Woodford Reserve Turf Classic

FIRECRACKER HOPE WISE DAN SHARP IN FIRST GRASS WORK– Trainer Charles Lopresti made the trip west on Interstate 64 from his Lexington base Tuesday morning with Morton Fink’s homebred Wise Dan Tuesday morning to give the 4-year-old son of Wiseman’s Ferry an important test.

Lopresti traveled to Churchill Downs to see how Wise Dan would handle Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course during half-mile work.  If the versatile gelding performed well, he could earn a start in Monday’s 21^st running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII).

Wise Dan zipped around the “dogs” on the firm course in: 48.80 – the second-fastest time among nine works at the distance on a sunny morning.  And, in Lopresti’s view, Wise Dan passed Tuesday’s test and is much closer to making a racing debut on turf on Monday.

“He worked awful good this morning,” Lopresti said.  “That was his first time on the grass.  He finished up real strong – I think he came home the last quarter in something like :23 (seconds) and change.  He really wasn’t sure what to do down the backside because he’d never been on it before.

“I’m going to talk Mr. Fink about it and, if he comes out of this breeze good, we’re seriously considering it.”

Jockey Jon Court was aboard for the work and Lopresti said he would get the call if Wise Dan makes his turf racing debut in the Independence Day race.

“All we wanted to really do is see what he felt like when he kicked it down the lane,” Lopresti said.  “Jon eased him up.  He said he would have gone a lot further than that, but I told him don’t go too far because I wanted to leave something left in the tank in case we decided to run.”

Wise Dan has a career record of 4-0-0 in nine races, all on synthetic or dirt courses and highlighted by a victory in last fall’s $175,000-added Phoenix (GIII) over Keeneland’s Polytrack surface.  He finished sixth, beaten only 2 ½ lengths by Big Drama, in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) at Churchill Downs and closed out his 2010 season with a one-mile allowance win over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs.

Wise Dan has not won in three starts this year, but two were strong efforts in the forth-place finishes to Aikenite in the Commonwealth (GII) at Keeneland and in a stakes-quality allowance race on the Churchill Downs dirt in which Firecracker contender General Quarters finished second.

GENERAL QUARTERS HAS EASY MAINTENANCE MOVE – Owner-trainer Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters took an easy trip around Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course in his final prep for Monday’s Firecracker Handicap.

The 5-year-old son of Sky Mesa cruised four furlongs around the dogs on a firm course in :52.20.  The move under jockey Jamie Theriot was the slowest of eight at the distance, and McCarthy could not have been happier with it.

“We went off extra slow and finished a little faster,” McCarthy said.  “I didn’t want to take too much out of him.  I told Jamie I wanted him to go between :50 and :52, and he went :52.”

General Quarters, a Grade I winner over the Matt Winn Turf Course in the 2010 renewal of the $500,000-added Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, looms as the likely starting high weight in the one-mile Firecracker at 119 pounds.  He is coming off a runner-up finish to multiple stakes winner Native Ruler at seven furlongs on dirt, a race that was General Quarters’ first since a seventh-place run behind upset winner Debussy and eventual 2010 turf champion Gio Ponti the Arlington Million (GI) in late August.

Theriot was aboard General Quarters for his comeback race and will have the mount on Monday.  McCarthy’s star brings a record of 4-8-2 in 22 races and earnings of $1,178,200 into the featured event on Monday’s final program of the 38-day Spring Meet.

FIRERACKER CONTENDERS MISTER MARTI GRAS, BARYSHNIKOV, FLAT OUT WORK – Trainer Chris Block confirmed that Lothenbach Stables LLC’s Mister Marti Gras is “definite” to run in Monday’s Firecracker after a four-furlong work on the grass on Tuesday.

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan was aboard as the 4-year-old Belong to Me gelding covered the distance in an easy :51.80.  Bridgmohan has the Firecracker mount on Mister Marti Gras, whom he piloted to a one-mile allowance win over the Churchill Downs turf on June 3.

Jeffrey Columbro and Connie Apostelos’ Baryshnikov, runner-up to Paddy O’Prado in Pimlico’s Dixie Handicap (GII), completed his serious training for the Firecracker with a five-furlong move on the six-furlong dirt course at Churchill Downs’ Trackside Training Center.  The Mike Maker-trained son of Empire Maker covered the distance over a fast surface in 1:03.20.

Julien Leparoux is scheduled to ride Baryshnikov, who has won five of his last seven races in a string that started with a $15,000 claiming race over Polytrack at Turfway Park on Dec. 12.  He won an allowance race on the turf at Keeneland prior to his run in the Dixie, where Baryshnikov had a three-length late in mid-stretch before he was run down by Paddy O’Prado in the final race of that Grade I winner’s career.

Preston Stable LLC’s Flat Out, sixth to Pool Play on dirt in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI), tuned up for his possible turf debut in the Firecracker with a four-furlong work in :50.20 over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Jockey Corey Lanerie was in the saddle for the move by the 5-year-old Flatter, who has a career record of 3-1-0 in eight races on traditional dirt surfaces.

BARN TALK –Frank L. Jones Jr.’s Tapitsfly, the Dale Romans-trained winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2009, breezed a half-mile in :50.60 under exercise rider Tammy Fox.  The daughter of Tapit finished third in the recent Early Times Mint Julep (GIII). … Trainer Neil Howard gave two of his talented 3-year-olds a look on the turf Tuesday morning.  Courtlandt Farm’s Prime Cut, 11^th in the Belmont Stakes (GI), breezed four furlongs in :48.60.  That move was the fastest of eight at the distance.   Gallardia Racing LLC’s Wilkinson, winner of the Lecomte (GIII), breezed three furlongs for Howard in :37.30. … Lil Bit O’Fun, winner of the recent Oliver Stakes at Indiana Downs for trainer Tom Proctor, breezed four furlongs on turf in :50.80. … Multiple stakes winner Demarcation breezed four furlongs in :53.20 over a fast main track for trainer Paul McGee. … Vinery Stables LLC’s and Mrs. Susan Roy’s 2010 Gotham (GIII) winner  Awesome Act, 19^th in last year’s Kentucky Derby and a disappointing fifth in a June 12 allowance race at Churchill Downs, breezed four furlongs on dirt in :49 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

GENERAL QUARTERS, WISE DAN LEAD COMPETITIVE FRIDAY ALLOWANCE – Anyone taking a first glance at Friday’s ninth race at Churchill Downs might think that they were looking at a stakes race; however, it’s an allowance that just happened to come up very tough. The field of seven in the $64,700 allowance/optional claimer is headed by multiple Grade I-winner General Quarters, who is racing for the first time since late last summer, and Wise Dan, winner of last year’s Phoenix (GIII) at Keeneland.

Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, winner of the 2009 Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland and the 2010 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs, has not raced since finishing seventh in the Arlington Million (GI). He was sidelined last September when he injured his left front leg during training.

McCarthy has taken his time preparing General Quarters for his return and hopes the 5-year-old son of Sky Mesa will deliver a good performance Friday. “There are some really nice sprinters in the race, but hopefully he (General Quarters) will bring his run and be there at the end,” McCarthy said.

General Quarters fired a “bullet” work Sunday in preparation for Friday’s race and McCarthy was very pleased with the workout. “He went very nicely,” said McCarthy of General Quarters’ four furlong work in :47.80 over a fast main track at Churchill Downs. “It was a very good work.”

Morton Fink’s Wise Dan, the other graded stakes winner in the field, has been working forwardly at Keeneland since an eighth place finish in the Alysheba Presented by Besilu Stables (GIII) on Kentucky Oaks Day and will look to get back in the winner’s circle Friday. “His (Wise Dan) last couple of races were very tough and I’m glad we were able to get him in an allowance race,” trainer Charlie Lopresti said. “I think this is a good spot for him and hopefully he can get back on the winning track.”

Lopresti believes the main competition for his two-time Churchill Downs winner will come from General Quarters. “I haven’t looked at the field very closely yet, but I saw General Quarters is in and he’ll be tough,” Lopresti said.

The field is also highlighted by nine-time stakes winner Native Ruler and the stakes-winning 8-year-old, Grand Traverse. Maggi Moss’s Native Ruler has nearly $600,000 in career earnings and won the Bet On Sunshine stakes at Churchill Downs in 2008. Mimicry Partnership’s Grand Traverse is a 10-time winner with $361,499 in career earnings.

The ninth race will be the feature of the 11-race twilight program at Churchill Downs, which begins at 2:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) Friday. Post time for the ninth race is 6:54 p.m.

ROMANS, MOTION WILL FACE OFF IN MINT JULEP PRIOR TO BELMONT – The eyes of the horse racing world will be on Belmont Park at 6:36 p.m. Saturday to witness the Belmont Stakes (GI) rubber match between the Graham Motion-trained Animal Kingdom, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), and Preakness (GI) winner Shackleford, who is trained by Dale Romans. But Motion and Romans will face off at Churchill Downs about an hour before the starting gate springs open in the 143^rd running of the Belmont with 4-year-old fillies running the 35^th running of the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII), the feature race of an 11-race Saturday program beneath the Twin Spires.

Check the Label, who is trained by Motion for Lael Stables, will enter Saturday’s Mint Julep off a second-place finish to Embur’s Song in the Doubledogdare (GIII) over the Polytrack at Keeneland – her lone start of 2011. The 122-pound high weight for the Mint Julep, Check the Label’s biggest victory came in the Grade I Garden City at Belmont Park, where she finished a length ahead of Barbara Hunter’s homebred Snow Top Mountain, who will also run in the Mint Julep. Jeremy Rose will travel to Louisville to take the mount.

