Sara Louise

Eldon Farm Equine’s Just Louise put away 3-5 favorite Salty Strike in deep stretch and then held off a late surge from Tristanme to win the 110th running of the $108,800 Debutante Stakes (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies by a neck on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

 Trained Dale Romans and ridden by Robby Albarado, Just Louise tracked the early pace of Big Sweets and Salty Strike, who blistered the first quarter-mile in :21.14. Midway on the far turn, Albarado sent Just Louise up three wide to grab the lead from Big Sweets as Salty Strike dropped back to third.

Turning for home after a half-mile in :44.73, Just Louise had the lead, but Salty Strike, under Calvin Borel, re-rallied on the rail to take the lead in upper stretch. Salty Strike maintained the advantage until fewer than 50 yards remained when Just Louise eased by and had enough left to hold off Tristanme, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan.

Just Louise ran the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:11.85. The victory, the second in as many starts for the homebred daughter of Five Star Day out of the Mt. Livermore mare Kings Lynn, was worth $66,107 and increased her bankroll to $94,907.

 Second choice in the field of seven, Just Louise returned $5.60, $3.80 and $2.20. Tristanme returned $16 and $5 with Salty Strike, finishing a nose back in third, paying $2.10 to show. Completing the field in order were Internet Café, Tater Taunter, Bach Hamilton and Big Sweets.

 Racing resumes Sunday with a 10-race program beginning at 12:45 p.m. (ET). There’s a one-day Pick 6 carryover of $5,088 on races 5-10. Only five dates remain at the 2010 Spring Meet, which concludes Sunday, July 4.

DEBUTANTE STAKES QUOTES

ROBBY ALBARADO (jockey, JUST LOUISE, winner): “She’s a very a nice filly, very smart. I got lucky with my draw on the outside (post six of seven), which was good for her. She won very impressive. Last time she beat a bunch of good maidens, and the same with Salty Strike. I had an option to ride either one and you could split them. But the way her (Just Louise) running style is fits just in case she gets behind horses. She ran big. I had to keep her running down the stretch. She kind of looked around a little bit, they battled back and forth and she got her head in front.”

DALE ROMANS (trainer, JUST LOUISE, winner): “She’s a very nice filly and she’s just like her sister (half to 2008 Pocahontas winner Sara Louise). This race is something for her to improve off of. She dug in game. I thought at the top of the lane it would open up, but you know Calvin (Borel aboard Salty Strike) had a lot of horse, and it was a dogfight to the end. She will point toward the Saratoga meet.”

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN (jockey, TRISTANME, second): “We went good. She ran hard and good and she was able to close off that pace.”

SCOTT BLASI (assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, TRISTANME, second): “She ran her race and she finished well. We were just unlucky to win. The filly that won (Just Louise) ran a big race. She’ll improve off this effort.”

CALVIN BOREL (jockey, SALTY STRIKE, third): “No excuse. We got outrun. The six horse (Just Louise) was right there with us, and turning for home, I thought I was home free but didn’t have it today.”

PHILIP BAUER (assistant to trainer Ken McPeek, SALTY STRIKE, third): “The speed up front didn’t help us, but she ran a game race. We were proud of her effort. This was just her second start and she will continue to improve. Being by Smart Strike she has the pedigree to go further and we will try doing that at Saratoga. She fought hard today.”

NOTES: Jockey Robby Albarado and trainer Dale Romans collected their first stakes wins of the 2010 Spring Meet. … It was the 64th Churchill Downs stakes win for Albarado (second all time behind Pat Day’s 156) and 24th for Romans (ranks seventh all time). …Albarado won the Debutante for the third time. He also piloted Effectual and Garden District to victories in 2005 and ’08, respectively. … Romans collected his first Debutante win after finishing second in two previous editions: Vibs (2002) and Joint Effort (2005). … After quick early splits of :21.14 and :44.73, the leaders completed the final quarter mile in :27.12 and the last eighth in :14.07.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will host the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7, 2011 and the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 6, 2011. The track’s 2010 Spring Meet continues through Sunday, July 4. Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5 and 6, 2010. Churchill Downs tickets are available at Tickets.ChurchillDowns.com or by calling (502) 636-4400. Additional information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at ChurchillDowns.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image weaved her way between horses in the stretch and then drew away to win the 41st running of the $115,900 Pocahontas (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies by two lengths over Decelerator on the opening day of Churchill Downs’ 21-day Fall Meet.

Sassy Image was ridden by Robby Albarado, who posted his fourth victory of the afternoon on the “Stars of Tomorrow I” card that featured racing exclusively for 2-year-olds. Dale Romans, who won the Pocahontas last year with Sara Louise, trains Sassy Image.

Albarado gave Sassy Image a ground-saving trip down the backstretch as Tiz Miz Sue and Vivid Colors dueled through fractions of :22.46 and :45.66. The field began to bunch up as the leaders hit the quarter pole in 1:11.62 and Albarado began to look for an opening with Sassy Image.

He found it at the eighth pole as he moved between Vivid Colors and All Due Respect and spurted clear with plenty left to hold a late challenge by Decelerator, who had won the Debutante (GIII) here in June.

Sassy Image, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Broken Vow, covered the mile on a “fast” main track in 1:38.63. The victory was worth $66,828 for Sassy Image to boost her career earnings to $147,512 with a record of 6-2-1-1.

Sassy Image returned mutuels of $6.20, $3.40 and $2.80. Decelerator, ridden by Rajiv Maragh, returned $7.20 and $6 in finishing a head in front of All Due Respect who paid $8.80 to show under Brian Hernandez Jr.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE POCAHONTAS

DALE ROMANS, trainer of SASSY IMAGE, winner: “It’s great to be back on the real stuff and it’s great to be back at Churchill Downs. I think she’ll run all day. She outlasted ‘em and had the most stamina today and I just think she’ll run even further.

“You just don’t know [what will happen] when you turn for home and you’re down on the inside all boxed up like that. Are they going to get through? I just thought if [jockey Robby Albarado] found a seam that she would kick through and she did.”

