Steve Penrod

ZENYATTA EXPERIENCE LEAVES LASTING IMPRESSION ON PENROD – Trainer Steve Penrod has been stabled at Churchill Downs for more than 20 years, most of the time in Barn 41.

He has seen a lot of top horses walk that shedrow, but nothing prepared him for last week when he shared his barn with Zenyatta.

“There have been a lot of horses here that people knew about like A.P. Indy, Fusaichi Pegasus and Sunday Silence, but I have never seen anything like that and I doubt we will ever see it again,” Penrod said. “It was just the right combination of the horse and the connections.”

Zenyatta arrived at Churchill Downs last Tuesday and returned to California on Sunday night after her runner-up finish to Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). Wherever she went, traffic came to a halt.

“I had no idea it would be like that until the first day she got here with the police escort and 200 to 300 people just waiting to see her,” Penrod said.

On Sunday, trainer John Shirreffs brought Zenyatta out for extended periods of time to graze near the fence that runs along Longfield Avenue so that people, both inside the track and those on Longfield, could see the mare.

“People were asking John if they could get their picture taken with Zenyatta,” Penrod said. “He told me that if he could have cut a hole in the fence, he would have let everybody in. She would do anything. The Mosses (owners Jerry and Ann Moss) were signing autographs and posters and so was John. It was incredible. People were coming out in taxis to see her.”

Another trainer who was stunned at the Sunday gathering was Tony Reinstedler.

“I came back to the barn about 4:30 to help Drew (Coontz) get his filly (Askbut I Won’ttell) ready for the Cardinal (Handicap), and I saw cars parked all along Longfield,” said Reinstedler, who was an assistant to Shug McGaughey when 1988 Juvenile champion and beaten 1989 Kentucky Derby favorite Easy Goer was in the barn. “Easy Goer was fan friendly, but I never saw anything like this.”

THERIOT SAVORS BREEDERS’ CUP RIDING DOUBLE – Jockey Jamie Theriot still was beaming Wednesday morning, four days removed from completing a Breeders’ Cup riding double over the weekend.

Have you come down yet?

“Nope, not yet,” said the 31-year-old Louisiana native, who earned his first Breeders’ Cup victory on Friday with Dubai Majesty’s 2 ¼-length victory in the Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) and came back the next day to win the Turf Sprint on Chamberlain Bridge by 1 ½ lengths.

"I have been fortunate enough to ride in these types of races and do well,” said Theriot, one of three riders to earn their initial Breeders’ Cup victories over the two-day Championships at Churchill Downs. “You work 363 days a year for days like that and then it is back to Ground Zero. There are a lot of people involved and it is great to be able to compete in the event.”

What made the victories even sweeter was that both horses were trained by Bret Calhoun.

“I have been riding for Bret for eight or nine years,” Theriot said. “To see people from Louisville do well was very gratifying.”

HOMEISTER ENJOYS FAST START TO EXTENDED CHURCHILL STAY – One rider who has gotten a fast start out of the gate at the meet is Rosemary Homeister Jr., who has notched four victories from just 13 mounts, including a riding double on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Florida native is riding at Churchill Downs on a full-time basis for the first time in her career that has been spent mostly at Florida and Mid-Atlantic region tracks.

“My agent Steve Elzey has my book at Tampa and he suggested I come to Kentucky after Delaware Park ended and ride the mini-meet before going to Florida,” Homeister said. “It’s a good opportunity and I’ve had a good start.”

Homeister’s first trip to Churchill Downs came in 2003 when she rode in the Kentucky Derby on Supah Blitz, who finished 13th behind Funny Cide after breaking from the No. 1 post position.

“I was on the one horse the other day and it felt like I was back at the Derby being the first one on the track,” Homeister said. “Churchill Downs is such a prestigious track. When I come back next spring for the Derby, I will feel like I have this track down pat.”

Also coming to Churchill Downs from Delaware Park is Irwin Rosendo, who also is represented by Elzey.

The Delaware Park meet ended Saturday and Rosendo will see his first local action Thursday when he is named on three mounts.

A 31-year-old native of Venezuela, Rosendo finished fourth in the rider standings at Delaware Park with 81 victories and previously has ridden at Tampa as well as at tracks in Ohio.

BARN TALK – The portable fencing around Barn 45 that served as one of the quarantine barns during the Breeders’ Cup is scheduled to begin coming down Wednesday according to track superintendent Butch Lehr. However, the fencing around Barn 42 will remain up.

