furlongs Thursday morning in 1:02.80 for trainer Lynn Whiting. The work was the eighth fastest of 13 at the distance.

Tajaaweed, winner of the Arlington Handicap (Grade III) in July, will carry top weight of 119 pounds when he faces seven rivals in Saturday’s 34^th running of the $100,000-added River City Handicap (GIII) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course at Churchill Downs.

The River City, which was won last year by Mike House’s Battle of Hastings-GB, will go as the ninth race on Saturday’s 10-race program with a 4:37 p.m. EST post time. Post time for the first race Saturday is 12:40 p.m.

The River City will be the second appearance on the Matt Winn Turf Course this year for Shadwell Stable’s Tajaaweed. His other start came in the Opening Verse in June where he was second to eventual TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) runner-up Turallure. A five-time winner with $301,915 in career earnings, Tajaaweed finished sixth in the Shadwell Turf Mile in his most recent start. Trained by Daniel Peitz, Tajaaweed will break from post 8 under Jesus Castanon, who won the 2008 River City aboard Demarcation, who dead-heated with Karelian for the win.

The next high weight in the field is Anstu Stables Inc.’s Blues Street, winner of the 2010 Mervin Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (GII) at Fair Grounds. A 7-year-old gelded son of Street Cry-IRE, the Eddie Kenneally-trained Blues Street will shoulder 116 pounds and break from post six under Robby Albarado, a three-time winning jockey of the River City.

Breaking from post three under Corey Lanerie at 115 pounds is Gleam of Hope. A 4-year-old gelded son of City Zip, Gleam of Hope captured the Jefferson Cup (GIII) over the Matt Winn Turf Course in June of 2010. He will enter the River City off a second-place finish in the Robert F. Carey Memorial at Hawthorne.

The field for the River City, from the rail out, is as follows: Plutonium (Victor Lebron, 114 pounds), Cherokee Lord (Mark Guidry, 115), Gleam of Hope (Lanerie, 115), Bergerac (Manny Cruz, 114), Zimmer (Calvin Borel, 112), Blues Street (Albarado, 116), Allie’s Event (Leandro Goncalves, 113) and Tajaaweed (Castanon, 119).

Mike House’s Battle of Hastings (GB) found clear sailing after swinging four wide at the head of the stretch and rolled to a 2 ½-length victory over Midnight Mischief in the 33rd running of the $111,200 River City Handicap (GIII) on Thursday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Greg Fox and ridden by Joel Rosario, Battle of Hastings raced in fifth place in the early going as Wise River set fractions of :23.70, :47.40 and 1:11.67. Leaving the far turn, four horses moved on Wise River as Battle of Hastings was shuffled back to sixth place.

Rosario waited until the top the lane to swing Battle of Hastings out from behind horses, made the lead at the eighth pole and cruised to victory. Battle of Hastings, a 4-year-old son of Royal Applause out of the Night Shift mare Subya (GB), covered the 1 1/8 miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:48.90.

The victory was worth $66,876 and increased Battle of Hastings’ earnings to $1,344,216 with a career record of 22-7-5-2. It was the fourth graded stakes victory for Battle of Hastings.

Battle of Hastings, the second choice in the field of eight, returned $5.80, $4 and $2.80. Midnight Mischief, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $7.20 and $5 and finished a half-length in front of Boots Ahead, who returned $5.60 to show under Rajiv Maragh. Completing the order of finish was Allie’s Event, favored Rahystrada, Expansion, Schramsberg and Wise River.

Friday is the first of two days of the 27th Breeders’ Cup World Championships with a 10-race program that begins at 2 p.m. (all times Eastern). In addition to six Breeders’ Cup races that culminate with the $2 million Ladies’ Classic (GI) scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Churchill Downs will present the 18th running of the Ack Ack Handicap (GIII) slated for 3:30 p.m. as well as The Jimmy V “Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up!” overnight stake for 3-year-olds.

POST RACE QUOTES

JOEL ROSARIO (jockey, Battle of Hastings (GB), winner): “I had to be really patient. That’s what you have to do, because if you’re not patient, it’s not going to happen. He really kicked on after we got clear. I just kind of waited to see how the horse wanted to go and waited for the right time.”

GREGORY FOX (trainer, Battle of Hastings (GB), winner): “He showed he has the attitude. This horse has demonstrated in his previous races that he will make a move in the stretch. For whatever reason the timing didn’t seem to be right for him today. Joel (Rosario) had to be really patient. I have been watching Joel ride a lot and he has an amazing feel for the field as it changes in a race.”