Q: How nice is it to see her overcome adversity at such a young age? “It shows a lot. She’s got a bright future and she’s got a lot of room to improve.

Q: What’s next? “We’ll be here [for the Grade II, $150,000-added Golden Rod for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles] on closing day [Saturday, Nov. 28].”

JERRY ROMANS, owner of SASSY IMAGE, winner: “When she got through on the rail, that was the only anxious moment. Turning for home it didn’t look like it was going to open up. Robby [Albarado] said she felt like a different horse back here on her home track. Once she got head and head, I felt pretty good.
Q: How many horses do you have with your brother Dale? “I’ve got five horses with Dale and she’s by far the best. She’s the best one I’ve ever had. These are once-in-a-lifetime types of horses, for me anyway and not necessarily for Dale training-wise but for us to own.”

Q: The age difference between you and Dale? “I’m 17 months older than Dale.”

ROBBY ALBARADO, jockey of SASSY IMAGE, winner: “The filly (Sassy Image) ran great. [Trainer] Dale [Romans] gave me some instruction to keep her a little bit closer today, so I jumped her out a little earlier and got some forward position going down the backside. I was always very comfortable during the race and just had to find a place to get through. She found the spot up the rail and just went on without me really asking anything of her."

Q: On four wins through the first eight races: “This is just the way that I wanted to start my meet.  I wanted to get off to a hot start and try and keep it going.”

RAJIV MARAGH, rider of DECELERATOR, second: “She ran pretty well. She was game. She fought hard to finish second. ‘As seen on TV’ – it was the same way it felt out there. Maybe if I’d had an inside post it would have made a difference between winning and losing, because she did have a wider trip than the eventual winner. The winner was able to stay down along the rail while I was four wide. But she ran good.”

D. WAYNE LUKAS, trainer of DECELERATOR, second: “I thought she ran well. She got a little wide on the turn, but that other filly is nice filly, so I was pleased with the effort.”

Q: Was there any specific problem in her three off-the-board finishes coming into this race? “I don’t know. We had an active spring and she probably needed a little less action. Then I gave her a little break and came back with her, and now she’s good again. She appears to really like this track.”

Westrock Stables’ Decelerator, winner of the Debutante (Grade III) here in June, bids for a second graded stakes victory on Sunday as she takes on a dozen 2-year-old fillies in the 41st running of the $100,000-added Pocahontas (Grade III) at a mile on the main track at Churchill Downs.

The Pocahontas shares the marquee with $100,000-added Iroquois (GIII), a mile race for 2-year-old colts and geldings, on the “Stars of Tomorrow I” program that opens Churchill Downs’ 21-day Fall Meet, which will run through Saturday Nov. 28. First post time for Sunday’s 11-race card, of the first of two programs during the meet devoted exclusively to races for juvenile runners, is 12:40 p.m. (all times EST).  The Pocahontas is scheduled as the eighth race with a 4:05 p.m. post time.

The second “Stars of Tomorrow” program is set for the meet’s closing day.

Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who has won the Pocahontas three times, Decelerator is 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs but enters the Pocahontas off a seventh-place finish in the two-turn Darley Alcibiades (GI) over the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland on Oct. 9. Despite that perfect local record and her status as the only graded stakes winner in the Pocahontas, Decelerator is a 10-1 risk in oddsmaker Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds for the race. New York-based Rajiv Maragh has the mount on Decelerator, who will break from post position eight and carry top weight of 123 pounds.

Louisville-born trainer Dale Romans, who edged past the Hall of Famer Lukas in the Spring Meet and now ranks second in all-time wins at Churchill Downs, will bid for his second consecutive Pocahontas victory when he sends Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image into Sunday’s race. Romans saddled Sara Louise, who is scheduled to run in next Friday’s Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, to defeat Rachel Alexandra in the 2008 Pocahontas.  Rachel Alexanadra has not lost a race since.

A maiden winner at Churchill Downs in June and runner-up in the Grade II Adirondack at Saratoga in August, Sassy Image comes into the Pocahontas off an eighth-place finish in the Alcibiades, 1 ¼ lengths behind Decelerator. Robby Albarado has the mount on Sassy Image, who is the 9-2 morning line favorite for the Pocahontas and will carry 117 pounds when she breaks from post position three.

Other stakes winners in the field include Robert DeWitt and Catherine Kenneally’s All About Anna (15-1), who took the Bassinet at River Downs; Summerplace Farm’s Running Bride (6-1), an undefeated Indiana-bred who won the restricted City of Anderson and Miss Indiana stakes at Hoosier Park; and Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Vertical Vision (6-1), winner of two stakes races at Iowa’s Prairie Meadows this summer.

The field for the Pocahontas, from the rail out (with jockey, assigned weight and morning line odds), is as follows: Biorra (I. Ocampo, 117 pounds, 30-1), All Due Respect (B. Hernandez Jr., 117, 20-1), Sassy Image, Tiz Miz Sue (J. Castanon, 117, 5-1), Happy Week (E. Prado, 117, 6-1), Running Bride (J. Leparoux, 121), Jody Slew (L. Goncalves, 119, 30-1), Decelerator, Snap Happy (C. Borel, 119, 20-1), Vertical Vision (S. Bridgmohan, 121), Vivid Colors (K. Desormeaux, 117, 5-1), All About Anna (C. Lanerie, 121) and Tidal Pool (J. Theriot, 119, 12-1).  

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.

MISS ISELLA COULD START BIG WEEKEND FOR WILKES BARN - Miss Isella was bright and alert in Stall 1 of the Ian Wilkes barn Friday morning, a day after scoring her first stakes victory in the Falls City Handicap (Grade II).[asset|height=12|width=100]

Owned by Domino Stud of Lexington, Inc., Miss Isella is a petite daughter of 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm.

"It's what's inside that counts," Wilkes said of Miss Isella, who came through on the rail under Calvin Borel to score by a length over Skylighter. "It was a test for her, but I knew she was getting better and better. She has really stepped up."

The stakes win was the second for Wilkes at Churchill Downs, but celebration was held to a minimum.