“We are going to use it again next year, so we will just leave it up,” Lehr said. “There are gates, so horses can still to back there to graze and the horsemen like it because it will keep people back from their horses.”

A BIG THUMBS UP FOR NIGHT RACING AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – More than a few folks were moving a bit slower than usual on the Churchill Downs backstretch Friday morning after the third “Downs After Dark” night racing program attracted a crowd of 33,481.

    Trainer Jinks Fires wasn’t one of them as he was stepping lively after his Iftheshoefits won the 11th race that went off at 11:23 p.m. EDT. “A great night,” said the still-beaming Fires.

    His sentiment was echoed by many veteran Churchill Downs conditioners who would not be surprised to see more racing under the stars beneath the Twin Spires.

    “They got something that works,” Steve Penrod said. “No question lights will be permanent. As long as they make each night an event, it will work. Last night was a perfect evening with the weather and it was very impressive.”

    “I loved it,” said Buff Bradley, who came to the races even though he did not have a horse running on the 11-race card. “I didn’t think they’d have as many as they had the first two nights, but as long as it remains a novelty on Friday night I think it will do well … I can see people saying ‘I’ll meet you at Churchill Downs’ and it will be the thing to do.”

    The first “Downs After Dark” program on June 19 attracted 28,011 fans with another 27,623 turning out on June 26 for a three-night total of 89,115.

    “I went to all three of them and I thought they were great,” Hal Wiggins said. “It was a good move. It looked to me like there were a lot of people really enjoying themselves.

    “I don’t know what the per capita (wagering) was and it may have been down, but I think the handle was way up and you can’t gripe about that. My hat’s off to Churchill Downs for doing something different.

    “It used to be you could just open the gates and the people would come, but now there is a lot of competition. They had some problems the first night, but they rectified those things the second night.”

    Does Wiggins envision lights becoming part of the future here and being a big hit?

    “I would think so,” Wiggins said of the special programs, “as long as they don’t over-saturate it.”

TENSAS YUCATAN HOPES TO FIND ELUSIVE CHURCHILL DOWNS SUCCESS – James Spence’s Tensas Yucatan has been a terror in her home state of Louisiana, posting a record of 8-4-0 in 14 races.

That success has not translated to Churchill Downs, a fact trainer Ralph Nicks hopes to reverse on Sunday when he sends Tensas Yucatan postward in the 28th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (Grade III).

A 5-year-old daughter of Ide, Tensas Yucatan finished ninth on the main track in the 2007 La Troienne (Grade III) and came back that fall to finish 10th on the turf in the Mrs. Revere (Grade II).

“When she ran here in the spring as a 3-year-old, she got beat up pretty bad in that race,” Nicks said. “When we brought her back in the fall, she caught a course that was a little soft and she really does her best on firm turf.”

Four of Tensas Yucatan’s eight victories have come on firm turf and she is 2-for-2 at the Locust Grove distance of a mile. She will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. on Sunday and break from post position one, carrying 116 pounds.

MINE THAT BIRD RIDER SITUATION UNRESOLVED – Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird remains without a confirmed rider for the West Virginia Derby (Grade II) on Aug. 1 at Mountaineer.

    “I am looking for a rider that will fit my horse best,” trainer Chip Woolley said Friday morning. Woolley started the search for a rider when he did not receive a commitment from Kentucky Derby winning rider Calvin Borel for the race at Mountaineer.

    Mine That Bird’s schedule after the West Virginia Derby is the Shadwell Travers (Grade I) at Saratoga on Aug. 29 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) at Santa Anita on Nov. 7 with the possibility of a race between the Travers and Breeders’ Cup.

    Mine That Bird galloped twice around Friday on the main track before the renovation break with exercise rider Rudy Gallegos up.

    “I know we are working Monday morning,” Woolley said. “I’m not sure who will work him.”    

BET OR NO BET SWEEPSTAKES REWARDS FIVE GAMBLING SOULS – One of the features of the three “Downs After Dark” programs was the “Bet or No Bet” sweepstakes in which five names would be drawn at random each night for the chance to win $100 cash or put a $1,000 win bet on a horse in a designated race.

    Three of the 15 took the cash, but five others cashed in big time when their horses won. In all, the five winners took home $15,600 with the biggest payday going to David Sherry of Louisville whose $1,000 bet turned into $7,900 when Candid Image won the seventh race on June 26.

    The other four big winners also were from Louisville. Billy Warrick won $2,400 on June 19 and on Thursday night, Michelle Clubb was the big winner with a $2,800 return. Amy Linton and Laura Burnam had to sweat out lengthy photos to claim $1,500 and $2,000 checks, respectively, in dead-heat victories.