Weighted at 116 pounds is the Romans-trained Tapitsfly, who races under the colors of Frank L. Jones Jr. A 4-year-old daughter of Tapit, Tapitsfly captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Oak Tree at Santa Anita in 2009. Tapitsfly was injured following that victory and had a chip removed from her ankle, but resumed training at the end of 2010 and will make her fifth start of the year on Saturday. In her most recent start she finished seventh behind Aviate-GB in the Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile Presented by American Commercial Lines (GII) on Kentucky Derby Day. Miguel Mena will have the mount aboard Tapitsfly.

The field for the Early Times Mint Julep, from the rail with jockey and weight: Ravi’s Song (Corey Lanerie, 114), Bella Medaglia (Jamie Theriot, 113), Vivo Per Lei (Leandro Goncalves, 113), Silver La Belle (Brian Hernandez Jr., 112), Abuela (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., 113), Sweetest Song (Calvin Borel, 115), Tapitsfly (Mena, 116), Snow Top Mountain (Robby Albarado, 119), My Baby Baby (Manny Cruz, 116), Askbut I Won’ttell (Eduardo Perez, 117) and Check the Label (Rose, 122).

BLOCK HOPES ASKBUT I WON’TTELL WILL LAUNCH STRONG SPRING MEET STRETCH RUN – Chicago-based trainer Chris Block’s stable has long been a power at Arlington Park and Chicago-area tracks, but his team flexed considerable muscle in Kentucky during last year’s Churchill Downs Fall Meet when it won two major closing week stakes attractions in the Falls City Handicap (Grade II) won by Dundalk Dust and Giant Oak’s triumph via disqualification in the $500,000-added Clark Handicap (GI).

Those victories were the second and third Fall Meet stakes wins, respectively, for Block, who is hoping for a similar closing bid by his stable in the ongoing Spring Meet.  On Saturday Block will look to the horse that got the ball rolling for his team in the Fall Meet to build momentum again in the searing heat of June.

Team Block’s Askbut I Won’ttell notched the first of Block’s three stakes wins last fall in the Cardinal (GIII) on the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Saturday undercard.  She returns from a three-month break as one of the major contenders for the $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep for fillies and mares ages three and up at a mile and a sixteenth on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

The Florida-bred mare is the first of three Block trainees targeted for stakes runs in the Spring Meet’s final weeks.  The others are Giant Oak, who is set to  run in the $500,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) on June 18, while Mister Marti Gras, a recent allowance winner on turf on turf who is now being pointed toward a run in the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) on July 4, the final program of the meet.

Askbut I Won’ttell followed her Cardinal victory with a win over Trip for A.J. in the My Charmer (GIII) at Calder Race Course, but that rival turned the tables on Block’s 5-year-old mare when she scored a half-length victory over Askbut I Won’ttell in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park.

Saturday’s Early Times Mint Julep will be the first race for Askbut I Won’ttell since she finished fifth- in a strong renewal of the $150,000-added Hillsborough (GIII) on March 12 at Tampa Bay Downs.  The Hillsborough was won by Denomination, who returned to win the Violet (GIII) at Monmouth Park on May 30, and its third-place finisher was Keertana, who returned to take the Bewitch (GIII) at Keeneland and then became the first mare to defeat males in the 1 ½-mile Louisville Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

“We gave her a little time in between that last race and this race,” Block said.  “She ran well (in the Hillsborough), but you could just see she didn’t run like she had been and was a little flat.  So we backed off, freshened her up a little bit and targeted this race as her next spot.”

The daughter of Horse Chestnut brings a record of 6-4-2 in 18 races and career earnings of $384,362 into the Early Times Mint Julep.

With the Virginia H. Tarra Trust’s Giant Oak looming as one of the likely favorites for the Stephen Foster, the newcomer in Block’s bid for a spring stakes three-bagger is Lothenbach Stables’ Mister Marti Gras.  The four-year-old gelded son of Belong to Me rallied from sixth to win a one-mile allowance race on the Matt Winn Turf Course on June 3.  Mister Marti Gras, the runner-up in both the American Derby (GII) at Arlington and Hawthorne Derby (GIII) at three, closed strongly that day to win over a grass course that had its temporary rail up and positioned 15 feet off the hedge, a configuration that often favors horses with early speed.

“That was kind of a race to see if he responded well here over this course,” Block said.  “Speed usually holds up when that rail is up, so that’s part of why I’ll just take a look at the Firecracker with him. I figured he overcame the (speed) bias in his race here.”

The only Fall Meet stakes star missing from Block’s spring arsenal is Dundalk 5 LLC’s Dundalk Dust, who has raced only once since her Falls City triumph: a last-of-seven effort behind Ravi’s Song as the favorite in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds.  Dundalk Dust is training steadily at Churchill Downs and her return to racing is not far off, but Block is not sure when the Illinois-bred daughter of Military would run.

“She had some stomach issues over the winter, and that contributed to her poor performance in New Orleans,” Block said.  “We think we’ve got her back and turned around.”

A natural spot for Dundalk Dust’s return would have been the Fleur De Lis (GII), a 1 1/8 mile race for older fillies and mares run in recent years on Stephen Foster Day.  But that race is on hiatus for 2011.

“That would have been perfect,” Block said.  “I’d love to run her here on the dirt, but I don’t know that I’ll get that opportunity.  So I’m kind of taking a wait-and-see approach right now.”

MEET LEADERS AT A GLANCE – Jockey Corey Lanerie, trainer Steve Asmussen and owners Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds are the leaders in their respective categories through 22 days of the 39-day Spring Meet.  Below is a look at the leaders entering Thursday’s action:

Top Jockeys

  1. Corey Lanerie (27-for-124, 22% win-percentage, $788,714 in earnings)

  2. Shaun Bridgmohan (23-for-120, 19%, $728,960)

  3. Julien Leparoux (20-for-109, 18%, $731,969)

  4. Calvin Borel (16-for-123, 13%, $513,501)

  5. Jon Court (14-for-88, 16%, $365,109)                                                       

Top Trainers

  1. Steve Asmussen (12-for-60, 20%, $936,531)

  2. Tom Amoss (9-for-24, 38%, $240,376)

  2. Dale Romans (9-for-58, 16%, $713,669)

  3. Eddie Kenneally (8-for-31, 26%, $198,428)

  4. Ken McPeek (7-for-35, 32%, $376,014)

  4. Tim Glyshaw (7-for-23, 30%, $109,880)

Top Owners

1. Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds (5-for-23, 22%, $110,570)

2. Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack (4-for-13, 31%, $77,315)

2. Tom Ludt’s Vinery Stables (4-for-7, 57%, $134,116)

3. Billy, Donna and Justin Hays (3-for-29, 10%, $75,600)

3. Mace and Samantha Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stable (3-for-13, 23%, $94,318)

3. Merrill Scherer, Dan Lynch and Ken Sentel (3-for-15, 20%, $84,442)

3. Robert Lothenbach’s Lothenbach Stables, Inc. (3-for-9, 33%, $98,745)

3. Ahmed Zayat’s Zayat Stables LLC (3-for-9, 33%, $537,453)

3. Don Adam’s Courtlandt Farms (3-for-15, 20%, $216,669)

BARN TALK – Nominations for the 111^th running of the $100,000-added Debutante (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs close Saturday. The Debutante, which is scheduled to be run on the main track at Churchill Downs on Saturday, June 25, was won last year by Eldon Farm Equine, LLC’s Just Louise under Robby Albarado for trainer Dale Romans. …

Churchill Downs-based jockeys Julien Leparoux, Shaun Bridgmohan, Jesus Castanon and Kent Desormeaux will ride in New York on Saturday as part of the Belmont Stakes Day card. Leparoux, Bridgmohan and Desormeaux will ride at Churchill Downs on Thursday and Friday, but Castanon has already traveled to New York and will make his next start aboard Shackleford in the Belmont (GI).

Friday is the final 2:45 p.m. twilight racing program of the meet before "Downs After Dark" night racing returns with a 6 p.m. first post for the final three Fridays on June 17, June 24 and July 1. Also, the music of Wax Fang will headline the finale performance of the new Paddock Concert Series. The concert will begin shortly after the final race around 8 p.m. General admission will be $3 until 7 p.m. and $10 thereafter. The first 850 people in attendance for the concert will be allowed access into the saddling paddock to watch the concert up close in a VIP viewing area free of charge. A $20 Budweiser Select Balcony reserved ticket (available for purchase online at churchilldowns.com/tickets) includes 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. …

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. Also, the band Eight Inch Elvis will be on hand to entertain paddock patrons between races from 5-8 p.m. …

WORKTAB – Columbine Stable’s J.B.’s Thunder, winner of the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland last October, worked four furlongs in :51.00 over a “fast” main track at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning for trainer Al Stall Jr. The 3-year-old son of Thunder Gulch has not raced since finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) beneath the Twin Spires. …

Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack’s Dublin, who won the 2009 Hopeful (GI) at Saratoga and was seventh in the following year’s Kentucky Derby (GI), recorded his third consecutive “bullet” at Churchill Downs when he worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 for trainer Wayne Lukas on Thursday morning. The 4-year-old son of Afleet Alex was fifth in the 2010 Preakness (GI) in his most recent start. …

Zayat Stables LLC’s Diva Ash, winner of the $113,800 Edgewood on the Kentucky Oaks Day undercard in her most recent start, breezed five furlongs around the dogs on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:01.80 for trainer Dale Romans. Diva Ash is nominated to run in the $125,000-added Regret (GIII), which is scheduled to be run on June 18 as part of the Stephen Foster Day undercard.

