Locust Grove

BOREL GETS FIRST SPRING MEET RIDING TITLE – Jockey Calvin Borel popped the gate on opening day by winning five races and never looked back in winning his first Spring Meet riding title at Churchill Downs.
“That first day felt good, but it is a long meet and you never know what will happen,” said Borel, who won an outright Fall Meet title in 1999 and shared Fall honors in 2006 and 2009. “But I have ridden here so long, it is like being in my yard and I am happy here.”

In addition to the most number of wins, Borel led all riders with five stakes victories, starting opening day with Hurricane Ike in The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (Grade III) and coming back a week later to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) on Super Saver.  The latter victory for Borel was an unprecedented third triumph in four years in the “Run for the Roses.”

"I’ve had a good meet. I rode some good horses and I’d like to thank the trainers for giving me the opportunities,” Borel said. “But winning the Derby, man, that made everything.”

With 49 winners entering Sunday’s final card, Borel was in position to have his second-best Spring Meet in terms of numbers with 10 mounts. Borel rode 61 winners last spring and he had 52 winners in both 2006 and 2008. He also hit the 50-win mark in 1998 with 50 and in 2001 and 2002 when he had 51 in both years.

Other stakes winners Borel rode were defending Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Fleur de Lis (GII), Atta Boy Roy in the Churchill Downs (GII) and Ailalea in the Dogwood (GIII).

Borel will take some time off after the meet ends and before heading to Saratoga for that meet that begins July 23.

LOCUST GROVE WINNER DANZON SARATOGA BOUND – Trainer Jim Baker was still shaking his head in amazement Sunday morning after Danzon prevailed in a six-horse photo finish in Saturday’s one-mile Locust Grove Handicap (GIII).

"I thought for sure we got beat,” Baker said. “You get caught up in all the emotion after the race and then the camera showed the four (Acoma) and 90 percent of the time, those guys are right.

“Then they put up the 6-9, and I thought I was the nine.”

Baker claimed Danzon for $80,000 for owner Alfred Nuckols Jr., and this was the 7-year-old mare’s first start in his care.

“I am just glad she ran so well,” Baker said. “I have lost a lot of close ones, but even if you get beat a nose, you know you ran well. She will go to Saratoga for sure and we will look around and see what they have up there.”

Happiness Is, who finished a nose back in second and Keertana, who was fifth beaten three noses and a neck, were both doing well Sunday morning according to Fergus Bogle, assistant to trainer Tom Proctor who was in Chicago where his Snow Top Mountain ran second in Saturday’s Arlington Oaks (GIII).

"Happiness Is may to go Canterbury for the race she won last year (the $100,000 Lady Canterbury at a mile on the turf on July 24)),” Bogle said. “Keertana is still on track for the Beverly D. (GI on Aug. 21). She had a wide trip and still only got beat a half-length.”

The Beverly D. also remains the target for favored Acoma, who finished fourth beaten two noses and a neck.

“I thought she ran a good race,” trainer David Carroll said. “It was just her second race back, she was giving weight and just got beat a neck. I am not disappointed at all. I don’t think she saw the horses on the outside and I think that she thought she had won.”

Carroll said that Acoma would remain here until just before the Beverly D, run at 1 3/16 miles, a distance Carroll says is more to Acoma’s liking.

PURE CLAN TO RESUME GALLOPING MONDAY MORNING – As exercise rider Steve Schmelzel brought Pure Clan off the track after jogging a mile, trainer Bob Holthus sported a broad smile.

“She looks a lot happier out there than she was all last year,” Holthus said as Pure Clan bucked her way back to Barn 32. “She will start galloping again tomorrow.”

Owned by Lewis Lakin, Pure Clan has been battling a bruised left front foot this spring. She refused to train the morning of May 6 and the 5-year-old mare was given time off at Lakin’s farm in Versailles and spent time on an aqua-tread.

“She has been on the treadmill for 45 days, so it won’t be that long until she works,” said Holthus of Pure Clan, who returned to the barn Thursday and has jogged the past two mornings. “So far, I like what I see from her.”

Pure Clan, who has compiled a career record of 8-4-3 in 16 races with earnings of $1,987,498, has not raced since a runner-up finish to Midday in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) last November at Santa Anita. That race, scheduled for Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs, is the ultimate goal for Pure Clan who will spend the summer here.

"We are going to try to make the Flower Bowl (GI),” Holthus said of an October race at Belmont Park that Pure Clan won last year. “That would give us the best chance to make the Breeders’ Cup.”

