Keertana

DUBAI MAJESTY’S CONNECTIONS GOING FOR THIRD WINNING COLORS – One year ago, Martin Racing LLC and Morgan Thoroughbred LLC’s Dubai Majesty scored the second of her back-to-back victories in the $100,000 Winning Colors (Grade III) under Miguel Mena – a key victory in what turned out to be an Eclipse Award championship campaign. 

            The Bret Calhoun traineed has since retired, so there will be no bid for a Winning Colors three-peat by the talented mare.  But her connections are seeking a three-peat of their own when the send Beat the Blues into the six-furlong feature on Monday’s special Memorial Day holiday card.

            Beat the Blues, a 4-year-old daughter of Great Pyramid-IRE, will face a field of 10 as she makes her second start against stakes company in the eighth running of the Winning Colors.

The Florida-bred is coming into the Winning Colors off an allowance victory over the Polytrack at Keeneland.  It was the first win for Calhoun with Beat the Blues, who has also won while in the barns of trainers Scott Volk, Robert Dibona, and Justin Sallusto.

Beat the Blues’ main rival Monday will be Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image, fresh off a 16-1 upset victory in the Humana Distaff (GI), her third stakes win at Churchill Downs. Trained by Dale Romans, Sassy Image will be ridden by Corey Lanerie, who currently sits atop the Spring Meet jockey standings.

The field for the Winning Colors, from the rail out (with jockey) includes Indian Ink (Fernando De La Cruz), Stephanie Got Even (Shaun Bridgmohan), Wind Caper (Jesus Castanon), Beat the Blues (Miguel Mena), Bell’s Shoes (Kent Desormeaux), Fortune Play (Freddie Lenclud), My New Lady (Jon Court), Sassy Image (Corey Lanerie), Starlite Starbrite (Leandro Goncalves), and Jocata (Calvin Borel). All horses will carry 118 pounds, except for Sassy Image, who will carry high weight of 124.

The Winning Colors will be the ninth race of a special 10-race Memorial Day program at Churchill Downs that begins at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). Approximate post time for the Winning Colors is 4:59 p.m.

STRONG FIELDS TAKING SHAPE FOR GRADE III ARISTIDES AND WINNING COLORS – Great racing is on tap at Churchill Downs next weekend as the racing program on Saturday, June 4 will feature a pair of Grade III stakes races in the $100,000-added Dogwood and the $100,000-added Aristides.

            The latter has a attracted an impressive group of probable starters (with trainers) headed by a pair of Grade I stakes winners in Rosemary Rausch and David Zell’s Capt. Candyman Can (Ian Wilkes), winner of the 2009 King’s Bishop, and Marianne and Brandon Chase’s Here Comes Ben (Charles Lopresti), winner of the 2011 Forego.

Twenty-three older sprinters were nominated for the 23^rd running of the six-furlong Aristides, which looms as an important early prep for the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI), which will be run over main track at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Nov. 5.

            Other Aristides “probables” include Zayat Stables’ defending Aristides winner Riley Tucker (Steve Asmussen); R.E.V. Racing’s Atta Boy Roy (Valorie Lund), winner of the 2010 Churchill Downs (GII) and runner-up in the Aristides; Richard, Bert and Elaine Klein’s Cash Refund (Steve Margolis) third in the 2010

Aristides and winner of a recent Churchill Downs allowance prep for this year’s renewal; Chasing Dreams Racing’s Noble’s Promise (Ken McPeek), fifth in the 2010 Kentucky Derby (GI) and a close fifth to Aikenite in the 2011 Churchill Downs on Derby Day; Homewrecker Racing and Avalon Farm’s Custom for Carlos (Eddie Kenneally), winner of the Mr. Prospector (GIII) at Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Park’s Count Fleet (GIII) in 2010, and runner-up to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Big Drama in this year’s Mr. Prospector; and Patrick Donahoe’s Posse Cat (Jinx Fires), a sharp allowance winner at Oaklawn Park in April.

            Listed as “possible’ for the Aristides is Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s Chief of Affairs (Bret Calhoun), fourth in last year’s Aristides and third to Smiling Tiger in the 2011 Count Fleet.

            The 37^th running of the Dogwood (GIII), a one mile race on the main track for 3-year-old fillies, closed May 21 with 23 nominations and its field of probable starters is headed by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s promising Might (Al Stall, Jr.), K.K. and V.D. Jayaraman’s Holy Heavens (Benard Chatters), who finished 13^th to Plum Pretty in the Kentucky Oaks (GI), and Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s Gran Lioness (Bret Calhoun).

            Might is a homebred full sister to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) and Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) winner Blame who brings a two-race winning streak into the Dogwood that includes an impressive allowance victory at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day.  Holy Heavens won Oaklawn’s Marsha Washington and finished second to Joyful Victory in the Honeybee (GIII) and third to that rival in the Fantasy (GII).  Gran Lioness won the Prima Donna at Oaklawn Park and finished sixth to Grade I winner Turbulent Descent in the Beaumont (GII) at Keeneland, her first start over a synthetic racing surface.

