Tizdejavu

Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu took the lead out of the gate and was never headed to win the 20th running of the $205,625 Firecracker Handicap (Grade II) by 1 ½ lengths over Public Speaker on Sunday to close out the 42-day Spring Meet at Churchill Downs and ruin the return of 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird who finished eighth in his turf debut.

Trained by Greg Fox and ridden by Jesus Castanon, Tizdejavu ran the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:35.98, the fastest time of the meet at the distance. It was Tizdejavu’s fifth victory in six starts over the Matt Winn Turf Course with the only setback coming in a fifth-place finish in last year’s Firecracker.

Tizdejavu, now three-for-three in 2010, opened a daylight advantage the first time past the wire and led the field through uncontested fractions of :23.20, :45.94 and 1:09.73. At the head of the stretch, Tizdejavu kicked clear by 2 ½ lengths and was three lengths on top at the eighth pole and had more than enough left in the tank to hold off Public Speaker.

The victory was worth $116,016 and increased Tizdejavu’s earnings to $693,153 with a record of 16-8-3-2. The Firecracker was the fourth stakes victory at Churchill Downs for Tizdejavu, who won the American Turf (GIII) and Jefferson Cup (GII) in 2008 and took the Opening Verse earlier this meet.

Tizdejavu is a 5-year-old homebred son of Tiznow out of the Dixie Brass mare Remember When.

Mine That Bird became the first Kentucky Derby winner to return to race at Churchill Downs since 2005 Derby victor Giacomo finished fourth in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). Mine That Bird, ridden by Calvin Borel and carrying top weight of 122 pounds, trailed the field of 14 through the first half-mile and had only one horse beat turning for home before passing four rivals in the stretch to finish less than eight lengths behind Tizdejavu.

Tizdejavu, carrying second high weight of 119 pounds, returned $10.20, $5 and $3.60 as the second choice. Public Speaker, ridden by Robby Albarado, paid $4.60 and $3.80 and finished a nose in front of Inca King, who paid $4.20 to show under Victor Lebron.

Veiled Prophet finished fourth another 1 ¼ lengths back and was followed in order by Unbridle’s Dream, Skipadate, Wise River, Mine That Bird, Pop Tarrt, Attempted Humor, Driving Snow (GB), Baryshnikov, Euroears and Orthodox.

Borel, who rode three winners on closing day, won his first Spring Meet riding title with 52 victories with Corey Lanerie a distant second with 39 triumphs. Steve Asmussen took leading trainer honors by a 24-19 margin over Dale Romans and Maggi Moss won the leading owner title by sending out nine winners this meet, two more than Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

Racing returns to Churchill Downs on Sunday, Oct. 31 for a 20-day Fall Meet that will be highlighted by the returning of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to the track on Nov. 5 and 6. Simulcast wagering at Churchill Downs will continue through Monday and shift to Trackside Louisville at 4520 Poplar Level Road starting Wednesday, July 7 through Wednesday, Aug. 4 so track officials can prepare the 147-acre facility for the inaugural HullabaLOU Music Festival on July 23-25.

FIRECRACKER HANDICAP QUOTES

JESUS CASTANON (jockey, TIZDEJAVU, winner): “I made him run his own race. I knew there was going to be a lot of pace at the beginning. He was running the race pretty easily. When I asked him to pick it up he just drew away. I knew my horse has a lot of speed so I let him break and tried to get the lead and be clear through the first turn. He’s a very nice horse. I knew through the first turn I was in great shape. He really improves every time he comes to the races; he really has improved a lot. This time he just felt a 110 percent better than last time. Against this type of horses and with his speed he really gives me his best and I know he has plenty still left.”

GREG FOX (trainer, TIZDEJAVU, winner): “This race has been our goal, I mean hypothetically. We ended his season last year on a down note, but the beautiful thing is this is a very, very special horse. Giving him a break, and bringing him back steadily, you saw what he did today. He really threw the gauntlet down on a good group of horses. He’s won from the front on the hedge on (Kentucky) Oaks Day, and the Jefferson Cup. He loves this track and he loves the turns. Every horsemen’s dream (is to go to the Breeders’ Cup). This was a key race for the (Breeders’ Cup) Mile race. We had a great post position. Some of the other speed horses seemed hurt by the big field. (Jockey) Jesus (Castanon) is an incredibly astute rider and took advantage of our post position and of course the horse did the rest. I don’t think we are going to put him on the road this summer.”