BARN TALK – Maggi Moss’ final starter of the meet, Don’t Shoot, rewarded Moss with her ninth winner of the meet and a two-win cushion over Ken and Sarah Ramsey entering the final day of the meet. The Ramseys, winners of the past five meet-leading owner titles and a record 16 overall (eight Spring and eight Fall), picked up their seventh winner of the meet in Saturday’s fourth race with Custers Last Stand. The Ramseys have six horses entered Sunday. Moss’ lone Churchill Downs leading owner title came in the 2007 Spring Meet. …

Steve Asmussen, who swept the training titles at both meets in 2009, rode the victory by Kantharos in the Bashford Manor (GIII) to open a 24-18 advantage on Dale Romans and clinch at least a tie for the title. Eyeing his fourth Spring Meet title and eighth overall, Asmussen has five horses entered Sunday and Romans has six. …

Shaun Bridgmohan was blanked Saturday, keeping his Churchill Downs victory total at 297. Bridgmohan is named on six mounts Sunday in his bid to become the 19th rider to reach 300 victories at Churchill Downs. …

Trainer Neil Howard reported that Dogwood Stable’s Lou Brissie probably would head to Saratoga after his runner-up effort on Kantharos in the Bashford Manor. “He is fine this morning,” Howard said of Lou Brissie, who suffered his first loss in three starts. “That was a good colt that beat him and we knew that going in.”

WORK TAB – Hull, winner of the 2009 Derby Trial (GIII), worked a half-mile in :47.60 over a fast track, fastest of 63 at the distance. … Colizeo, winner of last month’s Northern Dancer (GIII), worked a half-mile in :48.40, fourth best of the morning at the distance.

Alfred Nuckols Jr.’s Danzon got up in the final stride to edge 48-1 longshot Happiness Is by a nose as part of a six-horse photo finish to win the 29th running of the $116,200 Locust Grove Handicap (Grade III) for fillies and mares racing one mile on the turf on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

War Tigress, ridden by Corey Lanerie, and Happiness Is, ridden by Greta Kuntzweiler led the field of 11 through fractions of :24.84, :48.72 and 1:12.94 while Danzon, under Alex Solis, raced near the back of the pack.

Turning for home, Happiness Is assumed command as the field spread out with favored Acoma, carrying top weight of 121 pounds under Robby Albarado, rallying three wide to the inside of Happiness Is while Danzon charged toward the leaders seven wide to snatch the victory in the final jump.

Trained by Jim Baker, Danzon ran the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:37.02 under 116 pounds. The victory was worth $67,721 for the 7-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Royal Academy out of the Kingmambo mare Zappeuse who was claimed out of her previous start here for $80,000.

The victory improved Danzon’s record to 29-10-4-6 with earnings of $552,544. It was her third consecutive victory at Churchill Downs.

Danzon returned $14.80, $8.60 and $5.60. Happiness Is returned $42.40 and $21.20 and finished a neck in front of C.S. Silk, who paid $10.20 to show under Francisco Torres. Favored Acoma was a nose back in fourth and a nose ahead of Keertana. Awesome Grannie was a half-length in back of Keertana in sixth and was followed in order by Sweetest Song, Meadow Saffron, Lady’s Laughter, War Tigress and Winter’s Circle.

LOCUST GROVE HANDICAP QUOTES

ALEX SOLIS (jockey, DANZON, winner): “She’s a nice filly. She relaxed good through the first part. I saved some ground and then made my move on the outside. At the quarter pole I finally got her out and she flew home. She got squeezed out of the gate but she’s a come-from-behind horse. She was really happy in the post parade and she ran a big race. At the wire I wasn’t sure if I got there because there were three horses inside of me. But thank God we did.”

JIM BAKER (trainer, DANZON, first): “It was awesome winning. She is a nice horse. I can do anything with her. In the mornings I trained her like a two-turn horse. She’s a classy filly. She has a lot of heart. It was the owner’s decision to claim the horse. I asked, ‘Who?’ and he said it was her, and I said ‘Let’s go for it.’ We’re going to Saratoga with her. There are a lot of options for her up there. I thought we got beat at the wire, but when the numbers came up and it was 6-9, I was excited.”

GRETA KUNTZWEILER (jockey, HAPPINESS IS, second): “It’s so hard to get so close, but it was disappointing. I knew it was close and she ran so hard and I wanted her up there and I thought we set it up nicely.”

ROBBY ALBARADO (jockey, ACOMA, fourth): “She ran hard. I thought we had it. Tough beat.”