BARN TALK – With three racing programs left in the Spring Meet, Julien Leparoux holds a 62-56 advantage over Calvin Borel in the race for leading rider. Friday’s twilight program will be the last for Leparoux, who has commitments out of town on Saturday and Sunday. Leparoux has seven mounts Friday and Borel has eight. Borel will be riding in New York on Saturday but returns for Sunday’s closing-day card in which he has 10 mounts … Churchill Downs announcer/commentator Mark Johnson will be Jill Byrne’s guest on Saturday, July 4 for the final “Get in the Game” handicapping seminar at noon (all times EDT) in the paddock.   Johnson, who was chosen to succeed the late Luke Kruytbosch following an international search by Churchill Downs, made history as the first announcer to call both the Kentucky Derby and Britain’s famed Epsom Derby, the race upon which the “Run for the Roses” was modeled.  In the event of poor weather, the popular “Get in the Game” handicapping seminar will be held in Silks on the second floor of the clubhouse.  

MILESTONE WATCH -- William Connelly, who has 999 career victories, goes for No. 1,000 late Friday when he sends out Knownforstone in the 11th race at Churchill Downs. Connelly’s last chance to reach the milestone at the current meet if he does not get it Friday will be Seaside Princess in Saturday’s first race.

WILL MINE THAT BIRD FLY HIGH IN THE BELMONT? OPINIONS VARY – The question of the day Friday morning on the Churchill Downs backstretch centered on Saturday’s Belmont Stakes (Grade I) and Mine That Bird’s quest for two-thirds of the Triple Crown.
    A sampling of trainers seemed to indicate that “Bird” would be the word, but there were some reservations from others. The sampling of the responses as to who wins the Belmont:
    Carl Nafzger, trainer of Kentucky Derby winners Unbridled and Street Sense: “The winner? The one that gets there first! It is a difficult race to handicap. People thought Alydar would catch Affirmed (with the added distance). I am pulling for the Bird, but speed in the Belmont is dangerous and Kiaran McLaughlin’s horse (Charitable Man) has it. Class, Mine That Bird’s got it. It is going to be interesting to watch.”
    David Carroll, trainer of 2008 Belmont runner-up Denis of Cork: “Charitable Man. I think he is going to lay off the pace. He is bred to get the trip and he is a fresh horse.”
    Hal Wiggins, trainer of Rachel Alexandra when she won the Kentucky Oaks (GI): “Mine That Bird.”
    Ken McPeek, trainer of 2002 Belmont Stakes winner Sarava: “Dunkirk.”
     Tom Amoss, a new member of the 300-win club at Churchill Downs: “Mine That Bird. He’s the best 3-year-old boy in the country.”
    Lynn Whiting, an even newer member of the 300-win club at Churchill Downs and conditioner of 1992 Kentucky Derby winner Lil E. Tee: “It will be an interesting race. The little horse (Mine That Bird) makes you respect him. The mile and a half is a different kind of race and not many want it.”
          Forrest Kaelin, eighth-leading trainer all time at Churchill Downs with 312 victories: “Mine That Bird. I don’t see anything in there that can close like him.”
Scooter Dickey, who was on the Kentucky Derby trail this spring with Flat Out: “The Bird! He’ll gallop.”
Steve Penrod, veteran Churchill Downs conditioner: “Mine That Bird’s a solid horse, but for an upset special look for something of (Nick) Zito’s. One of his horses (Brave Victory or Miner’s Escape) has a shot.”
    Greg Foley, who got Churchill Downs career victory No. 292 on Thursday: “I kind of like the little ol’ Bird. I hope he wins it.”
    Buff Bradley, trainer of millionaire and recent Louisville Handicap winner Brass Hat: “I think Charitable Man has a pretty good shot. His only bad race has been on Polytrack at Keeneland. But if you listen to Calvin (Borel), you think it is his horse (Mine That Bird).”

