Jerry Hissam
Calvin Borel To Miss 5-6 Weeks Of Riding After Undergoing Surgery for Broken Jaw
BOREL SIDELINED 5-6 WEEKS WITH BROKEN JAW – Jockey Calvin Borel suffered a broken jaw when he was thrown from his mount and kicked by a trailing horse on Saturday in the $1 million Delta Jackpot (Grade III) at Delta Downs in Louisiana.
“A stifle locked up on the horse he was on (Aces N Kings) and he pushed Calvin out and dropped him,” said Jerry Hissam, Borel’s longtime agent. “The trailing horse (Blue Laser) that Shaun (Bridgmohan) was on kicked him.”
Borel returned to Louisville a little after 10 o’clock Saturday night and was scheduled for surgery Sunday morning.
“It was just bad racing luck, the fortunes of our sport,” Hissam said. “Actually, he was fortunate in a way that he didn’t get kicked an inch or two lower which would have been right in the larynx.”
Borel, who is second all time in victories at Churchill Downs with 1,034 and has ridden an unprecedented three of the past four winners of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), had nine wins through the Fall Meet. That total has Borel tied for fourth place in the rider standings.
“He will be out for five to six weeks,” Hissam said. “He should be back for the start of the Oaklawn Park meet (Jan. 14).”
MRS. REVERE WINNER ARUNA HEADED TO FLORIDA ON MONDAY – Flaxman Holdings Ltd.’s Aruna, stylish winner of Saturday’s Mrs. Revere (GII) for 3-year-old fillies, was doing well Sunday morning according to Heather Craig, assistant to trainer Graham Motion.
“Everything is good this morning and she heads to Florida tomorrow morning,” Craig said. “Graham was pretty excited yesterday. This was a big deal.”
The Mrs. Revere was the third victory in three U.S. starts for Aruna and her first graded stakes victory.
“Ramon (Dominguez) did a great job of getting her to settle yesterday,” Craig said. “I told him that she had really been keen since she got here (at mid-week) and she was on the bridle right out of the gate.”
While Aruna will be heading south, Craig will be going west a day later.
"I go to California on Tuesday for Gypsy’s Warning in the (Grade I) Matriarch,” Craig said of the Motion trainee who is running in Friday’s $250,000 turf test at a mile.
Aruna likely will resurface at Keeneland in the spring, also the likely return time for third-place Mrs. Revere finisher Fugitive Angel.
"I thought she ran a good race and she is fine this morning,” trainer Jonathan Sheppard said of the filly who had a four-race win streak snapped in the 1 1/16-mile Mrs. Revere. “I think she wants more ground. She is done for the year and we hope to have her back at Keeneland in the spring.”
Trainer Tom Proctor reported that Wild Mia and Snow Top Mountain, the second- and fourth-place finishers Saturday, came out of the race fine.
“Snow Top Mountain will come back in the spring at Keeneland,” Proctor said. “The Sunshine Millions (Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park) may be next for Wild Mia. I don’t know if she can go that far (1 1/8 miles), but you have to try it.”
The Mrs. Revere was the first graded-stakes try for Wild Mia, who got a ground-saving trip from jockey Freddie Lenclud.
“Everybody thought I was going to send her to the lead, but Freddie did everything I asked him to,” Proctor said. “I told him to rate, rate, rate and he did.”
APPRENTICE PEDROZA JR. HEATING UP WITH FOUR-WIN WEEK – After a quiet beginning to the meet, 17-year-old apprentice jockey Marcelino Pedroza Jr. is heating up after riding four winners in the past four days.
The most recent score came in Saturday’s 10th race when he skimmed the rail to get Angelica Zapata up in time to win my nose. Was there any doubt he had won?
“No problem. I knew I got up,” Pedroza said with a laugh.
A nephew of longtime Southern California-based rider Martin Pedroza, the native of Panama City, Panama, is being represented by former rider Julio Espinoza, the ninth all-time leading rider at Churchill Downs with 642 victories.
“He is going to ride the holiday meet at Turfway Park and then go to New York for the winter,” Espinoza said of Pedroza, who posted his initial three victories during the Keeneland meet.
