Thorn Song

NO DECISION ON NEW RIDER FOR MINE THAT BIRD – Trainer Chip Woolley said Thursday morning that he had a couple of riders under consideration to ride Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) winner Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby (Grade II) on Aug. 1.

    Woolley had not received a firm commitment from Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to the Kentucky Derby victory, for the West Virginia Derby, which led Woolley to seek a new rider. Woolley is seeking a three-race commitment covering the West Virginia Derby, Shadwell Travers (GI) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).

    “I thank Calvin for the job he has done for us, but going race to race is not a good option for us and we think we are better off going with someone who will be there when we need him,” Woolley said. “It is strictly a business decision and Calvin and (agent) Jerry (Hissam) will always be welcome in my shedrow.”

    Mine That Bird, who went twice around the main track Thursday morning with exercise rider Rudy Gallegos up, had his first work since finishing third in the Belmont Stakes (Grade I) on Monday when he covered a half-mile in :51 under Borel.

    Woolley has three more Churchill Downs works scheduled for Mine That Bird before leaving for Mountaineer. Woolley had planned to ship Mine That Bird to Mountaineer on July 16 or 17 to get two breezes over the track, but that has changed.

    “I think we are better off staying here and move up there closer to the race,” Woolley said. “He will work here on the 20th and we’d go up the 24th in time to gallop him twice over the track before one work there. But even that is subject to change.”

THORN SONG REWARDS CONNECTION’S CONFIDENCE – The past performance lines may have hinted otherwise, but trainer Dale Romans insists he never lost confidence in Zayat Stables’ Thorn Song.

After a victory in the Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland, Thorn Song failed to finish better than fifth in his next four starts. Undeterred, Romans sent Thorn Song west for Memorial Day and the 6-year-old gray responded with a gutsy, wire-to-wire victory in the Shoemaker Mile (GI) at Hollywood Park.

“We still have faith in him,” Romans said. “If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have shipped him across the country.”

Thorn Song immediately returned to Churchill Downs and the Louisville-born Romans set his sights on Saturday’s 19th running of the $150,000-added Firecracker Handicap (Grade II), a race Thorn Song won last year.

“He has done well since he returned here and I think he’s still got it,” he said. “He is as good as he has ever been and I think he can put two good ones back to back.”

Romans cited circumstances in the races Thorn Song lost as the major reason for the poor results and the past performance lines bear that out.

In his two 2009 starts before the Shoemaker, Thorn Song had trouble at the break. In his final two starts of 2008, the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) and the River City Handicap (GIII), Thorn Song broke from outside post positions.

Mike Smith will have the mount Saturday and break from post position four in the one-mile Firecracker over the Matt Winn Turf Course. At the mile distance on the grass, Thorn Song has four victories and a third from seven starts.

ST. JOE FINDS HIS CALLING AS TURF SPRINTER – Throughout his three-year racing career, St. Joe has been a bit of a puzzle for trainer Darrin Miller. After Sunday’s 3 ½-length romp on the turf, the guessing game may be over for the Silverton Hill runner.

    “You can take a breath now and not worry how he’ll perform,” Miller said after St. Joe’s second consecutive dazzling performance sprinting five furlongs on the grass.

    On May 31, St. Joe broke in the air and spotted the field a lot of ground in his sprint debut. Under Julien Leparoux, St. Joe circled the field and drew away to win by a length in :56.84. On Sunday, St. Joe stalked the pace, took command leaving the backstretch and coasted home in :56.83.

    “His first win was really good for him,” Miller said. “Sunday, that was more the way that he runs.”

    St. Joe was on the Kentucky Derby trail early last year until a ninth-place finish in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (Grade II) ended the run.

    “When you have a 3-year-old with speed, you have to take a shot to see how far they can carry that speed,” Miller said. “He’s a gelding now, more mature and has really settled down.”

    A winner on closing day, April 24, at Keeneland going seven furlongs on the Polytrack for a $40,000 claiming tag, St. Joe could return to stakes company soon.

    “We are looking at the Arlington Sprint heavily,” Miller said of the $200,000- guaranteed race at 5 ½ furlongs on July 11. “It depends on how he comes back from Sunday.”

AT LAST, THOMAS ENJOYS SOME GOOD FORTUNE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Trainer Gary Thomas still winces every time a video of the 1986 Kentucky Derby shows up.

You remember that race, don’t you? Ferdinand darts through a narrow opening under Bill Shoemaker to give Charlie Whittingham his first Kentucky Derby victory.

The horse Ferdinand beats to the hole is Rampage, trained by Thomas. Stuck behind horses in the stretch, Rampage finally gets clear late to be a fast-closing fourth.

“Every year around the Derby, they show that race and I can’t watch it. It makes me sick,” Thomas said.

However, Dame Fortune finally smiled on Thomas beneath the Twin Spires on Sunday when Thomas won the qualifier for the 2010 National Handicapping Championship on Jan. 29-30 in Las Vegas. Total prize money available in the tournament is $1 million with the winner getting $500,000.

“It is the first time I played in one of those,” Thomas said. “A friend talked me into playing and the first time I played I qualified (for the final round).”

The horse that put Thomas over the top was Knockout Bertie when she won the ninth race and returned a $14 payoff.

“I was third going into the last race, maybe $3 or $4 behind the leader,” said Thomas, who may head to Oklahoma’s Remington Park after the meet closes on Sunday.

Thomas sends his stable to Oaklawn Park for the winter. The 2010 meet will open on Jan. 15, but the barn will have to do without Thomas the third weekend of the meet.

EQUINE HYDROTHERAPY SPA OPEN FOR BUSINESS – What’s new on the backstretch at Churchill Downs? Take a walk down to the Gate 10 side of Barn 45 and in front of Barn 48 and feast your eyes on the Equine Coldwater Hydrotherapy Spa.

    “We are open from 5-11 a.m. and in the afternoon by appointment,” said John Christensen of Honor Roll Racing who installed the appartus. “This is our second one. We have one at Trackside and we will be taking that one to Turf Paradise in the winter.”

    When the “Spa” opened Tuesday morning, trainer D. Wayne Lukas was the first customer with five horses scheduled for treatment.

    “It is a 520-gallon tank with three filters and the water temperature is 34 degrees,” Christensen said. “There are more than 250 pounds of a combination of sea salt and Epsom salt used to go with massage and oxygen. Generally each treatment lasts about 15 minutes.”

    A variety of packages are available according to Christensen.

    “We have a 20-treatment package for $500, which is $25 a treatment,” Christensen said. “Depending on what the trainer needs for a horse, we can do packages of four or six treatments, whatever they require.”

MILESTONE WATCH -- William Connelly, who has 999 career victories, failed to reach the 1,000 mark Wednesday night when Brilliant Bid finished second, beaten a half-length in the fifth race at Indiana Downs. Connelly’s next chance comes Friday when he sends out Knownforstone in the 11th race at Churchill Downs. On Saturday, Connelly will saddle Seaside Princess in the first race at Churchill Downs.

BARN TALK – James Spence’s El Caballo, who figured to be a major player in Saturday’s Firecracker Handicap, was injured during a five-furlong turf work on Tuesday morning. “He has the start of a condylar (fracture) and is out for the year,” trainer Ralph Nicks said.

WORK TAB – Dubai Majesty, winner of the Winning Colors (GIII), worked a half-mile on a fast main track in :49.40, eighth fastest of 24 at the distance. Stablemate Chamberlain Bridge, winner of the Aegon Turf Sprint (GIII), worked a half-mile on firm turf in :53.20.

Zayat Stables’ Thorn Song will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the $150,000-added Firecracker Handicap when he takes on seven rivals in the Grade II, one-mile turf race on Saturday’s Independence Day program at Churchill Downs.

The Firecracker will go as the 10th race on the 11-race holiday card that opens with a first post of 12:45 p.m. (all times EDT). Post time for the Firecracker is 5:29 p.m.

Trained by Dale Romans, Thorn Song went wire to wire on a yielding Matt Winn Turf Course last year in defeating multiple Grade I winner Einstein and three others. The victory was the second in the Firecracker for Romans, who took the race in 2005 with Kitten’s Joy, the Louisville-born trainer’s Eclipse Award turf champion of 2004.

