Rusty Arnold

Carolyn Wilson’s Arena Elvira outdueled longshot Afleeting Lady in deep stretch to grind out a win in the 96^th running of the $193,725 Falls City Handicap (Grade II) for fillies and mares by a neck on Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, Arena Elvira raced near the inside rail about two lengths behind pacesetters Juanita and Afleeting Lady as the former led the field of eight through fractions of :24.40, :49.04 and 1:12.83. The leaders got a jump on Arena Elvira on the final turn, but Alvarado switched her to the outside and she wore down the competition in deep stretch for the narrow win in 1:50.76 for 1 1/8 miles over a fast track.

“(Alvarado) made the right decision and went for the right spot leaving the quarter pole,” Mott said. “When they were turning for home, he had a choice to make of who to try to get in between and he selected the right spot.”

Alvarado suggested that despite winning his filly may not have handled the Churchill Downs dirt oval very well. “When we turned for home, she switched leads and I knew I had plenty of horse, but when she got real close to the other horse (Afleeting Lady) she didn’t really want to go by her,” Alvarado said. “I always thought I had enough horse to get there by the wire, though. She’s a nice filly. She ran great last time and ran well again today.”

Arena Elvira has won seven of her last nine starts – including four in a row – and seven of 12 overall. She collected her first graded stakes win in her previous start, the Turnback the Alarm (GIII) at Aqueduct on Nov. 4.

"We’ve brought her along very conservatively, never running in graded stakes until the last couple of times,” Mott said. “But it’s gotten her there. She’s got her confidence up and she’s handled every challenge.”

Arena Elvira is a Kentucky-bred daughter of 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper out of the Twining mare Two Item Limit. The victory was worth $116,506 and increased Arena Elvira’s earnings to $391,436.

Sent to post as the even-money favorite, Arena Elvira, who carried 121 pounds, returned $4, $3 and $2.80. Afleeting Lady, who carried 116 pounds under Kent Desormeaux at odds of 13-1, returned $8 and $4.40 in finishing three lengths in front of It’s Tea Time, who paid $5.20 to show under Manny Cruz while tacking 116 pounds. Juanita, Super Espresso, Brushed by a Star, Secret File and Riviera Chic completed the order of finish. Spring Party and Ravi’s Song were scratched.

Mott, Churchill Downs’ all-time leader with 656 wins, is enjoying a dream Fall Meet beneath the Twin Spires. This was his fourth stakes win of the 21-day meeting. He also won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic with Drosselmeyer; the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic with Royal Delta; and the Cardinal Handicap (GIII) with Deluxe. Overall, he leads all trainers with 84 local stakes wins, which is a dozen more than runner-up D. Wayne Lukas. This season, he boasts a record of 19-7-2-2—$4,144,208, which is good for a tie for fourth in the local trainer standings.

"It’s been good,” Mott said. “It’s not much fun when it doesn’t work out well, but it’s fun when it does work well.”

Arena Elvira also gave Mott his fourth win in the Falls City Handicap, one back of trainer Harvey Vanier’s record. Mott won the first division in 1985 with Donut’s Pride, the 1997 renewal with Feasibility Study and the 2000 edition with Bordelaise-ARG.

Racing resumes Friday with a 12-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m. (all times Eastern). Highlighting the card is the 137^th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) that drew a field of 13. Post time for the Clark, the 11^th race on the program, is 5:42 p.m.

FALLS CITY HANDICAP QUOTES

Bill Mott (by telephone from New York), trainer of Arena Elvira (winner): Q: You had a choice of staying at Aqueduct to run in the Go for Wand or ship here for the Falls City, and your decision worked out … “We looked like we’d be competitive in either spot, but this race was at the nine furlongs that she’s been running at.  It worked out. Sometimes you get lucky. There was a plane coming on Tuesday, and it worked out well.”

Q: What is her future – will she run next year? “I would imagine. She’s only four. I guess she deserves a little bit of a break right now and we’ll bring her back later on. But she’s stepped up. We’ve brought her along very conservatively, never running in graded stakes until the last couple of times. But it’s gotten her there. She’s got her confidence up and she’s handled every challenge.”

Q: She had to fight today. It looked like she was going to run on by, then Afleeting Lady came back and she had to dig in again … “I thought it was good and the boy (jockey Junior Alvarado) rode her good. He made the right decision and went for the right spot leaving the quarter pole. When they were turning for home, he had a choice to make of who to try to get in between and he selected the right spot.”

