Denis of Cork

Joseph Rauch and David Zell’s Capt Candyman Can, a smashing three-length winner of the Iroquois (Grade III) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1, is the marquee name in a field of 10 entered Wednesday for the 83rd running of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII) to be run at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday.

The Kentucky Jockey Club is the centerpiece of the closing-day “Stars of Tomorrow II” card that features races limited exclusively to 2-year-olds. First post time is 11:30 a.m. with general admission gates opening at 10 a.m. (all times Eastern).

In addition to the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club, there will be the 66th running of the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for fillies at 1 1/16 miles, plus two $56,000-added overnight handicaps on the grass – the Grand Canyon at 1 1/16 miles and the Caressing at one mile for the fillies.

Also, Curlin, North America’s reigning Horse of the Year and the continent’s richest racehorse of all time with earnings of $10,501,800, will be paraded one final time at Churchill Downs between the fifth and sixth races before he is retired to stud duty in 2009. After a trip to saddling paddock, Curlin will be saluted in the winner’s circle.

Saturday’s future stars have some huge horseshoes to fill from the 2007 juvenile showcase day that produced such 2008 graded stakes winners as Anak Nakal and Pure Clan and a first-time starter named Denis of Cork who came back this year to run third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and second in the Belmont Stakes (GI).

Julien Leparoux, who rode Anak Nakal to victory in last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club, goes for a repeat on Capt. Candyman Can for trainer Ian Wilkes. Capt. Candyman Can has won both of his dirt starts with his only setback coming in a sixth-place finish over the Polytrack at Arlington Park in the roughly run Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII).

Capt. Candyman Can will break from post position eight and is the only stakes winner in the field for the Kentucky Jockey Club, which goes as the 11th race on the card at approximately 4:27 p.m. ET.

The field for the Kentucky Jockey Club, from the rail out: Coal Baron (Julio Garcia), Big Surf (Jesus Castanon), Beethoven (Calvin Borel), Stormalory (Kent Desormeaux), Jazzandthemagician (Miguel Mena), Zion (Shaun Bridgmohan), Brother Keith (Robby Albarado), Capt. Candyman Can (Julien Leparoux), Star of David (Jamie Theriot) and Giant Oak (Eusebio Razo Jr.). All starters will carry 122 pounds.

Eldon Farm’s Sara Louise, a 3 3/4-length winner of the Grade III Pocahontas on Nov. 1, tops a field of seven for the Golden Rod that also attracted Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) runner-up Dream Empress.

Trained by Dale Romans, Sara Louise has won two of three career starts and will be ridden by Robby Albarado who is seeking his second victory in the Golden Rod. Sara Louise will break from post position one.

Livin the Dream Racing’s Dream Empress won the Grade I Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland prior to her Breeders’ Cup effort and the Golden Rod will mark her debut on a conventional dirt track for trainer Ken McPeek. Kent Desormeaux has the call Saturday and will break from post position three.

The Golden Rod, which goes as the ninth race on the card at 3:28 p.m. ET, also lured two other intriguing prospects: Dolphus Morrison’s Rachel Alexandra and Ron Winchell’s War Echo.

Rachel Alexandra, trained by Hal Wiggins, finished second to Sara Louise in the Pocahontas and this summer was runner-up in the Grade III Debutante. War Echo, trained by Steve Asmussen, is a half-sister to multiple graded-stakes winner Pyro and ran fourth in the Grade I Frizette in her most recent start.

The field for the Golden Rod, from the rail out: Sara Louise (Robby Albarado, 119 pounds), Super Poni (Godofredo Laurente, 119), Dream Empress (Kent Desormeaux, 119), Rachel Alexandra (Calvin Borel, 119), Dance With Daddy (Diego Rodriguez, 114), Pearl of Valor (Jesus Castanon, 119) and War Echo (Shaun Bridgmohan, 119).

Marylou Whitney Stables’ Ninth Client, trained by D. Wayne Lukas will carry high weight of 121 pounds and face 11 rivals in the Grand Canyon, which goes as the fifth race on the card at 1:28 p.m. ET. Third in the Grade III Bourbon at Keeneland on Oct. 5 and most recently ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Ninth Client will be ridden by Robby Albarado and break from post position three.

The field for the Grand Canyon, from the hedge out: Rockin’ Joe (Shaun Bridgmohan, 120 pounds), Chilliness (Jamie Theriot, 115), Ninth Client (Robby Albarado, 121), Jack Spratt (Julien Leparoux, 117), Presents for Berti (Calvin Borel, 117), Smart Shot (Julio Garcia, 116), My Boy Jo (Jesus Castanon, 112), South Fork Lodge (Kent Desormeaux, 117), Relvado (Eusebio Razo Jr., 114), Tenmor (Orlando Mojica, 114), Proceed Bee (Miguel Mena, 115) and Changing Storm (Richard Monterrey, 112). On the also-eligible list are Charlie Trumper (Robby Albarado, 111), Irish Blarney (Miguel Mena, 111) and Allittakesisone (Diego Rodriguez, 110).

In the Caressing, which goes as Race 10 at 3:58 p.m. ET, Wayne Calabrese’s Sugar Mom, winner of the Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park in September and seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in her most recent start, will tote top weight of 122 pounds and concede 2-9 pounds to seven rivals.

Trained by Wayne Catalano, Sugar Mom has three wins and two seconds from seven starts and will be ridden by E.T. Baird and break from post position two in a full field of 12.

The field for the Caressing, from the hedge out: Yo Eleven (Eusebio Razo Jr., 113 pounds), Sugar Mom (E.T. Baird, 122), Romin Robin (Orlando Mojica, 113), Seminole Lass (Julien Leparoux, 115), Trust N Seven (Rafael Hernandez, 115), Banker’s Choice (Calvin Borel, 119), Striking Dancer (Robby Albarado, 118), Devil by Design (Jesus Castanon, 114), Abbott Hall (Jamie Theriot, 120), Foxy Bailey (Kent Desormeaux, 114), War Tigress (Julio Garcia, 119) and It’s Tiffin Time (Miguel Mena, 113). On the also-eligible list is Guarda (Miguel Mena, 113).