Carrying top weight of 123 pounds, Thorn Song will be ridden by Mike Smith and break from post position four in the 19th running of the Firecracker.  Thorn Song will be conceding from 3-9 pounds to his seven rivals.

Thorn Song has posted a record of 8-2-2 in 20 races with earnings of $1,093,711 since moving to the turf in the summer of 2007. He has won a pair of Grade I turf events since his upset over Einstein in last year’s Firecracker.  He took the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland last fall and won the Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park in his most recent start on May 25.  Smith, who won by the Kentucky Derby (GI) at Churchill Downs aboard Giacomo in 2005, rode Thorn Song for the first time in the Shoemaker.

The second starting high weights at 120 pounds are Circle E Racing’s Mr. Sidney, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, and Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu, who is unbeaten on the Churchill Downs grass course for trainer Greg Fox.

In his most recent turf outing, Mr. Sidney won the Maker’s Mark Mile (Grade I) at Keeneland under Kent Desormeaux, who will ride Saturday.  Mott, the all-time leader in stakes victories at Churchill Downs, won the Firecracker in 1993 with Cleone. 

Tizdejavu returned from a nine-month layoff to win an optional claiming turf test on May 17 and run his record over the Matt Winn Turf Course to 3-for-3. Jon Court has the riding assignment on Tizdejavu who won the American Turf (Grade III) and Jefferson Cup (Grade II) here last spring.  The Tiznow colt also won the American Derby (GII) at Arlington Park and was third to Winchester in the Secretariat (GI) at the Chicago track.

The field for the Firecracker, from the hedge out, is as follows: Inca King (Shaun Bridgmohan, 115 pounds), Seaspeak (Robby Albarado, 118), Wise River (Jamie Theriot, 118), Thorn Song (Mike Smith, 123), Mr. Sidney (Kent Desormeaux, 120), Passager (FR) (Jono Jones, 118), Tizdejavu (Jon Court, 120) and Artic Cry (Corey Lanerie, 114).

LUKAS HALFWAY HOME TO DEBUTANTE-BASHFORD MANOR DOUBLE – Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has now won the Debutante Stakes (GIII) a record seven times and also holds the Bashford Manor (GIII) record with five wins, but he has never swept Churchill Downs’ marquee Spring Meet juvenile events in the same year.

Lukas took the first step toward that double on Saturday when Westrock Stables’ Decelerator posted a gritty neck victory over Wild Forest Cat in the Debutante.

“They are both good this morning,” Lukas said on Sunday, referring to Decelerator and Tidal Pool, who ran fourth in the Debutante in the Westrock silks. “They will both be going to Saratoga.”

Lukas has won five 2-year-old races with four horses this spring. In addition to the two Debutante fillies, Lukas has won races with Westrock runners Soundman and Westrock Gold.  Both colts are being aimed toward Friday’s 108th Bashford Manor.

“They are both doing great and will run,” Lukas said. “Soundman worked Saturday (1:01.80 for five furlongs) and Westrock Gold worked today (half-mile in :48.80).”

Lukas also said that “nothing is on the horizon” for Robert Baker and William Mack’s Flying Private. Sixth in the Belmont Stakes (Grade I) in his most recent start, Flying Private and Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Mine That Bird were the only two horses to run in all three legs of the Triple Crown this spring.

CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN GEARS UP FOR SARATOGA – Away from the hustle and bustle of the Churchill Downs backstretch, Capt. Candyman Can has begun preparations for the second half of 2009 that will open with the $150,000 Amsterdam (Grade II) at 6 ½ furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 3.

    Owned by Joseph Rauch and David Zell, Capt. Candyman Can worked a half-mile in :51.40 over the synthetic Pro-Ride surface on Wednesday at the Skylight Training Center in nearby Goshen.  It was the Candy Ride gelding’s first work since winning the May 16 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs.

    “I just wanted to freshen him up and out there I can turn him out in a paddock for a couple of hours a day,” trainer Ian Wilkes said. “I will probably let him stay out there unless I see a reason to change. He is doing very well out there, but then he does good here too.”

    In addition to the Matt Winn, Capt. Candyman Can won the Iroquois (Grade III) here last fall. This year he has won the Hutcheson (Grade II) at Gulfstream Park and the Bay Shore (Grade III) at Aqueduct. Wilkes plans to ship Capt. Candyman Can to Saratoga on July 19 or 20.

    Also headed to Saratoga that day will be Fleur de Lis (Grade II) winner Miss Isella, who is being pointed to the $300,000 Go For Wand Handicap (Grade I) on Aug. 2.

    Closer on the radar for Wilkes is Saturday’s $200,000 Dwyer (Grade II) at Belmont Park for Warrior’s Reward, runner-up in the Northern Dancer (Grade III) here on June 13. Warrior’s Reward had his first work since the Northern Dancer last Tuesday, a half-mile in :49.

    “He’s doing fine and will work tomorrow morning and fly to Belmont on Tuesday,” Wilkes said of Warrior’s Reward, who also could show up in major Saratoga races in August. “Right now we are just taking it one step at a time.”

DERBY WINNER MINE THAT BIRD SET FOR MONDAY WORK -- Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Mine That Bird is scheduled to work a half-mile Monday morning after the renovation break with jockey Calvin Borel up.

The work will be the first for Mine That Bird since he finished third in the Belmont Stakes (Grade I) on June 6. Trainer Chip Woolley plans to ship Mine That Bird to Mountaineer the third weekend of July in time to get in two breezes over the track in preparation for the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (Grade II).

Mine That Bird went twice around the main track Sunday with exercise rider Rudy Gallegos up.
    
DEFENDING CHAMPION THORN SONG ASSIGNED TOP WEIGHT FOR FIRECRACKER – Zayat Stables’ Thorn Song, winner of the Grade I Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park in his most recent start, was assigned top weight of 123 pounds by Racing Secretary Ben Huffman for Saturday’s 19th running of the $150,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

    Trained by Dale Romans, Thorn Song won last year’s Firecracker under 118 pounds in defeating four rivals that included the favored Einstein.

    Sharing the second high weight of 120 pounds are Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu and Circle E Racing’s Mr. Sidney. Tizdejavu won the American Turf (Grade III) and the Jefferson Cup (Grade II) at Churchill Downs last spring and Mr. Sidney won this spring’s Maker’s Mark Mile (Grade I) at Keeneland. Both runners are considered as possible starters by the Churchill Downs racing office.

    Others considered as probable for the Firecracker are Seaspeak (118), Wise River (118), Wicked Style (115), Artic Cry (114) and Veiled Prophet (113).

    Entries for the Firecracker will be taken Wednesday.

ACOMA ASSIGNED HIGH WEIGHT OF 122 POUNDS FOR CLOSING-DAY LOCUST GROVE HANDICAP – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma, winner of the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (Grade III) in her most recent start, was assigned high weight of 122 pounds for the 28th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (Grade III) to be run on the closing day of the Spring Meet, July 5.

    Trainer David Carroll said Acoma is not expected to run in the Locust Grove.

As of Sunday, Churchill Downs racing officials had five horses considered as probable for the one-mile test on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Among the probables, the top weights at 116 pounds go Kim and John Glenney’s Gloria Goodbody and James Spence’s Tensas Yucatan. Other probables with their weight assignments are Closeout (115), Flaming Slew (114) and Stealin’ Kisses (112).

    Entries for the Locust Grove will be taken Thursday.

BARN TALK – Trainer William “Buff” Bradley said Sunday morning that Brass Hat, owned by his father Fred, would run in Saturday’s $750,000 United Nations Handicap (Grade I) at 1 3/8 miles at Monmouth Park. “He is leaving Tuesday and Stewart Elliott will ride him,” Buff Bradley said. An earner of more than $1.8 million, Brass Hat won the Louisville Handicap (Grade III) in his most recent start on May 23.

     A new face in the barn area is apprentice rider Stephanie Slinger. Agent Steve Elzey has lined up three mounts for Slinger when she makes her Churchill Downs debut on the “Downs After Dark” night racing program on Thursday, July 2.  Slinger will target  Ellis Park and Indiana Downs this summer. “I watched the Kentucky Derby in 1995 with D. Wayne Lukas, Gary Stevens and Thunder Gulch and I decided I wanted to be a jockey,” said Slinger, who was an 8-year-old at the time and living in Detroit. Slinger has galloped horses for trainers such as Lukas, Bobby Frankel, Patrick Biancone and Mike Maker and Sunday morning got on a horse for Tom Bohannan.