Right Time Racing LLC’s two Kentucky Oaks (GI) starters, Bouquet Booth (fifth) and Street Storm (eighth), each breezed five furlongs over the Matt Winn Turf Course on Thursday for trainer Steve Margolis. Bouquet Booth covered the distance in 1:01.80 and Street Storm completed the work in 1:03.20. Both fillies are nominated to the Regret (GIII). …

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (May 29- June 5) are Julien Leparoux (7-for-28), Corey Lanerie (7-for-32) and Robby Albarado (6-for-19). Ken McPeek (3-for-11) and Steve Asmussen (3-for-11) are the hottest trainers over the same period. The hottest owners are Lothenbach Stables, Inc. (2-for-2), Stoneway Farm (2-for-2) and Charles E. Fipke (2-for-4).

WEATHER – Thursday: mostly sunny with a 30% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, 93. Friday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 91. Saturday: partly sunny with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 90. Sunday: mostly sunny, 87. Monday: mostly sunny with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 87. Tuesday: partly sunny with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 89. Wednesday: mostly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 89.

 

VERSATILE VETERAN GENERAL QUARTERS FIRES ‘BULLET’ WORK, SET FOR FRIDAY RETURN – Owner-trainer Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, a dual Grade I winner on turf and synthetic courses,  prepared for a return to racing on Friday with a fast four-furlong work on the main track Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. 

            The gray son of Sky Mesa worked the half-mile over a fast surface in :47.80, which was the fastest of 55 works at the distance on Sunday.  Later in the morning, McCarthy dropped General Quarters’ name in the entry box for a seven-furlong allowance race on dirt on Friday, June 10 that will be his first race since a seventh-place finish behind Debussy in last year’s Arlington Million (GI) at Arlington Park.

            General Quarters worked in fractional times of :12.40 and :24.40 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.80, which compared favorably with the fastest works of the day at that distance.

            “He went very nicely,” McCarthy said. “It was a very good work.”

            General Quarters has a career record of 4-7-2 in 21 races that includes victories in the Toyota Blue Grass (GI) over the synthetic Polytrack course at Keeneland and the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs.  He ran third to eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner and Eclipse Award winner Blame in last year’s Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) and finished 10^th to Mine That Bird in the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).

            General Quarters will have a challenging task in his return to racing as his six rivals in Friday’s ninth race include a trio of stakes winners.  Those horses are Morton Fink’s Wise Dan, ninth to First Dude in the Alysheba (GIII) and winner of last fall’s Phoenix (GIII) at Keeneland; Maggi Moss’ Native Ruler, a multiple stakes winner with 15 career victories and earnings of $593,696; and Mimicry Partnership’s Grand Traverse, a stakes winner and career earner of $345,664.

            Jockey Jamie Theriot, who has never ridden General Quarters, has the mount on Friday.

VETERAN POOL PLAY SIZZLES IN WORK, SET FOR DIRT DEBUT IN STEPHEN FOSTER – William S. Farish Jr.’s Pool Play, third to Musketier on turf in Keeneland’s Elkhorn (GIII) last time out, worked a “bullet” five furlongs on the main track at Churchill Downs on Sunday as trainer Mark Casse prepares the Canada-based veteran for an improbable debut on dirt in the $500,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) on Saturday, June 18. 

            The 6-year-old son of Silver Deputy completed the distance under exercise rider Melanie Giddings in :59.80.  The work over the fast track was easily the fastest of 24 at the distance and further encouraged Casse’s plans to move Pool Play, who is out of a Cox’s Ridge mare, to the dirt for the Grade I test at Churchill Downs after 27 races on synethetic and turf courses.

            “He’s never ran on the dirt, but he has a dirt pedigree,” Casse said by telephone from his base at Woodbine.  “With him it’s all about the distance, and that’s why we went to grass.  He’s never won a race on the grass, but he likes to go at least a mile and an eight or a mile and quarter.”

            It has not been lost on Casse that the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) will be run over the dirt at the Louisville track on Saturday, Nov. 5

            “He’s trained just unbelievable over the dirt at Churchill.  We figured we might as well find out now because it could decide our plans for the fall.”

            Pool Play has run well in three starts, all on turf, this year.  Along with his race in the Eklhorn, he was a close fourth to Rahy’s Attorney in the Pan American (GIII) and Prince Will I Am in the Mac Diarmida (GII), both at Gulfstream Park.  His most recent victories came over the synthetic Polytrack surface at Woodbine, where he closed out 2010 with an allowance victory at 1 1/16 miles and the $150,000 Valedictory at 1 ¾ miles.  Both wins came at the expense of runner-up Eye of the Leopard, winner of the 2009 Queen’s Plate.

            The well-traveled veteran also finished a close second to Hold Me Back in last year’s Dominion Day (GIII) at Woodbine and won the 2009 Durham Cup (GIII) over the same synthetic course.  He has a career record of 5-6-5 in 27 races and has earned $582,429 in four years of racing.

            Casse, a three-time winner of Canada’s Sovereign Award who earned the Churchill Downs’ 1988 Spring Meet training crown during the early years of his career, is among those who believes that Churchill Downs’ main track is kinder than most dirt ovals to horses that have an affinity for turf and synthetic surfaces.  He notes the dominant Kentucky Derby victories by Animal Kingdom this year and the ill-fated Barbaro as examples.

            In Pool Play, Casse believes he has a horse that believes fits Churchill Downs’ main track very well.  A string of solid works here since Pool Play’s arrival has strengthened that opinion and made the Stephen Foster the veteran’s prime summer objective – and a fascinating handicapping question for fans when that big race comes along.

            “We had the Brooklyn at Belmont we could go to, they wanted us to go the Manhattan (GI on the Belmont Park turf), but, to me, now is the time to find out if he can run on dirt.” Casse said.  “If he can, they run a pretty big race there this fall and the mile and a quarter won’t be a problem for him.”

DICKEY CONSIDERS FOSTER BID FOR FLAT OUT – After watching veteran trainer Charles “Scooter” Dickey’s work with Preston Stables LLC’s talented but tender-footed Flat Out, few in Kentucky racing could ever doubt that Dickey is a very patient man.

            But patience could be more of a virtue in Thoroughbred racing than most any other endeavor, and that trait appears ready to be rewarded with the fragile 5-year-old son of Flatter.  After long periods on the sidelines with troublesome quarter cracks, Flat Out finished a strong runner-up in the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (GIII) on May 30. 

            Flat Out was sandwiched between Grade I winners in the victorious Awesome Gem and third-place finisher Game On Dude.  Dickey was so encouraged by the effort that he is considering a bid by Flat Out in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap over his home track on June 18.

            “He just ran last Monday and right now he seems to have come out fine from the race,” Dickey said.  “So we’ll just watch it and see if that’s where we want to run back.”

            Flat Out launched his start-and-stop career with a bang when he notched his first career win in his second start at Oaklawn Park and briefly entered the Kentucky Derby picture with a stretch-running, 3 ½-length victory in the $50,000 Smarty Jones in his next outing.  A fourth-place finish to Old Fashioned in the Southwest (GIII) and a sixth-place run behind Papa Clem in the Arkansas Derby (GII) left his connections with concerns about whether he would have sufficient graded stakes earnings to compete in the Derby.  But he was still candidate for the Run for the Roses when a fractured shoulder sent Flat Out to the sidelines for an extended stay. 

            It would be a year and a half before Flat Out returned to racing with an allowance victory at Fair Grounds on Dec. 5, 2010.  But that would be his last start until last week’s big comeback effort after a layoff of nearly six months in the Lone Star Park Handicap.

            Flat Out’s shoulder healed long ago.  The problem since then has been Flat Out’s feet.

            “It’s mostly quarter cracks,” Dickey said.  “When we were waiting to go to the Derby, he had that crack in shoulder, and since then it’s just been quarter cracks.”

            The race at Lone Star improved Flat Out’s career record to 3-1-0 in seven races with earnings of $174,100.  Now Dickey will watch him over the next few days and assess Flat Out’s chances for the possible debut in Grade I stakes competition in the Foster.

            “He’s got such a big heart,” Dickey said.  “He’s just such a good horse to be around and to work with, but when you can’t go, you can’t go,” Dickey said.  “Hopefully he’ll stay with us now for a while and we can run him a few more times.”

CHECK THE LABEL ASSIGNED HIGH WEIGHT FOR MINT JULEP – Lael Stable’s Check the Label, winner of the Garden City (GI) over yielding turf last fall at Belmont Park, has been assigned the high weight of 122 pounds by racing secretary Ben Huffman for the 35^th running of the $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) for fillies and mares to be run at 1 1/16 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course on Saturday, June 11.

            Check the Label, who is trained by Graham Motion, winning trainer of this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), sports a record of 6-3-1 from 15 starts, including an allowance win beneath the Twin Spires in November 2009 and a second-place finish in the Caressing Handicap at Churchill Downs later in that month. After crossing the line first in three straight graded stakes turf contests, Check The Label captured the biggest win of her career in the Garden City.

            Check the Label followed the Garden City with a sixth-place finish in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (GI) at Keeneland that ended her racing year.  She returned from a six-month break to finish runner-up to Embur’s Song in the Doubledogdare (GIII) over Polytrack in her most recent start on April 22. Check the Label is listed as a probable starter for the Mint Julep.                   

       The next high weights are Flaxman Holdings, Ltd.’s Aruna, who is also trained by Motion and won the most recent running of the Mrs. Revere (GII) at Churchill Downs before finishing second to Aviate-GB in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Presented by American Commercial Lines (GII) on the Kentucky Derby Day undercard in her most recent start, and Never Retreat, a multiple graded-stakes winner with $618,759 in career earnings. Aruna and Never Retreat are weighted at 120 pounds. 

            Weighted at 119 pounds and another probable starter in the race is Barbara Hunter’s Snow Top Mountain, a half-sister to Louisville Handicap (GIII) heroine Keertana and second to Check the Label in the Garden City.