ROBBY ALBARADO (jockey, PUBLIC SPEAKER, second): “I had a great trip. Just a nice horse beat me today. He ran hard.”

CALVIN BOREL (jockey, MINE THAT BIRD, eighth): “He was struggling so much. He kept moving back and forth, back and forth, switching leads. We will see a different horse after this, a totally different horse. He came back real good, jogging good. He was perfect, the horse is doing good. I’m telling you get him on the dirt and you’ll see a different horse.” 

D. WAYNE LUKAS (trainer, MINE THAT BIRD, eighth): “His first start back wasn’t a successful one, but I thought he would handle the turf a lot better than what he did. He didn’t handle it that well. I thought the first time by the grandstand he was climbing a little bit, and to have him back that far back … He was training too forwardly to have him that far back, but he finished up and got a little more comfortable the last three-eighths. I think it put us in a position to do something better. I was hoping to have a little better result for the owners, but I’m not discouraged that I can get him where I want him. I don’t think we are going to the Arlington Million. The Whitney (Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 7) is our goal. If we could have gotten that allowance race to go, I think it would have been a different story. I didn’t want to ship and we took a shot. It is what it is. I feel very comfortable in the mornings with what I see and we’ll show up in the Whitney.”

Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), will race for the first time in 2010 and make his career debut on the grass in Sunday’s 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) Presented by Thorntons.

Calvin Borel, who guided Mine That Bird to his 50-1 Kentucky Derby shocker last spring, will be aboard Sunday when the 4-year-old gelding makes his turf debut from post position two under high weight of 122 pounds.  Mine That Bird faces 13 foes in the 10th race (approximate post time 5:26 p.m., EDT) on the 11-race program. First post time Sunday’s program that wraps up the 42-day Spring Meet is 12:45 p.m.

Now trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Mine That Bird has not started since finishing ninth to the unbeaten Zenyatta in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) over the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Mine That Bird, who would become the first Kentucky Derby winner to race at Churchill Downs since 2005 Derby winner Giacomo ran fourth in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), was made the 3-1 morning line favorite by Churchill Downs linemaker Mike Battaglia.

After the Breeders’ Cup last fall, Mine That Bird returned to co-owner Mark Allen’s Double Eagle Ranch in Roswell, N.M. Mine That Bird began galloping on the track at the ranch in March and arrived at Churchill Downs on May 20. Mine That Bird has had six works at Churchill Downs, the past three all bullets including a :59.80, five-furlong drill on Monday.

Mine That Bird’s will bid to snap a five-race losing streak in the Firecracker.  He followed his Kentucky Derby victory with a strong runner-up finish to Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner and eventual Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness (GI) and a third-place run behind eventual 3-year-old champion Summer Bird in the Belmont Stakes (GI).  But he tailed off later in the year as he finished third as a heavy favorite in the West Virginia Derby (GII) at Mountaineer and then finished sixth to Gitano Hernando in the Goodwood (GI) at Santa Anita before his dull run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

A run in the Firecracker would make Mine That Bird the first Kentucky Derby winner to compete on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course. A victory in his comeback race would make Mine That Bird the first Kentucky Derby winner to return to Churchill Downs and win since Silver Charm.  The Bob Baffert-trained 1997 Derby winner took the 1998 Clark Handicap (GII) beneath the Twin Spires after runner-up finishes to Awesome Again in that year’s renewals of both the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The task of returning to the winner’s circle in the Firecracker will not be easy for Mine That Bird as he faces a field of accomplished turf runners that includes a trio that has prospered over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu, the second starting high weight at 119 pounds and 4-1 on the morning line, won the Opening Verse overnight stake here on June 11 and two years ago won the American Turf (GIII) and Jefferson Cup (GII). Trained by Greg Fox, Tizdejavu will be ridden by Jesus Castanon and break from post position four.

Don Benge’s Wise River owns the Matt Winn Turf Course record for 1 1/16 miles of 1:39.83 and comes into the Firecracker off a victory in the Dallas Turf Cup Handicap at Lone Star Park on May 31. Wise River, who will be ridden by Francisco Torres, will carry 118 pounds and break from post position 13.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Inca King, second in last year’s Firecracker to Mr. Sidney, enters this year’s race on a five-race win streak. Inca King, who will carry 117 pounds, has a record of 6-1-1 in nine races on the Matt Winn Turf Course that includes a victory in the 2007 Jefferson Cup and two other stakes victories. Victor Lebron will ride Inca King, who breaks from post position nine.