            Others listed as “probable” for the Dogwood include Angelica Zapata (Ron Pellegrini), fourth in the Eight Belles (GIII) on Kentucky Oaks Day; Fantasy of Flight (John Terranova), an impressive debut winner at Churchill Downs on Oaks Day in her only start; and Salty Strike (Ken McPeek), a narrowly beaten third in last year’s Debutante (GIII) who returned to form in a seven-length romp in a seven-furlong allowance race on May 20 at Churchill Downs.

            The list of “possible” starters for the Dogwood includes Henny’s Hurricane (McPeek) and Juanita (Mike Maker)..  .

            Ailalea won last year’s running of the Dogwood under Calvin Borel for trainer Todd Pletcher.  

    Entries for both the Dogwood and the Aristides will close on Wednesday, June 1.

LOUISVILLE HANDICAP WINNER KEERTANA’S HALF-SISTER POINTS TO MINT JULEP – Trainer Tom Proctor was still on cloud nine the morning after Barbara Hunter’s homebred Keertana scored a breathtaking photo-finish win over males in the 74^th running of Saturday’s Louisville Handicap (GIII).

             “I was so excited last night that I couldn’t even go to sleep,” Proctor said of the first victory by a filly or mare in the history of the Louisville, which was first run in 1895.

            While Proctor barn was thrilled with Keertana’s historic performance; the team hopes to make more noise in a couple of weeks with Keertana’s half-sister, Snow Top Mountain. The 4-year-old homebred daughter of Najran won the 2010 Arlington Oaks (GIII) is now being pointed to the 35^th running of the Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course on June 11.

            One might think that the half-sisters would have similar personalities, but Proctor says that couldn’t be further from the truth.

            “Keertana is one of the sweetest horses I’ve ever had and Snow Top Mountain is flat-out nasty,” Proctor said. “A couple of weeks ago my friend’s seven-month-old was petting Keertana and she just loved it. You wouldn’t want to do that with Snow Top (Mountain). You have to avoid being bitten by her when you walk down the shedrow.”

            The half-siblings out of Hunter’s homebred Storm Cat mare Motokiks might have differing dispositions, but Proctor has happily found that they have one thing in common.

            “They can both run,” Proctor said. “They definitely share that characteristic.”

            Snow Top Mountain will enter the Mint Julep off an impressive allowance victory on the Kentucky Derby (GI) undercard. The win improved her record to 4-6-0 from 12 starts with earnings of $270,102.

BARN TALK – Three-time Kentucky Derby winner Kent Desormeaux is leading the Churchill Downs jockey colony in Spring Meet stakes victories with three. Desormeaux’s stakes-winning mounts include Diva Ash in the Edgewood, Victoria’s Wildcat in the Eight Belles (GIII), and Aviate-GB in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII).  Three trainers are tied for most stakes victories with two each: Preakness (GI) winner Dale Romans, whose wins came in the Humana Distaff (GI) with Sassy Image and the Edgewood; Proctor, whose Louisville ‘Cap triumph with Keertana joined an earlier victory by Banned in the American Turf (GII), and three-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert, who won the Kentucky Oaks and Alysheba (GIII) with First Dude. …

            Leading Spring Meet jockey Corey Lanerie top all riders in turf victories with four. Overall, Lanerie had won with 20 of his 92 mounts heading into Sunday’s racing beneath the Twin Spires.  Trainers Dale Romans and Tom Proctor have three turf wins each to lead all trainers in that category. …

The majority of Shaun Bridgmohan’s 19 wins have come in sprints. The journeyman jockey was 16-for-51 in sprint contests heading into Sunday’s 10-race program. …

            Little Miss Muffet’s victory in the ninth race at Churchill Downs on Friday gave trainer Tom Amoss his third victory with a 2-year-old during the meet. Sum of the Parts and Culotte were the other winners for Amoss, who is a perfect 3-for-3 with juveniles this spring.   

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (May 21-28) are Corey Lanerie (9-for-35), Shaun Bridgmohan (6-for-28) and Miguel Mena (6-for-29). Brad Cox (4-for-7), Merril Scherer (3-for-7) and Steve Asmussen (3-for-15) are the hottest trainers over the same period. The hottest owners are Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. (3-for-6) and Ken Sentel and Merrill Scherer (2-for-2).     

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Dundalk 5 LLC’s  Dundalk Dust, upset winner of the 2010 Falls City Handicap (GII) for trainer Chris Block, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80, the third fastest move of 19 at the distance.

KEERTANA HOPES TO MAKE HISTORY IN LOUISVILLE HANDICAP – Trainer Tom Proctor is confident that his mare Keertana can hold her own Saturday against males in the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (Grade III) at 1 ½ miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            “There’s a pretty good mare that’s won the last few Breeders’ Cup Mile races (Goldikova),” Proctor said. “If a mare is good enough then she can beat the boys. I could have shipped her and not run against the males, but I wanted to run her where I’m based; here at Churchill Downs.”

Barbara Hunter’s Keertana, a 5-year-old mare who won Keeneland’s Bewitch (GIII) last time out and finished a fast-closing third to Shared Account in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) at Churchill Downs, will take on nine male rivals. No filly or mare has won any of the previous 73 runnings of the Louisville Handicap.

Keertana’s major opposition could come from Stella Perdomo’s Musketier, a German-bred Canadian invader trained by Roger Attfield and the Louisville Handicap’s high weight at 122 pounds. Musketier, who has won the last two renewals of Keeneland’s Elkhorn Handicap (GII) for Attfield, will be ridden by Jesus Castanon.