Q: You’ve had a very good Fall Meet, with the two Breeders’ Cup wins and now this stakes win and a top five spot in the leading trainer standings …“It’s been good. It’s not much fun when it doesn’t work out well, but it’s fun when it does work well.”

Kenny McCarthy, assistant trainer to Bill Mott who trains Arena Elvira (winner): “We figured the five (Juanita) was the speed and thought we’d get a good comfortable spot with her. Certainly around the turn she looked like she was under a little pressure, but I thought once she straightened out in the lane and switched leads that she would really finish up. It was a little close at the end, but I think she proved her mettle at the end today.”

Q. What’s the upside for this filly? “She’s definitely going the right way, so the sky’s the limit.”

Q. This has definitely been a meet to remember, right? “Definitely. We kicked things off with Mr. (James) Karp’s filly (Anecdote) giving Mr. Mott his 650^th win at Churchill Downs and we’ve just rolled since then.”

Junior Alvarado, rider of Arena Elvira (winner): “She was kind of bobbling throughout and not really handling the track. When we turned for home, she switched leads and I knew I had plenty of horse, but when she got real close to the other horse (Afleeting Lady) she didn’t really want to go by her. I always thought I had enough horse to get there by the wire, though. She’s a nice filly. She ran great last time and ran well again today.”

Dale Romans, trainer of Afleeting Lady (runner-up): “She’s doing good. She’s just been an improving mare all summer and fall, so she just keeps getting better and better.”

Q: What about that finish – she looked like she was beat and then she came back …“It looked like she was going to back way up, then she surged again. But she just couldn’t hold her off. That’s a good filly that beat her. I think she’s going to be tough next year.”

Kent Desormeaux, rider of Afleeting Lady (runner-up): “She’s still a little green, so I think there’s room for improvement, which is exciting, you know?  She’ll gain some racing maturity from that race. The other one (winner Arena Elvira) had an edge in experience over her, and it looks like the light went on with the other one a long time ago. We’ll get her light turned on after today, hopefully.”

“Rusty” Arnold, trainer of It’s Tea Time (third): “I was happy with her race. She made a huge run around the turn. She might have hung a little bit, but I think that was because of the pace. I was pretty happy with it.”

Manny Cruz, rider of It’s Tea Time (third): “She ran a big race. We sat off the pace and she gave a lot to me in the end. The pace was a little slower than I hoped and that didn’t help me. Hopefully we’ll get a better pace next time.”

Alex G Campbell Jr’s homebred The Underling took the lead at the three-eighths pole and increased his advantage throughout the stretch to win Sunday’s $51,065 feature at Churchill Downs by four lengths.

            Trained by Rusty Arnold and ridden by Robby Albarado, The Underling rated in second off fractions of :21.36, :44.53 and :56.47 set by Simple Words, the 6-5 favorite who faded to last in a field a field of seven fillies and mares ages 3 and up. The Underling covered six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:09.46.

            The 4-year-old Underling broke from post five as the second choice and returned mutuels of $11.60, $6 and $5.40. Honchis’n Ponchis rallied for second and paid $5.40 and $3.20, with Elusive Jozi another neck back in third returning $5.20.

            The victory was worth $32,100 and increased The Underling’s bankroll to $104,554 with a career record of 3-1-0 in seven races. The 4-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon, who broke her maiden beneath the Twin Spires last June, was making her first start in more than seven months. The Underling made her career debut at Churchill Downs in June 2009 where she finished second behind Beautician and ahead of Sassy Image, the latter a three-time stakes winner at Churchill Downs who won the 2011Grade I Humana Distaff on Kentucky Derby Day.

             Sassy Image is the 7-5 morning line favorite for the eighth running of the Grade III, $100,000-added Winning Colors, the featured event on Monday’s special 10-race Memorial Day program at Churchill Downs. The first race will be 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Winning Colors will go as Race 9 at approximately 4:59 p.m.

KUNTZWEILER COMEBACK GAINS MOMENTUM WITH FLURRY OF CHURCHILL DOWNS WINS – When jockey Greta Kuntzweiler anticipated a return to riding after a lengthy stay on the sidelines because of a substance abuse issues, she was worried about the reception she would receive from horsemen and fans on the Kentucky racing circuit.