Through Espinoza, Pedroza said he spends a lot of time watching replays in which he pays particular attention to how the track is playing daily and the tendencies of other riders such as who is aggressive and who is patient.
Even though Espinoza started Pedroza in Kentucky, he is not apprehensive about going to New York and starting to work with new clientele.
“I feel I have the best apprentice in the nation,” Espinoza said. “He works hard and the cream will rise to the top.”
BARN TALK -- Jockey Leandro Goncalves was injured during training Saturday morning and will not ride for the remainder of the meet. “He was getting ready to work a horse and the horse stumbled before the work and Leandro’s thumb jammed in the horse’s neck,” said Jim McNerney, agent for Goncalves. “There are no breaks, but there is possible ligament damage. He is going to see a specialist, Dr. (Raymond) Shea, on Monday, but he will not ride again during this meet.” The 28-year-old native of Brazil had ridden four winners through the first 14 days of the meet that concludes next Sunday, Nov. 28. ...
Giant Oak, who was placed fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (GIII) in his most recent start, worked a half-mile in :47.20 over a fast track Sunday morning in preparation for a possible start Friday in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI). The move was the fastest of 48 at the distance. Other works of note Sunday included a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.20 by WinStar Farm’s Brethren, a homebred half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. The Distorted Humor colt is nominated to Saturday’s Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII), a race won by Super Saver last year. Champagne d’Oro, fourth in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) in her most recent start, returned to the work tab with a :49.40 half-mile move. Seeking the Title, prepping for a run in Saturday’s Gazelle (GI) at Aqueduct, worked five furlongs in 1:02.
Jockey Calvin Borel Saluted Nov. 21-22 with Bobblehead Giveaway, Roast & More
Popular Churchill Downs-based jockey Calvin Borel, who swept this year’s Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby aboard Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird, respectively, will be honored at Churchill Downs this weekend (Nov. 21-22) with a bobblehead giveaway, autograph session, roast and his very own drink special.
The first 7,500 fans through admission gates on Saturday (Nov. 21) will receive a free Calvin Borel bobblehead, courtesy of Kroger. The great majority of the Borel bobbleheads will showcase the 43-year-old Cajun in the familiar silks of Derby winner Mine That Bird. However, as a special treat, there will be 75 autographed, limited edition Borel bobbleheads mixed in the allotment that showcase the silks of leading Horse of the Year candidate Rachel Alexandra.
Only 500 Borel bobbleheads with Rachel Alexandra’s silks were made and the remaining 425 will be sold near the PEB mural in the ITW area on the second floor of the clubhouse for $49.95 by Leonard Lusky of Commemorative Derby Promotions. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund.
The next day on Sunday (Nov. 22), Borel will participate in a free autograph session with fans so they can get their bobbleheads and other memorabilia signed (time to be announced Friday to best accommodate Borel’s Sunday riding commitments).
Borel will also be Jill Byrne’s special guest during Saturday’s “Get in the Game” seminar in the paddock area at 11:50 a.m.
Additionally, a thirst-quenching new drink called the “Borel Breezer” – a mix of Woodford Reserve, cranberry juice and a splash of lemon-line served on ice in a commemorative racing-themed mint julep glass – has been specially created for the weekend. Priced at $7, it will be sold throughout the facility for only $4 immediately after Borel wins a race.
A roast in honor of Borel, complete with praise, outlandish stories and comedic insults from special guests, will take place after the races on Sunday (Nov. 22) in the Triple Crown Room. Tickets for the much-anticipated plated dinner are $100 and proceeds will benefit the Kentucky Equine Humane Center. A cocktail reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner and ceremonies set to commence at 6:30 p.m. To make reservations to the roast, call Kelly Danner at (502) 638-3825.
Borel, a native of St. Martin Parish, La. who rode his first professional winner at age 16 on Jan. 14, 1983 at Delta Downs, began the week with 4,678 career victories, including 73 graded stakes wins, from 31,576 career mounts. His mounts had earned more than $105.7 million.