“The Attfield horse that’s won the last two Elkhorns is going to be really tough,” Proctor said. “There are some nice horses in this field, but he (Musketier) is definitely the horse to beat.”

Other major players include Frank Mancari’s defending winner Free Fighter, who has failed to win in eight races since his 12-1 upset in the 2010 Louisville; Michael Bruder’s Guys Reward, a recent allowance winner at Churchill Downs who finished second for trainer Dale Romans at odds of 40-1 in last year’s Commonwealth Turf (GIII) won by Yankee Fourtune; and Lothenbach Stable’s Bearpath, runner-up to Free Fighter in last year’s Louisville Handicap and second to Telling in the 2010 Sword Dancer Invitational (GI) at Saratoga.

            “It’s definitely a tough race,” Proctor said. “But she’s fit and she’s ready to ready to go.”

POTENTIAL BELMONT STARTERS TRAINING AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – A handful of horses based at Churchill Downs are under consideration for the $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI), the third and final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown.  

Mike Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge’s homebred Shackleford returned to the Churchill Downs backstretch Sunday morning, the day after his triumph in the $1 million Preakness (GI). Trainer Dale Romans will train Shackleford as if he is going to start in the Belmont. The 3-year-old son of Forestry is expected to ship to New York in the next couple of days and will have a workout over the Belmont track before a final decision is made.

Tom Walters’ Santiva, who is probable to start in the final jewel of the Triple Crown, is scheduled to work on the main track Friday morning. Bad weather could delay the work until Saturday. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Santiva finished sixth in his last race, the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).

Donald Adam’s Prime Cut worked four furlongs in :50.20 over a fast Churchill Downs main track Wednesday morning. Trainer Neil Howard lists Prime Cut as “possible” for the Belmont. “We may run, but I want to see who else is going to be in there before I make a decision,” Howard said.

The Steve Asmussen-trained Nehro, runner-up to Animal Kingdom in Kentucky Derby 137, also is under consideration.

The 143^rd running of the Belmont Stakes will take place Saturday, June 11 at Belmont Park. The Bill Mott-trained Drosselmeyer won the 2010 Belmont for WinStar Farm.

BARN TALK – Former jockey Mark Guidry has made a return to the Churchill Downs backstretch to exercise horses for trainer Dale Romans. Guidry, who retired from riding at the conclusion of the 2007 Churchill Downs Fall Meet, is 19^th all-time in career Churchill Downs victories. Guidry’s biggest win under the Twin Spires came when he rode Lemons Forever to win the Kentucky Oaks (GI) in 2006. …  

Jockey Corey Lanerie led all riders last week with eight wins. Lanerie, who has 14 wins at the meet, is second in the jockey standings behind Shaun Bridgmohan with 15 wins. …

Nominations close Saturday for the 35^th running of the $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course on Saturday, June 11. Hot Cha Cha won the 2010 Early Times Mint Julep.

THIS WEEK - The extended holiday weekend of racing at Churchill Downs will feature two graded stakes races, a post-race concert and happy hours, a handicapping contest and three days of Junior Jockey Club events for the kiddos. …

Racing through Monday’s special Memorial Day program will begin daily at 12:45 p.m. ET, with the exception of Friday’s twilight card that begins at 2:45 p.m. ET. …

This week’s featured performer for Friday night’s Paddock Concert Series is Dawn Landes and the Hounds. Brooklyn-based Landes, who was born in Kentucky and raised in Louisville, recently released her fourth album entitled Sweet Heart Rodeo. Her voice, as pure and ringing as any folk, country or indie-rock diva, has been compared to icons Stevie Nicks and Janis Joplin. The concert will begin shortly after the final race around 8 p.m. ET. General admission will be its usual $3 until 7 p.m. but will increase to $10 thereafter. Reserved ticket packages, including a $20 ticket to the Budweiser Select Balcony, which features front-row access, a prime undercover balcony overlooking the paddock and stage, extended drink specials throughout the night and a special gift from Budweiser Select, are available for purchase online at ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets. …

Friday Happy Hours presented by Budweiser Select will take place in the paddock area from 6-8:15 p.m., with $2 Budweiser products, frozen specialty drinks and hot dogs showcased. The music of Eight Inch Elvis will entertain paddock patrons between races

            Saturday’s 11-race card is highlighted by the Grade III, $100,000-added Louisville Handicap, a 1 ½-mile turf test for older horses. It will run as Race 10 at 5:29 p.m. …

            There’ll be three days of crafts and games for children aged 3-10 at Churchill Downs’ Junior Jockey Club located near the Guest Services Booth inside Gate. 10. It’ll be open Saturday through Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Churchill Downs’ mascot Churchill Charlie will be on hand for photographs between 2-2:30 p.m. …

On Sunday, the adults can have their own fun and games in the “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest. It continues each Sunday through June 12 in the Champions Club Lounge with $4,000 in prize money and a coveted first prize package of $1,500 and a spot to compete in the Horse Player World Series each week. The entry fee is $25 (or 25,000 Twin Spires Club points). …

Monday’s special Memorial Day program will feature the Grade III, $100,000-added Winning Colors. Entries for the six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares will be taken Friday.