Since the 34-year-old Kuntzweiler had enjoyed good success at Churchill Downs and other Kentucky tracks, legal problems stemming from her issues had resulted in considerable media coverage.  So her struggle with the substance abuse issues was very public, and her concerns were clearly legitimate.  But the Kuntzweiler comeback that started at Churchill Downs in early July is now in its fifth month, and this week at Churchill Downs has produced some of its brightest moments.

First came a victory on Wednesday, Nov. 17 aboard Robert Mondun’s homebred Wealth To Me in the featured ninth race.  The win aboard the Bill Ford-trained 3-year-old Tapit gelding was the first beneath Churchill Downs’ venerable Twin Spires for Kuntzweiler since April 28, 2004.

That milestone was followed quickly by two more wins during the “Downs After Dark” night racing card on Friday, Nov. 19.  Kuntzweiler guided Columbine Stable’s Philogyny ($11) to a victory in the fourth race and owner-trainer Judith Parke’s Charma Posse ($29.20) to win the eighth.

But that first victory aboard Wealth To Me on Wednesday provided a special thrill for Kuntzweiler, as the end of the long victory drought at the home of the Kentucky Derby provided a sense of relief as her return to riding continues.

"It was awesome,” said Kuntzweiler.  “I was so happy to do it for Bill because they’ve been so good to me.  You know I rode his (Wealth To Me) mother, Wealthy Belongings, so it was a lot of fun.”

Kuntzweiler had come incredibly close to getting her first Churchill Downs victory during the very first week of her Kentucky comeback on a pair of mounts for trainer Tom Proctor.  The first came on June 24, the first day of her return, when she lost an allowance race by a head aboard Proctor’s Broken Dreams.  Even more tantalizing was her photo-finish loss aboard the Proctor-trained Happiness Is on July 3 in the one-mile Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) on the Matt Winn Turf Course.  Dismissed by fans at odds of 48-1, Happiness Is led from the start, but had to settle for runner-up honors when she was nailed in the final jump of a blanket finish by the victorious Danzon.

That narrow loss was a disappointment, but the result offered proof that Kuntzweiler still possessed the talent to succeed on a big stage, and it provided momentum for her return to riding.

“I remember the two horses I rode for Tom, and he said ‘It just goes to show you there’s no Hollywood endings in racing’,” recalled Kuntzweiler.  “But I had a really good summer.  Things are a little slower than I kind of wish they would be, but that’s just how it goes.  You’ve got to figure out how to maintain a positive attitude and try to get through the slower parts.”

Her good summer was highlighted by a memorable September Saturday at Ellis Park on which Kuntzweiler won five races that included a victory aboard Turallure in the Cliff Guilliams Handicap.  Her return has been a series of steps, and this week’s success has been a very positive one.

“I was really worried that I was going to struggle,” Kuntzweiler said of her return.  “I was nervous about how people would accept me.  I think I was embarrassed, more than anything.  But it’s been more than I could have hoped for – it really has.”

She also knows that every media reference to the progress of her comeback and most conversations about her career will include references to her public battle with substance abuse.  But Kuntzweiler said she does not see that as a negative thing.

“That’s part of me now,” she said.  ‘Hopefully, someone that’s had a problem might see that and see that you can turn it around.  I’m OK with it being tied to my name as long as people know that I’m doing good and I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Kuntzweiler’s winter plans are uncertain.  She plans to ride the Holiday Meet at Turfway Park after the Churchill Downs Fall Meet concludes on Sunday, Nov. 28.  She has applied for a license to ride at Oaklawn Park when that meet opens in late January, but said she is “leaning toward” staying in Kentucky to ride the Winter-Spring session at Turfway.

While she hopes her business will be brisk wherever she rides over the winter, Kuntzweiler seems content to take it as comes and keep working to sustain the trust of those who have supported her in her comeback and regain the confidence of others.

At this point, it’s a case of so far, so good.

“People are still nice to me and supportive,” she said.  “Everyone seems to be following how I’m doing, and when I do well they seem really happy for me.”

 While she fell just short of a storybook return to riding back in July, Greta Kuntzweiler seems to know it’s not too late to continue the chase of that elusive “Hollywood ending.”

TWO-YEAR-OLDS SHADOW WARRIOR AND CASPER’S TOUCH LIGHT UP FRIDAY NIGHT – A crowd of 15,583 was on hand for Friday night’s “Downs After Dark” program at Churchill Downs and a couple of 2-year-old maiden breakers offered glimpses of being possible stars of the future.