            Also believed to be probable starters by Churchill Downs’ officials and their weights are Askbut I Won’ttell (117), Tapitsfly (116) and Ravi’s Song (114). No Explaining-IRE (118), Perfect Shirl (115) and Shameless (113) are possible starters.

Entries for the 35^th running of the Early Times Mint Julep will be taken on Wednesday, June 8.

 

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Team Block and Rich Ege’s Askbut I Won’ttell worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 over a “fast” main track at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning for trainer Chris Block. The 5-year-old daughter of Horse Chestnut-SAF captured the Cardinal Handicap beneath the Twin Spires last fall and is probable for the Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) on Saturday. …

            Block also worked Dundalk 5 LLC’s Dundalk Dust, winner of the 2010 Falls City Handicap (GII) at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old daughter of Military traveled five furlongs in 1:01.20.    

            Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman’s Ventana, who captured the Maryland Sprint Handicap (GIII) on the Preakness Day undercard in his most recent start, worked four furlongs in :49.20 for trainer Bob Baffert.

            Seeking the Title, a 4-year-old daughter of Seeking the Gold, worked four furlongs in :48.20 for trainer Dallas Stewart. Seeking the Title won the 2010 Iowa Oaks (GIII) for owner Charles Fipke.

            Charles Cella’s stakes winner Uncle Brent, who last raced in the Peter Pan (GII) at Belmont Park, worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 for trainer Lynn Whiting. Uncle Brent was the only six furlong-worker Sunday.

THE WEEK AHEAD BENEATH THE TWIN SPIRES - Churchill Downs' upcoming week will be highlighted by the 35th running of the Grade III, $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf and a simulcast of the 143rd running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes from Belmont Park. Both will take place Saturday. Churchill Downs will offer advance Belmont Stakes wagering all day Friday, starting at 11:30 a.m.  ...

Belmont Park's 13-race Belmont Stakes program will begin at 11:35 a.m. EDT, and will feature $1 million guaranteed pools for an all graded stakes Pick 6 (Races 6-11 starting at 2:34 p.m.) and Pick 4 (Races 8-11 starting at 3:59 p.m.). The 1 1/2-mile Belmont -- the third and final leg of the Triple Crown -- is scheduled as Belmont Park's Race 11 at approximately 6:36 p.m. The simulcast of the race ontrack will follow Race 11 at Churchill Downs and will be prominently shown on television monitors throughout the facility, including the infield and paddock JumboTrons. ...        

            A unique wager offered Friday by the New York Racing Association is the Brooklyn/Belmont double that links Belmont Park's two 1 1/2-mile marathon stakes events: Friday's Grade II, $150,000 Brooklyn Handicap for older horses and Saturday's Belmont for 3-year-olds. ...

Friday is the final 2:45 p.m. twilight racing program of the meet before "Downs After Dark" night racing returns with a 6 p.m. first post for the final three Fridays on June 17, June 24 and July 1. Also, the music of Wax Fang will headline the finale performance of the new Paddock Concert Series. The concert will begin shortly after the final race around 8 p.m. General admission will be $3 until 7 p.m. and $10 thereafter. The first 850 people in attendance for the concert will be allowed access into the saddling paddock to watch the concert up close in a VIP viewing area free of charge. A $20 Budweiser Select Balcony reserved ticket (available for purchase online at churchilldowns.com/tickets) includes 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.

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. There will also be a live band to entertain paddock patrons between races from 5-8 p.m. ...

Foam fun and a 2:15 p.m. puppet show on Saturday and sponge paint on Sunday highlight the weekend's activities at Churchill Downs' Junior Jockey Club located near the Guest Services Booth inside Gate 10. The Junior Jockey Club for children age 3-10 is open every Saturday and Sunday 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. Coloring books, crayons, individual games and reading material are available as well. ...

Sunday is the last chance of the spring for locals to win a $1,500 first prize and a coveted VIP trip to the Horseplayer World Series at The Orleans Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The cost to enter the final "Who's the Champ?" Handicapping Contest is $25 (or 25,000 Twin Spires Club points) and it will take place in the Champions Club Lounge.

BARN TALK – Miguel Mena will be off all his mounts Sunday at Churchill Downs to rest following a fall at Prairie Meadows on Saturday. Mena is expected to be back in action Thursday with four mounts at Churchill Downs. …

            Trainer Ken McPeek’s two most recent stakes winners, Salty Strike and Noble’s Promise, came out of their races in good order. Salty Strike, who captured the Dogwood (GIII) for Craig B. Singer, will be pointed to the Test (GI) at Saratoga on Aug. 6. Chasing Dreams Racing 2008, LLC’s Noble’s Promise will be pointed to the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (GI) at Saratoga on Aug. 7. …

Dullahan, the 2-year-old half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, will make his debut in Thursday’s fifth race at Churchill Downs for owner Donegal Racing and trainer Dale Romans. “He’ll be one to watch,” said Romans of the chestnut son of Even the Score.                             

            Jockey Robby Albarado is close to moving into third-place in career wins at Churchill Downs. Albarado, who has 921 victories beneath the Twin Spires, is just four wins behind Don Brumfield on the all-time list. Albarado has mounts in races six through nine Sunday. …

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (May 28- June 4) are Corey Lanerie (8-for-35), Shaun Bridgmohan (7-for-35) and Robby Albarado (6-for-16). Steve Asmussen (4-for-12) is the hottest trainer over the same period. The hottest owners are Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. (2-for-8) Lothenbach Stables, Inc. (2-for-4), Stoneway Farm (2-for-3) and Vinery Stables, LLC (2-for-2).

 

WEATHER – Sunday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 91; Monday: mostly sunny, 91; Tuesday: mostly sunny and hot, 96; Wednesday: mostly sunny and hot, 94; Thursday: mostly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 92; Friday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 90.

McCARTHY HOPES TO HAVE “TIGER” ON HIS HANDS IN 2011 – Tom McCarthy was looking ahead to a huge fall with his stable star General Quarters. Now, McCarthy has his sights set on 2011.

“I had him almost up to the Shadwell (Turf Mile) at Keeneland in early October and he hit a tendon one morning coming off the track,” McCarthy said. “He had two weeks off and then to be on the safe side, off another two weeks.”

That took care of any Breeders’ Cup plans for General Quarters, winner of the Turf Classic (GI) here this spring and third-place finisher behind eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner Blame in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) in June.

He is at Fallbrook Farm (in Versailles) and I am thinking about going over to see him this afternoon,” McCarthy said. “I am vacillating about when to bring him back. I want to give him a nice vacation and hope he will be a tiger next year.”

A $20,000 claim two years ago, General Quarters has compiled a record of 21-4-7-2 for earnings of $1,165,260. In addition to his Turf Classic victory, General Quarters also won the 2009 Toyota Blue Grass (GI) over Polytrack at Keeneland that led to runs in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and the Preakness (GI).

General Quarters came out of the Preakness with a small bone chip in his right front knee that kept him out of racing for more than seven months.

“He had a hard campaign this winter,” McCarthy said of the colt’s four starts at Fair Grounds prior to the Turf Classic. “Maybe I will treat him like they did Perfect Drift; off after the fall and bring him back in the spring. That seemed to benefit him immensely.”

Perfect Drift, third-place finisher in the 2002 Kentucky Derby, raced eight seasons and compiled a record of 50-11-14-7 for earnings of $4,714,212.

“He has treated me so well,” McCarthy said of General Quarters, “that I want him to come back at 100 percent.”

ARUNA LIVES UP TO BILLING IN UNBEATEN U.S. STINT – Trainer Graham Motion bases his stable operation out of the Fair Hill training center in Maryland, shuttling horses in and out to various destinations for races.

A lot of times, waiting at the tracks for the new arrivals is Heather Craig. One such horse that caught Craig’s attention this summer was Flaxman Holdings Ltd.’s Aruna, a 3-year-old filly who figures to be one of the favorites in Saturday’s 20th running of the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (Grade II) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16-miles on turf.

“She had been at Fair Hill awhile (since arriving in the U.S. from France) and I didn’t know what she had done there,” Craig said of Aruna, who was scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Wednesday afternoon. “She came up to Saratoga which was a lot busier and I took her through the paddock and she didn’t turn a hair. She’s a really nice, very classy filly.”

A homebred daughter of two-time graded stakes winner Surya, Aruna debuted in the summer of 2009 running third at France’s Deauville to Zagora, the same Zagora who ran second in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (GI) at Keeneland last month. After a sixth-place finish behind Sarafina in the Prix Saint-Alary (GI) at Longchamp in May, Aruna came to the States where she won her debut at Saratoga in allowance company in September and then took the Pebbles Stakes at Belmont in October.

“They were really high on her when we got her,” said Craig, who has not ridden Aruna since early September at Saratoga. “She’s a lovely gallop.”

One filly that has returned to Fair Hill from the Motion barn is Shared Account, longshot winner of the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI).

“She came out of the race great and went back to Fair Hill the first of last week,” Craig said of the 4-year-old filly who is owned by Sagamore Farm. “She is going get a little holiday.”

BARN TALK – Julien Leparoux rode three winners on Sunday to boost his career total to 433 at Churchill Downs and into 13th place all time. Leparoux passed Keith Allen (431) and moved within a victory of Willie Martinez. No. 11 on the all-time list is Mike McDowell with 452 victories.

Stronach Stable’s Einstein, one of the top American hopes for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, zipped a fast five furlongs at Churchill Downs on Sunday, Oct. 25 in the veteran star’s final pre-race training move over his home track.