DAVID CARROLL (trainer, ACOMA, fourth): “She ran a game race. It was her second race back and she ran a tough race. Coming down the lane we thought she was there, but the fillies on the outside got us. We will move on to the Beverly D., which is what we have planned for her this summer. I’m proud of her effort today.”

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).

KUNTZWEILER REVELS IN RETURN TO RACES – It was a walk she had not made in more than 4 ½ years … heading into the paddock to ride at Churchill Downs.

"I was nervous. It felt like the first time,” Greta Kuntzweiler said of her emotions before climbing aboard 70-1 shot Clear Conscience in Thursday’s fifth race.

Then came the post parade beneath the Twin Spires.

“It was just awesome. I forgot how much fun it was,” said Kuntzweiler, whose riding career was put on hold because of legal issues. “I saw a lot of familiar faces and there were people calling my name. It was great.”

Clear Conscience finished last, but Kuntzweiler came back in the next race to ride 54-1 shot Foxy Valley Girl to a fourth-place finish and then just missing in the day’s feature race on Broken Dreams for trainer Tom Proctor.

“I really wish I could have won that one,” Kuntzweiler, 34, said. “It was great that he (Proctor) would put me on a horse like that. Everyone has been very supportive.”

Kuntzweiler is named on one mount Friday and one Saturday. She will ride the remainder of the meet that ends July 4 and then ride at Ellis Park this summer.

FINAL WEEKEND STAKES FIELDS TAKING SHAPE – Kentucky Juvenile (GIII) winner Lou Brissie, owned by Dogwood Stable, is expected to be the headliner next Saturday for the 109th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor (GIII) for 2-year-olds going six furlongs on the main track.

Other colts considered as probable for the race by Churchill Downs officials are Stonestreet Stables’ Kantharos, an 11 3/4-length debut winner on May 13 in the slop, Let’s Go Stable’s Razmataz, a winner here on June 11 in his second start, Carl Moore Management’s Speed Demon, a maiden winner here April 28, Butterfly Stable’s Gold for Cash, a maiden winner here on June 11 in his third start, and Thewayitusedtobe, winner of an Illinois-bred maiden race at Arlington Park on June 4 owned by Jose Gonzalez.

Possible for the race is Dale Wessels’ Vouch for Victory, a first-out maiden winner at Arlington Park on May 20. Entries for the Bashford Manor, won last year by Backtalk, will be taken Wednesday.

ng top billing on July 3 with the Bashford Manor will be the 29th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares three-years-old and up going a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Heading the list of probables are the 2-3 finishers from the June 5 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII): Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma and Barbara Hunter’s Keertana. Other probables include Magdalena Racing’s My Baby Baby, Vegso Racing Stables’ Happiness Is and Alfred Nuckols Jr.’s Danzon.
 Weights for the Locust Grove will be announced Saturday and entries taken Wednesday.

Nine horses are considered as probable for the 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course on July 4, the closing day of the 42-day Spring Meet.

Topping the probables is Don Benge’s Wise River, winner of the Dallas Turf Cup Handicap in his most recent start on May 31. Trained by Clark Hanna, Wise River ran sixth in last year’s Firecracker behind Mr. Sidney in a race contested on yielding turf.

Other probables for the Firecracker include Silverton Hill’s Driving Snow (GB), Marilyn and Jim Helzer’s Euroears, Farnsworth Stables’ Jet Propulsion, Jessica Coudelaria’s Negro Da Gaita (BRZ), Peter Karahalios’ Public Speaker, Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Skipadate, Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu and Mike McCarty’s Unbridle’s Dream.

Possible for the Firecracker is Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Inca King, a six-time winner on the Matt Winn Turf Course and runner-up in last year’s Firecracker.

Weights for the Firecracker are set for Sunday release and entries will be taken Thursday.
        
BARN TALK – With seven racing days left in the 42-day Sprint Meet, one track record has been established. That was courtesy of Silver Timber in winning the five-furlong Churchill Downs Turf Sprint (GIII) on April 30. Silver Timber was timed in :55.45, erasing the course mark of :55.54 established by Unbridled Sidney in 2005. …
    One of the more intriguing notes of the meet, the highest Pick 6 payoff occurred on Stephen Foster Handicap Day, June 12. The payoff was $209,853.60 and the first leg of the sequence included a virtual free square: Rachel Alexandra at 1-10 in the Fleur de Lis Handicap (GII).