     Julien Leparoux rode one winner on Saturday’s card to increase his lead over Calvin Borel in the race for leading rider with five days remaining in the meet to four (57-53). Leparoux is named on eight mounts Sunday and Borel seven. After Sunday, Leparoux will ride only the Thursday and Friday cards. On Saturday, he will be at Arlington Park to ride Informed Decision in the Chicago Handicap (Grade III) and on Sunday he will be at Hollywood Park to ride Magical Affair in the American Oaks (Grade I) and Rebellion in the Triple Bend Handicap (Grade I). Borel will be at Belmont Park on Saturday to ride Warrior’s Reward in the Dwyer Stakes (Grade II).

    Miguel Mena’s four-win day on Saturday boosted his meet total to 38 to move into a tie for third in the standings with Robby Albarado. Three of the victories were for trainer Dale Romans, who now has 12 wins for the meet and 469 total at Churchill Downs … two fewer than D. Wayne Lukas for second all time. Bill Mott is the career win leader at Churchill Downs with 621 victories.    

MILESTONE WATCH -- William Connelly, who has 999 career victories, failed to reach the 1,000 mark Saturday night when Bred to Win finished second in the seventh race at Indiana Downs. Connelly’s next shot at the milestone will come Wednesday night when he sends out Brilliant Bid in the fifth race at Indiana Downs.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Helen Alexander’s Selva, prepping for a run in Saturday’s Grade I Prioress at Belmont Park, worked a half-mile in :49 over a fast track Sunday morning. Team Valor International’s King of the Roxy, away from the races since April 2008, worked a half-mile in :48.20. Mark Stanley’s Swift Temper, runner-up in the Fleur de Lis (Grade II) on June 13, worked a half-mile in :49.40. Don Benge’s Wise River, prepping for Saturday’s Firecracker Handicap, worked a half-mile in :50.60.

LIFELONG RACETRACKER FOLEY ON CUSP OF CHURCHILL MILESTONE – The question brought a chuckle from trainer Greg Foley.

“The first time my dad brought me to the race track? I guess I was 3 or 4,” the 51-year-old Foley said. “When I was 5 or 6, I was walking hots.”

The son of trainer Dravo Foley, Greg Foley enters Thursday’s card with 299 career victories beneath the Twin Spires and he has two horses entered on Thursday’s card in his bid to become the 12th trainer to achieve 300 victories at Churchill Downs.

Foley was 23 when he won his first race at Churchill Downs during the 1981 Spring Meet and he won his only training title here in the 1991 Spring Meet when he saddled 17 winners. All of his early hands-on experience was learned in his father’s barn.    “Take care of the horse first. He drilled that in me from the word ‘go,’ ” Foley said of the best advice he received from his father. “There are no shortcuts when it comes to taking care of horses. Have them fit before they run and keep them happy.”

The best horse Foley had was Champali, who accounted for three of the four stakes Foley has accrued at Churchill Downs. Champali won the 2002 Iroquois (Grade III), 2003 Northern Dancer and the 2004 Aristides (GIII), the latter in a 4-year-old campaign that took Foley to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) at Lone Star Park.  Champali finished seventh in that race.

In his barn today, Foley cares for six offspring of Champali.

“I have three 2-year-olds and three 3-year-olds by Champali.” Foley said. “They are all sound horses and I have won some races with them. He was like that and a very easy horse to train.”

Foley’s first shot at 300 will come in the fifth race with Izzy Ali, a 3-year-old son of Champali. He also will send out Lil’ Moor Dixie in the seventh.

“I hadn’t really thought much about it (300 wins), but not a lot of guys have done that and it would be pretty neat,” Foley said. “This has been our home track, so it would be special.”

Foley could become the fourth trainer to reach the 300-win milestone this meet, joining Tom Amoss, Lynn Whiting and David Vance.

DEFENDING CHAMPION THORN SONG TOPS LIST OF FIRECRACKER NOMINATIONS – Zayat Stables’ Thorn Song, winner of the 2008 Firecracker Handicap (Grade II), headlines a list of 43 nominees for the 19th running of the $150,000-added one-mile test scheduled for July 4 over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

    Trained by Dale Romans, who also won the Firecracker in 2005 with Kitten’s Joy, Thorn Song showed a return to top form by getting his second Grade I victory in his most recent start, the Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park on May 25. In addition to the Firecracker, Thorn Song also won the Shadwell Turf Mile (Grade I) last fall at Keeneland.

    Thorn Song worked five furlongs on the firm turf Thursday morning in 1:01.40 around the “dogs.”
The only other Grade I winner among the nominees is Circle E Racing’s Mr. Sidney, who captured the Maker’s Mark Mile this spring at Keeneland for trainer Bill Mott.

    Also included among the nominees are three horses who have enjoyed considerable success over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

    Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Inca King has won three stakes on the grass here, the Opening Verse in 2008, the Commonwealth Turf and the Grade II Jefferson Cup in 2007; Chrysalis Stables’ Silverfoot, a three-time Louisville Handicap (Grade III) winner who is 5-for-7 over the Matt Winn Turf Course; and, Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu, 3-for-3 on the course including victories in the American Turf (Grade III) and Jefferson Cup in 2008.

    Weights for the Firecracker will be released on Saturday.

CLOSING-DAY LOCUST GROVE ATTRACTS 33 NOMINATIONS – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma, winner of the Early Times Mint Julep (Grade III) on June 6, tops a list of 33 nominations for the 28th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (Grade III).

    The Locust Grove, for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course, serves as the centerpiece of the closing-day program on July 5.

    Trained by David Carroll, Acoma added the Mint Julep score to her victory in last fall’s Grade II Mrs. Revere on the turf. Acoma is 4-for-4 overall at Churchill Downs and undefeated in six starts in the state of Kentucky.

    Two of the fillies who chased Acoma in the Mint Julep are included in the Locust Grove nominees.
 Darley Stable’s Tizaqueena finished third to Acoma, but earlier in the meet won the Grade II Distaff Turf Mile here. Glen Hill Farm’s Closeout was fifth in the Mint Julep in her 2009 debut off a nearly eight-month layoff.

James Barry’s Genuine Devotion (IRE) won the 2008 Locust Grove in the first running of the race at the mile distance on the turf.

Weights for the Locust Grove will be announced Sunday.

TWENTY 2-YEAR-OLDS NOMINATED TO BASHFORD MANOR – Fillies have won the $100,000-added Bashford Manor (Grade III) three times and two 2-year-old fillies have been nominated to this year’s edition, which will be run on July 3.

    Fiesty Ex and Kinsolving, both from the Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, are among the four nominees for trainer Steve Asmussen to the six-furlong event at on the main track. Asmussen, who has won the Bashford Manor twice, also nominated Grand Slam Andre and Western Smoke, both owned by J. Kirk Robison.

    Fiesty Ex broke her maiden at first asking on April 30 and Kinsolving finished sixth the same day in the Kentucky Juvenile (Grade III) after winning her April 17 debut at Keeneland.  Kinsolving is entered in Saturday’s Debutante (Grade III) for fillies.

Western Smoke was fourth in the Kentucky Juvenile and recently finished second to fellow Bashford Manor nominee Brassy Boy in a June 11 allowance race here. Grand Slam Andre broke his maiden in his second try in winning by 7 ¾ lengths on June 4.

    Other first-time maiden special weight winners nominated to the Bashford Manor are Gold Mark Farm’s Backtalk, a half-brother to graded stakes winner Bsharpsonata, and Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Satisfied Mind, who is trained by Wesley Ward.

Ward saddled the 1-2 finishers, Aegean and Jealous Again, in the Kentucky Juvenile. He took those fillies to England last week and each scored victories in stakes races at the famed Royal Ascot meet.
    Fillies to win the Bashford Manor are Miss Patience (1933), Royal Pam (1938) and Miss Ra He Ra (1993). The race was open to fillies from 1932-38 and reopened to both sexes in 1989.