 

SIX TO LINE UP AGAINST EINSTEIN IN FIRECRACKER – Trainer Helen Pitts’ turf star Einstein will go for his fourth grass victory of 2008 on Friday when he faces six rivals in the 19th running of the $200,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) to be run at one mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            The Firecracker will go as the 10th race on the 11-race holiday card. First post time is 1:15 p.m. (EDT).

Second in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) on dirt to 2007 “Horse of the Year” Curlin on June 14 in his most recent start, Einstein will carry high weight of 124 pounds and concede 7-10 pounds to his Firecracker foes. Robby Albarado, who rode Einstein to victory in the May 3 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs, has the call Friday and will break from post position three.

            Owned by Patricia Cunningham and Melissa Green, Lessee, Einstein also won the Grade I Gulfstream Park Turf this winter and ran second to 2007 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) winner Kip Deville in the Grade I Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland.

            The main rival to Einstein appears to be Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Inca King, who is undefeated in three starts over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            Trained by Steve Asmussen, Inca King posted a front-running victory in the May 31 Opening Verse Handicap at a mile and a sixteenth in his most recent start and last year won the Grade II Jefferson Cup during the Spring Meet and the Commonwealth Turf in the Fall Meet. Shaun Bridgmohan will ride Inca King who breaks from post position seven under a 118-pound impost.

            The field for the Firecracker, from the hedge out, is as follows: Mrs. S.K. Johnston Jr., Marco Bommarito and the Molly Malone Racing Club’s A.P. Xcellent (Larry Melancon, 116 pounds); Zayat Stables’ Thorn Song (Kent Desormeaux, 118); Einstein (Robby Albarado, 124); Terry Raymond. Jana Wagner and Gus Goldsmith’s Faith’s Magic (Brian Hernandez Jr., 116); Stud TNT’s Portuga (Calvin Borel, 115); Oxbow Racing’s Steve’s Double (Miguel Mena, 115); and, Inca King (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118). 

DREAMING OF ANNA ASSIGNED TOP WEIGHT FOR LOCUST GROVE – Frank Calabrese’s champion filly Dreaming of Anna has been assigned the top weight of 124 pounds for the 27th running of the Locust Grove Handicap (GIII), to be run on closing day, July 6.

Winner of the Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) on June 14, Dreaming of Anna – the champion 2-year-old filly of 2006 – is not expected to compete in the 1 1/8-mile test for fillies and mares ages 3 and up.

Assigned the second high weight of 121 pounds by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman was Ben McElroy’s Roshani. The Todd Pletcher trainee is considered as “possible” for the Locust Grove.

Expected to be the starting high weight in the Locust Grove is Pin Oak Stable’s Brownie Points, who was assigned 120 pounds. Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Brownie Points won the Ouija Board Handicap (GIII) in her most recent start on May 26 at Lone Star Park and arrived at Churchill Downs from the Texas track on Tuesday.

Other expected starters, with weight assignments, are Jacks or Better Farm’s Bayou Lassie (119), Richard Shultz’s Lemonlime (117), Godolphin Racing’s Say You Will (115), James Barry’s Genuine Devotion (115), Peter Bradley’s Tears I Cry (115), Craig Bernick’s You Go West Girl (114) and Briland Farm’s Grace Happens (112).

            Three other mares are considered as “possible”: Runnymede Farm’s Meribel (118), Swettenham Stud’s Paris Winds (118) and Pegasus Horses’ Ballymore Lady (114).   

BOREL SET FOR RETURN, CLOSES ON MILESTONE – Jockey Calvin Borel is expected to be back in the saddle Wednesday afternoon after taking off all mounts Sunday because of a sore knee.

            “He worked five horses Sunday morning, but his knee swelled and he had it drained,” agent Jerry Hissam said of Borel, who suffered a swollen ligament in his knee after coming off a horse during training hours on June 13. “He gave it a couple days rest, but he’ll be back Wednesday.”

 Borel enters Wednesday’s card with 4,492 career victories, which is 34th best all time. He is named to ride six horses Wednesday and six on Thursday. He has 43 victories this meet, good for fifth in the rider standings.

            “He lost two of the eight he needs (to get to 4,500) on Sunday,” Hissam said referring to the mounts Borel took off that won on the card.

            Hissam said after the meet ends on Sunday Borel will head to New York for the July 12 Man o’ War (GI) to ride Marc Keller’s Grand Couturier, whom he rode to victory in last year’s Sword Dancer Invitational (GI) at Saratoga. 

NEXT WORK TO DETERMINE COURSE FOR ACOMA – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Dogwood (GIII) winner Acoma worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Monday morning for trainer David Carroll. It was her third work since winning the May 31 Dogwood.

            “She worked very well,” Carroll said of the 3-year-old daughter of Empire Maker. “She is going to either the Delaware Oaks or the Coaching Club American Oaks and her work next Monday will likely determine which one.”

            The $500,000 Delaware Oaks (GII) is run at a mile and a sixteenth on July 12 at Delaware Park. The $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (GI) is run at a mile and a quarter on July 19 at Belmont Park.

            Also appearing on the work tab for Carroll on Monday was Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s Denis of Cork, the third-place finisher to Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and winner of the Southwest Stakes (GIII).  In his first work since his runner-up finish in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (GI), Denis of Cork worked a half-mile in :50.

            “He went very nice,” Carroll said. “He is on track for the Jim Dandy (GII on July 27 at Saratoga). He is on a Monday work schedule, weather permitting.”