A rematch of top grass performers Acoma and Keertana, who finished a head apart in the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) on June 5, looms in Saturday's 29th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) at a mile on Chuchill Downs'  Matt Winn Turf Course, the co-featured event on the next-to-last day of racing in the historic track's 42-day Spring Meet.

The Locust Grove is the ninth race on the 11-race Saturday program with an approximate post time of 4:54 p.m. (all times EDT).  First post on Saturday is 12:45 p.m.

Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma will carry top weight of 121 pounds and concede from 1-15 pounds to her 11 rivals in the Locust Grove. Barbara Hunter’s Keertana will carry 120 pounds, the impost she carried when finishing third in the Early Times Mint Julep, a head behind Acoma who carried 122 pounds that day.

The Early Times Mint Julep was the first start of 2010 for Acoma, who counts among her eight career victories graded-stakes scores over the Matt Winn Turf Course in the 2009 Cardinal (GIII) and Early Times Mint Julep as well as a win in the 2008 Mrs. Revere (GII).  She rallied to finish second that day to Hot Cha Cha, a setback that was Acoma’s first defeat in six races on turf and traditional dirt at Churchill Downs.

Trained by David Carroll, Acoma will be ridden by Robby Albarado and break from post position four.

Keertana, trained by Tom Proctor, has compiled a record of 3-2-1 in six races over the Matt Winn Turf Course with her biggest victory coming in the 2009 Regret (GIII). Miguel Mena picks up the mount on Keertana, who has won two of three starts in 2010. Keertana will break from post position seven.

The Locust Grove field includes a pair of horses that earned graded stakes winners win on synthetic Polytrack courses: Alfred Nuckols Jr.’s Danzon and William Pacella, George Bonomo and Fred Barbara’s C.S. Silk.

Trained by Jim Baker, Danzon won the 2007 Kentucky Cup Distaff (GIII) at Turfway Park and is four times graded- or group-stakes placed in her career. Danzon, who has won two turf starts at a mile during the current meet, will carry 116 pounds and break from post position six under Alex Solis.

Dale Romans trains C.S. Silk, winner of the Grade III Arlington-Washington Lassie as a 2-year-old in 2008 at Arlington Park. C.S. Silk will carry 115 pounds and break from post position 11 under Francisco Torres.

The field for the Locust Grove Handicap, from the hedge out, is as follows: Winter’s Circle (Oriana Rossi, 106 pounds), Awesome Grannie (Freddie Lenclud, 114), Sweetest Song (Calvin Borel, 113), Acoma (Albarado, 121), Meadow Saffron (Victor Lebron, 116), Danzon (Solis, 116), Keertana (Mena, 120), War Tigress (Corey Lanerie, 113), Happiness Is (Greta Kuntzweiler, 114), Lady’s Laughter (Shaun Bridgmohan, 114), C.S. Silk (Torres, 115) and Go Ask Alex (Jon Court, 109).

PROCTOR HOPES TO KEEP REGRET ALL IN THE FAMILY – Last year, trainer Tom Proctor secured his second victory in the Regret Stakes (GIII) when Keertana upset the field.\

n Saturday, Proctor will go for a repeat with Keertana’s half-sister, Snow Top Mountain. Both fillies are homebreds, owned by Barbara Hunter.

“This is a lot like last year when I had two of them in there,” Proctor said. “Prytania was the favorite, but it was Mrs. Hunter who went home happy.”

Proctor also has a second starter in the Regret this year in Queen of the Creek, who is the morning line favorite at 7-2. Snow Top Mountain is 12-1 on the line.

“I like both of my fillies,” Proctor said. “Queen of the Creek comes out of the same race that Prytania did last year (the American 1,000 Guineas at Arlington Park). Prytania was fourth in that race last year and Queen of the Creek ran third.

“I know Queen of the Creek is the favorite, but I think Snow Top Mountain will run big.”

Snow Top Mountain’s sire is Najran and Keertana’s sire is Johar. The Regret will be only the fourth start for Snow Top Mountain whereas Keertana was starting for the eighth time in last year’s Regret.

“She (Snow Top Mountain) was a little smaller,” Proctor said of the filly’s later start of the two. “They are both nice fillies and they get better the longer they go.”

In addition to the two fillies, Proctor will be trying for his first victory in the Jefferson Cup (GIII) on Saturday when he sends out Our Douglas. Named in honor of injured jockey Rene Douglas, Our Douglas is 4-1 on the Jefferson Cup morning line.

GOOD OMENS APLENTY FOR NO ADVANTAGE FOSTER RUN – Stephanie Beattie attended her first Kentucky Derby last month and saw Calvin Borel guide Super Saver to victory.

So, when the trainer saddles her first horse at Churchill Downs, who better to ride than Borel?

“The owner (Pablo Suarez) called Calvin’s agent (Jerry Hissam),” said Beattie, trainer of No Advantage. “He said, how often do you get Calvin Borel to ride your horse at Churchill Downs? He is the hottest rider around there.”