BARN TALK – Woodford Racing LLC’s Manners became the first offspring of Rock Hard Ten to reach the races when the 2-year-old filly ran 10th in Sunday’s eighth race. Rock Hard Ten, who retired from racing in 2005 with a record of 11-7-1-1 with earnings of $1,870,380, did not have enough graded stakes earnings to make the 2004 Kentucky Derby, a race won by Smarty Jones. Rock Hard Ten ran second to Smarty Jones in the Preakness and concluded his career with five graded stakes victories including Grade I scores in the Malibu and Santa Anita Handicap.

    Entering the final eight days of the meet, Julien Leparoux has a 55-51 advantage on Calvin Borel in the chase for leading rider. Leparoux has five mounts and Borel six on Thursday’s card. Leparoux has won four riding titles at Churchill Downs and Borel two. Both riders will be out of town for part of the weekend and miss one program: Leparoux rides Friday night at Prairie Meadows on Nursery Rhyme in the Saylorville Stakes and Moonport in the Iowa Derby, both for trainer Ian Wilkes. Borel, who is named on 10 mounts Friday night, will be at Belmont Park on Saturday to ride Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) and Preakness (Grade I) winner Rachel Alexandra in the Grade I Mother Goose. Other Churchill Downs regulars riding Friday night at Prairie Meadows are Robby Albarado, Miguel Mena and Shaun Bridgmohan. Leparoux and Albarado will return to Iowa on Saturday night for stakes engagements after riding at Churchill Downs that afternoon.

MILESTONE WATCH – Churchill Downs-based trainer William Connelly moved closer to the 1,000-victory plateau on Monday night when Just Memories gave him win No. 999. Just Memories, a 3-year-old filly, broke her maiden in a five-furlong turf sprint in the second race at Indiana Downs. Connelly can hit the milestone on Thursday’s card when he sends out Hungry Tigress in the eighth race.

Matthew Garretson’s Einstein (BRZ), ridden by Julien Leparoux, outdueled Cowboy Cal by a head to become the first repeat winner of the $557,600 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Grade I) on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Helen Pitts-Blasi, Einstein added Saturday’s Grade I victory over the Matt Winn Turf Course to a triumph in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on Pro-Ride on March 7. Last year, Einstein won the Grade II Clark Handicap on dirt at Churchill Downs and ran second in the Grade I Stephen Foster on dirt to Horse of the Year Curlin.

Thorn Song, with Kent Desormeaux aboard, led the field through fractions of :23.87, :48.40 and 1:12.34 with Cowboy Cal and John Velazquez in closest attendance. Leparoux had Einstein in a ground-saving position another couple of lengths back.

Turning for home, Cowboy Cal collared Thorn Song but Einstein was right on his right flank and the two raced to the wire as a team with Einstein pulling clear in the final yards.

Einstein covered the mile and one-eighth on a “good” Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:49.62.

The victory in the 23rd running of the Woodford Reserve was worth $331,884 and increased Einstein’s earnings to $2,609,904. Einstein a 7-year-old son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck, has won 11 of 25 career starts, seven of the triumphs coming on turf.

Einstein, the favorite in the field of nine, returned $5.60, $3.60 and $2.80. Cowboy Cal returned $7 and $3.80 in finishing 2 ¾ lengths ahead of Court Vision, who paid $3.60 to show under Ramon Dominguez.

WOODFORD RESERVE TURF CLASSIC QUOTES

JULIEN LEPAROUX (rider of winner Einstein) – “I think it went pretty good. He’s a fighter, he always tries, but you can tell he was not as comfortable on turf as he is on PolyTrack or probably on firm turf, too. We got a good trip. We got an inside trip and we saved ground. The only time I really had to work was at the three-eighths pole: I had to make my way out, but after that we got a good trip everywhere.

“The second horse [Cowboy Cal] is a nice horse too, he’s won stakes in California, so we beat a nice horse today. But Einstein’s a fighter and he didn’t want to let it go. He likes the dirt: he won a Grade II on it, especially at Churchill he loves the dirt. He really liked the PolyTrack actually. I never rode him on the firm turf, but I’m sure he’ll do really good, too.”

HELEN PITTS-BLASI (Trainer of winner Einstein) – “I was worried about the soft turf. He doesn’t care what he runs on, he’ll always give you his best anyway. Is he as good as some horses on soft turf? No, but he’ll still give you 110 percent. And that got him through today. I was very worried during the race. They swung him wide turning for home, and I thought the horses up the inside would be toughest. But Cowboy Cal was on my inside and got the jump on me, and that’s what I was worried about. Cowboy Cal was better today than he was in California, and at the sixteenth pole I was worried. I’m not saying he wasn’t trying, but Cowboy Cal got the jump on him. But my man dug deep today.

“I’m not going to say he’s the best horse in the country. I’ll let you know on Nov. 6. The Breeders’ Cup Classic is a possibility. He loved that track at Santa Anita, and with the Breeders’ Cup being there, it’s worth a shot. I was very proud of him today. He’s a special animal.”

JOHN VELAZQUEZ (rider of second-place finisher Cowboy Cal) -- “I couldn’t ask for much more. Everything was perfect but winning. That’s about it. He ran great but a better horse beat me today. (On if he saw Einstein closing) “I saw him the whole way. That sucker (Einstein) kept running. I couldn’t believe it."

TODD PLETCHER (trainer of second-place finisher Cowboy Cal) -- “He ran great and we lost a very tough head-bob to an excellent horse. He’s a pretty solid performer on all three surfaces -- turf, dirt and synthetic -- so we’ll just see what races come up. It’s a plus that he’s so versatile.”

RAMON DOMINGUEZ (rider of third-place finisher Court Vision) -- “I was pleased with the way he ran. I got excited at the eighth pole. I thought he was going to continue his momentum and maybe get there but the others horses kept opening up on me and I had to settle for third.”

BILL MOTT (trainer of third-place finisher Court Vision) -- “We were right in it with a shot; he ran well. He made a run and then got a little flat on us the last 70 yards.”

 

GARRETT GOMEZ (rider of fourth-place finisher Zambezi Sun) – “He was going fine until we hit the far turn. Then he was wanting to get out on me bad. Bobby (trainer Robert Frankel) had put a new bridle on him and everything, but it still didn’t help. I don’t know if these left-handed turns throw him off or what, but we were fine until that turn – right where we wanted to be. Then he started to crank his head all over the place.”

 

KENT DESORMEAUX  (rider of fifth-place finisher Thorn Song) – “He felt like a million. He ran great.”

 

VICTOR ESPINOZA (rider of sixth-place finisher Proudinsky) – “Everything went right. I got through all the way. I just didn’t have enough horse to finish.”

(November 22, 2008) – Green Lantern Stables’ Karelian and Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation hit the finish line together and dead-heated Saturday in the 32nd running of the $114,400 River City Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

            Karelian, carrying 119 pounds and ridden by Bill Troilo, swept past favored Thorn Song in the upper stretch and appeared on his way to victory until Demarcation, carrying 117 pounds with Jesus Castanon up, came charging late.

Demarcation appeared to have the edge a jump from the wire, but a final lunge by Karelian created the dead heat, the first in the history of the race. The victory was the first graded stakes victory for Troilo and initial stakes win at Churchill Downs.

The dead heat to win was the first in a stakes race at Churchill Downs since the 2002 Louisville Handicap (GIII) with Pisces and Classic Par.

Karelian, trained by Rusty Arnold, returned payoffs of $6.80, $6.80 and $4.80. Demarcation, trained by Paul McGee, rewarded his backers with mutuels of $30.40, $25.40 and $14.20. Finishing another 1 ½ lengths back in third was Telling, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, who paid $10.60 to show.

Time for the 1 1/8 miles over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course was 1:50.06.

The winners received $44,090 each. Karelian, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Bertrando, won for the eighth time in 16 starts and increased his bankroll to $347,548. Demarcation, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Gulch, won for the sixth time in 19 starts and hiked his earnings to $266,833.

Completing the field of 11 in order were Star Plus, Just as Well, Steve’s Double, Pleasant Strike, Thorn Song, Yate’s Black Cat, Mr. Sidney and Canela.  

In the race preceding the River City, Maggi Moss’ Native Ruler benefited from a speed duel between favorites Kelly’s Landing and Euroears and swept to a 4 ¼-length victory in the $55,150 Bet On Sunshine overnight handicap.