 
BARN TALK – Eliah and Lisa Kahn are the only owners of multiple winners at the Spring Meet to be batting a thousand: Four starters; four winners. On Thursday, the streak either will end or extend to six. Trainer Ken McPeek has entered Perfect Motion for the Kahns in the sixth race, a one-mile turf allowance event, and Subscriber in the 10th, a mile and a sixteenth allowance race. Perfect Motion, who has not run since Jan. 9 at Gulfstream Park, finished fourth last November in her lone start over the Matt Winn Turf Course. Subscriber has posted victories here this meet on May 24 and June 8. …  Sunday’s second race produced the 15th dead heat of the meet, but the first for the win. R.J. Thoroughbred Stables’ Ready’s Rocket finished on even terms with Frank Vozel’s Canali, trained by David Vance. The victory was the first of two for Vance on Sunday. TBS Farms’ This Kat Talks won the fifth race to boost Vance’s career total to 2,999 and 296 under the Twin Spires, ninth-best all time at Churchill Downs. Vance’s first chance to become the 22nd member of the 3,000-win club is slated to come Thursday when Doubleband goes to the post in the second race for TBS Farms. … Steve Asmussen, who saddled two winners on Sunday, now has 298 career victories at Churchill Downs. His career total of 4,252 ranks eighth all time and last week he passed Hall of Famer Ron McAnally for sixth all time in earnings at $120,343,848 through June 30. McAnally’s horses have earned $120,123,495. … Another trainer approaching a milestone is Hall of Famer and four-time Kentucky Derby-winner D. Wayne Lukas. Lukas, who has saddled eight winners this meet, has 4,496 for his career through June 30, sixth best all time. The leading trainer all time in money won ($250,703,543), Lukas has two horses entered at Churchill Downs on Wednesday and four on Thursday. 

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) –  Ronald Kirk, John Bates and Michael Riordan’s Run Away and Hide, winner of the May 1 Kentucky Stakes (GIII), worked five furlongs in 1:04.60 over a “fast” track for trainer Ronny Werner on Wednesday. … On Tuesday, Maggi Moss’ Indian Chant tuned up for his engagement in the July 12 Smile Sprint Handicap (GII) at Calder by working a bullet half-mile in :47.40 over a “fast” track for trainer Tom Amoss. … Other Tuesday works of note on the main track were W.S. Farish, Edward Hudson Jr. and Inwood Stable’s Grasshopper, winner of the Mineshaft Handicap (GIII) and fourth in the recent Stephen Foster Handicap (GI), a half-mile in :50.40; Uptown Racing’s Boss Lafitte, winner of Keeneland’s Transylvania Stakes (GIII), a half-mile in :50; and, Briland Farm’s Grace Happens, working toward Sunday’s Locust Grove, a half-mile in :50.40. … In his first work since a runner-up finish in the June 14 Northern Dancer Stakes (GIII), B. Wayne Hughes’ My Pal Charlie worked a half-mile in :52.40 over a “fast” track on Monday. ...  (Turf: FIRM, dogs up) – Heading the roster of Tuesday turf works were several horses that were prepping for closing weekend stakes appearances on the Matt Winn Turf Course.  Zayat Stables’ River City Handicap (GIII) winner Thorn Song breezed a half-mile in :50.60 in advance of his run in Friday’s Firecracker. … Peter Bradley’s Locust Grove contender Tears I Cry breezed a half-mile in :51.20. … Jacks or Better Farm’s Distaff Turf Mile (GIII) winner Bayou’s Lassie breezed a half-mile in :52 for the Locust Grove. … Runnymede Farm’s Locust Grove contender Meribel worked five-eighths in 1:01.40.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

         Through Sunday, June 29

 

Jockeys                          Starts   1-2-3

 

Robby Albarado                  248  64-36-31

Miguel Mena                       321   57-47-46

Julien Leparoux                  284   51-54-49

Jamie Theriot                     254   46-35-34

Calvin Borel                        265  43-39-38

Shaun Bridgmohan             198   41-36-25

Jesus Castanon                   236   26-25-28

Corey Lanerie                    205   18-26-26

Brian Hernandez Jr.            184   15-29-19

John McKee                       142   12-21-20

Trainers

Tom Amoss                       75   30-13-12

Steve Asmussen                128  29-22-18

Ken McPeek                        70    26-12-6

Mike Maker                        61    17-13-9

Dale Romans                    132   15-27-23

Ian Wilkes                          48    14-12-7

Eddie Kenneally                  61   12-10-10

Cody Autrey                       54     9-9-11

Greg Foley                          61     9-9-8

Todd Pletcher                     47      9-5-7

Bret Calhoun                       24     9-2-4

Six (6) trainers tied at eight (8) wins     

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey         61   17-10-13

Maggi Moss                         28     12-6-4

Zayat Stables, LLC                50    8-12-11

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein   36     7-7-7

Heflin & Driver Racing           28     5-5-6

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable       17     5-1-0

    Seven (7) owners tied at four (4) wins

 

 

DENIS OF CORK, MACHO AGAIN JOG BEFORE LEAVING FOR BELMONT STAKES – Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s Denis of Cork, the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), jogged two miles with Kim Carroll, wife of trainer David Carroll, up Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs.

David Carroll was already in New York, where Denis of Cork was scheduled to arrive on Wednesday afternoon for his start in the 140th Belmont Stakes (GI) after a noon flight from Louisville. Kim Carroll will head to New York on Friday.

The other Churchill Downs-based Belmont Stakes entrant, West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, also jogged early Wednesday morning before the renovation break with Kenny Bourque up. Trainer Dallas Stewart was already in New York, awaiting the arrival of the Preakness (GI) runner-up who was on the same flight with Denis of Cork.

The Belmont, headed by Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, drew a field of 10 with Big Brown and Kent Desormeaux breaking from the rail in the 1 1/2-mile event. Denis of Cork, who will be ridden by Robby Albarado, will break from post four, and Macho Again, who will be ridden by Garrett Gomez in the third jewel of the Triple Crown, drew post position three.

 

GRASSHOPPER, JONESBORO WORK TOWARD STEPHEN FOSTER – Grasshopper and Jonesboro, two possibles for the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap – a Grade I event guaranteed at $750,000 and potentially worth $1 million if a Grade I winner starts – turned in six-furlong works over a track labeled as “good” before the renovation break Wednesday morning.

With regular exercise rider Annie Finney up, W.S. Farish and E.J. Hudson Jr.’s Grasshopper covered the distance in 1:13.20.