Jockey Julien Leparaoux was aboard the seven-year-old son of 1985 Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Spend A Buck as he covered the distance over a “fast” track in :59.80 under jockey Julien Leparoux.  The work by the Brazlian-bred star was the fastest of 54 at the distance and was accomplished in the company of a pair of 2-year-old stablemates from the barn of trainer Helen Pitts.

Einstein was timed in fractions of :23.80 and :36, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.80.  After he passed his workmates Einstein took aim on another horse that happened to be working in front of him during his run through the stretch.

“We started about three or four lengths behind, but I caught them at the three-eighths pole and he finished very strong to the wire,” said Leparoux.  “It was perfect.  It was a very nice breeze.  He is strong and he’s going to be ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

“I just wanted to give him something to keep him interested,” said Pitts of her decision to send Einstein out with workmates.  “He works good on his own, but he gets bored doing it.  He likes being able to run at something in the mornings – he likes clocking something and running past them.  I thought he would get a better work out of it, and it gives him a lot more interest.  When he gets to about the quarter pole he loves bearing down and running by somebody.”

Pitts said Einstein would leave for California on Tuesday and would have only one major work over the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita.

“I just wanted him to have a good, fun, happy breeze today,” Pitts said.  “When he gets out there he’ll just have an easy half.  The hard part is done now.”

The versatile Einstein won the prestigious Santa Anita Handicap (GI) over the Pro-Ride footing earlier this year and has won the last two renewals of Churchill Downs’ Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI).  He rolled to an easy victory last fall in the Clark Handicap (GII) over traditional dirt at Churchill Downs and was a troubled third behind Macho Again in this year’s Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) at the Louisville track.

  Einstein, who was purchased this summer by Stronach Stables, will attempt to snap a three-race losing streak in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  He was edged by Richard’s Kid in his most recent start in the Pacific Classic (GI) over synthetic Polytrack  footing at Del Mar.

“I’m excited about it,” said Pitts.  “Why not take a shot at it?  He likes that track out there and who knows?   Every Grade I in this country is tough, let alone the Breeders’
Cup, but if anybody deserves a shot, he does.  I think he’s tough right now.  He’s matured a lot and I think he’s doing great now.”

Pitts’ star has a career record of 11-4-3 in 28 races and has earned $2,903,324.

Einstein is one of 10 horses that Leparoux is scheduled to ride in the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 6-7.

"He loves the game – he loves to run,” Leparoux said of his Classic mount.  “He’ll always give 110 percent – that’s one of the great things about riding him.”

FIELDS TAKE SHAPE FOR IROQUOIS, POCAHONTAS ON ‘STARS OF TOMORROW’ OPENING DAY PROGRAM – Rosters of promising young stars are forming to compete in the Iroquois and Pocahontas Stakes, the $100,000-added Grade III events that will headline the “Stars of Tomorrow” program of races for 2-year-olds that will open Churchill Downs’ 21-day Fall Meet on Sunday, Nov. 1.

Likely contenders for the 41st running of the one-mile Pocahontas include Cradle Stakes winner Gleam of Hope; Piscitelli, third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII); Three Day Rush, winner of Monmouth Park’s NATC Futurity; Razorback Futurity winner Comedero; Brassy Boy, third in the Bashford Manor (GIII); Call Shot; Callide Valley; Soaring Empire and You Already Know.

Westrock Stable’s Debutante (GIII) winner Decelerator, Bassinet winner All About Anna; Adirondack (GII) runner-up Sassy Image, and unbeaten Miss Indiana Stakes winner Running Bride top the list of likely starters in the one-mile Pocahontas for 2-year-old fillies.

Others include All Due Respect, Biorra, Gold Dust Lady, Happy Week, Snap Happy and Tidal Pool.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Ruffian (GI) winner Swift Temper breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Dale Romans … Debutante (GIII) winner Decelerator, a candidate for next week’s $100,000-added Pocahontas (GIII), breezed four furlongs in :48.80 … Flying Pegasus breezed three furlongs in :38 … Indygo Mountain worked five furlongs in 1:02.80 … Kentucky Cup Classic (GII) runner-up Dubious Miss breezed five furlongs in 1:00. 

KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER MINE THAT BIRD RETURNS TO CHURCHILL DOWNS TRACK – “I have never been to Baltimore, but it looks like I won’t be able to say that in a few days,” Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr. said Monday morning at Churchill Downs after his Kentucky Derby 135 winner Mine That Bird jogged a mile on a sloppy race track.
    With owners Mark Allen of Double Eagle Ranch and Dr. Leonard Blach of Buena Suerte Equine on hand, Mine That Bird went to the track at 6:40 with exercise rider Charlie Figueroa up.
    “He was just bucking and playing out there,” Figueroa said. “The outriders were surprised to see that yellow (Derby) saddle towel come jogging by.”
    A short time later, the Mine That Bird team informed officials with the Maryland Jockey Club that the 50-1 winner of the Kentucky Derby would compete in the $1 million Preakness (GI), the second jewel of the Triple Crown that will be run at Pimlico on May 16.
    Woolley had said Sunday he wanted to see how Mine That Bird came out of the race before committing to the Preakness and a possible run toward the Triple Crown.
With Allen leading Mine That Bird to the track, Woolley watched the exercise from the viewing stand at the six-furlong chute.
    “Perfect. He tried to buck Charlie off in front of the grandstand and doesn’t normally do that,” Woolley said. “Tomorrow he will back-track to the three-eighths and then ‘lope’ around one time and the next day two times.
    “It will be two rounds a day. I might walk him one day, maybe the day we ship, but he will have no breezes before the Preakness.”
    Woolley said the Triple Crown pursuit factored into the thinking of going on to Pimlico with the gelded son of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone.
    “The Triple Crown is good for racing, and without the Derby winner (in the Preakness) there is no chance to have one,” Woolley said.
    Mine That Bird gave jockey Calvin Borel his second Kentucky Derby victory and Woolley lauded the popular rider’s effort on Saturday that was the 4,729th win of Borel’s career.
    “Calvin has given two of the greatest rides in Kentucky Derby history,” Woolley said of Saturday’s score and a near-identical run two years previous with Street Sense. “To come from last and go by 18 head, that’s just incredible.”
    Mine That Bird is expected to remain at Churchill Downs until at least May 12.

McCARTHY COULD CONSIDER PREAKNESS BID FOR GENERAL QUARTERS – After being dragged around the shedrow at Barn 37 by General Quarters on Monday morning, owner-trainer Tom McCarthy began to think a bit about a Preakness bid with the 10th-place Kentucky Derby finisher.
    “He came out of the race a lot better than I thought,” McCarthy said. “His legs are cold all the way around, so maybe things aren’t as bad as I thought.”
    McCarthy said he would try to walk General Quarters one more day before returning to the track Wednesday.
    “The way he walked this morning, dragging us around the barn … I’m going to try to give him another day,” McCarthy said. “I will gallop him a few days and see where we are, but I want to get a Pimlico condition book so I can see what all the fees are.”

PREAKNESS HOPEFULS WALK MONDAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS -- Zayat Stables’ Pioneerof the Nile walked the shedrow at Barn 33 at Churchill Downs for a second morning after his runner-up finish in Kentucky Derby 135.
    Trainer Bob Baffert, who was leaving Louisville later Monday and scheduled to return Saturday night, said Pioneerof the Nile would return to the track Wednesday morning.
    Bo Hirsch’s Papa Clem walked the shedrow at Barn 10A, led by exercise rider Mundo Gonzalez.
    Gonzalez said Papa Clem, the fourth-place finisher in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, would return to the track to jog Tuesday morning. Trainer Gary Stute is scheduled to return to Louisville on Saturday or Sunday from his Southern California base.
Jake Ballis, Rashard Lewis and Reagan Swinbank’s Join in the Dance, who finished seventh after the setting the pace in Kentucky Derby 135, walked for a second straight morning at Churchill Downs.
    “He came out of the race real good and probably will return to the track Wednesday,” said Mike McCarthy, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, as the son of Sky Mesa eagerly attacked the grass behind Barn 41.
    Pletcher had indicated Sunday that there “was a chance” Join in the Dance could come back in the Preakness.

HISTORY-MAKING EINSTEIN LOOKS FOR GRADE I ON DIRT IN STEPHEN FOSTER HANDICAP – Two-time Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) winner Einstein was doing well on Monday, tearing aggressively a hay rack and pleasing trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi with his quick recovery from Saturday’s hard-fought victory over Cowboy Cal in Churchill Downs’ top race for older turf horses.
    Einstein edged Cowboy Cal by a head after a stretch-long duel to win by a head and become the first horse to win the 1 1/8-mile turf test for older horses. It marked the fourth consecutive year in which Einstein had competed in the Derby Day race.
    “It took him four years, but that’s all right,” smiled Pitts-Blasi.
    The victory was his second of the year and came on the heels of his biggest career victory in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (GI) on March 7, his debut on a synthetic surface in which he turned back nine rivals on the Pro-Ride surface.
    Now a Grade I winner on synthetic and turf surfaces, Pitts is pointing Einstein toward the Grade I, $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap on June 13 at Churchill Downs in hopes notching a Grade I win on traditional dirt for the 7-year-old Brazilian-bred son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck.  Einstein finished second to two-time “Horse of the Year” Curlin in the 2008 Stephen Foster, then won the Clark Handicap (GII) on the Churchill Downs dirt in late November.
    “I just think if we’re going to try to get a Grade I on the dirt, this is the place to do it,” said Pitts-Blasi.  “He loves this track.  We’ll try it if he’s good.  We want him on top of his game, but we’ll give it a shot.”
    A victory in the Stephen Foster Handicap would allow Einstein to join California-based Lava Man as the only horses to score Grade I stakes victories on dirt, turf and synthetic courses.    