"It was just a quiet night at home with (wife) Tracey and our children Shelby and Brodie," Wilkes said. "Saturday night, however, may be a different story."

On Saturday afternoon, Wilkes will saddle Capt. Candyman Can in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes for owners Joseph Rauch and David Zell. Capt. Candyman Can gave Wilkes his initial Churchill Downs stakes win with a victory in the Grade III Iroquois on Nov. 1.

"I am very pleased with how he is doing," said Wilkes, who was not yet ready to look too far down the road to a Triple Crown campaign with the son of Candy Ride. "I just want to get through Saturday first. He will get some time off after this race and we will see how he comes out of it and then decide how best to approach next year."

ROMANS SEEKING SWEEP OF CLOSING DAY STAKES - Trainer Dale Romans had a couple of options with debut winner Jazzandthemagician, entering the Zayat Stables colt in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII) and the Grade II Remsen at Aqueduct.

            "He's running here," Romans said Friday morning. "I only entered him up there in case the Remsen came up light."

            A son of 2004 Belmont Stakes (GI) winner Birdstone, Jazzandthemagician debuted with a stylish, 3 ¼-length victory on Nov. 1 and the performance was not a shock to Romans.

            "I expected he would run like that, but tomorrow, he is taking a big jump going from maiden to stakes," Romans said.

            Romans' other stakes entrant Saturday already has made that jump. Eldon Farm Equine's Sara Louise went from her maiden win straight into the Grade III Pocahontas that she won by 3 ¾ lengths on Nov. 1.

            "She's a nice filly and she has been training well since the Pocahontas," Romans said. Robby Albarado, who was aboard in the Pocahontas, has the call Saturday.

            The most recent trainer to sweep the Golden Rod and Kentucky Jockey Club in the same year is Bob Baffert, who took the races with Silverbulletday and Exploit in 1998.

GIANT OAK GETTING STEADY DIRT DIET AT CHURCHULL DOWNS - Drew Coontz has been on kind of an extended vacation the past two months in Kentucky with the Virginia H. Tarra Trust's Giant Oak for trainer Chris Block.

            "Chris said he wanted to stay here and see how Giant Oak handled the dirt," said Koontz of Block, who usually ships horses to Kentucky from his Chicago base and then immediately returns to Illinois. "He has had four works here and the exercise rider has said he is handling the track well."

            Giant Oak, a homebred son of Giant's Causeway out of the Crafty Prospector mare Crafty Oak, won his first two starts at Arlington Park, scoring at a mile on the turf and at 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack in a race that was rained off the turf.

            Block shipped Giant Oak to Keeneland for the Grade III Bourbon on the turf on Oct. 5.

            "He just had a horrible trip that day," Coontz said of the eighth-place finish. "He was stuck down on the inside and blocked the whole way around." 

            Instead of going back to Chicago after the Bourbon, Giant Oak remained at Keeneland where he had two works on Polytrack before coming to Churchill Downs and a scheduled start in Saturday's Kentucky Jockey Club.

            "Every work has gotten better and better here and two of the works have been in the slop and mud," Coontz said. "He's a nice colt to be around and he is handling everything well."

GUEST ANNOUNCER SURVEY LAUNCHED - Churchill Downs officials are seeking input and looking for feedback from customers as they continue their search to replace the late Luke Kruytbosch as the next "Voice of the Kentucky Derby".

There has been a different track announcer each week during the five-week Fall Meet: Calder's Bobby Neuman (Oct. 26-Nov. 2); Louisiana Downs' Travis Stone (Nov. 5-9); Golden Gate's Michael Wrona (Nov. 11-16); Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park's Larry Collmus (Nov. 19-23); and England's Mark Johnson (Nov. 26-29).

Churchill Downs has launched a Guest Announcer Survey on churchilldowns.com and there are audio samples from all five announcers. To participate, click the icon located on the home page just below the "Carryovers" section.

Also, fans may comment further by sending an email to announcer@kyderby.com.

Churchill Downs officials expect to make a final decision by the end of the year.

DERBY TICKET DRAWINGS CONTINUE - Over the final two days of the 2008 Fall Meet, Churchill Downs will continue its public daily drawings for guests to purchase two seats to the 135^th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on Saturday, May 2. One hundred more names will be drawn Friday and Saturday. Guests age 18 and up may enter each drawing by filling out an entry form at Guest Services stations located inside Gate 17 or outside of Gate 10 in the clubhouse before 1:35 p.m. ET. A new drawing will be held each day. Winners need not be present to win and payment for invoiced tickets will be due Jan. 30. The drawings began last Saturday and, all told, 500 pairs of tickets, or 1,000 in total, will be made available. The seats available include a variety of clubhouse and grandstand seats, ranging from grandstand bleacher seats to clubhouse boxes. The ticket prices per seat range from $88 to $207 ($176 to $414 per pair).

HORSE OF THE YEAR CURLIN TO BE PARADED ON CLOSING DAY - Curlin, North America's reigning Horse of the Year and the continent's richest racehorse of all time with earnings of $10,501,800, will be paraded one final time at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The brilliant winner of seven Grade I events including Churchill Downs' $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap in June, is scheduled to be paraded on the main track between the fifth and sixth races. A special salute in the paddock and/or winner's circle will follow. The fifth race is scheduled for 1:28 p.m. (all times Eastern), and the first of 12 races will be at 11:30 a.m.

BARN TALK - Secret Gypsy ran the fastest seven furlongs of the meet with a 1:22.03 clocking in her 8 ½-length romp in Wednesday's ninth race. Trained by Ronny Werner for owners Richland Hills and John Kuehl, Secret Gypsy won for the third time in seven career starts. Julien Leparoux and Robby Albarado have dominated the jockey standings this meet with 54 and 39 victories, respectively. Leparoux officially can clinch the riding title Friday when he is named on 11 mounts and Albarado 10. Although Albarado does not figure to win the overall riding title, he does own a huge edge in 2-year-old winners (17-12) over Leparoux. Two races for juveniles are slated Friday with the entire 12-race card Saturday devoted to 2-year-olds. With three stakes remaining over the final two days, Leparoux owns a 3-2 edge in stakes wins on Albarado, and in turf races, with five grass events to be run over the final two days, Leparoux holds a 14-10 lead on Albarado in turf winners. ... Saturday's "Stars of Tomorrow II" card will settle the battle for top juvenile trainer between Ken McPeek and Dale Romans. McPeek holds a 9-8 edge in juvenile winners entering Friday's card in which they have one runner each entered in the first race. On Saturday, McPeek has 14 juveniles entered which include three on also-eligible lists; Romans has nine entered, including one also-eligible. 