Winner of the Mineshaft Handicap (GIII) at Fair Grounds in his 2008 debut, Grasshopper is coming off a fifth-place finish in the mud in the Pimlico Special (GI) on May 16, the poorest showing in the Dixie Union colt’s 11-race career.

“He worked well this morning and he has been doing great since the Pimlico Special,” trainer Neil Howard said. “We couldn’t find anything wrong with him (after the Pimlico Special); maybe he just had a bad day. He grabbed a quarter and maybe he was sliding a little bit, but Robby (Albarado) said he handled the track fine.”

Michael Langford’s Jonesboro was clocked in 1:13 under jockey Jamie Theriot for trainer Randy Morse.

“He worked very well. The clockers got him in 1:13 and galloping out in 1:26,” Morse said of Jonesboro, who ran fourth in last year’s Stephen Foster.

Winner of the Grade III Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park in March, Jonesboro is coming off a sixth-place finish in the slop in the May 2 Alysheba (GIII) at Churchill Downs and Morse is cautiously eyeing a return Foster bid.

“If the race comes up light, I’d say we are leaning in that direction,” Morse said. “But if a bunch of heavyheads come in, we won’t go. But, we are here and the horse is doing good.”

 

RECAPTURETHEGLORY SET FOR CHURCHILL ENCORE – Louie Roussel III and Ronnie Lamarque’s Recapturetheglory, the fifth-place finisher behind Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby, may return to Churchill Downs for the $175,000-added Northern Dancer Stakes (GIII) on June 14.

“I am definitely committed to coming to Churchill,” Roussel said Wednesday morning of Recapturetheglory, who is stabled at Arlington Park. “He is doing great and he worked well here on Sunday (a :46 half-mile work between races).”

It was Recapturetheglory’s first work since the Derby. The Cherokee Run colt had been under consideration for the Preakness, but came down with a fever a little more than a week before the race that canceled those plans.

Roussel plans to work Recapturetheglory on Saturday or Sunday and ship a day later with hopes his colt can avoid a repeat of Derby Day when Recapturetheglory became agitated in the paddock and dumped jockey E.T. Baird in the tunnel en route to the track.

“I’d like to be able to saddle him on the track next to the pony,” said Roussel, who is also the colt’s trainer. “I’d like to just keep him moving and not have to go back into the (saddling) stall.”

 

BARN TALK – Tom Walters’ Elite Squadron, third in last Saturday’s Aristides (GIII), may be heading west for his next start according to trainer James Baker. “I am looking at the seven-eighths race at Hollywood Park on American Oaks Day,” said Baker, referring to the Grade I Triple Bend Handicap on July 5. “He loves the Polytrack, and there is nothing for him here (the rest of the meet).” Winner of the Churchill Downs Handicap (GII) on Derby Day, Elite Squadron finished more than five lengths behind Indian Chant in the Aristides. Indian Chant ran the six-furlong distance in a meet-best 1:08.40. “My horse runs in 1:09 and gets beat. Go figure,” Baker said. … New Orleans Handicap (GII) winner Circular Quay, who won sixth in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, was not included on the list of 29 nominees for the Stephen Foster. “He’s had a bit of a setback,” said Mike McCarthy, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. “He came down with a sinus infection and has missed some time. He is still here and remains in training.” … IEAH Stable, Lewis Lakin and Pegasus Holding Group Stables’ Pure Clan, third in the 2008 Kentucky Oaks (GI), is scheduled to work on the grass Thursday morning in preparation for the June 14 Regret (GIII). Jockey Julien Leparoux, who shares the Spring Meet riding lead with Robby Albarado with 33 victories, is scheduled to be aboard for the work for trainer Bob Holthus.

 

WORK TAB – Uptown Racing’s Boss Lafitte, winner of the USA Stakes at Lone Star Park in his most recent start on May 26, worked a half-mile on a “good” main track in :49, the ninth-best of 44 at the distance. Trained by Tom Amoss, Boss Lafitte took the Grade III Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland in April but is not under consideration for the June 14 Jefferson Cup (GII). “I’m not sure what’s next for him, but the Jefferson Cup is just too close to his last race,” said Amoss, who entered Wednesday as the leading trainer of the Spring Meet with 18 winners from 44 starters. … Kim and John Glenney’s Transduction Gold, winner of the 2007 Sycamore Stakes (GIII) at Keeneland, worked a half-mile in :48.80 over a “fast” track, the third-best move of the morning.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

Through Sunday, June 1 Jockeys Starts 1-2-3

Julien Leparoux 181 33-32-34

Robby Albarado 129 33-14-19

Miguel Mena 175 30-22-24

Calvin Borel 178 25-26-26

Shaun Bridgmohan 117 24-22-13

Jamie Theriot 118 19-18-11

Jesus Castanon 143 19-12-12

Brian Hernandez, Jr. 99 8-15-12

Elvis Trujillo 47 8-7-14

Corey Lanerie 111 7-16-10

John McKee 84 7-13-16

Tracy Hebert 73 7-4-5

Larry Sterling, Jr. 54 6-7-7

Fernando De La Cruz 74 6-4-6

Trainers

Tom Amoss 44 18-6-6

Ken McPeek 39 17-5-4

Steve Asmussen 71 16-12-12

Ian Wilkes 27 10-5-3

Mike Maker 32 9-5-3

Dale Romans 69 6-16-14

Eddie Kenneally 34 6-7-7

Greg Foley 45 6-7-6

Wesley Ward 21 6-4-4

Paul J. McGee 26 6-4-1

David Carroll 18 6-3-2

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

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey 30 10-3-5

Maggi Moss 18 9-2-3

Zayat Stables, LLC 30 6-6-7

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable 8 5-0-0

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein 21 4-5-2

Padua Stables 7 4-1-0

Five (5) owners tied with three (3) wins

 

Stonestreet Stable and Midnight Cry Stable’s Curlin dazzled onlookers with a strong work at Churchill Downs on Monday as the reigning “Horse of the Year” tuned up for planned run in the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I) on June 14.  Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. William Warren’s Denis of Cork completed his serious preparation for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes (GI) with an easy half-mile breeze under the Twin Spires.