BILL MOTT (trainer, Midnight Mischief, runner-up) – “He looked like a couple of horses made early moves leaving the half-mile pole and got maybe shuffled just a little bit around the turn, but he angled out and he closed well enough.  It was a good race coming out of conditioned allowance races into stake company.  I thought it was a big effort.
    “The winner has been a good horse for quite a while.  He probably was one of the better 3-year-olds in the country last year, so he’s proven.”

JULIEN LEPAROUX (jockey, Midnight Mischief, runner-up) – “He ran good.  He finished up very nice.  We had a good position and I had to wait a little when a couple of horses moved early on the backside, but I was happy to be there.  I got him out where the ground might be a little bit better and finished up very nice.”
Q: What are your thoughts on the turf course heading into Breeders’ Cup weekend?
“I think it’s really soft.  I don’t think they need more water on it.  I know the Europeans love it (a soft course) and it doesn’t feel bad or anything, but for here it’s like when we get rain all night.”

RAJIV MARAGH (jockey, Boots Ahead, third) – “He ran good.  He’s got a lot of fight in him.  He kept on and tried hard all the way to the end.”
Q: The winner is a horse that has proven he’s a pretty nice horse …
“The winner has earned over a million dollars.  You don’t win a million dollars by accident.  He’s performed a high levels and he showed he’s a good horse today.  But my horse, he tried as hard as he could.”

Michael House's Battle of Hastings (GB), a three-time graded stakes winner on the turf in his career, tops a field of nine older turf stars entered to compete in the 33rd running of the $100,000-added River City Handicap (Grade III) Thursday at Churchill Downs.

The River City, to be run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the 11th race on Thursday's 12-race program with an approximate post time of 5:43 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post time is 12:40 p.m.

Now trained by Greg Fox, Battle of Hastings won the Baldwin (GIII) at Santa Anita in March 2009 and that summer won the Colonial Turf Cup (GII) and Virginia Derby (GII) at Colonial Downs. In his most recent start, Battle of Hastings ran fourth over the synthetic Polytrack surface in the Pacific Classic (GI) won by Richard's Kid at Del Mar.

Battle of Hastings will break from post position three under Joel Rosario and carry high weight of 121 pounds.

Also in the field is defending champion Rahystrada, owned by Robert Courtney Jr. Trained by Byron Hughes, Rahystrada scored in last year's race at odds of 56-1 under Leandro Goncalves, who will be back aboard Thursday. Rahystrada will carry 119 pounds and break from post position one.

The field for the River City Handicap, from the inside out, is as follows: Rahystrada (Goncalves, 119 pounds), Ready Set (Jamie Theriot, 114), Battle of Hastings (GB) (Rosario, 121), Boots Ahead (Garrett Gomez, 115), Allie's Event (Jeremy Rose, 115), Schramsberg (Ramsey Zimmerman, 115), Midnight Mischief (Julien Leparoux, 114), Expansion (Shaun Bridgmohan, 119) and Wise River (Calvin Borel, 114).

Robert Courtney Jr.’s Rahystrada, dismissed at odds of 56-1, romped to a 2 ¼-length victory over Rahy’s Attorney to win Friday’s 32nd running of the $112,700 River City Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Byron Hughes and ridden by Leandro Goncalves, Rahystrada covered the 1 1/8 miles over a Matt Winn Turf Course rated as “firm” in 1:49.18.

Favored Karelian led the field under the wire the first time through a quarter-mile in :24.02 and was still in front after a half-mile in :48.43. However, in the run down the backstretch, Karelian began to drift toward the outside rail under Rajiv Maragh allowing Rahy’s Attorney to grab a brief lead.

Maragh got Karelian straightened out leaving the backstretch and made a swooping move to reclaim the lead from Rahy’s Attorney at the top of the stretch. At that juncture Goncalves, who had been saving ground throughout, split the two leaders and spurted clear and never was seriously challenged in the run to the wire.

The victory was worth $66,382 to the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Rahy and increased his earnings $265,654 with his eighth win in 22 starts.

Rahystrada, who carried 114 pounds, eight fewer than Karelian, who finished eighth, returned mutuels of $115.80, $42.80 and $16.80. Rahy’s Attorney, ridden by Robert Landry, returned $5.40 and $4.40 with Pleasant Strike finishing a nose back in third under Chris DeCarlo and paying $6 to show.