BARN TALK – Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss’ champion Zenyatta was scheduled to fly back to her home base at Hollywood Park on Monday. The 2008 Eclipse Award winner as champion older filly or mare was scheduled to make her 2009 debut in Friday’s Louisville Distaff (Grade II), but was scratched by trainer John Shirreffs because of track conditions.
    The Louisville Distaff was won by Domino Stud of Lexington’s Miss Isella, now a winner of four of six starts under the Twin Spires including last fall’s Falls City Handicap (Grade II).
    “Can you write some more races for her here,” trainer Ian Wilkes said with a laugh, adding that the $300,000 Fleur De Lis (Grade II) on June 13 at a mile and an eighth would be the next likely start for Miss Isella.
    Chocolate Candy, fifth-place finisher behind Mine That Bird in Kentucky Derby 135, will leave Tuesday for Belmont Park to begin preparations for the June 6 Belmont Stakes according to Galen May, assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Matthew Garretson’s Einstein (BRZ), a versatile major stakes winner on grass, dirt and synthetic surfaces, will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the $500,000-added Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Grade I) on Saturday in one of the main appetizers on the Kentucky Derby 135 card at Churchill Downs.

The $2,202,200 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) is the centerpiece of the day that features five other graded stakes, two of them Grade I events, and the Eight Belles, a race for 3-year-old fillies that now honors the ill-fated filly that ran second to Big Brown in last year’s Kentucky Derby. First post time for the 13-race card is 10:30 a.m. with the Kentucky Derby post time set for 6:24 p.m. (all times EDT).

Trained by Helen Pitts-Blasi, the 7-year-old Einstein won four of nine starts in 2008 including the Grade I Gulfstream Park Turf and the Grade II Clark Handicap on the dirt at Churchill Downs. He also ran second last year on dirt to two-time “Horse of the Year” Curlin in Churchill Downs’ $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap (GI).  Einstein recently added a Grade I victory on Santa Anita’s synthetic Pro-Ride surface by taking the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap, known to fans as the “Big Cap,” on March 7.

Julien Leparoux, who has been aboard for Einstein’s past three starts, has the mount Friday and will break from post position six in the field of 10. Einstein will carry 119 pounds.

Carrying top weight of 124 pounds in the Woodford Reserve is IEAH Stables and WinStar Farm’s Court Vision, who ran 13th in last year’s Kentucky Derby.

Trained by Bill Mott, Court Vision will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez and break from post position four. Since moving to the turf, Court Vision has won two of five starts with victories coming in the Grade I Hollywood Derby and Grade II Jamaica.

The Woodford Reserve Turf Classic will go as the day’s 10th race.

The field for the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, from the hedge out, is as follows: Artiste Royal (IRE) (Alan Garcia, 119 pounds), El Caballo (Robby Albarado, 117), Proudinsky (GER) (Victor Espinoza, 121), Court Vision (Ramon Dominguez, 124), Yate’s Black Cat (Miguel Mena, 117), Einstein (BRZ) (Julien Leparoux, 119), Furthest Land (Edgar Prado, 117), Cowboy Cal (John Velazquez, 119), Zambesi Sun (GB) (Garrett Gomez, 119) and Thorn Song (Kent Desormeaux, 119).

The first Grade I race of the day is the 23rd running of the $300,000-added Humana Distaff for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up going seven furlongs on the main track. The Humana Distaff is the ninth race on the card.

Augustin Stable’s Informed Decision, winner of Keeneland’s Vinery Madison (Grade I) in her most recent start on April 9, will carry 124 pounds and concede from 2-6 pounds to her eight rivals. Trained by Jonathan Sheppard, Informed Decision will break from post position three under Julien Leparoux.

A trio of Grade II winners in 2009 will carry 122 pounds: Inside Information heroine Game Face, Barbara Fritchie victor Royale Michele and Distaff Handicap winner Secret Gypsy.

The field for the Humana Distaff, from the rail out, is as follows: Tiz to Dream (Calvin Borel, 118 pounds), Dubai Majesty (Kent Desormeaux, 118), Informed Decision (Julien Leparoux, 124), Bear Now (Jamie Theriot, 118), Secret Gypsy (Robby Albarado, 122), Temple Street (Jon Court, 118), Royale Michele (Rafael Bejarano, 122), Modification (Corey Nakatani, 118) and Game Face (Garrett Gomez, 122).

The 7 1/2-furlong Eight Belles, formerly known as the La Troienne, honors the Larry Jones-trained filly who beat 18 other colts in Kentucky Derby 134. The race will be the seventh on the card.

Jones has two fillies entered in the Eight Belles, including Just Jenda, who is owned by his wife Cindy.  A three-time stakes winner, Just Jenda will break from the rail under Gabriel Saez who was aboard for the filly’s victory in the Grade III Honeybee.  Jones’ other starter is Warrior Maid, who will break from post position five under John Velazquez.

The top weight for the Eight Belles is Laragh, who will carry 122 pounds and spot 2-6 pounds to her eight rivals. Trained by John Terranova, Laragh closed out 2008 with a victory in the Grade I Hollywood Starlet and she finished third to champion Stardom Bound in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last fall at Santa Anita.

The field for the Eight Belles, from the rail out, is as follows: Just Jenda (Gabriel Saez, 120 pounds), She’s Extreme (Julien Leparoux, 116), C.S. Silk (Rafael Bejarano, 120), Four Gifts (Shaun Bridgmohan, 120), Warrior Maid (John Velazquez, 120), Dave’s Revenge (Mike Smith, 116), Loveyou Everybody (Miguel Mena, 116), Lady’s Laughter (Kent Desormeaux, 116), Laragh (Edgar Prado, 122) and Auspicious (Robby Albarado, 116).

The first graded stakes race of the day is the 75th running of the $250,000-added Churchill Downs (Grade II), which goes as race six.

Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm’s Kodiak Kowboy, winner of the Grade I Carter Handicap in his most recent start on April 4, will carry top weight of 124 pounds and concede 2-6 pounds to his eight rivals in the seven furlong sprint. Gabriel Saez has the mount on Kodiak Kowboy and break from post position three.

The field for the Churchill Downs, from the rail out, is as follows: My Pal Charlie (Garrett Gomez, 122 pounds), The Roundhouse (Edgar Prado, 118), Kodiak Kowboy (Gabriel Saez, 124), Ide Like a Double (Robby Albarado, 118), Spotsgone (Joe Johnson, 118), Accredit (Julien Leparoux, 118), Hewitts (Joe Talamo, 118), Silver Edition (Miguel Mena, 118) and Sok Sok (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118).

Ike and Dawn Thrash’s Dawn After Dawn, fourth to Rags To Riches in the 2007 Kentucky Oaks, returns to the turf in 24th running of the $200,000-added Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (Grade II) for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Rene Douglas will ride Dawn After Dawn and break from post position 11.

The field for the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, from the hedge out, is as follows: Lemon Chiffon (Mike Smith, 118 pounds), Visit (GB) (Garrett Gomez, 118), Tizaqueena (Jamie Theriot, 118), Rasierra (John Velazquez, 118), Zee Zee (Kent Desormeaux, 118), Sugar Mint (IRE) (Rafael Bejarano, 118), Ballymore Lady (Julien Leparoux, 118), Stealin’ Kisses (Robby Albarado, 118), Elusive Lady (Eibar Coa, 118), Rustic Flame (IRE) (Corey Lanerie, 118) and Dawn After Dawn (Rene Douglas, 118).

Unbeaten Eclipse Award champion Zenyatta, a finalist for ‘Horse of the Year’ honors in 2008, is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Monday, April 27 to run in the $350,000-added Louisville Distaff (Grade II) on Friday’s Kentucky Oaks Day program at Churchill Downs.

Trainer John Shirreffs confirmed Zenyatta’s participation via telephone Sunday afternoon and Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss’ 5-year-old daughter of Street Cry is scheduled to board a Louisville-bound plane after leaving Shirreffs’ barn at Santa Anita on Monday.

Zenyatta, who is perfect in nine career races and has not raced since her emphatic victory in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (GI) over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface in late October, will stabled in Barn 45.  Shirreffs and the Mosses enjoyed success in that barn when Giacomo, their winner of the 2005 Kentucky Derby (GI), was stabled there.

Shirreffs and the Mosses finalized the decision to bring their unbeaten champion to Churchill Downs after she turned in a sharp five furlongs in :59 over the synthetic  Cushion Track surface on Sunday morning at Hollywood Park.  The Oaks Day race would be only Zenyatta’s second appearance on conventional dirt.  All of her other victories have been scored on synthetic tracks in California.

The brilliant mare earned the Eclipse Award for the top older filly or mare of 2008 following a campaign in which she was perfect in seven races.  All of her 2008 wins came in stakes races and four were in Grade I events.

Zenyatta’s primary challenger in the 1 1/8-mile race is One Caroline, an unbeaten daughter of Unbridled’s Song owned by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and trained by Rusty Arnold.  The 4-year-old filly is coming off an easy win in the Rampart Handicap (GII) at Gulfstream Park, her fifth consecutive victory.  Others considered possible for the Louisville Distaff, formerly known as the Louisville Breeders’ Cup, include Falls City Handicap (GII) winner Miss Isella, Bear Now, Dawn After Dawn, Stealin' Kisses, Sugar Mint, Swift Temper, Unbridled Belle, and Unforgotten.

Other stars scheduled for stakes appearances during the Kentucky Oaks program on Friday, May 1 and the Kentucky Derby Day stakes on May 2 include Einstein, Indian Blessing, Laragh, Fabulous Strike, Kodiak Kowboy and Macho Again.