 

Curlin worked a strong seven furlongs in the company of a stablemate for trainer Steve Asmussen and covered the distance over a “fast” track in 1:24.60.  Denis of Cork, who finished third to unbeaten Triple Crown contender Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), later breezed four furlongs under jockey Robby Albarado in :48.60.

Curlin had regular exercise and workout rider Carlos Rosas in the saddle and worked alongside Stonecrest Stable’s 4-year-old Sonoma Cat around 6:30 a.m. (all times EDT).  He covered the seven-furlong distance in fractions of :12.80, :25, :37, :48.80 and 1:12.40.  He galloped out a mile in 1:37.60 and continued his strong gallop-out through a mile and an eighth in 1:51.60.  Sonoma Cat, with Shaun Bridgmohan up, could not keep up with the champion and completed his seven-furlong move in 1:26.20.

“I was very pleased with his effort,” said Asmussen.  “We did plenty with him this morning.  We want him to be sharp going a mile and an eighth.”

The 4-year-old son of Smart Strike has not competed since he opened his 2008 campaign with a pair of victories in Dubai, with the $6 million Dubai World Cup (GI) on March 29 being his most recent outing.  Asmussen has been training Curlin with an eye toward a return to competition in the Stephen Foster Handicap.  Monday’s work impressed backside observers and indicated that the chestnut colt is right on schedule for his Stephen Foster bid.

“That’s what we’re preparing him for,” said Asmussen.  “I don’t want to take anything for granted.  Nothing’s in the bank.  We want everything to go well, and we’ll worry about everything every day from here to there.”

Curlin’s victory in the Dubai World Cup lifted his career record to 8-1-2 in 11 races and boosted his earnings to $8,807,800, a figure that already ranks as the third highest in North American racing history.

Meanwhile, trainer David Carroll was beaming after Denis of Cork worked a solid half-mile to wrap up his serious preparation for Saturday’s rematch with Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes.  Carroll’s colt worked just after the break for track maintenance.

           

Denis of Cork covered the first quarter-mile in :24.80 on the way to his half-mile clocking of :48.60.  The son of Harlan’s Holiday galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.60.

“I was very, very happy with what I saw today,” said Carroll.  “Robby was very careful not to go too fast early.  He’s very deceiving.  He can go fast because he covers a lot of ground, so he was under wraps the last eighth.  He just let his head out and he just immediately accelerated, and it was a beautiful thing to watch.  We’re excited.”

“It was a good work,” said Albarado.  “He went really well.  He’s showing improvement and he’s doing everything that David’s asked him to do.”

 

The other Belmont Stakes contender stabled at Churchill Downs was on the track on Monday for a jog.  West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, the runner-up to Big Brown in the Preakness (GI) and winner of the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs, jogged about two miles under exercise rider Kenny Bourque.  The Dallas Stewart-trained son of Macho Uno had worked on Friday. After a day of walking in the shedrow, he returned to the track for a jog on Sunday and Stewart said Macho Again would gallop on Tuesday morning before he heads to New York for the Belmont.

“We’re just trying to be a little careful,” said Stewart.  “He’s doing great.  He’s on his toes and looks awesome, so we’re just hoping to go up there with a lot in the tank.”

Both Denis of Cork and Macho Again had been scheduled to travel to New York for their final Belmont Stakes preparations on Tuesday, but the flight schedule was changed on Monday morning.  The Churchill Downs-based Belmont Stakes contenders are now set to travel to Belmont Park on Wednesday.

Other horses on the Monday work tab at Churchill Downs included Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Louisiana Derby (GII) winner Pyro, who breezed six furlongs under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan in 1:14.40.  Pyro, who finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby, is set to run in the $175,000-added Northern Dancer (GIII) on the June 14 “Stephen Foster Super Saturday” program.  Kodiak Kowboy worked four furlongs in :51.40.  Junior College breezed four furlongs in :46.80, the fastest move of 46 at the distance.  Off Duty worked a half-mile in :47.60.

Mr and Mrs William Warren’s Denis of Cork, a late-running third behind unbeaten Big Brown in the 134th running of the $2 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), is scheduled to complete his serious preparation for Saturday’s rematch with the Derby winner in the $1 million Belmont Stakes (GI) with a work at Churchill Downs on Monday.

Trainer David Carroll said the 3-year-old son Harlan’s Holiday would work four furlongs just after the break for track renovation, which means Denis of Cork will hit the track around 8:30 a.m. (all times EDT) on Monday. Jockey Robby Albarado, who was aboard Denis of Cork for a victory in the Southwest Stakes (GIII) at Oaklawn Park and will ride the colt again in the Belmont, will be aboard for the work.

“It’s nothing major, just a final stretch of the legs, so to speak,” said Carroll. “I’ve been very happy with him. The weather’s been good, the track’s been good and he seems to be on course.”

Denis of Cork launched his career with three consecutive victories and capped that string with his win in the Southwest. His only misstep came in a fifth-place finish behind Recapturetheglory in the Illinois Derby (GII) at Hawthorne. He rebounded from that disappointing run with his stretch-running third-place finish under jockey Calvin Borel in the Kentucky Derby and has turned in five-furlong works over the Churchill Downs strip since getting a few days of rest following the 1 ¼-mile Derby.

Carroll’s horse will travel by plane to New York on Tuesday. Also heading from Churchill Downs to Belmont Park for the third jewel of the Triple Crown that day will be West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, who ran second to Big Brown in the Preakness (GI) and won the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs on April 26.

The Dallas Stewart-trained Macho Again turned in his final pre-Belmont work on Friday. He walked in Stewart’s shedrow on Saturday and jogged this morning.

ARISTIDES VICTORY LIFTS SIZZLING AMOSS INTO TIE FOR ‘LEADING TRAINER’ HONORS – Saturday’s narrow victory by Maggi Moss’s Indian Chant in the $125,000-added Aristides Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs lifted sizzling trainer Tom Amoss into a tie for the top spot in the race for “leading trainer” as the 52-day Spring Meet reached its midpoint.