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Shadow Warrior won the fifth race by three lengths, covering the one-turn mile in 1:37.56. Two races later, Magdalena Racing’s Casper’s Touch scored by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:37.36.

“He (Shadow Warrior) ran green the first time he ran and this time, he put himself in the race,” said Jack Bohannan, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold. “Last night was the first time he had been on dirt to train or run and that was a concern.”

Shadow Warrior had run fourth in his debut at Keeneland on Oct. 21. A son of A.P. Indy, Shadow Warrior likely will head to Florida with Arnold’s main string for the winter.

Arnold trained Shadow Warrior’s dam, Victory Ride, who compiled a career record of 9-5-1-2 that included a victory in the Grade I Test and earnings of $390,391. Shadow Warrior is a half-brother to Victory Ride’s first foal, Magical Ride, a graded-stakes placed filly who also was trained by Arnold.

Casper’s Touch was coming off a five-month layoff to score in his third career start. Casper’s Touch had debuted in April at Keeneland on Polytrack and then ran third at Royal Ascot in June in the Chesham Stakes on turf.

“He had a small chip in an ankle from the race in England,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “It was nothing major, but we got it taken care of. He would have been a Breeders’ Cup horse if not for that.”

Casper’s Touch is a son of Touch Gold out of the Saint Ballado mare Lizzy Cool.

“He’s a nice colt and next for him is the Holy Bull,” McPeek said of the $400,000 Grade III race at a mile at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 30.

McPeek has had four Kentucky Derby starters, and his most recent one, Noble’s Promise, worked five furlongs in 1:04.20 early Saturday morning under Julien Leparoux as a prelude to next Saturday’s $250,000 Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile (GI) at Aqueduct. Fifth in the Kentucky Derby, Noble’s Promise won the Jimmy V. “Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up!” overnight stake here on Nov. 5.

STATELY VICTOR WORKS TOWARD LIKELY CLARK HANDICAP START – Tom and Jack Conway’s Stately Victor, one of three 3-year-olds considered as possible starters for Friday’s Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI), worked five furlongs at the nearby Trackside Training Center on Saturday morning in 1:01.60.

Trained by Mike Maker, Stately Victor’s time over the fast track was the second fastest of 16 at the distance. In his most recent start, Stately Victor ran third in the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland on Oct. 30.

The Clark would represent Stately Victor’s first start at Churchill Downs since finishing eighth in this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) behind Super Saver. Stately Victor has been assigned 116 pounds for the Clark, for which entries will be taken Tuesday.

Two other Clark probables worked Saturday morning at Keeneland.

Morton Fink’s Successful Dan, the likely starting high weight at 121 pounds, worked five furlongs over the Polytrack in 1:00.40 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.60 for trainer Charles Lopresti. A winner of five of seven career starts, Successful Dan won the Fayette in his most recent start.

Adele Dilschneider’s Apart, winner of the Ack Ack Handicap (GIII) here on Nov. 5 in his most recent start, worked a half-mile in :49.80 for trainer Al Stall Jr. Assigned 118 pounds, Apart is riding a three-race win streak that also includes a victory in the Super Derby (GII).

Also working for Dilschneider and Stall was Golden Rod (GII) hopeful Aide, who worked a half-mile in :49.80 in company with Chef Eric. A winner of two of three starts, Aide won an opening-day allowance test here by 19 ¾ lengths in her most recent start.

A possible Golden Rod rival for Aide, Wind River Stables and Five D Thoroughbreds’ Kathmanblu worked five furlongs over a fast track at Churchill Downs in 1:01.40, third fastest of 44 at the distance. Winner of the Jessamine on grass at Keeneland last month, Kathmanblu finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII) in her most recent start.

Other works of note at Churchill Downs included Mark Stanley’s Quiet Temper, who covered five furlongs in 1:01.60. Trained by Dale Romans, Quiet Temper is nominated to Thursday’s 95th Falls City Handicap (GII). … Preston Stables’ Central City, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) in his most recent start on Nov. 6, breezed three furlongs in :37.80 for trainer Ronny Werner in his first work since the World Championships.