WORK TAB - Robert DeWitt's Taletobetold, winner of the 2007 Open Mind Stakes at Churchill Downs, worked a half-mile in :49.20 over a fast track for trainer Eddie Kenneally. The move was the third fastest of 16 at the distance. Also working for Kenneally was Brian Rose and Ron McCauley's graded stakes-placed Ballymore Lady, who breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60, third best of 10 at the distance.

EINSTEIN GIVES ALL THE RIGHT CLARK ANSWERS TO PITT- The question trainer Helen Pitts was asking her stable star Einstein this month was whether the 6-year-old would be up for a run in Friday's $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II).[asset|height=12|width=1]

            With a bullet five-eighths work Sunday, the answer was a definitive "yes."

            "He worked super Sunday and I thought that was good enough to get us there," Pitts said of Einstein, who has not raced since a troubled fifth-place finish in the Grade I Arlington Million on the grass at Arlington Park on Aug. 9. "He had done enough while he was off and he had a good bottom to him."

            Einstein, who will break from post position three in the Clark under meet-leading jockey Julien Leparoux, did not have his first work after his Million run until Nov. 2.

            "I didn't want to say yes (to the Clark) and get my hopes up," Pitts said. "He had an easy half, a good half, then an easy five-eighths and a good five-eighths. He couldn't have lost a whole lot."

            Einstein has done his best work on the turf, where he has recorded Grade I victories this year with scores in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap and the Derby Day Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.  The son of 1985 Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Spend A Buck was runner-up to 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin in Churchill Downs' Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) in his most recent run on the main track.

            "There was no pressure to run here and it is going to be awhile before he runs again," Pitts said. "He's got some good works in him, he's doing good and we're going to take a shot. I am comfortable with him. I know he will give his 110 percent like he always does."

BROWNIE POINTS LOOKS TO RETIRE AS A MILLIONAIRE - The cash machine in trainer Donnie Von Hemel's barn will be shutting down Thursday after embarking on one last search for a major deposit.

            Pin Oak Stable's Brownie Points will make her swan song in this afternoon's $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII).  A victory in the 94th renewal in that 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares would swell her career earnings past the $1 million mark.

            "These kind of horses are hard to find," Von Hemel said. "You like to have one or two of those in the barn to keep things going."

            Through four years of racing, Brownie Points has compiled a record of 9-8-4 in 26 races with earnings of $946,442 - with almost equal success on dirt and turf.

            "I was just glad that she ran on either one," Von Hemel said. "We picked our spots with her and there was never a soundness issue."

Brownie Points ran the worst race of her career in her debut on dirt, finishing 10th in a field of 12 in a five-furlong sprint at Remington Park.

"We knew she was talented, and a lot of them train well and then when they run they don't do much," Von Hemel said. "We were disappointed in her first race, but the next time she ran on the dirt she ran second at 70-1."

The Falls City will mark the second trip to Churchill Downs for Brownie Points in 2008. She was a fast-closing second in the Grade III Locust Grove on the turf in July.  Luis Quinonez rode here that day and will be aboard again on Thanksgiving Day.

"Luis has been important to her success," Von Hemel said. "He has stayed with her for three years."

WIGGINS LOOKING FOR EARLY BIRTHDAY TREAT ON SATURDAY - Trainer Hal Wiggins will turn 66 on Sunday, but he would not mind picking up a present or two a day earlier on the "Stars of Tomorrow II" card at Churchill Downs.

            Wiggins will saddle Dolphus Morrison's homebred Rachel Alexandra in the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) at a mile and a sixteenth on the main track. He will also run Morrison's Abbott Hall in the $56,000 Caressing at a mile on the turf.

            Rachel Alexandra enters the Golden Rod off a runner-up finish to Sara Louise in the Pocahontas (GIII) on Nov. 1. It was her second race back after a 3 ½-month layoff that followed a promising runner-up finish to Garden District in Grade III Debutante.

            "She had a chip removed from her left front ankle," Wiggins said of the layoff. "We were hoping she would come back around and she ran good at Keeneland going short. She came out of that race fine and also the Pocahontas."

            Abbott Hall returns to the turf after a fifth-place finish in the Pocahontas.

            "That was just to see how she would handle it," Wiggins said. "She ran on it well in her first start at Ellis finishing second and she didn't run that well in her previous start at Keeneland (fourth in the Jessamine)."

            Saturday will bring down the curtain on 2008 for both fillies.

            "Rachel Alexandra will go to Hot Springs and they have that little series at Oaklawn with the Honeybee and the Fantasy," Wiggins said. "I'd like to run her twice before hopefully the Kentucky Oaks. They also have the Silverbulletday and the Fair Grounds Oaks in New Orleans, so we have a lot of options and she ran good on the Polytrack at Keeneland, so we could look at the Ashland."

            Abbott Hall could get see a later start for her 3-year-old campaign.

            "She may get a break. Rachel Alexandra's already had her break," Wiggins said. "There is not much for her out there now."

            Whatever the decision for Morrison's talent fillies, Wiggins will make the call.

            "I have trained horses for him for 27 years," Wiggins said. "The last thing he tells me when we talk is ‘you're the coach.' "

BARN TALK - Julien Leparoux added one victory Wednesday to elevate his meet-leading total to 51. With three days remaining in the meet, Leparoux has Pat Day's 23-year-old fall record of 55 squarely in his sights. Leparoux is named on 11 mounts each Thursday and Friday and on nine on Saturday. ... Robby Albarado had his third four-win day of the meet on Wednesday to raise his meet total to 37. Albarado also won four races on Nov. 14 and Nov. 19. ... "Happy Birthday" wishes to trainer Greg Foley, who turns 51 today.  The second generation trainer - the son of veteran trainer Dravo Foley and brother to fellow trainer Vickie Foley - has four horses entered on the Thanksgiving Day card at Churchill Downs.