Borel got an introduction to No Advantage, who he will ride in Saturday’s Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) on Friday morning with a trip to the track. No Advantage is listed at 30-1 on the morning line, but a big price on a Borel horse in a Grade I race at Churchill Downs is not unprecedented … see Mine That Bird ($103.20) in the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

Beattie has had No Advantage for a year and a half since Suarez bought the horse at auction after the initial ownership group, of which Suarez was a member, broke up.

“We got him when he came up from Louisiana and he won the first time out at Charles Town,” Beattie said of No Advantage, who has posted six of his seven victories in her care. “In his last race, he was second to (Stephen Foster second morning line choice) Blame in the Schaefer at Pimlico and he had some trouble in that race.”

Although the Stephen Foster will mark Beattie’s first start at Churchill Downs, the Suarez colors have been seen here before. Suarez’s Thor’s Echo won the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) here and those silks made their way to the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for a time as part of an exhibit honoring Eclipse Award winners of that year.

DOWNS AFTER DARK MAKES FOR LONG DAY(S) FOR TRACK CREW – Churchill Downs Track Superintendent Butch Lehr spent Friday morning getting ready to tackle his own Daily Double: Possible heavy weather and the first night of Downs After Dark with a 6 p.m. post time.

“The track crew is stretched thin and they are working double shifts,” Lehr said. “Things don’t stop because they aren’t running in the afternoon.”

Lehr’s initial concern Friday was a strong band of storms headed toward the Louisville area.

“It looks like the front is going to get here about 5 this afternoon and then there is a chance of rain Saturday and Sunday,” Lehr said. “We have three races on the turf tonight, but if it rains, I will take them off the turf except for the Opening Verse (overnight stake).”

Lehr sealed the track after morning training was done.

“There is no break,” Lehr said. “If it rains, we will need to float the track. If not, we will continue to put water on the track because the sun takes the moisture out of it.”

Friday night’s final race is scheduled for an 11:20 post time, but the crew’s work is not done once the final official sign is posted.

“After the races, we have to get the track ready for training the morning,” Lehr said of training hours that begin at 6 a.m. “There might be a little lull of a couple of hours, but if it rains, we’ll have to get out and float and seal the track.”

BARN TALK – Jockey Robby Albarado will be seeking his fourth consecutive victory in the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap on Saturday aboard Macho Again. The most  recent rider to win the same Grade I race in four consecutive years was Jorge Chavez, who won the Vosburgh from 1996-99. Angel Cordero Jr., who will be here Saturday for Kentucky Derby Alumni Day to celebrate his two Kentucky Derby victories in the 1970s (Cannonade in 1974 and Bold Forbes in 1976), won the Grade I Woodward five consecutive years (1981-85). Other riders to win Grade I races four years in a row were Bill Shoemaker (Oak Tree Invitational from 1975-78), Gary Stevens (Santa Anita Oaks from 1987-90) and Jerry Bailey (Gulfstream Park Handicap from 1995-98). Pat Day won the Oaklawn Handicap from 1982-85, but that race, now a Grade I, was a Grade II in those years. …

Steve Bass, agent for jockey Julien Leparoux, said the rider is shooting to return to riding by July 1 for the final four days of the Spring Meet. “He goes back to the doctor on June 22and he hopes to get cleared to get back on horses that week,” Bass said of Leparoux, who was injured in a fall May 14 at Pimlico in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (GII). “Our target date to ride is July 1 and then he will stay around here for a few weeks before going to Saratoga (which opens July 23).”

Trainer Paul McGee scratched Demarcation out of Friday night’s Opening Verse overnight stake on the turf to run in Saturday’s Stephen Foster Handicap. …

Making the rounds on the backstretch Friday morning was two-time Kentucky Derby-winning rider Jacinto Vasquez, who is in town for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Alumni Day. Winner of the 1975 Derby on Foolish Pleasure and 1980 on Genuine Risk, Vasquez lives in Ocala, Fla., and works as an agent for Classic Mile Park, a thoroughbred training center that features a regulation one-mile track, a seven-furlong turf course and a three-furlong training track.

WORK TAB – Kentucky Juvenile (GIII) winner Lou Brissie worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 on a fast track.
    
KENTUCKY DERBY LEGENDS OF THE 1970S TO SHINE ON ALUMNI DAY – Saturday is Kentucky Derby Alumni Day at Churchill Downs, saluting connections of some of the stars from the 1970s.

There will be a commemorative print giveaway sponsored by GE that will be distributed to the first 5,000 guests through the gates that open at 11 a.m. (EDT).  From 1-3 p.m. in the Paddock Pavilion, connections of some of the Kentucky Derby winners from the 1970s will be on hand signing the print.
Connections on hand for the autograph session will be:

• 1970 – Dust Commander: Trainer Don Combs and jockey Mike Manganello.
• 1972-73 – Riva Ridge and Secretariat: Jockey Ron Turcotte.
• 1974 and 1976 -- Cannonade and Bold Forbes: Jockey Angel Cordero Jr.
• 1975 – Foolish Pleasure: Jockey Jacinto Vasquez.
• 1977 – Seattle Slew: Trainer Billy Turner and jockey Jean Cruguet.
• 1978 – Affirmed: Owners Patrice Wolfson and Steve Wolfson Sr. and jockey Steve Cauthen.                                         

Others scheduled to attend include: Don Brumfield (1966, Kauai King), Pat Day (1992, Lil E. Tee), Dell Hancock of Claiborne Farm (1984, Swale), Chris McCarron (1987, Alysheba; 1994 Go for Gin); Bobby Ussery (1967, Proud Clarion; 1968, Dancer’s Image) and Lynn Whiting (1992, Lil E. Tee).
Also, this year’s winning jockey Calvin Borel, trainer Todd Pletcher and owners/breeders Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt of WinStar Farm will be on hand to collect their Kentucky Derby trophies in a winner’s circle ceremony after the fifth race.