The field for the Firecracker Handicap Presented by Thorntons, from the rail out, is as follows with morning line odds: Driving Snow (GB) (Freddie Lenclud, 115 pounds, 20-1), Mine That Bird (Borel, 122, 3-1), Attempted Humor (Corey Lanerie, 117, 8-1), Tizdejavu (Castanon, 119, 4-1), Unbridle’s Dream (Shaun Bridgmohan, 115, 20-1), Tybalt (Corey Nakatani, 116, 15-1), Public Speaker (Robby Albarado, 117, 8-1), Veiled Prophet (Leandro Goncalves, 114, 30-1), Inca King (Lebron, 117, 6-1), Pop Tarrt (Sal Gonzalez Jr., 114, 50-1), Euroears (Jamie Theriot, 115, 6-1), Skipadate (Alex Solis, 114, 15-1), Wise River (Torres, 118, 15-1) and Orthodox (Jon Court, 114, 20-1). Also eligible: Baryshnikov (Rex Stokes III, 113, 20-1).

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.

Multiple stakes winner Tizdejavu remained unbeaten on the grass course at Churchill Downs when he returned from a nine-month absence from competition to win Sunday’s $57,780 featured allowance race at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, the leading jockey of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet, the 4-year-old son of Tiznow rallied from just off the pace and then held off the late charge of Jazz in the Park to win by three-quarters of a length.  

The favored Tizdejavu, winner of the Grade II Jefferson Cup and Grade III Crown Royal American Turf at Churchill Downs and the Grade II American Derby at Arlington Park in 2008, paid $4.20, $3 and $2.40 as the strong favorite in a field on seven 3-year-olds and up.  Jazz in the Park, ridden by Calvin Borel, paid $3.40 and $2.80.  Boss Lafitte, who was three lengths farther back under Robby Albarado, edged Corrupt by a nose for third and paid $4.40 to show.

The winner covered 1 1/16 miles on “firm” turf in 1:42.93.

Tizdejava, who is owned by Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth and trained by Greg Fox, won for the fifth time in nine career races.  He is perfect in three starts over the Matt Winn Turf Course at Churchill Downs and Sunday’s victory boosted his career earnings to $494,307.

The victory was the second of the day for Leparoux, who returned to Churchill Downs after riding on Friday and Saturday in Preakness Weekend races at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course.  Leparoux’s Sunday riding double increased his victory total in the Spring Meet to 24 and he now leads second-place Miguel Mena by six wins.

There will be no racing at Churchill Downs on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 19-21.  The Spring Meet at the historic home of the Kentucky Derby resumes on Thursday, May 21 with the first of five consecutive racing sessions that include a special Memorial Day holiday program on Monday, May 25.

 

AMERICAN DERBY NEXT UP FOR TIZDEJAVU – Trainer Greg Fox was still floating on Cloud Nine a week after Tizdejavu’s authoritative four-length victory in the Jefferson Cup (GII) on “Stephen Foster Super Saturday” at Churchill Downs.

“I was thrilled with the whole day. He handled everything professionally,” Fox said. “It is a shame there are no other races here, because he really loves this course.”

The Jefferson Cup was Tizdejavu’s second win over the Matt Winn Turf Course. On May 2, in his turf debut, he had won the Crown Royal American Turf (GIII), also in front-running fashion.

A homebred son of Tiznow who is owned by Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth, Tizdejavu returned to Fox’s farm in Lexington immediately after his Jefferson Cup score, which was his third in six career starts and boosted his earnings to $271,187.

“He came out of the race in great shape,” Fox said. “We are looking at a race in Chicago on July 12 (the $250,000 Grade II American Derby at a mile and three-sixteenths). That will give us four weeks between races.”

Fox is hopeful that will be the first of two trips to Arlington Park this summer.

“I only like to look one race ahead, but if he handles the course well up there, we’d look at the Secretariat,” Fox said of the $400,000 Grade I race at a mile and a quarter on Aug. 9. “That is our main goal for the summer.”

