Stronach Stables

(November 23, 2008) – Stronach Stable’s Spring Waltz will carry top weight of 120 pounds and concede up to nine pounds to 11 rivals in Thursday’s 94th running of the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (Grade II) at 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs.

The Falls City will be the 11th race at approximately 4:24 p.m. (all times Eastern). The 12-race Thanksgiving Day card will begin early at 11:30 a.m. with admission gates scheduled to open at 10 a.m.

Trained by Bobby Frankel, Spring Waltz will break from post position eight under Robby Albarado, who will be aboard the 5-year-old daughter of 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm for the first time.

Spring Waltz made her stakes debut one to remember when she romped by 3 ¼ lengths as the even-money favorite in the Grade II Rampart Handicap in March at Gulfstream Park. In her most recent start, Spring Waltz ran second in the Turnback the Alarm Handicap (GIII) at Belmont Park on Oct. 26.

Two other Falls City entrants have graded-stakes victories in 2008. Mark Stanley’s Swift Temper won the Grade III Gardenia at Ellis Park in August and Darley Stable’s Skylighter, also trained by Frankel, won the Grade II Indiana Oaks in her most recent start at Hoosier Park on Oct. 3.

The starting second high weight will be Pin Oak Stable’s Brownie Points, who will be ridden by Luis Quinonez and carry 119 pounds. A Grade III winner on the grass and Grade I stakes placed on the dirt in 2008, Brownie Points has earned $946,442 in her career and would become a millionaire with a Falls City victory.

The field for the Falls City, from the rail out: Brownie Points (Luis Quinonez, 119 pounds), Tiz to Dream (E.T. Baird, 112), Tell it as It Is (Emma Wilson, 115), Miss Isella (Calvin Borel, 111), Swift Temper (Kent Desormeaux, 116), Skylighter (Julien Leparoux, 115), Stop a Train (Perry Compton, 117), Spring Waltz (Robby Albarado, 120), Devil House (Jesus Castanon, 115), Initforthekandy (John McKee, 114), Unforgotten (Miguel Mena, 117) and Copper State (Shaun Bridgmohan, 116).

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Stronach Stable’s Palm Princess held off a final bid by Miss Causeway to score a head victory in Wednesday’s $42,070 headliner for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Churchill Downs and key a track record $107,647 Super Hi-5 payoff.

Ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Palm Princess edged ahead of Miss Causeway on the far turn and opened a daylight margin in the stretch before hanging on for her second consecutive victory.

Trained by Dale Romans, Palm Princess returned mutuels of $8.80, $6 and $4.40. Miss Causeway, ridden by John McKee, paid $19 and $10.40 with Furusato rallying for third another half-length back under Jesus Castanon to pay $10 to show.

Completing the Super Hi-5, a $1 wager in which bettors must select the top five finishers in order, were Dandy Mandy and Itsawonderfullife.

There was only one winning ticket, and it was the third largest Super Hi-5 payoff in North America, only behind the $125,324 and $121,172 jackpots at Santa Anita on March 29 and Feb. 11, respectively. Churchill Downs’ previous Super Hi-5 record was $66,598.20 on June 12.

Palm Princess, a 4-year-old daughter of Royal Academy, covered the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:51.71 in winning for the second time in six career starts. She boosted her career earnings to $71,136.