BARN TALK – The 4-year-old Electric Alphabet completed a two-day double for offspring by All Electric by winning Friday night’s ninth race. In Thursday’s 10th race, Touch for a Shock, a 3-year-old, prevailed. Clifford Grum owns both geldings, Cecil Borel trains the half-brothers and Calvin Borel rode both. Touch for a Shock’s sire is Touch Gold and Electric Alphabet is by Alphabet Soup. …

Women trainers accounted for the first four places in Friday night’s eighth race, resulting in a $40,872.60 superfecta for $2. Charma Posse, trained by Judith Parke and ridden by Greta Kuntzweiler, was the 13-1 winner. Running second was the Vicky Oliver-trained Canadian Storm, the 3-1 favorite in the field of 12. Rallying for third was the Sandra Adkins-trained Harmony Heaven (68-1) under Oriana Rossi. Completing the superfecta was 26-1 longshot Point and Click, trained by Kathy Jarvis. The $2 trifecta was worth $4,425 and the $2 exacta returned $137.60. …

Seeking the Title, ninth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI) in her most recent start on Nov. 5 here, is scheduled to ship to New York on Tuesday for the $250,000 Gazelle (GI) for 3-year-old fillies to be run at 1 1/8 miles on Saturday at Aqueduct.

NO PLANS YET FOR EINSTEIN AFTER CLARK – Trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi reported that Stronach Stable’s Einstein (Brz) came out of Friday’s third-place effort behind 3-year-olds Blame and Misremembered in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II) in good order.

“He’s real good this morning. He ran great yesterday,” Pitts-Blasi said of Einstein, who overcame an outside post in the field of 14 3-year-olds and up to fall only two necks short of grabbing his third graded stakes victory of the year.

The 7-year-old son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck added $41,914 to his bankroll Friday to boost his career earnings to $2,945,238 and improved his 2009 record to 2-1-3 in eight races.

Whether the Clark was Einstein’s farewell, Pitts-Blasi could not say.

“I haven’t talked with Mr. (Frank) Stronach,” Pitts-Blasi said. “I have no clue what they are going to do with him.”
    The strong Clark showing could bolster Einstein’s chances for an Eclipse Award in the wide-open division of champion older male.

“It is a tough question,” Pitts-Blasi said. “He certainly deserves to be in the running, because other than the Breeders’ Cup he showed up whenever he ran.”

Einstein won the Santa Anita Handicap (GI) on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface and took the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) for a second consecutive year on grass at Churchill Downs.  Pitts-Blasi’s veteran star was also second by a neck on synthetic Polytrack in the Pacific Classic (GI) at Del Mar and also ran third in his other two traditional dirt races, the Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park and the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) at Churchill Downs.

KARELIAN’S RIVER CITY RUN REMAINS A MYSTERY – Any chance that Green Lantern Stable’s Karelian would become a repeat winner of Friday’s River City Handicap (GIII) went out the window on the backstretch when the 7-year-old gelding headed toward the outside rail under Rajiv Maragh.

Even though Maragh got Karelian straightened out and back in contention, the best Karelian could do was finish eighth in the field of 10 as the 8-5 favorite.  The loss by Karelian was the first for the 7-year-old Bertrando gelding in four races on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course.

“I don’t know why he did it,” said Jack Bohannan, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold. “He seems OK this morning. There is nothing wrong with him physically and the equipment was fine. We went over him after the race and again this morning and he’s fine.

“He had done it in the morning before a couple of times in the three or four years Rusty has had him, but he never had done it in a race. It was very odd. I never have seen anything like it. I thought he had pulled up and then here he comes again.”

Bohannan said that Karelian, owned by Green Lantern Stables, would probably be turned out for a while and then join the barn in Florida.

Arnold’s other River City entrant, Ashbrook Farm’s Wicked Style, finished fourth behind 56-1 longshot Rahystrada.

“We were a little disappointed in him,” Bohannan said. “He had trained so well, but he just didn’t finish.”    
    
WIGGINS CLOSES CAREER IN GRAND STYLE – “What a way to finish,” trainer Hal Wiggins said Saturday morning.

No kidding.

With his final starter as a trainer, Wiggins watched as Robert V. Hovelson’s High Spirit closed from far back to win Friday’s 10th race by a nose and pay $55.60 to win under Terry Thompson.

“I didn’t bet a dollar on him,” Wiggins said. “I had a hundred dollar bill in my pocket and I was planning to break it and bet $5 across on him, but I got to talking with a lot of people and never did it.”