The 21-day Fall Meet concludes Saturday with the 12-race “Stars of Tomorrow II” card for 2-year-olds that begins at 11:30 a.m. (ET).

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE RIVER CITY HANDICAP

LEANDRO GONCALVES, jockey of RAHYSTRADA, winner: “I had a very good trip. When the horses began to split I had an opening and slipped through. I knew going in it was a tough race. I just rode him very confidently and he ran big for me like he always does. All three times that I have been on him I have won. Today was a test to see how good he was. He proved that he fits with these horses. He is really turning into a nice horse.”

Q: How does it feel to get your first Churchill Downs stakes win? “It was such a good feeling to win a stakes at Churchill Downs. No matter if it is a Grade II or Grade III, a stakes win at Churchill Downs means a lot to any jockey. It has always been a great dream of mine to win a stakes at Churchill Downs.”

BYRON HUGHES, trainer of RAHYSTRADA, winner:
Q: Was this a surprise to you? “A bit. We were just hoping to be in the money and he did better than we thought, of course. It was great. We knew he was doing well after his last race so that’s why we ran him and everything worked out. I’ve have him for about a year to a year-and-a-half now and he was doing better than he had before. We went on with him and gave him a shot."

What instructions did you give the jockey? “I said ‘Do what you did last time.’ That’s all! You don’t want to tell ‘em too much. He did it perfect. He saved ground just like the last race. He did everything just right.”
Q: Where’s home? “I’m stabled in Lexington at the [Thoroughbred] Training Center there at Paris Pike.”

Q: Did you bet on him? “Two [dollars] across. And that was because my wife (Tracy) told me to and she’s not here!”
Q: Biggest win? “Yes. First graded stakes and all that good stuff.”

Q: What’s your background? “I’ve been in the horse business all my life. My parents raised us on a farm in Paris (Kentucky). I started training out on the farm. For the last five to eight years I’ve increased my stable. Right now I’ve got about 20 and we’re trying to get better horses. (Owner) Robert Courtney has helped me out quite a bit. I live in Lexington.”

Q: How did you meet Mr. Courtney? “I’ve known him since we were kids almost. When we were young we ran around together and then kind of went our separate ways and got back together a few years ago. His father had a farm in Lexington.”

Q: What gave you the confidence that Rahystrada belonged here? “He’s got the breeding to do it. He’s just been improving for the last three or four races and just getting better and better. Training-wise, he’s been doing really well. He always was meant. Frankie Brothers had him when he was just starting out and he ran him in a stake as a 2-year-old and got third, I think. So he’s always been meant to be a decent horse. He had a few problems along the way but we worked through them and he’s been doing well. He’s supposed to have time off now but we’ll see.”

IAN BLACK, trainer of RAHY’S ATTORNEY, second: “I was happy with him.  He ran really well.  I don’t know where the winner jumped up from, but that happens in racing, doesn’t it?”
Q: What now for your horse? “I’m going to go to Payson (Florida’s Payson Park) for the first time, so we’ll probably run him in Florida once or twice.  Then maybe in here in the spring, or at Keeneland before I come back up.”

ROBERT LANDRY, jockey on RAHY’S ATTORNEY, second: “He ran a tremendous race.  The winner came up to us at the top of the stretch and it was like he was shot out of a cannon.  My horse was running and he ran on by me.  I’m proud of my horse.  He ran a great race and had a great trip, but he was just second best today, unfortunately.”

CHRIS DeCARLO, jockey on PLEASANT STRIKE, third: “He ran a perfect trip, but he tries hard all the time.  I sat on the rail the whole way and was able to get through, but just couldn’t catch the winner.  He (Rahystrada) had a quick turn of foot.”

RUSTY ARNOLD, trainer of KARELIAN, eighth as the favorite: “I have no idea what happened.  Rajiv (Maragh) said that he broke sharp, eased over toward the rail and when he got the first turn her just started heading for the outside fence.  He’s a 7-year-old and he’s never done anything bad in his life.  Rajiv said he ran to the outside and he couldn’t get him – he said he was going to pull him up, but then all at once he dropped back into the race again.  After he went around that turn, obviously he was done.  Hell, I don’t know what to say.”

McGEE DOUBLES UP ON CLARK HANDICAP CHANCES – Trainer Paul McGee was all set to send Dubious Miss on a solo mission for his barn in Friday’s 135th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II).

But when entries were taken Tuesday, McGee had doubled up with the Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation, winner of the Ack Ack Handicap (GIII) here on Nov. 6.