ASHER TO SPECIAL “GET IN THE GAME” TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE -- John Asher will host a special edition Saturday of the “Get in the Game” seminar in which he will talk to the winning connections and discuss their historic journey through their Triple Crown victories and Kentucky Derby wins in the 1970s.
“Get in the Game” will be located in the paddock starting at 11:30 a.m. and will be featured on all in-house monitors.

Fans also will be able to save up to 50 percent on discounted products from the Official Art of the Kentucky Derby Collection from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

JOCKEY TRADING CARD GIVEAWAY, AUTOGRAPH SESSION SLATED SUNDAY -- The first 2,500 guests to arrive on Sunday, June 13 will receive a free set of jockey trading cards. Gates will open at 11 a.m. (EDT) on Sunday with the trading cards being distributed at Gates 1, 10, and 17.

The cards feature a mixture of current and Hall of Fame jockeys not limited to Churchill Downs’ current jockey colony. Churchill Downs jockeys will be available for an autograph session in the Paddock Pavilion from 11 a.m. to noon.

OFFICIAL LIMITED EDITION RON TURCOTTE BOBBLEHEAD SALES SET SUNDAY -- Official limited edition Ron Turcotte bobbleheads will be on sale between the Churchill Downs store and Gate 17 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 13.

Turcotte, who won the Triple Crown aboard Secretariat in 1973, will be on site to autograph and sell his limited edition bobbleheads.

Only 1,973 of these bobbleheads were manufactured with 500 being available for purchase at $50 each. A portion of the funds raised from the sale will be donated to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Barbara Hunter’s Keertana collared pacesetter C.S. Silk at the head of the stretch and cruised to an easy 4 ¼-length victory in Sunday’s $55,854 feature race for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs.

    Trained by Tom Proctor and ridden by Garrett Gomez, Keertana raced third in the early stages of the 1 1/16-mile race as C.S. Silk cut out fractions of :24.45, :48.08 and 1:11.72. Gomez moved Keertana off the hedge on the far turn, swooped past C.S. Silk and completed the distance on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:42.03.

    Keertana is a 4-year-old homebred daughter of Johar out of the Storm Cat mare Motokiks. The victory, Keertana’s second in two 2010 starts, improved her record over the Matt Winn Turf Course to 5-3-2-0 and was worth $35,280 to swell her career bankroll to $429,525 with a record of 15-6-4-3.

    Keertana returned $2.80 and $2.10 in the field of five in which there was no show wagering. C.S. Silk returned $3.40 to place and was followed in order by Happiness Is, Celtic Princess (BRZ) and French Kiss.

    Racing resumes Thursday with a nine-race program beginning at 12:45 p.m. (EDT).

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

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Paul Pompa Jr.’s Mary’s Follies rolled to a 1 ½-length victory over Keertana in stakes-record time to win the 19th running of the $206,500 Mrs. Revere (Grade II) for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

    Ridden by Kent Desormeaux for trainer Rick Dutrow, Mary’s Follies covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:41.73 to shave more than a second off the stakes mark of 1:42.86 set by Snow Dance in 2001.

    Desormeaux gave Mary’s Follies a ground-saving trip in the field of 14 as War Kill and Romacaca led the field through fractions of :24.23, :48.57 and 1:12.50. Leaving the far turn, Mary’s Follies angled off the hedge and hit the top of the stretch three wide with a clear shot at the leaders.

    Mary’s Follies breezed past Romacaca in the upper stretch, spurted clear and had more than enough to hold off Keertana, who was ridden by Jesus Castanon. Romacaca, ridden by E. T. Baird, held on for third another length back and finished a neck ahead of favored Hot Cha Cha, ridden by James Graham.

    A Kentucky-bred daughter of More Than Ready, Mary’s Follies’ victory was worth $116,509 and increased her earnings to $317,889. Now 2-for-2 on the grass, Mary’s Follies improved her career record to 9-4-3-1.

    Mary’s Follies rewarded her backers with mutuels of $20.80, $11.40 and $8.40. Keertana returned $14 and $7.80 with Romacaca paying $10.80 to show.

    Racing resumes Sunday with a 10-race program headlined by the sixth running of the $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (GIII) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. First post time Sunday is 12:40 p.m. (all times ET) with the Commonwealth Turf going at 4:37 p.m. as the ninth race.

    There is a 10-day carryover of $164,755.24 in the Pick 6 that requires bettors to pick the winners in Races 5-10. Also, there is a $10,273.67 carryover in the Super Hi-5 that requires bettors to select the first five finishers in order in the 10th race.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE MRS. REVERE

RICK DUTROW, trainer of MARY’S FOLLIES, winner (via telephone from a New York apartment): “She was training unbelievable for the last month. It looks like she might be just a grass horse. She’s a nice little filly. The jock gave her a great ride, and she had a great trip. All good there.”