             Ridden by Jamie Theriot and trained by Chris Richard, Native Ruler completed the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:08.91 for his eighth victory in 20 starts.

            Euroears, who entered the race undefeated in six career starts, and the millionaire Kelly’s Landing dueled through the first quarter of a mile in :21.81 and the half in :44.83 with Native Ruler rating back in third place. Native Ruler collared the pacesetters at the quarter pole and drew clear to easily hold off a late bid by Vicarian.

            Native Ruler paid $10, $5.40 and $3.80. Vicarian, ridden by Robby Albarado, returned $6.20 and $4 with Success Success, another 1 ¼ lengths back under Jesus Castanon, returning $4.80 to show. Euroears finished fifth and Kelly’s Landing last in the field of seven.

            The winner’s share of $35,546 raised Native Ruler’s earnings to $268,011. Native Ruler is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Elusive Quality out of the Dixieland Band mare Tajannub.

            “I had a perfect trip,” Theriot said. “There was plenty of pace in the race. I got a good break and he stalked on the outside. I pushed the button at the quarter pole and he took off.”

Live racing continues Sunday at Churchill Downs with a 10-race program that begins at 12:40 p.m. Only five racing dates remain at the 2008 Fall Meet.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE RIVER CITY HANDICAP

BILL TROILO (Jockey, KARELIAN, dead-heat winner) – “That’s a great pickup mount (scheduled jockey Calvin Borel took off mounts Saturday because of illness). Unfortunately, sometimes we benefit from other people’s misfortunes. Calvin was sick today and it was just unfortunate that he wasn’t on him, but I’m happy for myself.

“That was my first stakes win at Churchill and a lot of seconds and thirds. In fact, this was my first graded stakes win, too. I’ve had [2,455] wins [in 19,933 mounts since 1982] and this was my first graded win. It’s just the way it goes.”

Q: How was the trip?

“He was pretty fresh going into the first turn but he settled nice. I tracked [Thorn Song]. By the time I caught him turning for home, Robby [Albarado] hollered over that he was out of horse. I kind of went on. When I got after him, he was getting a little lazy on me because when [Demarcation] caught us right at the wire he opened again. I think if that horse would have come to me sooner, I think he would have drawn back away from him. It was just unfortunate that he caught me right at the wire.”

Q: Did you think you won the race?

“My honest option is that I thought we got beat. He was outside and, at the time, his horse’s head was in front of me. But my horse had his head down again and I guess that’s what saved us.”

Q: I take it that you’re happy with the dead heat?

“I’m thrilled to death! I galloped out thinking I got beat. This is a gift.”

Q: Is this one of your most exciting victories?

“It’s one of them. I’ve won a few hundred thousand and hundred-and-fifty thousand [dollar] stakes and they’ve been just as exciting. But any time you win a race like this it’s always exciting.

RUSTY ARNOLD (Trainer, KARELIAN, dead-heat winner) – “It’s better than getting beat because I thought he got beat when they hit the wire. We got forced and then [Demarcation] got to us and we got all the head-bob. That’s what it looked like to me. [Demarcation] was definitely in front at the wire. So as it turned out, I was rooting for a dead heat. I knew it was close.”

Q: You liked your horse going into this race, didn’t you?

“I loved my horse. I was shocked that they made [Mr. Sidney] the favorite in the paddock. (Note: Thorn Song was the 5-2 post-time favorite and Mr. Sidney closed as the 7-2 second choice). I was absolutely shocked. I mean my horse, when he’s sound, he’s such a good horse. He’s won half of his starts. He doesn’t run but twice a year, but he’s won half of his starts. He got an awful trip in the Shadwell [Turf Mile at Keeneland] and got beat two lengths. It was not an awful ride, it was an awful trip and just one of those things. He had the 11-hole and we got over and got in trouble. He’s a really, really nice horse. So I did like him.”

Q: What are some of the issues you’ve had to deal with?

“He’s just had a lot of problems. Look at him: he’s got a line drawn about every two or three races. He’s never been beat at Churchill Downs and he probably doesn’t want to go a mile-and-an-eighth. It was a big win for him.”

Q: What about Bill Troilo?

“Billy started with my dad. So I’m happy for him. . . .Billy galloped Wavering Monarch for me in 1982. We go back.” (Note: Wavering Monarch won six of 13 starts and $466,773 including the 1982 Jefferson Cup by seven lengths. He also was 12th in the 1982 Kentucky Derby).

Q: Did you prepare the horse any differently for this race?

“He trained terrific going into this race as he has all year. In his first start back this year he beat Lewis Michael. I know it was an ungraded race but he beat Lewis Michael. It was a great race and then he had the Shadwell which was still another good race and again today. He doesn’t run bad if you look at his form. He never runs bad. He gets hurt but he doesn’t run bad.

Q: Will he run next year?

“He’s a gelding. Until he can’t make a comeback, he’ll be training.”

JESUS CASTANON (jockey, DEMARCATION, dead-heat winner) – “I really thought I got him on the wire.  But as soon as we got close to the wire my horse was kind of like coming back and his horse was dropping his head, so that’s what happened.”

            “I had a little trouble down the lane.  The horse that was in front of me drifted out a little down the lane, and I had to take him to the outside and that probably took a little away from him.  But he ran big.”

PAUL McGEE (trainer, DEMARCATION, dead-heat winner)

“He’s a consistent horse.  He’s been running well.  He ran well in the graded Sea O’ Erin (at Arlington Park) and was a good third behind Thorn Song at the Spring Meet.  He’s been a very consistent, hard-running horse all along.  It surprised me he was that big of a price today.

            “He has won sprinting on the dirt and won on Polytrack, so he’s won on all the surfaces.”

Q: This is fresh now, but what are your thoughts on options now…

“He’ll probably run in something at the Fair Grounds.  He’ll go to the Fair Grounds.”

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN (jockey, TELLING, third)

“I thought he ran very well.  I thought we had a shot at the top of the stretch.  He gave me a nice little acceleration coming off the turn and I thought we were in a good spot, but the top two ran pretty hard.”

DALE ROMANS (trainer, THORN SONG, eighth as the favorite)

“I don’t know what happened.  There’s not much to say about it.  He was in position, but didn’t have the finish he needed.”

Q: Was the outside post a concern going in?

“Not really – I can’t blame it.  Robby [Albarado] had him over in the three-path on the first turn.  I think he might be a little tired.  It’s been a long campaign for him and he’s had a good year.  He might need a little rest.”

ROBBY ALBARADO (jockey, THORN SONG, eighth as the favorite)

“I had him in what I thought was a good spot, but when I asked him he just didn’t respond.  I’m not sure what it was.  Maybe he’s telling us something.  It’s been a long year and maybe he needs a rest.  But he’s had a great year.”

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE BET ON SUNSHINE HANDICAP

JAMIE THERIOT (Jockey, NATIVE RULER, winner) – “I had a perfect trip. There was plenty of pace in the race. I got a good break and he stalked on the outside. I pushed the button at the quarter pole and he took off.”

Q: Is he just a better horse on dirt rather than turf or the synthetic surfaces?

“He is, I think. I’ve never ridden him on turf or Polytrack, but his numbers are nothing close to what he does on the dirt. He looks like he’s a better horse on the main track. The horse is really good right now and doing everything right. He moved forward from his last start and he’s just doing really good right now.”

- END -

IS EIGHT ENOUGH FOR CANELA UNDER THE TWIN SPIRES? - Canela will attempt to become the first horse since 1976 to have won nine races at Churchill Downs when he starts in Saturday's $100,000-added River City Handicap (GIII).

    According to Equibase Company LLC, horse racing's official statistical database, only six horses have won eight career races under the Twin Spires since 1976, which is the first year detailed information was gathered.

            Now trained by Mike Maker, who claimed Canela for $25,000 on May 7 this year for Scarlet Stable (Rose Barney),  Canela has made 13 of his 41 starts at Churchill Downs with eight victories, one second, one third and two fourth-place finishes. A 5-year-old son of El Corredor, Canela has won four races on the main track and is a perfect four-for-four on the Matt Winn Turf Course over which the River City will be run.