His career highlights include:
¨ Regular rider for 2009 Horse of the Year candidate Rachel Alexandra, including victories in the 2008 Golden Rod (Gr. II) at age 2 and eight 2009 triumphs at age 3 led by the Fair Grounds Oaks (Gr. II), Fantasy (Gr. II), Kentucky Oaks (Gr. I), Preakness Stakes against 3-year-old males (Gr. I), Mother Goose (Gr. I), Haskell Invitational (Gr. I) against 3-year-old males and Woodward (Gr. I) against older colts and geldings.
¨ Two wins in the Kentucky Derby: Street Sense (2007) and Mine That Bird (2009)
¨ Two wins in the Grade I Apple Blossom: Halo America (1997) and Gourmet Girl (2001)
¨ Additional Grade I victories include the 1991 Super Derby (Free Spirit’s Joy), 2000 Oaklawn Handicap (K One King), 2006 Stephen Foster Handicap (Seek Gold), 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Street Sense), 2007 Sword Dancer (Grand Couturier-GB), 2007 Alabama (Lady Joanne), 2007 Travers (Street Sense).
¨ He has lit up the tote board in three major races: Rockamundo (108-1) in the 1993 Arkansas Derby, Seek Gold (92-1) in the 2006 Stephen Foster and Mine That Bird (50-1) in the 2009 Kentucky Derby.
Born Nov. 7, 1966, Borel – nicknamed “Bo-Rail” for his penchant of hugging the inside rail en route to numerous victories – is second to the legendary Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day in career wins at Churchill Downs with 958 trips to the winner’s circle, and ranks sixth in local stakes wins with 45. He has cracked the top five of the Churchill Downs jockey standings for 23 of the last 28 meetings since the fall of 1995, including titles during the 1999 and 2006 Fall Meets. He has been a runner-up on eight occasions.
Following his victories in this spring’s Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, Borel had celebrity-like status with appearances on The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with David Letterman to name a few. He and Mine That Bird also graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. Two years earlier, he was invited to the White House for a white-tie dinner honoring Queen Elizabeth immediately after she witnessed Street Sense’s 2007 Kentucky Derby triumph.
Borel, the younger brother of Churchill Downs-based trainer Cecil Borel, began riding match races at his home state at age 8 before launching his professional career. Known for his tireless work ethic and horsemanship, he currently rides the Kentucky-Arkansas-Louisiana circuit with summer stints at Saratoga. His fiancée is Lisa Funk and his longtime agent is Jerry Hissam.
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BARN NOTES (6.13.09) - Citizen John Provides Milestone Win to Vance/Borel Surpasses Brumfield/Backtalk to Bashford?
CITIZEN JOHN DELIVERS MILESTONE DOWNS VICTORY FOR VANCE – Trainer David Vance and owner Carl Pollard have been a team for more than 15 years, so it was probably fitting that a Pollard-owned horse, Citizen John, presented the veteran trainer with his 300th triumph at Churchill Downs and his 3,012th win overall.
“That made it special,” Vance said Saturday morning. “He has always been a one of my major supporters and very much so lately.”
Vance currently has 17 horses in his barn, which is overseen by his daughter Tricia. The trainer continues to recover from injuries suffered on Dec. 9, 2007, when his truck hydroplaned on a slick interstate highway while transporting horses to Northern Kentucky’s Turfway Park from Churchill Downs.
“I get here at 7:15 every morning and watch my horses from the third floor and then I am back at the barn until about 11:30,” said Vance, whose mobility is limited to a wheelchair because of the injury to his C-4 vertebra. “I am making a little progress, but not as much as I would like.”
What keeps any trainer going is the prospect of having a good 2-year-old in the barn and the prospects are there for Vance, now 68.
“We have four 2-year-olds in here now and one may start next week,” Vance said. “We have one more coming in July 1 and two more the first of September.”
Vance’s biggest victory at Churchill Downs came in 2000 when Caressing won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I) for Pollard. Caressing was named champion 2-year-old filly that year and is Vance’s only Eclipse Award champion.
Vance, one of 22 North American trainers with more than 3,000 victories, has won three Churchill Downs training titles outright, the 1980 and ’81 Spring Meets and the 1994 Fall Meet, and shared the 1967 spring title.