KENT DESORMEAUX, jockey of MARY’S FOLLIES, winner: “When I was in the paddock before the race I was told that I had a loaded gun underneath me. All I had to do was aim and pull the trigger. She (Mary’s Follies) put me into a great position. She broke very smart and put us into a very energetic spot, and that set us up very well for the rest of the trip. She was really full of run when crossing under the wire today. She was really breathing fire today. This one really seems to have found herself on the turf. We beat a very good bunch of proven horses. She is just a very nice filly.”

TOM PROCTOR, trainer of KEERTANA, runner-up: “You can’t be five-wide on both turns and the winner be on the fence – and that’s not cussing the jockey, that’s cussin’ the post position.  The winner gets through on the fence and mine on both turns was four-or-five wide.  That’s the way it goes.
    “This was a tough race and the reason this race came up like this is that everybody had their horse running all year long.  And kudos to whoever was in this race, because a lot of them had run at a high level all year long, and that’s why the race came up so tough.  Usually you don’t see that – you see one or two of those come in like that, but all these trainers kept their horses around all year long.  
    “She’ll get a break similar to what we did last year.  We’ll go to Ocala (Fla.) and give her a couple of months off, then we’ll start back up and have her ready for Keeneland, hopefully.”

JESUS CASTANON, jockey on KEERTANA, runner-up: “She ran good.  We talked this morning, Tom (Proctor) and me, and we figured there was going to be a little more speed and the pace was going to be a little tough in the beginning.   But everything just went the opposite way and I was up there close.
    “I really can’t take anything away from her – she really gave me a nice race.  It was just one of those deals.  This horse responds really good when you get to the stretch – she really kicks in.  My filly was chasing the winner, but she just got through on us.”

PHILIP SIMS, trainer of HOT CHA CHA, fourth as the favorite: “She ran well, she just had a little traffic trouble.  And the pace was a little slow.  I was expecting (a half-mile) in :46 or :47, but they went in :48-and-change and three-quarters in (a minute) 12, and I thought ‘Uh-oh.’  But they finished up in a pretty fast time.”
Q: She’s had a great year … “She’s been a lot of fun this year.  She’ll get a little time off and come back here next spring.”

JAMES GRAHAM, jockey on HOT CHA CHA, fourth as the favorite: “I might have taken her back a little bit too far.  I thought they were going to go a little quicker, but I was already committed to sitting on her.  I should have asked her a little earlier, but that’s racing today.  She run a good race – it just wasn’t her day today.”

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Nelson McMakin’s Hot Cha Cha, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (Grade I) at Keeneland on Oct. 17, and Waratah Thoroughbreds’ Miss World, winner of the Garden City (GI) at Belmont Park on Sept. 12, top an overflow field of 17 3-year-old fillies entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 19th running of the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (GII).

The Mrs. Revere, run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the ninth race on Saturday’s 10-race program that has a first post time of 12:40 p.m. (all times EST). Post time for the Mrs. Revere is 4:37 p.m.

Trained by Phil Sims, Hot Cha Cha took the QE II by 4 ½ lengths under James Graham, who will be aboard Saturday and break from post position seven. Prior to the Keeneland victory, Hot Cha Cha won the Grade III Pucker Up at Arlington Park.  Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia installed the daughter of Cactus Ridge was installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite for the Mrs. Revere.

Miss World, trained by Christophe Clement, finished fourth in the QE II in her first start since winning the Garden City. Rajiv Maragh has the return call on Miss World, the 4-1 second choice in the morning line who will break from position three. Both Hot Cha Cha and Miss World will carry 123 pounds and concede 4-6 pounds to their rivals.

Barbara Hunter’s Keertana, the 8-1 co-third choice and winner of the Regret (GIII) here in June, will attempt to become the first filly to win the Regret and Mrs. Revere. Trained by Tom Proctor, Keertana will break from post position 11 under 119 pounds and be ridden by Jesus Castanon.  Among the fillies Keertana defeated in the Regret was Mrs. Revere rival Hot Cha Cha, who ran a close third that day.

Also listed at 8-1 is Three Chimneys Racing, LLC’s Miss Keller (IRE), a daughter of Montjeu who just missed last time out as the runner-up to Eye of Taurus in a division of Keeneland’s Valley View (GIII).  Jockey Eurico Da Silva will return to the saddle aboard Miss Keller, an Irish import who makes her third start in North America for trainer Roger Attfield, a member of Canada’s Racing Hall of Fame.

The field for the Mrs. Revere, from the hedge out (with jockey, weight and morning line odds), is as follows: C.S. Silk (F. Torres, 117 pounds, 10-1), Kiawah Cat (S. Bridgmohan, 117, 15-1), Miss World (R. Maragh, 123, 4-1), Striking Dancer (R. Albarado, 117, 12-1), Mary’s Follies (K. Desormeaux, 117, 10-1), War Kill (J. Court, 117, 20-1), Hot Cha Cha (J. Graham, 123, 3-1), Bluegrass Princess (J. Velazquez, 117, 12-1), Romacaca (E. Baird, 117, 10-1), Miss Keller (Ire) (E. Da Silva, 117, 8-1), Keertana (J. Castanon, 119, 8-1), Redreamit (C. Borel, 117, 20-1), Obsequious (W. Martinez, 117, 30-1) and Single Solution (E. Perez, 117, 30-1). The also eligibles are Aaroness (S. Bridgmohan, 117, 30-1), Alice’s Smart (L. Goncalves, 117, 30-1) and Bum Bum (Fr) (C. Borel, 117, 30-1).