            "I had always been a big fan of his when he was running starter/allowance races," said Maker, who has seen Canela win all three times he has started him at Churchill Downs. "Plus, he is a great-looking  horse and he had been running well going a mile and a quarter even though it wasn't against the same level that he'll be facing (Saturday)."

            Canela started his career with trainer Paul McGee, who also trained one of Churchill Downs' eight-race winners: Bet On Sunshine, who ran here from 1995-2002 and at age nine in 2001 won the Grade III Aristides to become the oldest graded-stakes winner in track history.

            "We bought him as a yearling and as a two-year-old he hadn't shown much in straight maiden races," McGee said of Canela. "He broke his maiden for $7,500 at Turfway. He had started up the ladder and won a non-winners of two for $20,000, but he got claimed off me and then (Tom) Amoss got him."

            Wilson Vittur had Canela for one race before Amoss got him for owner Maggi Moss. Canela raced 22 times for Amoss, winning 10 times, before being claimed by Maker for $25,000 on May 7 this year.

            "He had a throat obstruction as a two-year-old, but we didn't do the surgery then," McGee said. "That probably affected him early on."

            More than two years after losing Canela, did McGee ever think Canela would be mentioned in a same sentence with Bet On Sunshine, a horse he calls one of the top three he has ever trained along with Suave and Honor In War?

            "Probably not," McGee said with a laugh. "I didn't like losing him. I had a feeling he was going to go up and he turned out to be a nice horse."

            In the race before the River City on Saturday, Churchill Downs will offer the $56,000-added Bet On Sunshine, an overnight handicap for sprinters going six furlongs.

            McGee will be represented in that with Success Success, owned by David Holloway, who also owned Bet On Sunshine.

The other local eight-win horses are Athenium (1991-94), Crown Lease (1991-95), Lord Rusty (1993-2000) and Maxxed (1995-98). Eleven others had won seven races.

COMMENTATOR WORKS HALF-MILE IN TUNEUP FOR CLARK HANDICAP - Tracy Farmer's Commentator, who figures to be the favorite for the Nov. 28 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII), tuned up for the 1 1/8-mile $400,000-added event by working a half-mile in :48.60 over a fast track with Julien Leparoux up.

            "I liked the way he worked this morning," trainer Nick Zito said. "He finished up strong and galloped out strong. Julien is a good horseman and the work went perfect."

            It was Commentator's first work at Churchill Downs and fifth since winning the Sept. 20 Massachusetts Handicap in his most recent start. The other works had come at Saratoga. John Velazquez, who has ridden Commentator to four wins and a second in five 2008 starts, is scheduled to ride in the Clark.

            Also working Thursday morning for Zito was Four Roses Thoroughbreds' Anak Nakal, who worked a half-mile in :49.80.

            "There's an outside chance Anak Nakal could run in the Clark," Zito said. "I have to talk it over with Mr. (Kassem) Masri, but this is a horse that was third in the Belmont (GI), won the Pennsylvania Derby (GII) and was second in the Meadowlands Cup (GII) in his last start. Plus, he won the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) here last fall, so we know he likes this track."

            In addition to Commentator and possibly Anak Nakal, the possible field for the Clark also includes Hobeau Farm's Delightful Kiss; The Big Stable's Delosvientos; Silverton Hill Farm's Dominican; Elisabeth Alexander's Magna Graduate; and World Thoroughbred Racing's Wayzata Bay.

            Weights for the Clark will be released Friday.

INDYGO MOUNTAIN MAKES WAIT WORTHWHILE FOR THERIOT - One of the most impressive victories by a 2-year-old at the current meet came in Wednesday's 10^th race when Clarence Scharbauer's Indygo Mountain romped to a 6 ¼-length score in 1:35.54 going a mile under Jamie Theriot. It was the second start for Indygo Mountain, who had debuted with a second-place effort at Keeneland on Oct. 15 under E.T. Baird.

            "I had been working him for about six months and I knew what kind of horse he was," Theriot said. "But the day he ran over there was the day I took off for surgery. He was like 12-1 on the morning line and I knew he was live."

            Theriot had been injured in a spill on Oct. 3 and had oral surgery on Oct. 14 and was forced to sit out the day after the procedure to recover. Wednesday's performance undoubtably eased any remaining pain, not to mention help cover the bill.

            "He is the total package people are looking for," Theriot said. "His muscle tone, his pedigree (A.P. Indy out of a Mountain Cat mare) and turn of foot. If he stays sound, people will hear from him. He could easily be a (Kentucky) Derby horse."

            It has been more than 20 years since Scharbauer has been in the Kentucky Derby picture as his late wife Dorothy and daughter Pam owned 1987 winner Alysheba. Trainer Bret Calhoun never has had a Derby starter.

            "Bret was thrilled and the owner was very happy with his race," said Dennis "Peaches" Geier, Calhoun's assistant at Churchill Downs. "That was a good race that he came out of at Keeneland and a lot of those horses have come back and run well."

            Indygo Mountain was a $600,000 yearling purchase last year by Scharbauer, who also paid $700,000 for Silver City, a maiden winner last month at Keeneland who is scheduled to run here next weekend.

            "We will see what happens with Indygo Mountain," Geier said. "He will go to the Fair Grounds and usually with Bret he likes to look at nonwinners of two lifetime or an AE/other than. I know this one (Indygo Mountain) can run long; I'm not sure yet about Silver City. You've got to make him do it. We are looking at a 6 ½ (furlong) race for him closing day."

BARN TALK - Trainer Ken McPeek was beaming Thursday morning, a day after first-time starter Danger to Society won a mile maiden event for 2-year-olds by 1 ½ lengths in 1:36.13 for owner Lansdon Robbins III. "I'm going to talk it over with the owner," McPeek said of the colt's next start. "I was really happy for Lansdon because he has put a lot of money into the game and he deserves a good horse." Danger to Society, a $300,000 yearling purchase, is a son of 2002 Kentucky Derby favorite Harlan's Holiday, who was trained by McPeek. "The thing I liked is that he is the third Harlan's Holiday to win this meet," McPeek said. "There was Lady On Holiday and The Right Face, and the horse that ran third in the same race (Saratoga Sinner) is a Harlan's Holiday." ...  Six horses are considered as "probable" by Churchill Downs racing officials for next Thursday's 94^th running of the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII). The sextet includes Pin Oak Stable's Brownie Points; Glencrest Farm's Devil House; Talley Racing's Initforthekandy; Stronach Stable's Spring Waltz; Mark Stanley's Swift Temper and Robert Adams' Unforgotten. Weights for the Falls City will be announced Friday. ... Calvin Borel is one of the five finalists for Santa Anita's 60^th George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award.  The award, which is voted on by their fellow riders, honors and recognizes riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing. Other finalists for the award are Gary Baze, Javier Castellano, David Flores and John Velazquez. The winner will be announced in January. ... Julien Leparoux rode two winners Wednesday to reach 40 for the meet. He is the first rider to reach 40 wins at a Fall Meet since Pat Day rode 41 in the 27-day meet of 2003. With eight racing days left in the 26-day meet, Leparoux remains on pace to break Day's Fall Meet record of 55 set in 1985 over a 30-day meet. Robby Albarado, who won the Spring Meet title, added four victories to his Fall total Wednesday to stand at 31.

WORK TAB - Mark Stanley's Swift Temper, third in the Grade II Chilukki in her most recent start, tuned up for an anticipated run in the Thanksgiving Day Falls City Handicap (GII) by working five furlongs over a fast track in 1:01.80 on Thursday morning for trainer Dale Romans. ... Robert LaPenta's Da' Tara, winner of the 2008 Belmont Stakes (GI), worked a half-mile in :49.80 for trainer Nick Zito. ... Haras Santa Maria de Araras' Scolara, third in the Mrs. Revere (GII) in her most recent start, worked a half-mile in :48.20 for trainer Bill Mott. ... Zayat Stables' Thorn Song, the Romans-trained defending winner and likely favorite for Saturday's River City Handicap (GIII), worked on Wednesday.   The half-mile breeze in :48.20 was the only recorded work of the morning and came just before the track closed at 10 a.m.  The Wednesday work schedule was limited because the track was frozen through most of the morning.