Indian Chant held on to edge the onrushing Noonmark to score his biggest career victory and give Amoss his 17th win of the meet, which tied him with Ken McPeek for the lead in the competition for the meet’s top trainer. Those 17 victories have come with 43 starts, and Amoss has also saddled six horses that finished second and another half-dozen that have come in third. Those numbers reflect a winning percentage of 40 percent and 67 percent of his starters have finished in the top three.

McPeek’s 17 winners have come from 38 starters – a winning percentage of 45 percent, which is second in the meet only to Robert O’Connor among trainers that have saddled 10 or more starters. O’Connor has won half of his 10 starts.

Steve Asmussen, who won Saturday’s $100,000-added Opening Verse with Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Inca King, sits right behind the top duo with 16 wins. The length of Indian Chant’s head is all that kept Asmussen out of the tie for the top spot with McPeek, as he saddled Noonmark for his runner-up finish in the Aristides.

Amoss is now looking toward the summer and fall with Indian Chant after the California-bred son of Suggest notched his first graded stakes victory. Indian Chant is not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup, but Amoss and Moss are eyeing many other sprint options for this 5-year-old star.

“He came out of the race great,” he said. “Maggi is very involved and knowledgeable, and the decision on his next race will come after a thorough look at the options.”

The victory was the ninth in 23 races for Indian Chant, and his second in five races in 2008. He has now earned $471,648.

CARROLL LOOKS TO FUTURE FOR STREAKING ACOMA AFTER DOGWOOD WIN – It’s always thrilling for trainer David Carroll to win a stakes race at Churchill Downs, but Saturday’s victory in the $100,000-added Dogwood (GIII) by Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ homebred filly Acoma was special on many levels.

The victory marked the stakes debut for the regally-bred daughter of Empire Maker, who rallied off a slow pace to win the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies by half-length over Mary and Gary West’s favored Keep the Peace. Jockey Robby Albarado was in the irons as Acoma covered the mile over “fast” footing in 1:34.56.

Along with being successful in her stakes debut, the graded stakes victory was the third win in a row for Acoma and all have come over different surfaces: Polytrack at Keeneland, a “sloppy” main track at Churchill Downs and Saturday’s “fast” track. Acoma also turned back from a two-turn distance to the demanding one-turn mile, and she rallied from behind a modest pace to accomplish her task.

“You’re always thrilled by a performance like that – it was very exciting,” Carroll said. “It was a little unexpected, but I think she can go on to bigger and better things.”

Acoma has a pedigree that suggests that she is capable of just about anything. She’s out of the female family that traces back four generations to Courtly Dee, who was Kentucky’s “Broodmare of the Year” in 1983. Acoma’s dam, Aurora, was a stakes winner who produced Grade I winner Arch and Dubai-based champion Festival of Light. Her second dam was 1983 2-year-old filly champion Althea, who would defeat males in the Arkansas Derby at three and run 19th behind Swale in the 1984 Kentucky Derby (GI) for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Other Grade I stakes winners out of the female family include Aldiza, Balletto, Green Desert, Ali Oop, Ketoh and Japanese champion Yamanin Paradise.

“It was wonderful to win for Helen (Alexander), she’s been a great supporter of mine,” said Carroll. “It was absolutely beautiful.”

Acoma improved her career record to 3-0-1 in four races and boosted her earnings to $134,564.

 

BARN TALK – Stonestreet Stable and Midnight Cry Stable’s reigning “Horse of the Year” Curlin is scheduled to work on Monday at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old son of Smart Strike, winner of the Dubai World Cup (GI) in his most recent race, continues to train toward a possible start in the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) at Churchill Downs on June 14. Trainer Steve Asmussen’s champion is scheduled to work around 6:15 a.m. Another Asmussen-trained Stephen Foster candidate is multiple Grade In winner Student Council, who breezed five furlongs over a “fast” track on Sunday in 1:02. Student Council won the Pimlico Special (GI) in his most recent start. …Midnight Cry Stable’s Einstein, winner of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI), breezed four furlongs in :49.80. Trainer Helen Pitts plans to run the Brazilian-bred star in Saturday’s Manhattan

Handicap (GI) at Belmont Park.

 

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – La Troienne (GIII) winner Game Face breezed four furlongs in :47, the fastest move of 53 at the distance . … Danzon breezed four furlongs in :49. … Fairbanks breezed a half-mile in :49.20. … Gotham (GIII) runner-up Texas Wildcatter breezed five furlongs in 1:01. … Pious Ashley, scratched from Saturday’s Dogwood, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

Through Saturday, May 31 Jockeys Starts 1-2-3

Robby Albarado 125 33-13-18

Julien Leparoux 174 31-31-33

Miguel Mena 167 28-22-24

Shaun Bridgmohan 115 24-22-13

Calvin Borel 172 23-26-26

Jesus Castanon 137 18-12-12

Jamie Theriot 118 17-16-9

Brian Hernandez, Jr. 94 8-15-12

Elvis Trujillo 43 8-6-13

Corey Lanerie 107 7-16-9

John McKee 77 7-12-14

Tracy Hebert 70 7-3-5

Larry Sterling, Jr. 52 6-6-7

Fernando De La Cruz 70 6-4-6

Trainers

Tom Amoss 43 17-6-6

Ken McPeek 38 17-5-4

Steve Asmussen 70 16-12-11

Ian Wilkes 26 9-5-3

Mike Maker 29 8-5-3

Dale Romans 66 6-15-13

Eddie Kenneally 33 6-7-7

Greg Foley 44 6-7-6

Wesley Ward 21 6-4-4

David Carroll 18 6-3-2

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

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey 27 9-3-5

Maggi Moss 17 8-2-3

Zayat Stables, LLC 29 6-6-6

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable 8 5-0-0

Two (2) owners tied with four (4) wins

STEWART GLANCES AT FORECAST, WORKS BELMONT STAKES HOPE MACHO AGAIN – West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, runner-up to Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) champ and Triple Crown hope Big Brown in the Preakness (GI), turned in his final major work for next week’s Belmont Stakes in a strong four-furlong move at Churchill Downs on Friday.