What made the win all the more unreal for the 34-year training veteran were the circumstances surrounding the race.

“If it hadn’t been the end of the meet, we probably wouldn’t have run,” Wiggins said. “I had to change riders because Calvin (Borel) was riding for his brother in the race. He was shortening up (from a mile to seven furlongs) and jumping up in class. He was a legit 26-1 shot.

“When I put the saddle on him, I started to think about it being the last one a bit and I spent a little extra time in the stall.”

More than 12 lengths back after a half-mile, Thompson swung High Spirit wide at the head of the lane and began to mow down the field. At the eighth pole, racing in the middle of track, High Spirit was still four lengths off the lead and still managed to win.

“After I took the saddle off, Calvin was waiting for me by the scale and he gave me a big hug,” Wiggins said. “He had won a race for me on Lady Durlyn on Thursday. We go a long way back together. I found an old picture the other day from 1983 at Delta Downs with the two of us the first year he rode.”

So Friday capped a Hollywood ending for Wiggins, almost.

“If Hollywood had written the script, I would still have Rachel,” said Wiggins, who turns 67 on Monday.

Rachel, of course, is Rachel Alexandra, the brilliant 3-year-old filly who Wiggins saddled for owner-breeder Dolphus Morrison and partner Mike Lauffer for a record-smashing 20 ¼-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks (GI) this spring.

Wiggins said that Friday’s victory and Rachel Alexandra’s Oaks triumph would rank high in the top five moments in his career. The day Rachel Alexandra was sold would be at the opposite end of the spectrum.

“It was a low point, no question,” Wiggins said of the morning Rachel Alexandra left his barn for the short journey to new trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn in early May. “But I don’t blame the owner for selling. To hit a home run like that with the size of operation that I have, that doesn’t come around often.

“I sure didn’t foresee a year like this. I thought we would have traveled around the country with her and eventually maybe tried the males once.”

Wiggins, who will stay at Churchill Downs until Tuesday to oversee a couple of works before turning the barn over to his son Lon, retires with a total of 872 victories in a career that began in 1976 and produced its first winner at Evangeline Downs on July 2, 1977. His horses earned a total of $20,218,625 in purses.

“It’s been a great ride and I’ve met a lot of great people,” said Wiggins, who will join his wife Renee in Houston. “I am still going to go to sales and still be involved in it. I love the game so much, I don’t want to quit cold turkey.”

BARN TALK – The day after Amerman Racing Stable’s Demarcation ran eighth in the Clark Handicap instead of going for a repeat bid in the River City Handicap, trainer Paul McGee was asked if he had any regrets about the choice of race. After a long pause, McGee said, “Yeah. A 50-1 shot wins … you just never know.” McGee ran David Holloway’s Dubious Miss in the Clark and he finished sixth. “Both of them are good this morning and they will go to the Fair Grounds for the winter.” …

Also headed to New Orleans was West Point Thoroughbreds’ Clark favorite Macho Again, the winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap who finished ninth. Trainer Dallas Stewart left for the Fair Grounds early Saturday with Macho Again scheduled to follow later in the day. …

Calvin Borel was blanked on nine mounts Friday and remains four victories behind Julien Leparoux (27-23) in the race for leading rider. Borel has 12 mounts on today’s card that Leparoux will not ride because he is in Japan. Shaun Bridgmohan is third in the standings with 17 victories, but his meet is over as he is riding Kodiak Kowboy for trainer Steve Asmussen in the Cigar Mile (GI) at Aqueduct today.…

Dale Romans picked up his 14th winner of the meet Friday to narrow the gap on Asmussen to three in the race for leading trainer. Romans has 10 horses entered today; Asmussen seven. …

Ken and Sarah Ramsey have wrapped up their record 16th leading owner title. The Ramseys have had nine winners this meet and have an unsurmountable advantage over Brereton Jones and the Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, which have five victories each. The title was the fourth consecutive for the Ramseys, who own eight Spring and eight Fall titles, both seasonal records.

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).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edward Evans’ Malibu Prayer collared favored One Caroline on the far turn and then held off a late charge by Copper State by a length to win the 24th running of the $167,550 Chilukki (Grade II) for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Chris DeCarlo, Malibu Prayer gave trainer Todd Pletcher his second consecutive victory in the Chilukki having scored in 2008 with Leah’s Secret. Malibu Prayer covered the mile on a “fast” main track in 1:36.24.