Barbara Hunter’s Keertana held off a late bid by The Best Day Ever by a neck to win Saturday’s 40th

running of the $174,600 Regret (Grade III) for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs and top off a five-victory day for jockey Robby Albarado.

            Trained by Tom Proctor, Keertana had given Albarado his 4,000th career victory on May 30. On Saturday, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Johar out of the Storm Cat mare Motokiks gave Albarado a second stakes victory to go with his score aboard Macho Again in the Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I).

            Keertana covered the 1 1/8 miles on the firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:52.02. The victory was her third in eight starts and was worth $105,004 and increased her earnings to $179,664. The victory in the Regret was the second for Proctor, who won the race in 2005 with Rich In Spirit.

            Keertana returned $14.80, $6.60 and $4.20. The Best Day Ever, ridden by Corey Lanerie, returned $8 and $4.40 in finishing a neck ahead of Hot Cha Cha, who paid $3.40 to show under Jesus Castanon. Finishing another 1 ¼ lengths back was Banker’s Choice, who was followed in order by Super Poni, Oculuna, Prytania and Rena.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE REGRET

ROBBY ALBARADO, jockey of KEERTANA (winner)

“Days like today you want to show up and your horses show up as well. I had some great trips and was well mounted all day. I got to ride a really good two-year-old filly (Hot Dixie Chick) for Steve Asmussen, who broke a track record (five furlongs in :58.48), Macho Again, and this filly (Keertana). This filly just keeps getting better with every race. She broke very sharp today and put herself in a forward position. As we went on the backside I felt a little pressure when a couple of the horses started making a move. She turned them away and then held off the late closing (Ken) McPeek filly (The Best Day Ever).”

            Q: What about winning the Stephen Foster for the last three years?

            “I’ll tell you what, I rode one of my worst races ever in the Stephen Foster aboard Mineshaft in 2003 against Perfect Drift. I’m still not over that yet, but to win it the last three years is very special to me. I’m overjoyed by it. I have been fortunate enough to ride some real good horses in this race.”

TOM PROCTOR, trainer of KEERTANA (winner)

“Good for her (owner Barbara Hunter). She has been in the business forever. I have known her a long time. Last year we got a lucky and won a little stake at Arlington Park and this is even better for her. (Jockey) Robby (Albarado) gets along with Keertana and did a good job. I might go to Virginia (for the Grade III, $150,000 Virginia Oaks on July 18 at Colonial Downs) with her. You never know.”

COREY LANERIE, jockey of THE BEST DAY EVER (runner-up)

“She ran awesome.  It was just unfortunate that there was not enough pace for me, but she gave me everything she had.”

Q: Did you think that, despite the lack of pace, you still might get there?

“All the way through the stretch there was no point that I thought I was going to lose, but the wire just kept coming closer and closer and I didn't get by her. But she gave me everything she had; it was a great effort.”

JESUS CASTANON, jockey of HOT CHA CHA (third)

“I had to kind of take her up at the beginning.  Around the three-eighths pole I was sitting there waiting and hoping for the best.  A hole finally opened at the eighth pole and I went through, but it was a little too late.  She ran a good race, but she could have used a little racing luck.”

JULIEN LEPAROUX, jockey of PRYTANIA (seventh as the favorite)

“I just took her back and saved ground, but she never really run after that.  There’s not really much excuse.  She just didn’t run today.”

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Veteran rider Robby Albarado became the 56th North American rider to reach the 4,000-victory milestone Saturday when he rode Barbara Hunter’s Keertana ($5.20) to victory in the ninth race at Churchill Downs.

            In his milestone triumph, Albarado split horses in deep stretch on the Matt Winn Turf Course to edge Kiss Mine for the victory.

A 35-year-old native of Lafayette, La., Albarado rode his first winner at age 16 at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana. Albarado, who won his first Churchill Downs riding title at the 2008 Spring Meet, has ridden 811 of his winners beneath the Twins Spires, sixth-most in track history.

Albarado was the regular rider for two-time “Horse of the Year” Curlin on which he earned his only victory in a Triple Crown race, the 2007 Preakness. Albarado also was the regular rider for 2003 “Horse of the Year” Mineshaft.

In his career, Albarado has ridden more than 24,000 races with earnings in excess of $149 million.

POST RACE QUOTES – ROBBY ALBARADO

ROBBY ALBARADO, jockey, following his 4,000th career win

“I guess my next goal would be 5,000. That’s kind of the end your career or the retirement number for most jocks. Once you get to that 5,000, you start looking for the way out. I’m not saying that’s my way out, but you set goals for yourself.

“I never thought I’d get to 4,000 so it’s an honor. I’ve got to congratulate all of the owners and trainers who have supported me continuously throughout the years. They stuck by me, and it’s pretty much been the same guys for the last 10 to 15 years.”