The versatile and accomplished Einstein is scheduled to defend his 2008 $500,000-added Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) on Kentucky Derby Day.  The 7-year-old son of 1965 Kentucky Derby winner Spend A Buck is coming off a victory in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (GI) at Santa Anita, a race that marked his debut on a synthetic racing surface.  A three-time Grade I winner on grass, Einstein also won last fall’s Clark Handicap (GII) and finished second to two-time “Horse of the Year” Curlin in the $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) on the dirt surface at Churchill Downs.

Others expected to contest the 1 1/8-mile Woodford Reserve Turf Classic include Cowboy Cal, Court Vision, Artiste Royal, Proudinsky, Zambezi Sun, Yate’s Black Cat, Just as Well and Furthest Land.

The Grade I $300,000-added Humana Distaff, a seven-furlong Derby Day test for older fillies and mares on the main track, will be headed by Patti and Hal Earnhardt’s Indian Blessing, runner-up to Big City Man when she tested males in the Dubai Golden Shaheen at Nad Al Sheba in late March.  The Bob Baffert-trained daughter of Indian Charlie has a 9-4-0 record in 13 races and is expected to face a talented group of rivals that include Game Face, Secret Gypsy, Informed Decision, Royale Michele, Sugar Mint and Tiz To Dream.

The Grade II, $250,000-added Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Carewise Health (GII) for 4-year-olds and up on Derby Day shapes up as showdown between sprint stars Fabulous Strike and Kodiak Kowboy, Other possible contenders in the seven furlong race include Ide Like A Double, My Pal Charlie, Paul's Hope, Riley Tucker, Silver Edition, Sok Sok, Spotsgone, and The Roundhouse.

The $100,000 Eight Belles Presented by GE Consumer & Industrial (GIII), formerly the La Troienne, will match 3-year-old fillies over 7 ½-furlongs on Derby Day.  Now named in honor of the ill-fated Fox Hill Farms’ filly who was runner-up to Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, the Eight Belles is expected to attract a field that could include the Steve Asmussen-trained duo of Auspicious and Four Gifts, the Larry Jones-trained Just Jenda, Arlington-Washington Lassie (GIII) winner C.S. Silk, Dave's Revenge, Diamond Tags, Gatorette, Lady's Laughter, Luster, and Warrior Maid.

The remaining race on the Kentucky Derby Day schedule of six stakes events is the $100,000 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (GIII) Presented by American Commercial Lines (GIII).  The one-mile test for older fillies and mares on the Matt Winn Turf Course could include Ballymore Lady, Elusive Lady, Flibberjibit, Lady Carlock, Lemon Chiffon, Rustic Flame, Sugar Mint, Sweeter Still, and Tizaqueena.

Along with the 135th running of the Kentucky Oaks and the Louisville Distaff, the four other stakes races on the Oaks Day card will attract star-studded fields. 

The $100,000 American Turf Presented by HRTV (GIII) is expected to mark the stakes debut of the promising Affirmatif as the Todd Pletcher-trained colt faces stakes veterans Battle of Hastings, Bittel Road, Jack Spratt, Orthodox, Skipadate, Stormalory and Turfiste in the 1 1/16-mile test on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

New Orleans Handicap (GIII) and 2008 Preakness (GI) runner-up Macho Again heads the 1 1/16-mile Alysheba Presented by ZirMed (GIII).  The 1 1/16-mile race for older horses could also include 2008 Kentucky Derby veteran Cool Coal Man, Ready Set, Acting Zippy, Bullsbay, Prom Shoes, Dr. Pleasure, Golden Yank, Star Guitar and Limestone Edge.

The $100,000-added Edgewood Presented by Recreonics Inc.could attract Laragh, winner of the Hollywood Starlet (GI) on the synthetic Cushion Track course at Hollywood Park and third to Stardom Bound in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.  Other possible starters include Abbott Hall, Banker's Choice, Kiss Mine, Magical Affair, Speed Dating, Stone Legacy and Walloon.

The $100,000-added Aegon Turf Sprint (GIII) for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on grass is expected to attract star turf sprinter Smart Enough and rivals that include Accredit, Castles in the Sky, Chitoz, Due Date, Jazz Nation and Silver Edition.

INDESCRIBABLE PASSES YIELDING TURF TEST IN CARDINAL - Kenny McCarthy, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, reported that Courtlandt Farms' Indescribable came out of her stirring victory in Saturday's Grade III Cardinal Handicap in good order and would be headed to Florida at the end of the month.

            The head victory over George Strawbridge's Long Approach came in Indescribable's first race over a turf course that was less than firm.

            "The only question we had was whether she would handle the yielding ground," McCarthy said. "We were kind of hoping it would come off (the turf) because she would be strong on the dirt."

            But McCarthy's worries were quickly dissipated.

            "Ninety-nine percent of the time in the first sixteenth of a mile you can tell if they are comfortable with it," McCarthy said. "The first time by she was into the bit and I could tell she was OK with it."

            The victory, which was the second in two days for the barn, raised Mott's record victory total at Churchill Downs to 594. The 600-win plateau is within reach with 10 racing programs remaining in the Fall Meet that concludes Nov. 29.

            "I might retire at 600," McCarthy said with a laugh.

EINSTEIN STEPS OUT ON SLOPPY TRACK - Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) winner Einstein worked five furlongs in 1:03.80 over a sloppy track after Sunday's renovation break with trainer Helen Pitts up.

            "It was a little slower than I liked, but maybe I was being cautious because of the track," Pitts said. "He worked good. I know he is feeling good."

            Pitts had said last week that she would let Einstein "tell me" if he would make his return to the races in the Nov. 28 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII).

            What was Einstein saying on a raw Sunday morning?

            "We still have two weeks (until the Clark)," Pitts said. "I will know more next week after he works again. He'll work Sunday, but I will keep an eye on the weather and he may work Saturday."

            Owned by Midnight Cry Stable, Einstein has not run since finishing fifth in the Arlington Million (GI) on Aug. 9.

EIGHT HORSES PROBABLE FOR SATURDAY'S RIVER CITY - The weights are out and as of Sunday, a field of eight three-year olds and up was shaping up for Saturday's 32nd running of the River City Handicap (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

            According to Dan Bork of the Churchill Downs Racing Office, 2007 River City winner Thorn Song (122) is probable for the race as his stablemate Yate's Black Cat (119) for trainer Dale Romans. Zayat Stables owns Thorn Song and Jerry Crawford, Adam Wachtel, Nils Brous and David Robinette own Yate's Black Cat.

            Other probables, with weight assignments, are Amerman Racing Stables' Demarcation (117), Oxbow Racing's Steve's Double (117), Don Benge's Wise River (116), Scarlet Stable's Canela (115), Stronach Stable's Jungle Fighter (115) and Nick Mamatas and John Kerber's Gentleman Chester (113).             

BARN TALK - Zabeel Racing International's Game Face made a successful return to the races Saturday with a head victory in the eighth race. "That was a nice victory yesterday," said Michael Dilger, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. "I'm not sure what is next for her." Winner of the Grade II Old Hat at Gulfstream in January and the La Troienne (GIII) at Churchill Downs in May, Game Face had not run since finishing third in the Grade I Acorn on June 7. Dilger also said that Overbrook Farm's Big Surf, a maiden winner last Wednesday, may run closing day in either an allowance race at a mile or the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club at 1 1/16 miles. Big Surf is the third foal out of Surfside, winner of the 2000 Clark Handicap and champion 3-year-old filly of that year.

WORK TAB - Dolphus Morrison's Rachel Alexandra, runner-up in the Nov. 1 Pocahontas (GIII), worked five furlongs over a "sloppy" track in 1:05 for trainer Hal Wiggins in preparation for a possible run in the closing-day Golden Rod (GII). ... Silverton Hill Farm's Dominican, winner of the 2007 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI), worked a half-mile in :51.40 for trainer Darrin Miller.

• DENIS OF CORK SET FOR MEMORIAL DAY WORK FOR BELMONT
•  EINSTEIN SOLID IN SUNDAY BREEZE, MANHATTAN BID LIKELY
•  TOMLINSON BEAMS OVER FIRST WINNER FOR SIR CHEROKEE

 

BELMONT CONTENDER DENIS OF CORK SET FOR MEMORIAL DAY WORK – Mr. and Mrs. William Warren’s Denis of Cork, third to unbeaten Triple Crown contender Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), is set to continue his preparation for a rematch with the Derby winner in the June 7 Belmont Stakes with a workout on Monday at Churchill Downs.

            Trainer David Carroll said the 3-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday was scheduled to breeze after the mid-session break for track maintenance, which would put Denis of Cork on the track at around 8:20 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. (EDT). 

            Jockey Robby Albarado will be in the saddle for the work.  Albarado will have the mount on the winner of Oaklawn Park’s Southwest Stakes (GIII) in the Belmont Stakes after Calvin Borel was aboard Denis of Cork in the Kentucky Derby.

            Denis of Cork won the first three races of his career before he suffered his first setback in a fifth-place finish in the Illinois Derby (GII) at Hawthorne.  He rebounded from that disappointment with his strong run in the Kentucky Derby. 

            The Memorial Day move will be the second work for Denis of Cork at Churchill Downs since the Kentucky Derby.  He breezed five furlongs in 1:01 on May 19 with jockey James Lopez in the irons.

 

WOODFORD RESERVE WINNER EINSTEIN SHARP IN WORK, LIKELY FOR MANHATTAN – Midnight Cry Stable’s Einstein, winner of the $500,000-added Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) on Kentucky Derby Day, turned in a solid five-furlong breeze on Sunday in preparation for a possible trip to Belmont Park to run in the $400,000-added Manhattan Handicap (GI) on the June 7 Belmont Stakes undercard.