BOREL CONTINUES TO MOVE UP CHURCHILL DOWNS CHARTS – Two-time Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel’s spectacular spring added another chapter Friday when he won two races to give him a total of 926 victories at Churchill Downs.
That makes Borel the No. 2 all-time leading rider beneath the Twin Spires as he surpassed Don Brumfield, the 1996 Hall of Fame inductee who rode 925 winners at Churchill Downs.
“I really didn’t know what was going on,” Borel said of a winner’s circle ceremony that included the presentation of a placard signifying the milestone victory. “It’s just been unbelievable. The last eight, nine, 10 years have just been unbelievable.”
Brumfield won 12 riding titles at Churchill Downs during his career compared to two for Borel. He won the 1966 Kentucky Derby aboard Kauai King.
“This is a major accomplishment considering the only titles he won were in the fall,” said Jerry Hissam, Borel’s agent. Borel, who began riding regularly at Churchill Downs in the fall of 1995, won the title outright in 1999 and shared it in 2006 with Shaun Bridgmohan. Along with this year’s Derby win on Mine That Bird, Borel won the 2007 “Run for the Roses” aboard Street Sense.
The all-time Churchill Downs’ leader in victories is Pat Day, who rode 2,482 winners. Borel, who has averaged a little more than 60 victories a year during his career at Churchill Downs, would have to maintain that pace for another 25 years to get in Day’s neighborhood.
“I think Pat will hold that records for a while,” Hissam said.
BACKTALK SPEAKS ELOQUENTLY IN CAREER DEBUT – A possible star of the future may have appeared Thursday afternoon when Gold Mark Farm’s Backtalk won his career debut by 2 ¾ lengths over a field of 2-year-old runners sporting high quality pedigrees.
“He has earned the right to stay here,” trainer Tom Amoss said of Backtalk, who had put together a string of impressive works at Arlington Park. “He ran well and we’ll look to go to the Bashford Manor (Grade III on July 3).”
Backtalk was purchased for $250,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September Sale for Gold Mark.
“I didn’t have anything to do with the purchase,” Amoss said. “Todd Quast and his wife (Lori) picked him out and they are good at it. Initially (Backtalk) went to Gold Mark Farm and that is Polytrack, so we thought the transition would be easier taking him to Arlington.”
Backtalk is a half-brother to two-time graded-stakes winner Bsharpsonata, who ran fifth in last year’s Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) and also won her career debut as a 2-year-old. They are the only two foals of the Affirmed mare Apasionata Sonata.
“We would have liked to have named him Bsmartsonata, but couldn’t get it,” Amoss said of Backtalk, a son of 2004 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones.
BRASSY BOY GIVES WIGGINS AN UNEXPECTED TREAT – It has been a roller coaster spring for trainer Hal Wiggins, from the high of Rachel Alexandra’s historic romp in the Kentucky Oaks (GI) to the low of having the best horse he has trained sold shortly after that triumph.
The ride may be heading back up for Wiggins with a 2-year-old colt named Brassy Boy, who improved to 2-for-2 with a neck victory in a Thursday allowance race.
“I told my wife that I’d be happy if he ran fourth,” said Wiggins of the colt who broke his maiden for a $30,000 claiming tag on May 29 at Churchill Downs. “I may nominate him to the Bashford Manor and see how strong it will be. I am sure some of those in Thursday were prepping for it.”
Owned by Betty and Leon Millsap, Brassy Boy is an Arkansas-bred son of Storm and a Half out of the Dixie Brass mare Brass Doll.
“We got him right when we left Hot Springs to come up here,” Wiggins said. “David Whited gets them ready for us. I have had all of the mare’s foals and they are all solid horses.”
Brassy Boy is the fifth foal for Brass Doll, who has produced two stakes winners in Brassie Prince and Doll and a Half from matings with Storm and a Half, a son of Storm Cat. Brass Doll’s other two foals also were sired by Storm and a Half.