Calvin Borel, in quest of his first Spring Meet riding title at Churchill Downs, has had the best single day performance of the meet with five victories on April 24. Borel also had a four-win day on June 12 as did Corey Lanerie on May 15.

WORK TAB – Winning Colors (GIII) winner Dubai Majesty worked a half-mile on a fast track in :49. … Firecracker Handicap (GII) probable Euroears worked a half-mile in :51.60. … Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) probable Danzon worked five furlongs in 1:02. … At the Trackside Training Center, Firecracker possible starter Inca King worked five furlongs in 1:02.

MINE THAT BIRD WORKS SIX FURLONGS IN 1:13 – Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird continued to work toward his first start of 2010 by breezing six furlongs in company in 1:13 over a fast Churchill Downs track on Tuesday morning.

With jockey Calvin Borel up, Mine That Bird worked after the renovation break in company with the 3-year-old Bird Empire for the second consecutive week. The 2009 Kentucky Derby winner spotted Bird Empire two lengths when breaking off at the three-quarter pole and tracked his workmate to the top of the stretch where he easily dispatched his company on the inside and finished five lengths in front.

Churchill Downs clockers caught Mine That Bird in fractions of :12.80, :25, :37.60, :49.60 and galloping out seven furlongs in 1:27.20. Bird Empire was given a clocking of 1:14.40 time for his six-furlong effort.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas was all smiles after the work, the fifth for Mine That Bird since joining the Lukas barn on May 20.

“When they started training horses 300 years ago, this is what they had in mind,” Lukas said. “His last quarter was in 23 and 2 and his last eighth, it had to be 11 and change. He was flying.”

There is an allowance optional claiming race in the condition book for which Mine That Bird fits for July 3 and Lukas also has nominated Mine That Bird to the Firecracker Handicap (GII) on grass for closing day, July 4. Lukas has not committed to a start in either spot.

“I am not sure where we’ll go,” Lukas said. “He is nominated to the ($250,000) Salvatore Mile (GIII at a mile on July 3 at Monmouth), which is a nice option. He is nominated to everything but the Tokyo Fair. Our goal is the Whitney (Handicap, GI on Aug. 7 at Saratoga). We are going to dive right into the deep end.”

LOCUST GROVE ATTRACTS 47 NOMINEES INCLUDING MINT JULEP TOP THREE – The top three finishers from the June 5 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) – Hot Cha Cha, Acoma and Keertana – headline a list of 47 fillies and mares nominated to the 29th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) to be run at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course on July 3.

The top three finished within three-quarters of a length of each other with Acoma carrying 122 pounds and Hot Cha Cha and Keertana 120. Weights for the Locust Grove will be announced Saturday.

Closeout won the 2009 Locust Grove, and the 5-year-old mare is nominated to this year’s renewal. Should Closeout win, she would join Colstar (2000-01) as the only repeat winner of the Locust Grove.

The Locust Grove is one of three graded stakes on the closing weekend of the 42-day meet. Sharing top billing with Locust Grove on July 3 is the 109th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor (GIII) for 2-year-olds going six furlongs.

Headlining the list of 22 nominees for the Bashford Manor is Dogwood Stable’s Lou Brissie, winner of the Kentucky Juvenile (GIII) here on April 30. Trained by Neil Howard, Lou Brissie is undefeated in two starts.
Entries for the Bashford Manor, as well as the Locust Grove, will be taken next Wednesday.

The closing-day feature is the 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Thirty horses were nominated to the Firecracker, won last year by Mr. Sidney.

Topping the nominations are Don Benge’s Wise River, winner of the Dallas Turf Cup Handicap on May 31 at Lone Star Park in his most recent start, and Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu, a two-time graded stakes winner on the turf at Churchill Downs and winner of the Opening Verse here on June 11.

Weights for the Firecracker will be announced Sunday and entries will be taken Thursday, July 1.

Glen Hill Farm’s Closeout coasted to a three-length victory over Gloria Goodbody to win the 28th running of the $114,900 Locust Grove Handicap (Grade III) to close out the 45-day Spring Meet at Churchill Downs.

            Trained by Tom Proctor, who was winning the Locust Grove for the second time, Closeout covered the mile on a Matt Winn Turf Course labeled as “yielding” in 1:38.38. The victory was worth $71,238 and increased Closeout’s earnings to $310,671 for her fifth victory in 10 starts. Proctor’s other Locust Grove win came in 2006 with Rich In Spirit for Glen Hill Farm.