It was a joint decision (with owner John Amerman),” McGee said. “There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. He ran so well in the Ack Ack it makes sense to give it a try. If you are going to try the big boys, it may as well be now.”

The Ack Ack victory was Demarcation’s first start on the dirt since Feb. 17, 2008, at the Fair Grounds. His previous victory prior to the Ack Ack had come in last fall’s River City Handicap, a race many observers thought Demarcation would run in Friday.

Jesus Castanon, who was aboard for the Ack Ack and River City victories, has the call Friday and will break from post position four.

    Dubious Miss, owned by David Holloway Racing, Inc., comes into the Clark off an easy allowance victory on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Dubious Miss will break from post position 13 in the Clark under Calvin Borel.

“From the 13 hole, it is going to be all about the trip,” McGee said. “I feel like I have the right pilot to get us a good trip.”

Borel has ridden Dubious Miss seven times and won six of those starts. The lone loss was in the Kentucky Cup Classic (GII) at Turfway Park when Furthest Land prevailed by a neck. Furthest Land went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) in his next start.

“Calvin’s got a great record on him,” McGee said. “Why? It’s just one of those things that you can’t put your finger on.”

The Clark has long been a special race for McGee, a Louisville native who scored one of his first significant victories as a trainer in the 1988 renewal with James Shields’ Balthazar B.  He narrowly missed another Clark victory in 2005 when he saddled runner-up Suave, who lost by a head to Elisabeth Alexander’s Magna Graduate.

Demarcation would be just the second horse to sweep the Ack Ack (GIII) and the Clark, the track’s major Fall Meet races for older horses.  John Franks’ Littlebitlively won both races in 1999.

KARELIAN MAKES QUICK TURNAROUND INTO RIVER CITY – A week ago, Jack Bohannan discounted the chances of Karelian coming back to defend his title in the River City Handicap (GIII) on Friday.”

“He’s not going to run; we’ve already got Wicked Style in there,” said Bohannan, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold.

Turns out, both Arnold runners will be in the River City.

“He came out of the Breeders’ Cup (Mile) well and he worked super on Saturday at Keeneland,” Bohannan said of Karelian, who worked a bullet five-eighths in 1:00 over the main track at the Lexington oval.

Karelian, owned by Green Lantern Stables, dead-heated with Demarcation in last year’s River City and then did not run again until the Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland on Oct. 10 in which he finished second, beaten a nose by Court Vision.

“He had a minor injury in behind after last year’s race,” Bohannan said of the 7-year-old gelding. “He has had a lot of problems; suspensory, sesamoids. It is amazing that Rusty has been able to hold him together. We get three or four races out of him and then something happens.”

Rajiv Maragh will ride Karelian in the River City and make up the bulk of the top weight of 122 pounds. Wicked Style, owned by Ashbrook Farm, will be ridden by Robby Albarado and carry 116 pounds.

Wicked Style returns to the turf after three races on Polytrack, the most recent a third-place finish behind Clark Handicap contender Blame in the Fayette (GII) on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

RICH PEARL BRINGS TODD BACK TO THE DOWNS – Jerry Todd’s eyes gleam as he stands in the viewing stand on the backstretch gazing upon the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs,

"I was a groom with Gene Cleveland and we brought Ga Hai to the Kentucky Derby,” Todd said. “That was big … going to the Derby, to Churchill Downs, the Mecca.”

Ga Hai ran 14th in the 100th Derby in 1974 behind Cannonade. Now, more than 35 years later, Todd has returned to run a horse that he owns and trains, Rich Pearl, in Saturday’s Caressing overnight stakes for 2-year-old fillies going a mile on the grass.

Rich Pearl, winner of the Donnie Wilhite Memorial at a mile on the Louisiana Downs turf on Aug. 15, comes into the Caressing off a two-month layoff after being eased in the Sept. 19 Happy Ticket at Louisiana Downs.

“That race came off the grass and she was running second when the whole field came over on her,” the 65-year-old Todd said. “She got hit and quickly dropped 4-5 lengths back and the rider (Sidney LeJeune) just protected her when he saw he had no chance.”

Todd, who is based at Lone Star Park in suburban Dallas, said the filly was not injured in the race.
“There are just no races down there for her going long on the grass,” said Todd, whose filly turned in two bullet works at Lone Star before shipping here.

On Tuesday, Rich Pearl worked a half-mile in company around the “dogs” over the Matt Winn Turf Course in :49.80 with Francisco Torres up. Torres will have the riding assignment on Saturday.