BARN TALK – The final sets of temporary lights have been moved into place in the infield and horsemen will get a chance Monday and Tuesday for a dry run under those lights in advance of Friday’s first “Downs After Dark” night racing card. Training hours will begin at 5 a.m. (EDT) on Monday and Tuesday. Other night cards are scheduled for Friday, June 26 and Thursday, July 2.
Expected to work under the lights Monday is Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) and Preakness Stakes (Grade I) winner Rachel Alexandra. On Saturday morning, Rachel Alexandra back-tracked to the front side and then went 1 ½ times around the main track under exercise rider Dominic Terry.
Mine That Bird, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), back-tracked once around on Saturday morning under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa.
“He actually jogged a little bit this morning,” trainer Chip Woolley said. “The other day he just wanted to buck and play. He’ll walk tomorrow and then jog again Monday.”
Mine That Bird finished second to Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness (GI) and third to Summer Bird in last week’s Belmont Stakes (GI), the third and final jewel of the Triple Crown. Woolley said Friday that his Kentucky Derby winner would likely run this summer in the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (GII) and the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers (GI).
Nominations close Saturday for the 109th running of the Debutante (Grade III) for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the main track on June 27. Garden District won the 2008 Debutante by a half-length over Rachel Alexandra.
Next Saturday, June 20, will be the deadline for nominations for the final three stakes of the Spring Meet. Closing that day will be the $100,000-added Bashford Manor (Grade III) for 2-year-olds going six furlongs on July 3, the $150,000-added Firecracker Handicap (Grade II) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course for 3-year-olds and up on July 4, and the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (Grade III) for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up also going a mile on the turf on closing day July 5.
WORK TAB – Fred Bradley’s Brass Hat, winner of the May 23 Louisville Handicap (Grade III) returned to the tab on Saturday morning by working five furlongs in 1:00.40 for trainer Buff Bradley. The move over the fast track was the second fastest of 29 at the distance. Helen Groves and Helen Alexander’s stakes-winning filly Selva worked the same distance in 1:00.80, third fastest of the morning, for trainer David Carroll. Lawrence Carroll’s Bold Start, winner of the May 30 Aristides (Grade III), worked a half-mile in :48 for trainer Ken McPeek. It was the sixth best of 55 at the distance.
Borel Bandwagon Crowded/Calvin & Byrne In Saturday's 'Get in the Game' Seminar/Monday Work For 'Bird'?
Jockey Calvin Borel is not assured of having a mount in the June 6 Belmont Stakes (Grade I), but the leadup to the third jewel of the Triple Crown will have his fingerprints all over it.
Borel’s agent, Jerry Hissam, has a lot more on his plate these days than just lining up mounts for the popular rider.
“He is going to New York on Tuesday June 2 to tape the ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ that will air June 5,” Hissam said. “CNN is shooting something this week for Belmont Day. NYRA has something on June 2 at Madison Square Garden and after the Belmont, ’60 Minutes’ is coming to shoot a 10- to 12-minute segment that is supposed to air in September.”
All this action was made possible by Borel’s victories aboard Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) and Rachel Alexandra in the Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) and Preakness Stakes (Grade I).
Borel has first call on Rachel Alexandra, but her connections have not commited to run in the Belmont. Trainer Chip Woolley of Mine That Bird is hoping to get Borel back if the filly doesn’t run and is expected to name a rider Monday.
Borel could become the first jockey to sweep the Triple Crown riding different horses, but to Hissam, his rider already has achieved a Triple Crown.
“He won the Oaks, Derby and Preakness,” Hissam said. “If he wins the Belmont, what would that be?”
Let’s call it a “Calvin Slam.”
Only one other rider has won the same three races in the same year as Borel and that was Don Brumfield in 1966. Brumfield rode Native Street to victory in the Oaks and then won the Derby and Preakness aboard Kauai King before finishing fourth aboard the Derby winner in the Belmont Stakes.
FANS HAVE CHANCE TO HEAR CALVIN WITH JILL BYRNE SATURDAY’S “GET IN THE GAME” SEMINAR – Popular Kentucky Derby and Preakness-winning jockey Calvin Borel will be Racing Analyst Jill Byrne’s special guest during Saturday’s free “Get in the Game” Handicapping Seminar at Churchill Downs.