 

BOREL RETURNS TO SADDLE WITH RIDING TRIPLE – A swollen knee ligament knocked Calvin Borel out of the saddle for four days, but the popular reinsman from Louisiana came back in Tiger Woods-like fashion on Friday to record three victories from four mounts.

Borel, who was forced to take off mounts in five stakes on last Saturday’s “Stephen Foster Super Saturday” card, scored with Amber Room ($11) for trainer Bernie Flint in the second, Glee Club ($6.60) in the fifth for trainer Ian Wilkes and Ready’s Rocket ($8.40) for trainer Tim Glyshaw in the seventh.

“I was ready to come back because it was getting a little boring,” Borel said of his forced inactivity. “It’s getting a little better. I gave it some time, iced it and stayed off it and the doctor drained a lot of fluid from it.”

Borel tested the knee Friday morning by working four horses. He is named on seven mounts on Saturday’s card.

The three victories gave Borel 37 for the meet, good for fifth place in the rider standings with 12 days to go in the Spring Meet.

 Robby Albarado also had a riding triple on Friday to boost his season total to a meet-leading 53 and a five-victory lead over Miguel Mena. Albarado’s victories came aboard O’Sotopretty ($9.40) in the sixth for trainer Dale Romans, Tempest Storm ($8.40) in the ninth for trainer Al Stall Jr. and Alleged Diva ($8.40) in the 10th for trainer Ken McPeek.

McPeek’s victory was his 25th of the meet, leaving him one behind Tom Amoss in the race for leading trainer.

 

FIELD OF EIGHT TO TEN SHAPING UP FOR DEBUTANTE – Churchill Downs racing officials are expecting a field of eight to 10 for next Saturday’s 108th running of the $100,000-added Debutante Stakes (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs.

Trainer Steve Asmussen, who has saddled the past three Debutante winners, is expected to be represented by Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Simplify, a May 1 maiden winner at Churchill Downs, and the Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Songtress, who won at first asking at Churchill Downs on May 22.

 D. Wayne Lukas, who has saddled a record six Debutante winners, also may be represented by two runners. Considered as probable is Devil Eleven Stable’s Cameron Crazies, who broke her maiden on May 29 at Churchill Downs in her second start. Donald Dizney’s Runaway Heart, a maiden winner at Calder on May 31, is considered as possible.

Another probable is Twin Creeks Racing Stable’s Garden District. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Garden District ran second against the boys in the Grade III Kentucky Stakes on May 1 at Churchill Downs after breaking her maiden at first asking at Keeneland on April 10.

 Others considered as probable for the Debutante are Silverton Hill Farm’s Corlett, Richard Rowan’s Renda, Roger Sterling’s Super Poni and Raquel Racing Stable’s Yo Eleven. Dolphus Morrison’s Rachel Alexandra is considered as possible.            

 

SATURDAY DEADLINE TO NOMINATE FOR CLOSING WEEK STAKES – Saturday, June 21 is the deadline for nominations for the final three stakes of the 52-day Spring Meet: The Firecracker (GII), the Bashford Manor (GIII) and the Locust Grove Handicap (GIII).

The $200,000 Firecracker is a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course for 3-year-olds and up on July 4. The Bashford Manor carries a $150,000 purse for 2-year-olds going six furlongs on the main track on July 5 with the $150,000 Locust Grove scheduled for closing day July 6 at a mile on the turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

 Weights for the Firecracker will be announced on Friday, June 27, with Locust Grove weights coming out on Sunday, June 29.

Remarkable News won last year’s running of the Firecracker, a race taken by Eclipse Award winner Miesque’s Approval in 2006. Kodiak Kowboy earned the first of his two graded stakes scores in last year’s Bashford Manor, a race that has been won in the past by juvenile champions Boston Harbor (1996) and Favorite Trick (1997). Mauralakana won last year’s Locust Grove.

Information is available by calling Churchill Downs Racing at (502) 636-4470 or nominations may be made via fax at (502) 636-4479.

           

BARN TALK – Trainer Pete Anderson plans to work Hobeau Farm’s Delightful Kiss on Monday or Tuesday before shipping Wednesday to Iowa for Friday’s $250,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders’ Cup Handicap (GII) at a mile and one-eighth. Delightful Kiss finished seventh behind Curlin in last Saturday’s Stephen Foster Handicap (GI). … A belated birthday greeting goes to jockey Christian Rojas, who turned 40 on June 19.