BARN TALK – Clarence Scharbauer’s Indygo Mountain, who emerged from last fall’s meet as a prime candidate on many Kentucky Derby watch lists, returns to the races Friday for the first time since the Risen Star (GIII) on Feb. 7 at Fair Grounds. Trained by Bret Calhoun, Indygo Mountain came out of the Risen Star with a chipped knee and his return to the races was further delayed by a throat issue according to Calhoun assistant Dennis “Peaches” Geier. Indygo Mountain is entered in Friday’s 10th race, a seven-furlong main track allowance test with regular rider Jamie Theriot named to ride. …

Trainer Tom Bush was not here to see Get Stormy win the Commonwealth Turf (GIII)    on Nov. 15 and he won’t be here Friday to see Banrock run in the River City Handicap. “I came in with the horse on Monday and I am flying back to New York today,” Bush said Wednesday morning. “I have three horses entered Friday and the races were all extras and they all went.” Banrock has won three consecutive races at the River City distance of nine furlongs and in his career has won eight New York state-bred races. “He got beat a nose by Presious Passion at Monmouth in June and that’s pretty good form right there.” …

Julien Leparoux became the 15th rider in Churchill Downs history to reach 400 victories when he won Tuesday’s sixth race on Countus in Mon. The victory was one of four for Leparoux on the day and moved him ahead of Calvin Borel for leading rider at the meet 22-21. Leparoux is named on eight mounts and Borel five on Wednesday’s card. … Steve Asmussen maintains a three-win edge (14-11) on Dale Romans in the race for leading trainer. Both trainers have three horses entered on the Wednesday card. The 21-day meet ends Saturday.

WORK TAB – A.C. and Clare Asbury’s Gleam of Hope, fourth in the Iroquois (GIII) on Nov. 1, worked a half-mile in :48.80 over a fast track in preparation for an expected run in Saturday’s Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) for trainer Tony Reinstedler.

Green Lantern Stables’ Karelian will attempt to become the third repeat winner of the $100,000-added  River City Handicap (Grade III) when he faces nine rivals in Friday’s 32nd running of 1 1/8-mile test over Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course.

The River City goes as the ninth race on the 12-race Friday card that is headlined by the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII). Approximate post time for the River City is 3:29 p.m. (ET).

Karelian finished in a dead heat with Demarcation to win last year’s race. Rajiv Maragh will be aboard Karelian as the 7-year-old gelding attempts to join Same Old Wish (1996-97) and Dr. Kashnikow (2001-02) as repeat River City winners.

Trained by Rusty Arnold, Karelian will carry high weight of 122 pounds and concede 1-8 pounds to his River City rivals in his third start of 2009. Karelian will break from post position nine.  The 7-year-old homebred son of Bertrando has been installed as a narrow 2-1 favorite in oddsmaker Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds.

After his River City triumph last November, Karelian did not race again until the Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland on Oct. 10 in which he was beaten a nose by Court Vision. That earned him a trip to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) on Nov. 7 at Santa Anita when he ran sixth behind two-time winner Goldikova, beaten only 3 ¾ lengths.

Second high weight at 121 pounds is Canadian-based Rahy’s Attorney, the 5-2 second choice in the morning line odds for the River City.

Owned by Elle Boje Farm, Dean Read, Mitch Peters and Jean and Jim MacLellan, Rahy’s Attorney is the leading money earner in the field with a bankroll of $1,527,723. Trained by Ian Black, Rahy’s Attorney is a two-time Grade II winner this year and in 2008 won the Grade I Woodbine Mile. Robert Landry will ride Rahy’s Attorney and break from post position four.

The field for the River City Handicap, from the hedge out, is as follows: Banrock (K. Desormeaux, 119 pounds, 6-1), Wheels Up At Noon (C. Borel, 115, 20-1), Wicked Style (R. Albarado, 116, 5-1), Rahy’s Attorney (R. Landry, 121, 5-2), Simmard (S. Bridgmohan, 115, 15-1), Rahystrada (L. Goncalves, 114, 30-1), Pleasant Strike (C. DeCarlo, 116, 8-1), Brave Tin Soldier (A. Garcia, 117, 8-1), Karelian (R. Maragh, 122, 2-1) and Cryptolight (P. Tolentino, 114, 50-1).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Weight assignments for the Clark will be announced Friday.

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

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

However, it’s not going to happen.

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

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

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

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

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

Weights for the River City will be announced Friday.    

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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