Joseph Rauch and David Zell’s Capt Candyman Can, a smashing three-length winner of the Iroquois (Grade III) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1, is the marquee name in a field of 10 entered Wednesday for the 83rd running of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII) to be run at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday.

The Kentucky Jockey Club is the centerpiece of the closing-day “Stars of Tomorrow II” card that features races limited exclusively to 2-year-olds. First post time is 11:30 a.m. with general admission gates opening at 10 a.m. (all times Eastern).

In addition to the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club, there will be the 66th running of the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for fillies at 1 1/16 miles, plus two $56,000-added overnight handicaps on the grass – the Grand Canyon at 1 1/16 miles and the Caressing at one mile for the fillies.

Also, Curlin, North America’s reigning Horse of the Year and the continent’s richest racehorse of all time with earnings of $10,501,800, will be paraded one final time at Churchill Downs between the fifth and sixth races before he is retired to stud duty in 2009. After a trip to saddling paddock, Curlin will be saluted in the winner’s circle.

Saturday’s future stars have some huge horseshoes to fill from the 2007 juvenile showcase day that produced such 2008 graded stakes winners as Anak Nakal and Pure Clan and a first-time starter named Denis of Cork who came back this year to run third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and second in the Belmont Stakes (GI).

Julien Leparoux, who rode Anak Nakal to victory in last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club, goes for a repeat on Capt. Candyman Can for trainer Ian Wilkes. Capt. Candyman Can has won both of his dirt starts with his only setback coming in a sixth-place finish over the Polytrack at Arlington Park in the roughly run Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII).

Capt. Candyman Can will break from post position eight and is the only stakes winner in the field for the Kentucky Jockey Club, which goes as the 11th race on the card at approximately 4:27 p.m. ET.

The field for the Kentucky Jockey Club, from the rail out: Coal Baron (Julio Garcia), Big Surf (Jesus Castanon), Beethoven (Calvin Borel), Stormalory (Kent Desormeaux), Jazzandthemagician (Miguel Mena), Zion (Shaun Bridgmohan), Brother Keith (Robby Albarado), Capt. Candyman Can (Julien Leparoux), Star of David (Jamie Theriot) and Giant Oak (Eusebio Razo Jr.). All starters will carry 122 pounds.

Eldon Farm’s Sara Louise, a 3 3/4-length winner of the Grade III Pocahontas on Nov. 1, tops a field of seven for the Golden Rod that also attracted Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) runner-up Dream Empress.

Trained by Dale Romans, Sara Louise has won two of three career starts and will be ridden by Robby Albarado who is seeking his second victory in the Golden Rod. Sara Louise will break from post position one.

Livin the Dream Racing’s Dream Empress won the Grade I Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland prior to her Breeders’ Cup effort and the Golden Rod will mark her debut on a conventional dirt track for trainer Ken McPeek. Kent Desormeaux has the call Saturday and will break from post position three.

The Golden Rod, which goes as the ninth race on the card at 3:28 p.m. ET, also lured two other intriguing prospects: Dolphus Morrison’s Rachel Alexandra and Ron Winchell’s War Echo.

Rachel Alexandra, trained by Hal Wiggins, finished second to Sara Louise in the Pocahontas and this summer was runner-up in the Grade III Debutante. War Echo, trained by Steve Asmussen, is a half-sister to multiple graded-stakes winner Pyro and ran fourth in the Grade I Frizette in her most recent start.

The field for the Golden Rod, from the rail out: Sara Louise (Robby Albarado, 119 pounds), Super Poni (Godofredo Laurente, 119), Dream Empress (Kent Desormeaux, 119), Rachel Alexandra (Calvin Borel, 119), Dance With Daddy (Diego Rodriguez, 114), Pearl of Valor (Jesus Castanon, 119) and War Echo (Shaun Bridgmohan, 119).

Marylou Whitney Stables’ Ninth Client, trained by D. Wayne Lukas will carry high weight of 121 pounds and face 11 rivals in the Grand Canyon, which goes as the fifth race on the card at 1:28 p.m. ET. Third in the Grade III Bourbon at Keeneland on Oct. 5 and most recently ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Ninth Client will be ridden by Robby Albarado and break from post position three.

The field for the Grand Canyon, from the hedge out: Rockin’ Joe (Shaun Bridgmohan, 120 pounds), Chilliness (Jamie Theriot, 115), Ninth Client (Robby Albarado, 121), Jack Spratt (Julien Leparoux, 117), Presents for Berti (Calvin Borel, 117), Smart Shot (Julio Garcia, 116), My Boy Jo (Jesus Castanon, 112), South Fork Lodge (Kent Desormeaux, 117), Relvado (Eusebio Razo Jr., 114), Tenmor (Orlando Mojica, 114), Proceed Bee (Miguel Mena, 115) and Changing Storm (Richard Monterrey, 112). On the also-eligible list are Charlie Trumper (Robby Albarado, 111), Irish Blarney (Miguel Mena, 111) and Allittakesisone (Diego Rodriguez, 110).

In the Caressing, which goes as Race 10 at 3:58 p.m. ET, Wayne Calabrese’s Sugar Mom, winner of the Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park in September and seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in her most recent start, will tote top weight of 122 pounds and concede 2-9 pounds to seven rivals.

Trained by Wayne Catalano, Sugar Mom has three wins and two seconds from seven starts and will be ridden by E.T. Baird and break from post position two in a full field of 12.