            Ridden by Robby Albarado, Closeout was content to trail the field through the first half-mile as Tensas Yucatan cut out fractions of :23.84 and :47.99 with Zee Zee and Stealin’ Kisses in closest pursuit.

            Approaching the far turn, Albarado began to move after the leaders and turning into the stretch Closeout moved four wide to quickly collar Stealin’ Kisses, who had taken a brief lead. Closeout quickly opened a daylight advantage and was never threatened in the run to the wire.

            Closeout, who shared the starting high weight of 116 pounds with two others, returned $3.60, $2.40 and $2.10. Gloria Goodbody paid $4.40 and $3 in finishing two lengths ahead of Stealin’ Kisses, who paid $4.20 to show under Tony Farina. Completing the field in order were Zee Zee and Tensas Yucatan. The field was reduced to five when Leamington, Tizaqueena and Namaste’s Wish were scratched.

            Jockey Julien Leparoux rode 62 winners in the meet to edge Calvin Borel, who finished with 61. The leading rider title was the third spring crown for Leparoux and fifth overall.

            Steve Asmussen saddled 29 winners to claim his third spring leading trainer title and sixth overall. Ken and Sarah Ramsey won their record eighth spring leading owners title and 15th overall by notching 18 winners.

            Racing resumes at Churchill Downs on Sunday, Nov. 1 for the Fall Meet that runs through Saturday, Nov. 28.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE LOCUST GROVE HANDICAP

ROBBY ALBARADO, jockey of CLOSEOUT (winner)

            “She was a little rank early so I just rode her very patiently. We had an honest pace up front and she showed a lot of confidence when she tugged on me at the three-eighths pole. It was just a matter of her staying on her feet and getting over the soft going. It was a Cadillac ride so I didn’t have to do much on her. I’m not going to take credit for this one. Give all the credit to the barn and everyone that did all the hard work. I was just a passenger.”

TOM PROCTOR, trainer of CLOSEOUT (winner)

Q: Last time she looked a little rank and this time she relaxed nicely. . .

“It looked that way. There was speed . . . You know what, she hadn’t run in a long time and a lot of times they’ll be rank coming off that. I actually kind of was expecting that.”

Q: Was there a reason for her layoff at the end of last year?

“Good trainers give horses time off.”

Q: What kind of filly is she; is she a late bloomer?

“Well, actually, she is turf all the way. I think she’s got two or three full brothers that have all won stakes. But she showed right off the bat that she could run when I got her. I didn’t get her until December of her two-year-old year, but she showed she could run a little bit. I mean, I wasn’t surprised when she won first time out. She showed a lot in the mornings. She’s the best of her brothers and sisters and they were pretty good.”

JOHN GLENNEY, co-owner & trainer of GLORIA GOODBODY (runner-up)

“She’s been running well, but there was a short time between her last race and this one, but she had done well running off a short time between races before.  She had never been on this yielding a turf and a mile is probably not her thing.  When she runs a little bit longer it undoubtedly is going to help her.  But she won her last race and was at the top of her game, training super, so you had to give it a shot.  I was hoping she was going to get the lead, but when she didn’t, I was hoping at least she’d relax and Jon (Court) had her relaxed.  Apparently she settled real well and that bodes well for the future because if she has to have the lead, she’s one-dimensional.  But if she can sit back a little bit and wait, that’ll be to her advantage.  She came running down the lane, so I was real happy.  Coming from an allowance race to a stakes and to see her step up and get a good second is fantastic.  You can’t complain when you get beat by a 3-5 or a 4-5 horse in really her first stakes on the turf, which is her preferred surface.”

Q: Are you going back to Del Mar this summer?

“We’ll go back to Del Mar.  There are a couple of spots she might possibly get to.  There’s a California Thoroughbred Trainers stake a mile and three-eighths toward the end of the meet. I hope we can find something at the beginning.  But that’s a hard and fast turf course and I think she’s going to like that.”

JON COURT, jockey on GLORIA GOODBODY (runner-up)

“She broke good, sat behind the speed and rallied up right there with the winner, but the winner kicked away.  He had the jump on us and ended up putting up a pretty good margin of daylight winning the race, so she ran a valiant second.  She’s stakes-placed in a graded race, so she did really good.”

TONY FARINA, jockey on STEALIN KISSES  (third)

“Mr. (D. Wayne) Lukas asked me to take a little hold.  It was just a five-horse field and she was a little bit quick at the first quarter; she was running very easy as I came to the quarter pole.  She started to tire a little bit when she turned for home and maybe that cost me second place, but she ran very good.”

-30-

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.

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.