TWO CANNED GOODS WILL GET YOU FREE ADMISSION NOV. 21-23 - Churchill Downs will offer free general admission Nov. 21-23 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.

FINAL FRIDAY HAPPY HOURS OF THE MEET - The final "Friday Happy Hours" of the 2008 Fall Meet are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 21. The New Orleans-themed event features $2 Budweiser Select, $2 hurricanes, $2 Fischer's hot dogs and live jazz music by Hambone in the upper Jockey Club's paddock balcony area from 3-5 p.m.   

KENT DESORMEAUX GLASS GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY - The week's promotional calendar is highlighted by the last of three collectable hurricane glass giveaways that salute popular Cajun jockeys who ride at Churchill Downs. A Kent Desormeaux glass, sponsored by Kentucky Derby Party, will be given away to the first 5,000 paid and pre-paid admissions (includes patrons who bring two canned goods for admission in conjunction with the Kentucky Harvest Thanksgiving Food Drive) on Saturday, Nov. 22.

            Fans who receive the glass can come back to Churchill Downs on Sunday, Nov. 23 for an autograph session with Desormeaux on the second floor of the clubhouse.

            A glass depicting Calvin Borel, sponsored by Thorntons, was given away Nov. 8. A Robby Albarado glass, presented by GE, was given away Nov. 15.

JOCKEY TALK ON SATURDAY - Every Saturday during the Fall Meet, members of Churchill Downs jockey colony will be on hand for a meet and greet with the fans in the paddock area between 11:30 a.m. and noon. This Saturday's jockeys for "Jockey Talk" will be announced Friday.

JUNIOR JOCKEY CLUB WEEKEND ACTIVITIES - Crafts to create a Thanksgiving Banner of Blessings and special tours of the paddock highlight this weekend's activities at Churchill Downs' Junior Jockey Club located near the Guest Services Booth inside Gate. 10. Coloring books, crayons, individual games and reading material are available as well, and Churchill Downs' mascot Churchill Charlie will be on hand both Saturday and Sunday for photographs between 1-1:30 p.m.

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.

(November 19, 2008) – Zayat Stables’ Thorn Song will face 10 rivals Saturday as he shoots for consecutive victories in the $100,000-added River City Handicap (Grade III) to be run at a mile and one-eighth over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            Trained by Dale Romans, Thorn Song will have to overcome the outside No. 11 post position if he is to join Same Old Wish (1996-97) and Dr. Kashnikow (2001-02) as a repeat winner of the River City. Thorn Song will be ridden by Robby Albarado and carry high weight of 122 pounds, conceding three-to-nine pounds to his rivals.

            Winner of the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland in October as well as the Grade II Firecracker Handicap over the Matt Winn Turf Course in July, Thorn Song enters the River City off a ninth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) at Santa Anita.

            Two other River City starters have stakes victories in 2008, although none is of the graded variety.

            Oxbow Racing’s Steve Double, trained by Ronny Werner, has won the Remington Green at Remington Park and the Unbridled Handicap at Louisiana Downs in his two most recent starts and ran third to Thorn Song in the Firecracker. Steve’s Double will be ridden by Jamie Theriot and carry 117 pounds.

            Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation took the Franklin-Simpson at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 15 for trainer Paul McGee. Jesus Castanon will ride Demarcation, who carries 117 pounds.

The field for the 32nd running of the River City (Race 9 at approximately 4:37 p.m. ET), from the hedge out: Yate’s Black Cat (Miguel Mena, 119 pounds), Mr. Sidney (John Velazquez, 113), Star Plus (ARG) (Kent Desormeaux, 116), Pleasant Strike (Chris DeCarlo, 115), Karelian (Calvin Borel, 119), Just As Well (E.T. Baird, 113), Telling (Shaun Bridgmohan, 117), Demarcation (Jesus Castanon, 117), Canela (Julien Leparoux, 115), Steve’s Double (Jamie Theriot, 117) and Thorn Song (Robby Albarado, 122).

Also on Saturday’s card will be the $56,000-added Bet On Sunshine (Race 8 at approximately 4:06 p.m. ET), an overnight handicap at six furlongs on the main track that drew a field of eight sprinters.

High weights Kelly’s Landing (123 pounds under Julien Leparoux) and the undefeated Euroears (120 pounds with Miguel Mena up), will start side by side, breaking from post positions two and three, respectively.

Kelly’s Landing, owned by Summerplace Farm, won the 2005 Aristides (GIII) here and also took the 2007 Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI). He returned to the races on Oct. 17 after a 4 ½-month layoff to win a six-furlong allowance sprint at Keeneland in his most recent start for trainer Eddie Kenneally.

Euroears, owned by Marilyn and James Helzer, has won all six of his career starts for trainer Bret Calhoun. Euroears, who suffered a non-displaced condylar fracture of his right hind leg in late March, has not raced since winning the Duncan Kenner Stakes on March 8 at Fair Grounds.

The field for the Bet On Sunshine, from the rail out: Native Ruler (Jamie Theriot, 116 pounds), Kelly’s Landing (Julien Leparoux, 123), Euroears (Miguel Mena, 120), Godolphin Gray (Aldo Canchano, 110), Success Success (Jesus Castanon, 116), Junior College (Hector Rosario Jr., 117), High Expectations (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118) and Vicarian (Calvin Borel, 116).

First post for Saturday’s 10-race card is 12:40 p.m. ET. The first 5,000 paid and pre-paid admissions will receive a free collectable hurricane glass, courtesy of Kentucky Derby Party, that salutes Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Also, Churchill Downs will offer free general admission Nov. 21-23 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.

Grandstand gates open Saturday at 11 a.m.

- END -

INDESCRIBABLE PASSES YIELDING TURF TEST IN CARDINAL - Kenny McCarthy, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, reported that Courtlandt Farms' Indescribable came out of her stirring victory in Saturday's Grade III Cardinal Handicap in good order and would be headed to Florida at the end of the month.

            The head victory over George Strawbridge's Long Approach came in Indescribable's first race over a turf course that was less than firm.

            "The only question we had was whether she would handle the yielding ground," McCarthy said. "We were kind of hoping it would come off (the turf) because she would be strong on the dirt."

            But McCarthy's worries were quickly dissipated.

            "Ninety-nine percent of the time in the first sixteenth of a mile you can tell if they are comfortable with it," McCarthy said. "The first time by she was into the bit and I could tell she was OK with it."

            The victory, which was the second in two days for the barn, raised Mott's record victory total at Churchill Downs to 594. The 600-win plateau is within reach with 10 racing programs remaining in the Fall Meet that concludes Nov. 29.

            "I might retire at 600," McCarthy said with a laugh.

EINSTEIN STEPS OUT ON SLOPPY TRACK - Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) winner Einstein worked five furlongs in 1:03.80 over a sloppy track after Sunday's renovation break with trainer Helen Pitts up.

            "It was a little slower than I liked, but maybe I was being cautious because of the track," Pitts said. "He worked good. I know he is feeling good."

            Pitts had said last week that she would let Einstein "tell me" if he would make his return to the races in the Nov. 28 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII).

            What was Einstein saying on a raw Sunday morning?

            "We still have two weeks (until the Clark)," Pitts said. "I will know more next week after he works again. He'll work Sunday, but I will keep an eye on the weather and he may work Saturday."

            Owned by Midnight Cry Stable, Einstein has not run since finishing fifth in the Arlington Million (GI) on Aug. 9.

EIGHT HORSES PROBABLE FOR SATURDAY'S RIVER CITY - The weights are out and as of Sunday, a field of eight three-year olds and up was shaping up for Saturday's 32nd running of the River City Handicap (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

            According to Dan Bork of the Churchill Downs Racing Office, 2007 River City winner Thorn Song (122) is probable for the race as his stablemate Yate's Black Cat (119) for trainer Dale Romans. Zayat Stables owns Thorn Song and Jerry Crawford, Adam Wachtel, Nils Brous and David Robinette own Yate's Black Cat.

            Other probables, with weight assignments, are Amerman Racing Stables' Demarcation (117), Oxbow Racing's Steve's Double (117), Don Benge's Wise River (116), Scarlet Stable's Canela (115), Stronach Stable's Jungle Fighter (115) and Nick Mamatas and John Kerber's Gentleman Chester (113).             