The field for the Caressing, from the hedge out: Yo Eleven (Eusebio Razo Jr., 113 pounds), Sugar Mom (E.T. Baird, 122), Romin Robin (Orlando Mojica, 113), Seminole Lass (Julien Leparoux, 115), Trust N Seven (Rafael Hernandez, 115), Banker’s Choice (Calvin Borel, 119), Striking Dancer (Robby Albarado, 118), Devil by Design (Jesus Castanon, 114), Abbott Hall (Jamie Theriot, 120), Foxy Bailey (Kent Desormeaux, 114), War Tigress (Julio Garcia, 119) and It’s Tiffin Time (Miguel Mena, 113). On the also-eligible list is Guarda (Miguel Mena, 113).

COMMENTATOR ASSIGNED TOP IMPOST OF 124 POUNDS FOR 134^TH CLARK ‘CAP - Tracy Farmer's Commentator has been assigned high weight of 124 pounds by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman for Friday's 134^th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II).

             Trained by Nick Zito, Commentator is expected to start Friday in the 1 1/8 miles main track test.

Assigned the next high weight of 121 pounds is Jay Em Ess Stable's Arson Squad, who is expected to run in the Cigar Mile (GI) at Aqueduct on Nov. 29.

When entries are drawn Tuesday, Commentator is expected to attract seven rivals headed by Magna Graduate, who was assigned the second-highest Clark impost.

Owned by Elisabeth Alexander, Magna Graduate won the 2005 Clark as a 3-year-old and took the opening-day Ack Ack Handicap (GIII). Trained by Steve Asmussen, Magna Graduate was assigned 120 pounds.

            Others considered probable for the Clark with weight assignments are Four Roses Thoroughbreds' Anak Nakal (118), The Big Stable's Delosvientos (118), World Thoroughbreds Racing's Wayzata Bay (117), Hobeau Farm's Delightful Kiss (116), Circle E Racing, Caesar Kimmel and Philip Solondz's Timber Reserve (116) and Silverton Hill Farm's Dominican (115).

SPRING WALTZ HIGH WEIGHT FOR FALLS CITY - Stronach Stables' Spring Waltz, runaway winner of the Gulfstream Park's Grade II Rampart Handicap in March and runner-up in Belmont's recent Turnback the Alarm Handicap (GIII), was assigned top weight of 120 pounds for Thursday's $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII).

            Trained by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, Spring Waltz has won two of three starts at the Falls City distance of 1 1/8 miles. Spring Waltz, who is training at Keeneland, could face seven rivals in the Falls City when entries are drawn on Sunday.

            One of those expected rivals is Pin Oak Stable's Brownie Points, assigned the second high weight of 119 pounds by Racing Secretary Ben Huffman. Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Brownie Points has had two main track starts in 2008, finishing second to Hystericalady in the Azeri (GIII) to unbeaten Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom (GI).

            Other probable Falls City starters with weight assignments are Arbaway Farm, Carson Springs Farm and Letto Thoroughbreds' Stop a Train (117), Robert Adams' Unforgotten (117), Mark Stanley's Swift Temper (116), Glencrest Farm's Devil House (115), Richard Lister's Tell it as It Is (115) and Talley Racing's Initforthekandy (114).

KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB, GOLDEN ROD FIELDS TAKE SHAPE - The stars of the Nov. 1 "Stars of Tomorrow I" card are expected to come back next Saturday for encore performances on the closing-day "Stars of Tomorrow II" card that features races exclusively for 2-year-olds.

             Joseph Rauch and David Zell's Capt. Candyman Can, winner of the Iroquois (GIII) and Eldon Farm Equine's Sara Louise, winner of the Pocahontas (GIII), are listed as probable starters by Churchill Downs racing officials for the Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod, respectively.

            Entries for the two $150,000-added Grade II events at 1 1/16 miles on the main track will be drawn Wednesday. The winners of last year's events went on to live up to their "Star of Tomorrow" billing as Anak Nakal and Pure Clan added 2008 graded stakes victories to their respective tallies in the Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod.

            Five colts are considered likely to challenge Capt. Candyman Can, topped by John Oxley's Beethoven and Darley Stable's Stormalory, who ran 1-2 in a mile and a sixteenth allowance race on the "Stars of Tomorrow I" card.

            Other probables include Dogwood Stable's Coal Baron, the Virginia Tarra Trust's Giant Oak and Carl Potts' Allittakesisone. Possibles include Overbrook Farm's Big Surf, the Live Oak Plantation's Rocketing Returns and either Zayat Stables' Star of David or Winchell Thoroughbreds' Zion from the barn of Steve Asmussen.

            Four fillies are considered as likely to challenge Sara Louise in the Golden Rod. Topping the list is Livin the Dream Racing's Dream Empress, runner-up to Stardom Bound in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita. Trained by Ken McPeek, Dream Empress won the Darley Alcibiades (GI) at Keeneland last month.

            Other Golden Rod probables include Pocahontas runner-up Rachel Alexandra, owned by Dolphus Morrison, Winchell Thoroughbreds' War Echo, who is a half-sister to Pyro, and DWD Stables' Dance With Daddy.          

CORRECTION - In Friday's Barn Notes, the number of races for the current Fall Meet was listed as 270. The correct number is 268.

BARN TALK - Equibase Company LLC reports that trainer Steve Asmussen entered Saturday with 553 wins, three victories away from breaking his own North American record for wins in a single year (Note: two victories in Dubai this year with Curlin are not included in that number). Asmussen, who won 555 races in 2004, had 16 runners entered at seven venues Saturday including first-time starter Captain Cherokee in the 10^th race at Churchill Downs for Stonestreet Stable. Captain Cherokee is a half-brother to two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint (GI) winner Midnight Lute. Asmussen's first runner of the day was Not for Gold in the opener at Aqueduct at 12:30 p.m. (ET) and closes out with Light Lace in the seventh at Remington Park at 10:12 p.m. (ET). ... Making the rounds on the backside Saturday morning was jockey Filiberto Leon, who plans to resume riding when the Turfway Park meet opens Nov. 30. Leon, who will be represented by agent Buddy Fife, last rode at Finger Lakes in June 2007. ... Hobeau Farm's Delightful Kiss arrived at Churchill Downs Friday night for an anticipated start in next week's Clark Handicap. World Thoroughbred Racing's Wayzata Bay is scheduled to arrive Saturday night for the Clark, as is Pin Oak Stable's Brownie Points, who is slated to run in Thursday's Falls City Handicap.