The Brazilian-bred son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck breezed five furlongs over a “fast” surface in 1:01.40 on Sunday for trainer Helen Pitts.  The move ranked as the 11th fastest of 32 at the distance.

The victory in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic was the second Grade I win of the year for Einstein, who also took the Gulfstream Park Turf (GI) and just missed a solid effort behind reigning NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) winner Kip Deville in the Maker’s Mark Mile (GI) at Keeneland.

His victory in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic has Pitts entertaining the notion of a championship campaign for Einstein.  But that’s not the only reason that his Derby Day victory in the Woodford Reserve, which came in Einstein’s third attempt to win that race, was special.

“It was awesome,” said Pitts.  “He had run twice in it already and had run hard, but he’s a different horse this year.  He sits close to the pace and puts himself into the race a little bit and makes his job easier.  He’s run hard races (in the Woodford Reserve) and just hasn’t had the best of luck.  I won a little Grade III on Kentucky Derby Day last year, but to win a Grade I on Derby Day means the world to me.  If you can’t be in the Derby, to win a Grade I on the day is pretty special, I think.”

Pitts said the Arlington Million (GI) on Aug. 9 at Arlington Park remains the major goal on the year for Einstein.

The victory in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic allowed Einstein to become a millionaire.  It was his third win in five races this year and he improved his career earnings to $1,107,931.  His career record now stands at 8-1-1 in 18 races. 

 

WEIGHTS ANNOUNCED FOR OPENING VERSE HANDICAP, STRONG FIELD TAKING SHAPE – S J Stables LLC’s Cloudy’s Knight has been assigned high weight of 123 pounds for Saturday’s fifth running of the $100,000-added Opening Verse Handicap on the Churchill Downs Turf, and Chicago-based trainer Frank Kirby, Jr. is considering a bid for the 1 1/16-mile race.

            Kirby has told Churchill Downs racing officials that 8-year-old Lord Avie gelding is “possible” for the race, which would be his first outing of 2008.  He completed a successful 2007 campaign with an upset win in the Canadian International (GI) at Woodbine.  He also won the Sky Classic (GI) at the Toronto track and the Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup (GIII) during last year’s campaign.

            Also listed as possible for the Opening Verse are Andrew Farm, Connie Scanlon and James Buckley’s Duveen, fifth to Einstein for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, and a pair of veterans trained by Dale Romans: Zayat Stable’s Thorn Song and Jerry Crawford Adam Wachtel, Nils Brous and David Robinette’s Yate’s Black Cat.  All three of those nominees were assigned 118 pounds.

            Horses considered “likely” for the race (with assigned weights) include Crested (117), Seaside Retreat (117), Corrupt (116), Inca King (116), Embossed (115), Therecomesatiger (115), Rosberg (114), Bold Start (113) and Prom Shoes (113).

            Rosberg was made a supplemental nominee to the Opening Verse with a payment of $5,000.  The 7-year-old son of A.P. Indy, who is trained by Eoin Harty, finished fifth to Diamond Stripes in his most recent start in the $1 million Godolphin Mile (GII) on the dirt at Nad Al Sheba.  The Opening Verse will mark the turf debut for Rosberg, who is out of One Thousand Guineas and multiple Group I winner Bosra Sham.

He has won four of 12 races in a career that was launched with a pair of outings in Southern California in 2003 that included a victory at Santa Anita.

The other stakes races on Saturday’s schedule at Churchill Downs include the $125,000 Aristides Stakes (GIII) and the $100,000 Dogwood (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies.

 

TOMLINSON BEAMS OVER FIRST WINNER FOR FRESHMAN SIRE SIR CHEROKEE – Mike Tomlinson did not have a horse entered during Saturday’s 11-race card at Churchill Downs, but he felt like a winner after he watched first-time starter Need a Name in his career debut in the sixth race.

            Need a Name, who is co-owned by Gus Goldsmith and trainer Merrill Scherer, is the first winner for freshman sire Sir Cherokee, the best horse that Tomlinson has trained.  Sir Cherokee won the Arkansas Derby (GII) for Tomlinson in 2003 and was entered in that year’s Kentucky Derby, but came up with an injury that required him to be scratched from the “Run for the Roses.”

            “I was at home watching it on HRTV and was tickled to death to see his first starter win at first asking,” said Tomlinson.  “You can’t start any better than that.”

            Sir Cherokee returned from the injury that knocked him out of the Kentucky Derby to win the Ack Ack (GIII) at Churchill Downs and the MAXXAM Gold Cup at Sam Houston Park. Owned and bred by Domino Stud, Sir Cherokee ended his career with six wins in 19 races and total earnings of $528,296.

            “He did a lot of good things for me,” recalled Tomlinson.  “He was my first nice horse and got me my first ink as a trainer.  Those kinds of things are immeasurable.  When you finally get a horse that puts you in front of the public, it’s special.  You can win all of the claiming races you want and it won’t do for you what a good horse can do.”

            And, of course, Sir Cherokee almost put Tomlinson in the Kentucky Derby.  He came up with hairline fracture in his left rear leg that apparently occurred during a five-furlong workout on Tuesday of Kentucky Derby Week.  Sir Cherokee walked perfectly on the morning after the work and was entered in the Kentucky Derby on Wednesday, but the injury became apparent the following morning when Tomlinson’s colt returned to the track for a jog.

            “We had our foot in the door, but the other one was on a banana peel,” Tomlinson recalled.  “It’s just like I said when we found the injury, if you’re not ready for the downside as well as the upside, you’re in the wrong business.”

            Tomlinson has some 2-year-olds by Sir Cherokee in his care and he’s hoping to continue the momentum created for the freshman sire by the win by Need a Name.

            “I’ve got a couple of his babies and one filly that is showing talent,” he said.  “Hopefully she’ll run by the end of the meet, and we’ll see if she’s that good to win at first asking.  I hope she is.”

 

BARN TALK – Reigning “Horse of the Year” Curlin is schedule to work on Monday at Churchill Downs.  The breeze by the Steve Asmussen-trained champion will be his fourth at Churchill Downs since the 4-year-old son of Smart Strike returned to the United States after his victory in the $6 million Dubai World Cup (GI) at Nad Al Sheba in late March. Curlin, who is prepping for an expected start in the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) at Churchill Downs on June 14, is expected to work in Asmussen’s second set of horse at around 6:15 a.m. … Big days for trainer Ken McPeek and jockey Robby Albarado on Saturday resulted in changes in the standings for the races for the leading owner and jockey of the Spring Meet.  McPeek won three races – with Albarado on all of those winners – to extend his lead in the battle for leading trainer to 16-12 over Steve Asmussen.  Tom Amoss also won a race on the day and his total of 10 victories is good for third in that race.  Albarado’s fourth win aboard Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Lattice in the $150,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII) was his fourth of the day and he ended Saturday’s program with 26-25 edge in the battle for “leading jockey” over Julien Leparoux.  Albarado had started the day in a 22-22 tie with Leparoux, who added three wins on the day. … Saturday’s victory in the ninth race by Starlight Stable and Donald Lucarelli’s Sam P. ended a string of frustration for the 4-year-old son of Cat Thief, who had finished ninth behind Street Sense in the 2007 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands.  The Todd Pletcher trainee led throughout under Leparoux to win the 1 1/16-mile allowance race by a head for his first victory since Nov. 25, 2006.  That earlier victory had been a 2 ¼-length win over future stakes winner Chelokee at Churchill Downs in a one-mile allowance race, but he had failed to win in eight consecutive starts – all in Grade I, Grade II or Grade III competition.  … Pimlico Special (GI) winner Student Council breezed four furlong in :52.60 on Sunday at Churchill Downs.  It was the first work for the Steve Asmussen trainee since his May 16 upset win over a “sloppy” track at Pimlico.

 

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – La Troienne (GI) winner Game Face breezed four furlongs in :49 for trainer Todd Pletcher, who is considering a run in either the Dogwood or Belmont Park’s Acorn (GI) for the 3-year-old daughter of Menifee … Turfway Breeders’ Cup (GII) winner Danzon breezed four furlongs in :48 … Phoenix Stakes (GIII) winner Off Duty breezed four furlongs in :48.80. …Dogwood candidate Honest Pursuit, a recent allowance winner for trainer Dallas Stewart, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.60. … Fairbanks breezed a half-mile in :49 for Pletcher.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

          Through Friday, May 23

 

Jockeys                          Starts  1-2-3

Robby Albarado                   99   26-11-11

Julien Leparoux                  143   25-26-26

Calvin Borel                        160  21-19-24

Miguel Mena                       138   21-19-20

Shaun Bridgmohan               95   21-17-12

Jesus Castanon                   109   14-11-10

Jamie Theriot                      90      9-10-9

Brian Hernandez, Jr.            70      7-12-8

Larry Sterling, Jr.                 40       6-5-6

Elvis Trujillo                        23       6-3-4

Corey Lanerie                     83      5-15-7

John McKee                        62     5-10-10

Kent Desormeaux                 31      5-8-6

Tracy Hebert                       53      5-3-5                  

Trainers

Ken McPeek                        36     16-5-4

Steve Asmussen                  52    12-8-10

Tom Amoss                        34   10-6-5

Mike Maker                         25      8-4-2

Ian Wilkes                           20      7-5-3

Dale Romans                       55     6-12-7

Greg Foley                          35       6-7-3

   Four (4) trainers tied with five (5) wins

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey         25      8-3-4

Zayat Stables, LLC                24      5-5-3

Maggi Moss                         14     5-2-3

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein   17     4-3-1

Padua Stables                       6       4-1-0

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable       7       4-0-0

 Four (4) owners tied with three (3) wins