The new weekly series takes place every Saturday in the paddock area at noon (EDT) and features informative and in-depth analysis of races and handicapping topics. Among Borel’s scheduled mounts on Saturday is a ride aboard veteran Brass Hat in the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII).
DERBY WINNER MINE THAT BIRD COULD WORK MONDAY – Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Kentucky Derby Mine That Bird galloped two miles before the renovation break under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa.
Trainer Chip Woolley said Mine That Bird may work Monday, “something light, like three-eighths. If he works, I’ll probably wait until after the break.”
Also scheduled to work Monday is Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, who galloped early Friday morning with Dominic Terry up.
Woolley plans to give Mine That Bird his serious Belmont tune-up the following Monday, June 1, and send the gelding to New York by plane on Wednesday, June 3.
Originally sold as a yearling for $9,500, Mine That Bird was purchased by his current connections for $400,000 last fall. His Derby victory and runner-up showing in the Preakness have attracted more interest.
“We have had a couple of inquiries,” Woolley said.
In recent Kentucky Derby lore, the highest price paid for a gelding was $750,000 by J.E. Jumonville Sr. for Real Dare in 1982. A sensation in his home state of Louisiana, Real Dare finished last in the Derby won by Gato Del Sol.
SUNDAY FEATURE HAS STAKES QUALITY FEEL – The Memorial Day Weekend offers two Grade III stakes in the Louisville Handicap on Saturday and Monday’s Winning Colors. Sunday’s feature, an allowance optional claiming race at 1 1/16th miles on the main track, offers up a salty field that includes five stakes winners.
With the $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I) looming in three weeks, Sunday’s test could serve as a springboard to that event.
“It’s a prep for something,” said Gary Thomas, trainer of Golden Yank. “I don’t know about the Foster; maybe the Cornhusker (on June 27 at Prairie Meadows).”
Golden Yank has been idle since finishing ninth in the March 14 Mervyn Muniz Jr. Memorial (GII) on turf at Fair Grounds.
“He got beat up and knocked around at New Orleans and we gave him some time off,” Thomas said. “Same thing happened when he ran here last year in the Jefferson Cup and in the million dollar race (the Delta Jackpot) at Delta (Downs) when he got hit from both sides.”
Golden Yank’s most recent start on dirt came in a runner-up finish in Oaklawn Park’s Essex Handicap. He lost to Prom Shoes, who also shows up in Sunday’s race.
“We are just looking for a spot to run,” trainer William “Jinks” Fires said of Prom Shoes. “We’ll see how he comes out of it (before making a decision on the Foster).”
Prom Shoes ran eighth in the Grade III Alysheba here on May 1 and Fires is looking for a better effort Sunday.
“He didn’t run too good the last time,” Fires said. “There was no pace in the race and he needs pace to run at. I haven’t looked at the race yet, but I hope to see some pace in there Sunday.
BARN TALK – Robby Albarado moved one victory closer to the 4,000-win plateau on Thursday with a score on Handlethetruth in the fifth race. Albarado had 3,996 wins heading into Friday’s 11-race program. He was scheduled for five mounts on Friday in his bid to become the 56th North American rider to reach 4,000 wins.
Ken McPeek, with 999 career victories, will have two chances this afternoon to get No. 1,000. He saddles Chapel Affair in the fifth and Our Dahlia in the 10th.
Bill Connelly, who has 998 career victories, saddles Mr. Brutus in the opener and Hungry Tigress in the 10th. Connelly also has a starter tonight at Indiana Downs, Patchen Prince in the sixth.
WORK TAB – Trainer Ian Wilkes had a couple of hopefuls for the Stephen Foster Super Saturday card turn in identical five furlong works of 1:02.40 over “fast” footing. Miss Isella, winner of two consecutive Grade II events under the Twin Spires – last November’s Falls City Handicap and the May 1 Louisville – prepped for the $200,000 Fleur De Lis (Grade II) and Warrior’s Reward, a Kentucky Oaks Day allowance winner, tuned up for the $100,000-added Northern Dancer (Grade III),