One Caroline, who was coming off a six-month layoff because of an injury, shot to the lead under Leandro Goncalves and took the field through fractions of :22.47 and :44.87 while maintaining a clear advantage.

DeCarlo moved Malibu Prayer after One Caroline leaving the backstretch and took command entering the stretch only to have One Caroline battle back. Malibu Prayer finally began to draw clear in the final sixteenth of a mile as Copper State closed fast to swipe second place by a neck over One Caroline.

The victory was worth $99,626 and increased Malibu Prayer’s earnings to $348,526 with her fourth victory in nine starts.

Malibu Prayer, a 3-year-old Virginia-bred daughter of Malibu Moon who carried 115 pounds, nine fewer than top weight Swift Temper who finished sixth, returned $12.20, $6.20 and $3.80. Copper State, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, paid $15 and $6.60 with One Caroline paying $2.60 to show.

Payton d’Oro, who finished fifth in the field of nine, represented the final starter for trainer Larry Jones, who is turning the training of his 23-horse stable over to his wife Cindy.

Jones, a 53-year-old native of Hopkinsville, Ky., who began training in 1982, is best known as the conditioner of 2008 Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles. Jones, who saddled Proud Spell to win the 2008 Kentucky Oaks, also had the 2007 Kentucky Derby runner-up in Hard Spun.

"At least I ended the career better than I started,” Jones said. “The pressure’s off. I bet my blood pressure’s already come down now. But, no, it’s good. Trust me, it’s got some sentimental feelings about it, but I’m OK. It’s all good. . . . I don’t know what the future really holds, but it’ll all be good.  You know, we’re ready for the next journey, whatever it may be.”

Cindy Jones will oversee the barn operations through the end of the Churchill Downs meet on Nov. 28 and then the couple will head home to Henderson, Ky., for the holidays before rejoining the barn for the 2010 meet at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

In the race before the Chilukki, Destiny Oaks’ She’s Our Annie made a successful return to the races after a 7 ½-month layoff to post a 2 ½-length victory over Adhrhythm in the $61,300 Dream Supreme, a six-furlong overnight stake for fillies and mares.

Ridden by Jon Court for trainer Jinks Fires, She’s Our Annie returned mutuels of $5.20, $4.20 and $3.20 as the favorite in the field of nine. Adhrhythm, ridden by Chris Emigh, returned $17.60 and $10.20 with Step Out Smartly paying $5.20 to show under Francisco Torres.

Racing continues Sunday with a 10-race card beginning at 12:40 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN TO HAVE FINAL BREEDERS’ CUP WORK SUNDAY – Trainer Ian Wilkes said that Joseph Rauch and David Zell’s Capt. Candyman Can is scheduled for his final work before the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade I) on Sunday and then ship to Santa Anita the next day.

Capt. Candyman Can, who won the first of his four graded-stakes victories in last fall’s Iroquois (GIII) here, has been training at the Skylight Training Center in Goshen over the Pro-Ride synthetic track, similar to what he will run on at Santa Anita.

“He has had two works since the Phoenix (GIII) and is doing well,” Wilkes said of the 3-year-old gelding who ran second to Fatal Bullet in the Phoenix on Oct. 9 at Keeneland. “He will probably work Sunday and then ship Monday.”

Wilkes’ other top 3-year-old in the barn, Warrior’s Reward, has been galloping at Churchill Downs after running fifth as the favorite in the Perryville (GIII) at Keeneland on Oct. 17. After the race, jockey Calvin Borel got off Warrior’s Reward in the first turn and the colt was unsaddled there.

“We are just keeping an eye on him; hopefully all it was just a bad step (in the race),” Wilkes said of Warrior’s Reward, who is owned by A. Stevens Miles Jr. “He is galloping now and I’m not sure (when he’ll run next).”

ROMANS EYES POCAHONTAS REPEAT WITH SASSY IMAGE – Trainer Dale Romans unleashed a true “Star of Tomorrow” in the 2008 Pocahontas when Sara Louise romped to victory by 3 ¾ lengths over Rachel Alexandra.

On Sunday, he hopes history repeats itself when he saddles Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image in the 41st running of the Grade III event for 2-year-old fillies.

“This time last year, Sara Louise was starting to move forward and I hope Sassy Image does the same,” Romans said.