BARN TALK - Zabeel Racing International's Game Face made a successful return to the races Saturday with a head victory in the eighth race. "That was a nice victory yesterday," said Michael Dilger, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. "I'm not sure what is next for her." Winner of the Grade II Old Hat at Gulfstream in January and the La Troienne (GIII) at Churchill Downs in May, Game Face had not run since finishing third in the Grade I Acorn on June 7. Dilger also said that Overbrook Farm's Big Surf, a maiden winner last Wednesday, may run closing day in either an allowance race at a mile or the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club at 1 1/16 miles. Big Surf is the third foal out of Surfside, winner of the 2000 Clark Handicap and champion 3-year-old filly of that year.

WORK TAB - Dolphus Morrison's Rachel Alexandra, runner-up in the Nov. 1 Pocahontas (GIII), worked five furlongs over a "sloppy" track in 1:05 for trainer Hal Wiggins in preparation for a possible run in the closing-day Golden Rod (GII). ... Silverton Hill Farm's Dominican, winner of the 2007 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI), worked a half-mile in :51.40 for trainer Darrin Miller.

THORN SONG ASSIGNED HIGH WEIGHT OF 122 FOR RIVER CITY - Zayat Stables' Thorn Song, whose victory in the 2007 River City Handicap (Grade III) marked the first of three graded-stakes scores for the Dale Romans trainee, was assigned high weight of 122 pounds for the 33rd renewal of the race scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 22.

The $100,000-added River City will be run at 1 1/8 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Thorn Song scored a half-length victory over Cosmonaut last year carrying 116 pounds. Since that victory, Thorn Song has won the Grade II Firecracker at Churchill Downs and the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. In his most recent start, Thorn Song ran ninth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (GI).

Should the 5-year-old Thorn Song accept the weight assignment, he will try to become the third repeat River City winner joining Same Old Wish (1996-97) and Dr. Kashnikow (2001-02).

The co-second high weights at 119 pounds are Green Lantern Stables' Karelian, trained by Rusty Arnold, and Jerry Crawford, Adam Wachtel, Nils Brous and David Robinette's Yate's Black Cat, trained by Romans.    

DREAM EMPRESS CONTINUES WORK TOWARD GOLDEN ROD - Livin the Dream Racing's Dream Empress, runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) in her most recent start worked five furlongs over a "sloppy" track in 1:03.40 on Saturday morning with exercise rider Peter Hutton up.

"It was just a maintenance work," trainer Ken McPeek said. "The track was fine; they had sealed it and it was OK."

Prior to her Breeders' Cup effort, Dream Empress had given McPeek his third victory in Keeneland's Darley Alcibiades Stakes (GI). His other winners were She's A Devil Due in 2000 and Take Charge Lady in 2001.

McPeek was asked how Dream Empress, a winner of two of four career starts, compared with those two at this stage of their careers.

"I think she is better than She's A Devil Due," McPeek said. "She's pointed in the right direction but she still has some work to do (in comparison to Take Charge Lady). But Dream Empress ran better in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies than Take Charge Lady did (sixth)."

McPeek also said that Koolmen Racing Stable's A to the Croft, a three-length allowance winner Friday, would be pointed to the Dec. 6 My Charmer at Turfway Park. "I'd like to get a stakes win for her," McPeek said.

SOUTH FORK LODGE PUTS MOTT BARN IN WIN COLUMN - Trainer Bill Mott got his first win of the Fall Meet on Friday when Donald Dizney's 2-year-old South Fork Lodge prevailed in his debut, a one-mile turf test.

"It was great to finally get a win," said Kenny McCarthy, Mott's assistant at Churchill Downs. The victory was the 593rd for the Mott stable at Churchill Downs, best in track history.

A homebred son of Runaway Groom out of the Unbridled mare Netjet, South Fork Lodge showed a long string of works at Churchill Downs before his debut.

"We had him here all summer and he was entered a couple of times, but he didn't get in," McCarthy said of the colt who had two works here in July before starting his series of works in early September. "We had him ready to roll and then backed off after he popped a curb in behind."

McCarthy was pleasantly surprised with the victory that came on a surface the colt never had been on.

"He was never a great work horse on the dirt, so we figured we'd try the turf," McCarthy said. "I was surprised. We knew he was fit enough and we put blinkers on him to try to get him forwardly placed with the (temporary) rail up. But he got shuffled back on the far turn and lost position and still came back.

"Not many horses can do that with the rail out (22 feet) like that. I thought he ran a brave race."

McCarthy said South Fork Lodge would likely run next in Florida.

BARN TALK - Making the rounds on the backside on a cold, drizzly Saturday morning was former jockey Garth Patterson. "First time I have been back here since the 1998 Derby," said Patterson, now 65, who won 14 stakes during his career at Churchill Downs. A native of Jolley, Iowa, Patterson rode in the Kentucky Derby three times and his biggest triumphs came in the 1975 Kentucky Oaks aboard Sun and Snow and the 1976 Clark Handicap on Yamanin. Thousandkissesdeep became the first two-time winner of the Fall Meet on Friday when she scored in the sixth race, a $16,000 claimer. Trainer Garry Simms claimed the 4-year-old daughter of Delaware Township off Wayne Catalano for $10,000 on Oct. 30 when Thousandkissesdeep took a six-furlong sprint. Simms had Thousandkissesdeep for only one race as she was claimed out of Friday's victory by trainer Luis Cotto, who won a four-way shake for the filly.  ... Three races later Ken Mahler and Vickie Foley, et al.'s Rose of Aran made it two-for-two at the meet. The 2-year-old Van Nistelrooy filly, trained by Foley, had broken her maiden for a $30,000 tag on Oct. 29 and Friday's win was in starter allowance company. E.T. Baird rode both times. ... Robby Albarado, who won his first Churchill Downs riding title this spring, put a major dent in the deficit he faces chasing Julien Leparoux for Fall Meet honors. Albarado won four races Friday to hike his total to 25 after 15 days of the 26-day meet. Leparoux won Friday's nightcap to maintain an 11-victory lead with 36 scores.

WORK TAB - Joseph Rauch and David Zell's Capt. Candyman Can, winner of the Nov. 1 Iroquois (GIII) worked a half-mile on a "sloppy" track in :48.60 for trainer Ian Wilkes. ... Patrica Blass' Prom Shoes, winner of the Fifth Season this spring at Oaklawn Park, worked five furlongs in 1:03 for trainer Jinks Fires.

HORSES AND HOPE ON SUNDAY - Racing fans are encouraged to wear pink to Churchill Downs on Sunday, Nov. 16 in conjunction with "Horses and Hope," the new initiative created by Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear with the Kentucky Cancer Program.

The event, centered on the women who work in the barn areas at Kentucky racetracks, is designed to provide breast cancer awareness, education, screening and treatment referral.

Governor Steve Beshear and the First Lady will be in attendance for a special program in Millionaires' Row Four with more than 900 cancer survivors on hand. The program is expected to begin immediately after the first race, which is scheduled for 12:40 p.m. ET.

Churchill Downs will be adorned in pink Sunday. The featured fifth race at approximately 2:35 p.m. ET will honor "Horses and Hope," complete with special pink saddle towels and jockey's caps. Throughout the day, the color pink will also be featured on jockey's arm bands, groom's vests, outriders, flags, bunting and trophies for winning horse owners. There also will be a special pink cosmopolitan drink on sale with proceeds going to "Horses and Hope."

            Immediately after the fifth race winner's circle presentation, there will be a group picture near the Aristides statue in the paddock garden.

            A special treat will be an appearance by the Kentucky Derby Museum's miniature horse Winston, who will be decorated in pink and paraded throughout the facility to collect donations. Winston is expected to make a cameo appearance in Millionaires' Row Four around 1:20 p.m. ET.

HANDICAPPING CONTEST WEDNESDAYS, SUNDAYS - Racing fans can pit their handicapping skills against the best Louisville has to offer every Wednesday and Sunday in the popular twice-weekly "Who's the Champ?" Handicapping Contest. For a $30 entry fee ($25 for Twin Spires Club members), participants will compete for weekly cash prizes and an invitation to the Nov. 23 final where the top two finishers will win coveted berths in the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship X slated for Jan. 23-24, 2009 in Las Vegas.