WORK TAB - Talley Racing's Initforthekandy worked five-eighths in 1:01.60 over a track labeled as "good" on Friday at Trackside Training Center in preparation for an expected run in Thursday's Falls City Handicap.

TWO CANNED GOODS FOR FREE ADMISSION - Churchill Downs will offer free general admission through Sunday, Nov. 23 to all patrons who donate two non-perishable canned goods at Gates 10 and 17 in conjunction with the Kentucky Harvest Thanksgiving Food Drive, sponsored by Forcht Bank.

The canned goods can be delivered to Churchill Downs on those dates or any Louisville area Forcht Bank through Nov. 22 in exchange for the complimentary admission pass.

All donations will benefit Kentucky Harvest.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE DOWNS - Sunday Brunch at Churchill Downs returns this Sunday. For $41.50 ($25 for children 12 and under), customers can dine and watch the Nov. 23 races from a reserved seat Millionaires' Row Six, the luxurious 9,000 square-foot room with a four-tier balcony that overlooks the finish line. The brunch, accompanied by live jazz music, is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a wide selection of food, including stuffed French toast, eggs, maple smoked bacon, homemade biscuits and gravy, carved roast turkey, fresh salads and plenty of sides. Appetizers and a bountiful desert tray will be available until 5 p.m. Brunch and an official program is included in the admission price. To reserve a spot, call (502) 636-4400.

WILKES NOTCHES ‘FIRST' CHURCHILL STAKES VICTORY WITH ‘CANDYMAN' IN IROQUOIS - Trainer Ian Wilkes has made many visits to the Churchill Downs winner's circle since he first arrived at Churchill Downs from Australia nearly 20 years ago - including a couple of stops in the exclusive Kentucky Derby winner's circle with mentor Carl Nafzger.  But Saturday's "Stars of Tomorrow I" victory by Capt. Candyman Can in the $100,000-added Iroquois (Grade III) marked a first for Wilkes since he went out on his own a couple of years back.

            The three-length victory by the gelded son of Candy Ride was Wilkes' first stakes triumph as a trainer at his home track.  It was a nice milestone for the 43-year-old Aussie, but the performance his horse turned in under jockey Julien Leparoux meant much more.

            "One of the reasons Carl turned some of his horses over to me was to give me recognition," said Wilkes.  "I guess that's a very satisfying aspect of it."

            Wilkes said Capt. Candyman Can came out of the race in good shape and would be pointed toward the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 29.  That race will mark Capt. Candyman's debut at a two-turn distance after his flashy performance on Saturday over Churchill Downs' demanding one-turn mile. 

            A strong effort at two turns would allow Wilkes to start thinking about next spring's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) on May 2.  Capt. Candyman Can will have to prove that two-turn races are within his grasp, but Wilkes says his "gut feeling" on that is positive. 

            Wilkes also believes that Capt. Candyman Can could improve significantly off of his Iroquois win and in his training leading up to the Kentucky Jockey Club.

            "He was fit to run - he was ready to run and needed to run," Wilkes said.  "But was he 110 percent?  No, I didn't feel he was.  I felt he had some more improvement in him.  I think he's maturing a little more than you might hope - he's put on some weight and almost done too good.  So I was coming into this race and hoping to move forward, and I'd love to win the next race."

            Capt. Candyman Can was a colt when he came into Wilkes' care, but the decision to geld him was made early in the year.  That move often has an immediate impact on the physical and mental outlook of young horses, and that was the case with Wilkes' star.

            "He had a lot of little issues," he said.  "Gelding got the weight off of him and it really helped him.  I doubt that I would have been in this situation if I didn't geld him."

            The Iroquois marked the second victory in three career starts for Capt. Candyman Can, with the other being a dazzling 7 ½-length romp in his career debut at Saratoga.  In between he finished a close sixth over Polytrack in Arlington Park's Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII).  His earnings now stand at $105,517.

POCAHONTAS ROMP BY SARA LOUISE NO SURPRISE TO ROMANS- Saturday's first "Stars of Tomorrow" program of the Churchill Downs Fall Meet saw plenty of strong performances by promising horses on the card devoted exclusively to 2-year-olds, but the most impressive of the day could have been the romp by Eldon Farm Equine's Sara Louise in the $100,000-added Pocahontas (GIII).

            The Dale Romans-trained daughter of Malibu Moon rallied from just off the pace and quickly drew off under Robby Albarado to defeat favored Rachel Alexandra by 3 ¾ lengths.  The quality of that dazzling effort was underscored by her stakes record winning time of 1:34.57.  It was the first sub-1:35 clocking since the Pocahontas was extended from seven furlongs to a mile in 1981 and the time was nearly three-fifths of a second faster than the winning time turned in by the gelding Capt. Candyman Can against colts in the Iroquois fewer than 30 minutes later.

            Romans said all was well on Sunday with a horse that he called "a very special filly."  He said she "came out of the race great," and that her dominating effort was no surprise to his stable.

            "She had trained that way, and I've thought she was special since the first time I got to breeze her," said Romans.  "She's been just the total package.  She had the speed when you called on her and she'd relax when you wanted her to, and that's a good horse."

            Sara Louise was beaten in her career debut at Saratoga when she broke last in a field of 10.  She rallied from 14 lengths back to finish fourth, beaten only 3 ¾ lengths, by the well-regarded Be Smart.  She scored a three-quarter length victory at Belmont Park in her next start that was easier than the winning margin would indicate, as the race chart notes that she won under "hand urging" from jockey Edgar Prado.

            Romans said a run back in the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) at 1 1/16-miles on Nov. 29 is possible for Sara Louise.  A decision on her next target will come after a discussion with Eldon Farm Equine owner John Luke.

            "We'll look at it real hard," he said.  "I don't like to make those decisions after the emotion of a big win like that.  In about a week or so we'll have a conference call with Mr. Luke and all of his people and decide what to do."