 

WORK TAB – Zayat Stables’ Eaton’s Gift, winner of the Swale Stakes (GII), worked five furlongs over “good” going in 1:00 for trainer Dale Romans. It was the fastest move of 20 at the distance. … Patricia Blass’ Prom Shoes, winner of this spring’s Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park, worked five furlongs in “sloppy” going in 1:01.40, fourth fastest of 20 at the distance, in preparation for a possible start in Friday’s $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders’ Cup (GII) on June 28.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

          Through Friday, June 19 Jockeys                          Starts   1-2-3

Robby Albarado                  205  53-28-26

Miguel Mena                       266   48-38-35

Julien Leparoux                  248   42-47-44

Jamie Theriot                     202   40-31-22

Shaun Bridgmohan             181   36-33-25

Calvin Borel                        229  37-33-34

Jesus Castanon                   206   22-22-23

Corey Lanerie                    165   13-21-20

Brian Hernandez Jr.            148   13-20-15

John McKee                       116   10-17-18

Elvis Trujillo                        77   10-10-19

Trainers

Tom Amoss                       62   26-11-10

Ken McPeek                        64    25-12-5

Steve Asmussen                 101  22-16-16

Ian Wilkes                           40    13-8-5

Dale Romans                     109   12-24-19

Mike Maker                         44    12-10-4

Eddie Kenneally                   52     10-9-8

Bret Calhoun                       20      9-1-3

Cody Autrey                        47      8-9-9

Nick Zito                             20      8-5-1

Greg Foley                          55      8-9-8

Five (5) trainers tied with 7 wins

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey         42     12-7-8

Maggi Moss                         25     12-6-3

Zayat Stables, LLC                43    7-10-9

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein   32     6-7-5

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable      14      5-1-0

Four (4) owners tied with four (4) wins

Tizdejavu swept Churchill Downs’ spring graded stakes races for 3-year-olds on turf with a convincing gate-to-wire romp in Saturday’s $222,600 Jefferson Cup (Grade II).

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Tizdejavu ran 1 1/8 miles over “good” turf in 1:49.15 en route to a four-length victory over Golden Yank. On Kentucky Oaks Day, they also teamed to win the Crown Royal American Turf (GIII) by a neck.

Tizdejavu joined Senor Tomas (1992), King Cugat (2000) and Senor Swinger (2003) as the only four horses to win both races.

Tizdejavu asserted himself from the start Saturday, leading the field of eight 3-year-olds through comfortable fractions of :24.48, :48.06, 1:12.31 and 1:36.35. The Kentucky-bred son of Tiznow was never challenged. Gomez began to work his hands on the colt with a quarter mile to run, and Tizdejavu responded gamely through the stretch.

Tizdejavu, trained by Dr. Greg Fox, paid $8, $4.20 and $3.20. Golden Yank, ridden by Jamie Theriot, paid $7.60 and $5. Old Man Buck, the 2-1 favorite with Robby Albarado in the irons, finished another half-length back in third and paid $3.20.

Halo Najib, Wicked Style, Budge Man, Go West Bert and Bobby Blue Eyes completed the order of finish.

The $133,872 first-place check nearly doubled Tizdejavu’s earnings to $271,187 for owners and breeders Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth. It was his third win in six career starts.

STAKES QUOTES: THE JEFFERSON CUP

GARRETT GOMEZ (jockey, Tizdejavu) – “There did not seem to be a lot of speed in there looking at the race. Julien (Leparoux on Wicked Style) and I broke about two lengths ahead of the field and then he took back. This colt has nice, huge stride and he just went on from there.”

GREG FOX (trainer, Tizdejavu) – “I think his performance speaks for itself. We are going to enjoy this victory now (before committing to the next race). He has plenty of options. We decided to put him on the grass after he ran in the allowance race at Keeneland (on April 12). Garrett felt that the Polytrack may be not his best surface and that he would like the grass. He is a very happy horse.”

JAMIE THERIOT (jockey, Golden Yank) – “He ran a good race.  I just let him fall back and make a run and picked up most of the pieces.  He ran good.”

ROBBY ALBARADO (jockey, Old Man Buck) – “That was a pretty tall order for a first race back off this layoff.  It’s been a while since he’s run, but he’ll be a top horse this year.”