            Macho Again covered the distance over a “fast” track under former jockey Kenny Bourque in :48.20.  The move ranked 11th of 55 works at the distance.

            Trainer Dallas Stewart had planned to work the 3-year-old son of Macho Uno, the winner of Churchill Downs’ $100,000-added Derby Trial, on Saturday.  But he called an audible in part because of a weather forecast that called for storms late Friday evening that would continue into Saturday morning.

            “It was the combination of the weather and the shipping (schedule),” said Stewart.  “With the combination of those two, we thought it would be better to work today.”

            Churchill Downs’ clockers caught Macho Again’s first quarter in :25.  Stewart timed his star colt in similar fractions.

            “I’m very happy,” Stewart said.  “He went off in :13 for the first eighth, and then he went like :25-and-a-couple (for the quarter).  He went three-eighths in :37 and then came home in :11 flat for the last eighth.  We just opened him up a little bit the last three-sixteenths.”

            Macho Again is scheduled to board a flight to New York on Tuesday, with a rematch with Big Brown set for Saturday, June 7 in the $1 million Belmont Stakes, the third jewel of the Triple Crown. 

            “He’s doing real well,” said Stewart.  “He came out of that race (the Preakness) good and his work showed the he’s on top of his game.  He was actually pretty fresh cooling out and he had no problems.  We’re excited about taking him up there and going through another fight and see how we do.”

            Macho Again will bring a career record of 3-3-0 in nine races and earnings of $343,761 into the Belmont Stakes.  Despite his colt’s runner-up finish in the Preakness, Stewart knows his colt will be a long shot to upset the heavily favored Big Brown as the Kentucky Derby winner bids to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown.  But Stewart said Macho Again is ready to challenge the overwhelming favorite in the raced that has been dubbed the “Test of the Champion.”

            “They’ve got to go around there and run,” said Stewart.  “He’s had a couple of bumps in the road.  His trainer is very positive about the way he’s doing, but you know he’s got a couple of hoops to jump through to get him to the race, too.”

            The other Churchill Downs-based Belmont Stakes contender, Mr. and Mrs. William Warren’s Denis of Cork, is scheduled to work at Churchill Downs on Monday. 

            Both horses are scheduled to fly to New York on Tuesday.

 

KENNEALLY SAYS KELLY’S LANDING COULD BE ‘BETTER’ THAN EVER, READY FOR ARISTIDES – Trainer Eddie Kenneally is getting a much later than expected start on the 2008 campaign of Summerplace Farm’s veteran sprint star Kelly’s Landing, but likes the look of the 7-year-old gelding as the son of Patton prepares to bid for a second victory in Churchill Downs’ $125,000-added Aristides Stakes (GIII) on Saturday.

            Kelly’s Landing won the six-furlong race in 2005, then finished a strong second to champion Lost in the Fog in its 2006 renewal. 

            This year’s running of the Aristides will be only the second start of 2008 for Kelly’s Landing, and his second since a fifth-place finish to easy winner Midnight Lute in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) in the slop at Monmouth Park.  That race was the final start of a 2007 campaign highlighted by a victory in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) at Nad Al Sheba.

            “After the Breeders’ Cup he got sick,” said Kenneally.  “We were hoping to run him in January in the (Grade III) Mr. Prospector (at Gulfstream Park), which he won last year before he went to Dubai.  But he was sick all winter.  He had an abscess on his lungs – for whatever reason, we don’t know.  It took forever to get back, to play catch-up and get a prep into him.”

Kenneally’s star made that anticipated return to competition at Churchill Downs on May 11, where he finished third on a “sloppy” track to Aristides rival Indian Chant in a six-furlong allowance prep for the Aristides.  That race matched the past two track record-setters for the Aristides distance at the Louisville track. Kelly’s Landing had established a track record of 1:07.59 in winning the 2005 renewal of the Aristides, in which he eclipsed a record set by Kona Gold in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI).  Kelly’s Landing’s standard lasted until July 8, 2007, when Indian Chant flew through the distance  in 1:07.55 in winning an allowance race on the Spring Meet’s closing day.

            Indian Chant led most of the way in notching his five-length victory in this spring’s head-to-head meeting with Kelly’s Landing.  But Kenneally’s star, ridden by Julien Leparoux, offered a strong rally over a wet surface that Kenneally said his veteran star clearly disliked.

            “He ran very well,” said Kenneally.  “He just got tired, and Julien didn’t beat him up.  He was very easy on him – he knew that we were prepping for this stake.  He didn’t like the mud – he’s never liked mud.  He’s not a mud horse.  But the horse came out of it good and he’s ready to go.”          

            With that lone start of his 2008 campaign under his belt, Kelly’s Landing will bring a career record of 9-3-2 in 23 starts and earnings of $1,811,557 into the Aristides.  Despite the late start on his 2008 campaign, Kenneally has an ambitious plan for the rest of the year that includes another bid for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which will be run this year over a synthetic surface at Santa Anita.  He believes that, as good as Kelly’s Landing has been over the past three racing seasons, his star could just be hitting his best stride.

            “I think he’s as good, or better, than ever,” Kenneally said.  “When he’s good, he’s real good – and I think he’s good again.”