PERFECT ON TURF, TIZAQUEENA FACES HUGE TEST IN MINT JULEP – Darley Stable’s Tizaqueena stepped up admirably in her first foray into graded stakes company when she won the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (Grade II) on the Kentucky Derby  undercard on May 2.
 On Saturday, she will be asked to step up again when she faces such accomplished rivals as Pure Clan and Acoma in the 33rd running of the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (Grade III) at a mile and a sixteenth on the Matt Winn Turf Course.
    Tizaqueena arrived at Churchill Downs on Thursday from Arlington Park, where she has had four works since her Derby Day triumph.
    “The Mint Julep was one of the races we looked at,” trainer Mike Stidham said of Tizaqueena. “We also looked at the Just a Game (Grade I at Belmont Park on Saturday), but that was a little tougher than what we wanted. But the Mint Julep is tough, too.”
    Tizaqueena, a 4-year-old daughter of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner Tiznow out of the Mr. Prospector mare Issaqueena, broke her maiden at first asking on the main track at Fair Grounds last December. After two more dirt starts, Tizaqueena moved to the turf, where she is undefeated in three starts.
    “The condition she was eligible for was on the turf,” Stidham said of the move to the grass. “She has turf breeding on the female side of her family.”
    In the Distaff Turf Mile, Tizaqueena pressed the pace and then withstood a challenge from the more experienced Dawn After Dawn in deep stretch to win going away.
    “I am not surprised by her success,” Stidham said. “She had always shown she had ability. When they take that next step, you never know if they are going to take it, but she sure did when (Dawn After Dawn) got to her neck.”
    Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride Tizaqueena for the first time Saturday and break from post position seven. Tizaqueena will carry 119 pounds, three fewer than Pure Clan who has won four of six turf starts, and one fewer than Acoma, who is 2-for-2 on turf.

‘SECONDITIS’ GETTING A LITTLE OLD FOR MARGOLIS – The 2009 Spring Meet got off to a great start for trainer Steve Margolis with four winners from his first seven starters.
    Five weeks later, Margolis still has four wins … to go with 13 second-place finishes, more than any conditioner on the grounds.
    “My horses have been running very good, I couldn’t ask for any more,” said Margolis, who has 36 horses stabled here. “We have had some very tough beats.”
    Perhaps the toughest beat Margolis had came in a May 7 allowance race when Northern Belle was nipped by the smallest of noses by Oculuna right on the wire.
    “She is entered for the main track only Friday, but I think I am going to send to her to Philadelphia Park for a $200,000 stake (the Jostle) next Saturday,” Margolis said. “(Owner) Mr. (Martin) Cherry is from up there and it will give him a chance to be with his family and see the horse run, too.”
    Adding to the run of bad luck for Margolis for the disqualification of Lady Chace from second to third in the May 25 Winning Colors (Grade III) and Cash Refund had the misfortune of hooking up against Capt. Candyman Can in the May 16 Matt Winn to suffer his first defeat in three starts.
    Margolis is pointing Cash Refund to the $200,000 Jersey Shore (Grade III) at six furlongs at Monmouth Park on July 5.
    “I hope to start turning some of these seconds and around and finish with a real good meet,” said Margolis, who sends out Wild Bushrose in Friday’s opener.

AMOSS JOINS BYRNE FOR SATURDAY’S ‘GET IN THE GAME’ SEMINAR – Trainer and television racing analyst Tom Amoss will discuss the Belmont Stakes and more when he joins Churchill Downs’ Jill Byrne for her weekly “Get in the Game” handicapping seminar on Saturday, June 6.
    Amoss, a New Orleans native who is a two-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs, also serves as a racing analyst for TVG and will offer his perspective on Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird’s bid for the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
    Byrne’s recent guests in the seminar have included two-time Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel and Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr., trainer of Mine That Bird.
    
MILESTONE WATCH – Trainer David Vance has two shots Friday at getting his 300th victory at Churchill Downs. Vance sends out My Little Connor in the second race and Closetoaten in the ninth.

BARN TALK – Leroidugazon became the second offspring to 2005 champion turf male Leroidesanimaux to reach the races when he ran third to stablemate Grand Slam Andre in Thursday’s seventh race. Cathy and Bob Zollars own Leroidugazon, who is trained by Steve Asmussen. Elegant Beauty is the first Leroidesanimaux to race, having finished fourth and fifth in two Calder starts last month. …
    Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is scheduled to return to Louisville at 9:30 a.m. Monday from Belmont Park. Coming on the same flight with Mine That Bird is Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I) candidate Arson Squad.
    Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said that Asiatic Boy would ship to Churchill Downs on Wednesday or Thursday for the Stephen Foster, which will serve as the 6-year-old’s U.S. debut. A winner of 7 of 15 career starts, Asiatic Boy has earned more than $3 million in his career.
 
WORK TAB – West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, prepping for next Saturday’s $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap, worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 over a fast track Friday morning. The move was the fastest of 18 at the distance.  Macho Again won the Derby Trial (GIII) and was runner-up to Big Brown in the Preakness (GI), and took this year’s New Orleans Handicap (GIII) at Fair Grounds.