            Sara Louise is the only horse Romans currently trains for Luke.  He has had a handful over the years, with Spin Master, winner of the $100,000 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs in 2007, being the best of those before Sara Louise walked into Romans' barn.

            The Pocahontas victory boosted the career earnings for Sara Louise to $101,381.

EINSTEIN BREEZES, POSSIBLE FOR CLARK ‘CAP - Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) winner Einstein is moving closer to his first race since a disappointing run in the Arlington Million (GI), and that race could be a return to the dirt in the 135th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28.

            Midnight Cry Stable's 6-year-old son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend A Buck breezed an easy half-mile over a "fast" track in :52 on Sunday at Churchill Downs.  It was the first breeze for Einstein since he finished fifth, beaten only two lengths, by front-running longshot Spirit One in the Million on Aug. 9 at Arlington Park. 

            Einstein stumbled badly at the start of that race.  The veteran turf star was found to have pulled muscles in his back end following his troubled run in the Million.

            "He probably did it when he left the gate," said Pitts.  "I sent him for a bone scan and you could see where it was just black where he had pulled all those muscles in his back end."

            Pitts said Einstein bounced back from the injury well, and his strong recovery has Pitts thinking over a bid for the 1 1/8-mile Clark.  Although Einstein's major victories have come on turf, he has run very well over the main track at Churchill Downs.  He finished second to reigning "Horse of the Year" Curlin in June in the $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) and notched his first career victory under the Twin Spires in November 2005.   

            A bid for the Clark Handicap could involve a run against two-time Whitney (GI) winner Commentator, who could be pointed to that race by trainer Nick Zito.  A Clark bid has not been completely ruled out for Curlin, who is back on the grounds following a fourth-place finish over the synthetic Cushion Track surface in the Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) at Santa Anita. 

            Pitts said Einstein is far from a sure thing to run in the Clark, but it is an attractive option.

            "I'm going to kind of let him tell me, but the Clark is in the back of my mind," said Pitts.  "I know Commentator is contemplating it, but if I can run second to Curlin I guess I can attempt to beat him.  I don't know what Curlin's doing, but I'm kind of going to let him tell me."

            "If everything goes well it gives him four works and he didn't lose a whole lot," said Pitts.  "He seemed good.  He went just nice and easy today and we'll go from there.  It's not a necessary thing that he has to run, but if it happens that he's doing good then and it comes up a light spot, then I probably would run in the Clark and then sit on him until Florida."

            Pitts said current plans call for Einstein to campaign next year as a 7-year-old, and says the Brazilian-bred is actually younger than that official listing because he was foaled in the Southern Hemisphere.

            "He just turned six two months ago," said Pitts.  "He's only been six for two months.  Everybody thinks he's been six this entire year when he's not." 

            The ultimate goal for Einstein would be a bid to repeat this year's win in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day.

            "If we could get a couple of more good races into him next year I'd like to point him toward the Woodford Reserve again," said Pitts.  "Then we'll just kind of go from there.  There's no reason not to."

            Einstein has a record of 3-3-0 in eight races this year and his career slate stands at 8-3-1 in 21 races with earnings of $1,366,431.

MAMBO IN SEATTLE BREEZES, STILL POSSIBLE FOR CLARK - Travers (GI) runner-up Mambo in Seattle turned in an easy half-mile breeze on Sunday at Churchill Downs that kept the 3-year-old in the picture for the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII).

            Mambo in Seattle, who is owned by William S. Farish and Mrs. William Kilroy, breezed four furlongs over a "fast" track under exercise rider Dane Noel in :50.40.  The work was the first for the 3-year-old son of Kingmambo since his disappointing seventh-place finish behind Ball Four in the $150,000 Fayette (GIII) at Keeneland on Oct. 25. 

Trainer Neil Howard believes that Mambo in Seattle failed to handle the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland in that race and he was pleased with what he saw in the colt's return to dirt at Churchill Downs.  He caught Mambo in Seattle going a little faster than Churchill Downs clockers, as Howard had the colt going in ":49 and two, or :49 and three" on his stopwatch.

            "It was exactly what I was looking for," said Howard.  "I was just looking for a little maintenance half-mile in his first work since he ran, and he breezed very nice."

            Howard said he and Farish had discussed the prospect of a bid for the Clark, but said there is no rush to make that call.

            "We're here, so we figure we can just train along," said Howard.  "He's had good year and he's had some tough races, so we're just going to play it by ear just a little bit.  We are looking at the race, but we're not making any commitments yet."

            Mambo in Seattle's career record stands at 4-3-0 in 10 races with earnings of $400,741.   

 BARN TALK - Jockey Julien Leparoux and trainer Mike Maker continued to sustain their sizzling pace on Saturday in the battles for top honors in their respective categories in the Fall Meet. Leparoux won four races for the second time in three days to push his meet-leading victory total to 15.  Robby Albarado, who won three races on Saturday, is a clear second in that category with nine wins.  Maker saddled one winner on Saturday and has scored at least one win on each of the first five days of the 26-day meet.  His victory total stands at nine, with Ken McPeek (six wins) and Dale Romans (five) giving closest chase. ... Brant Laue's Gun Salute, winner of the 2005 Secretariat (GI) at Arlington Park, is entered in the 9th race on Thursday, Nov. 9 at Churchill Downs.  The son of Military is part of a full field in a 1 1/8-mile allowance optional claiming race on the Matt Winn Turf Course.  Gun Salute ran third to Thorn Song in last fall's River City (GIII) at Churchill Downs for trainer Bill Mott, then ran twice earlier this year in Saudi Arabia.  He returned to the U.S. to run second in an Ellis Park allowance race in his only effort for new trainer Cody Autrey.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) - Commonwealth Turf (GIII) candidate Amazing Results breezed a sharp five furlongs in :59.  The move by Team Block's son of Grand Slam was the fastest of 33 at the distance.  ... Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road, runner-up in the 2007 Kentucky Jockey Club, breezed five furlongs for trainer David Carroll in 1:02.40. ...Isabull, winner of the 2006 WinStar Derby, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 for trainer Tom Amoss.