Sassy Image has some big hoofprints to follow in. Sara Louise ran second behind Rachel Alexandra in last year’s Golden Rod (GII) and this year has won the Grade III Victory Ride at Saratoga and was second behind champion Indian Blessing in the Grade II Gallant Bloom at Belmont. Next Friday she will be competing in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) at Santa Anita for Godolphin Racing and trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

Sara Louise came into last year’s Pocahontas off a maiden score. Sassy Image, a maiden winner here in June, finished eighth in her most recent start in the Darley Alcibiades (GI) at Keeneland on Oct. 9 after enduring a wide trip.

“She likes this track and she has been training well,” Romans said of Sassy Image, who worked a bullet half-mile of :47.80 in her first work back after the Alcibiades.

Romans will have one Breeders’ Cup starter in Frank Jones Jr.’s Tapitsfly, who is already at Santa Anita. A maiden winner at Saratoga, Tapitsfly won the P.G. Johnson on grass at Saratoga and is pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Robby Albarado has the mount.

Romans also reported that Mark Stanley’s Swift Temper remains on track for a run in the Nov. 26 Falls City Handicap (GII). Tenth as the favorite in the Juddmonte Spinster (GI) over Keeneland’s Polytrack surface, Swift Temper worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Sunday.

WIGGINS HOPING TO FINISH WITH A FLOURISH – Hal Wiggins hit the apex of his training career this spring when he saddled Rachel Alexandra to her resounding victory in the Kentucky Oaks (GI).

He hopes the final month on the backside gets off to a rousing start on Sunday when he sends out Brassy Boy in the 28th running of the Iroquois (GIII) for longtime client Millsap Stables.

Wiggins, who has 20 horses stabled here, is retiring at the end of the meet on Nov. 28, two days before his 67th birthday.

“It is starting to sink in a little bit,” Wiggins said. “It will probably hit me on the 28th when I get ready to turn another year older. I’m going to go to Houston. My wife, Renee, is already there.

“I am still going to go to sales and still be involved in it because I love the game so much. I don’t want to quit cold turkey.”

Brassy Boy won his first two starts during the spring meet and then ran third in the Bashford Manor (GIII).

“I gave him a month off after the Bashford Manor,” Wiggins said. “He came back at Louisiana Downs (on Oct. 3 in the Razorback Futurity) and ran OK. He was just second best that day.”

The horse that beat Brassy Boy that day, Comedero, also is considered a likely Iroquois starter.
    “I hope Brassy Boy likes a mile better than the other colt,” Wiggins said.

BARN TALK – Lewis Lakin’s Pure Clan came out of her five-furlong breeze of Tuesday in good order according to Betsy Couch, assistant to trainer Bob Holthus. “She ate up everything last night and is in good form this morning,” Couch said. Winner of the Flower Bowl (GI) in her most recent start on Oct. 3, Pure Clan worked five-eighths in 1:01.40 on Tuesday, her second five-furlong work since the Flower Bowl in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) to be run Friday, Nov. 6 at Santa Anita. Pure Clan is scheduled to have a light breeze Sunday morning and ship to California on Monday.

Trainer Ken McPeek said that Anthony Bonomo Jr.’s Connie and Michael would ship to California on Saturday for a start in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) on Nov. 6. Connie and Michael broke her maiden at first asking on Oct. 17 at Keeneland going seven furlongs by 7 ¾ lengths from the No. 12 post position. McPeek hoped to have another Keeneland maiden winner on the plane in Fist of Rage, but that colt was sixth on the preference list for the over-subscribed Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) to be run Nov. 7.

West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, winner of this year’s Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) here and runner-up to Rachel Alexandra in the Woodward (GI), is on track for a start in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) on Nov. 27 according to trainer Dallas Stewart. A cough last week knocked Macho Again out of a possible start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).

G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and the Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust-2008’s One Caroline is scheduled to return to the races in the 24th running of the Chilukki (GII) on Nov. 7. Trained by Rusty Arnold, One Caroline is scheduled to work at Keeneland on Sunday and then ship to Churchill Downs midweek for her first start since running second to Miss Isella in the Louisville Distaff (GII) on May 1. One Caroline will be ridden in the Chilukki by Leandro Goncalves.

WORK TAB – Centaur Farms’ Yes It’s Valid, considered a possible starter for Sunday’s Pocahontas, worked a half-mile Wednesday morning over a “muddy” track in :50.20 for trainer Merrill Scherer.