 

BARN TALK – The race for leading jockey of the 52-day Spring Meet has been a nose-to-nose battle throughout this week between Robby Albarado, who is looking for his first Churchill Downs riding crown, and Julien Leparoux, who is bidding for his third straight Spring Meet crown and his fourth Churchill title overall.  Each jockey won a pair of races on Thursday and that allowed Albarado to maintain a narrow 30-29 advantage over Leparoux.  Miguel Mena stands in third with 27 victories. …Thursday’s biggest riding star was Jamie Theriot, who notched three wins on the day to improve his Spring Meet record to 14 wins from 108 starts.  Theriot won the 2nd race on Splish ($3.20), the 3rd on Angelica Delight ($3.40) and the 9th with Night Book ($15). …Trainer Eddie Kenneally will seek a stakes double on Saturday’s three-stakes program as he saddles Gary and Mary West’s La Troienne (GIII) runner-up Keep the Peace in the $100,000-added Dogwood.  Winner Game Face is passing the race in favor of Belmont’s Acorn (GI), but Keep the Peace will be joined in the Dogwood starting gate by the 3-year-old fillies that finished in the third-through-fifth positions in the La Troienne: Tiz to Dream, Alina, and Secret Gypsy.  “This filly’s a little bit unlucky,” said Kenneally.  “She’s been second in two graded stakes – she hasn’t won one yet.” … Cougar  Cat, the Ronny Werner-trained runner-up to Fabulous Strike in the 2007 Aristides, breezed four furlongs over a “fast” track on Friday in :49.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

          Through Thursday, May 29

 

Jockeys                          Starts   1-2-3

Robby Albarado                  114  30-11-15

Julien Leparoux                  163   29-28-32

Miguel Mena                       161   27-22-23

Calvin Borel                        162  22-23-24

Shaun Bridgmohan             103   22-19-12

Jesus Castanon                   126   17-12-11

Jamie Theriot                     108    14-15-9

Brian Hernandez, Jr.            84     7-13-10

Elvis Trujillo                        34      7-5-9

Corey Lanerie                     98      6-16-9

John McKee                        69     6-11-12

Larry Sterling, Jr.                 47       6-5-7

Kent Desormeaux                 31      5-8-6

Tracy Hebert                       63      5-3-5                  

Trainers

Ken McPeek                        38     17-5-4

Steve Asmussen                  63    14-11-10

Tom Amoss                        39   13-6-6

Mike Maker                         29      8-5-3

Ian Wilkes                           23      8-5-3

Dale Romans                       61     6-13-10

Greg Foley                          39       6-7-5

Eddie Kenneally                  31       6-2-7

   Five (5) trainers tied with five (5) wins

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey         26      8-3-5

Maggi Moss                         15      6-2-3

Zayat Stables, LLC                26      5-5-5

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein   19      4-4-2

Padua Stables                       6       4-1-0

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable       7       4-0-0

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

 

 

Mr and Mrs William Warren’s Denis of Cork tuned up for a run at unbeaten Triple Crown contender Big Brown in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (Grade I) with a strong five-furlong workout on Monday at Churchill Downs.

Jockey Robby Albarado was in the irons as the 3-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday, who finished a late-running third to unbeaten Triple Crown candidate Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), zipped the five-furlong distance over a “fast” track in :59.80. Denis of Cork galloped out six furlongs in 1:13. The move by trainer David Carroll’s colt ranked as third-fastest 21 on the day.

“He’s training beautifully,” said Carroll. “For two weeks after the Derby it just took him a little bit of time to get back on his feet and get his energy back, but the last week he’s training beautifully. He had a good work last week, but this week we wanted a bit more from him. I just told Robby to let him go off ‘twelves’ and let him finish up and gallop out, and he did everything beautifully.”

The work marked the first time that Albarado had been in the saddle aboard Denis of Cork since the colt’s victory in the Southwest Stakes (GIII) at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 18. Albarado, who is the leading rider of the Spring Meet and bidding for his first “leading jockey” title at Churchill Downs, will ride Denis of Cork in the 1 ½-mile Belmont after Calvin Borel had been in the saddle for his third-place run in the Derby.

“He went really well, I thought it was a great work for him,” said Albarado. “It was a nice, long maintenance work. He went fast, too, and was within himself. I’m excited about him and it sets him up great for the Belmont.”

Albarado has won nine Grade I races at Belmont Park, but just missed in his bid for his first Belmont win last year when rode eventual “Horse of the Year” and 3-year-old champion Curlin to a close runner-up finish to champion filly Rags to Riches. He was impressed by the development of Denis of Cork since his Southwest victory.

“He’s matured a lot and gotten a lot stronger,” Albarado said. “He must have a big set of lungs on him because he gallops out really well and he refuses to pull-up. I mean he just wants to keep going and going. So I think the mile-and-a-half (of the Belmont) is going to be conducive to his style.”

Denis of Cork is scheduled for a final pre-Belmont breeze next Monday, and he will board a flight for New York and Belmont Park on the following day. Albarado is anxious to get another shot at Big Brown in the final jewel of the Triple Crown.

“It’s a tall order against Big Brown,” said Albarado. “We’ve all seen how impressive he was in the first two legs in the Derby and the Preakness, but they become vulnerable in that Belmont for some reason. It’s a totally new dimension at a mile-and-a-half and a new set of fresh horses going at him. I’m not going to count Denis of Cork out. We’ve got a big chance and I’m going to ride him with a chance.”

Denis of Cork will be looking to snap a two-race losing streak in the Belmont. He won his first three career starts, faltered in a fifth-place finish in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (GII) at Hawthorne, and then rebounded with his strong run to gain third in the Kentucky Derby.

 

‘HORSE OF THE YEAR’ CURLIN SHARP IN SIX-FURLONG WORK – Stonestreet Stables and Midnight Cry Stables’ Curlin, the reigning “Horse of the Year” and winner of the $6 million Dubai World Cup (GI) on March 29, continued to train toward his return to competition with a strong six-furlong work on Monday at Churchill Downs.

The 4-year-old son of Smart Strike, who worked in company with 4-year-old stakes veteran Forty Grams, finished on even terms with his workmate and covered the distance under exercise rider Carlos Rosas over a “fast” track in 1:12.20. His workmate turned in the same clocking for the distance.

The two works by the Asmussen trainees were the only six-furlong moves on the Monday morning work tab.

It was the fourth published work for trainer Steve Asmussen’s colt since he returned to serious training with an easy half-mile move on May 5. Asmussen was at Churchill Downs to watch the work, and then boarded a flight to Texas to saddle his stable’s multiple entries on Lone Star Million Day at Lone Star Park.

“I think he went well,” said Asmussen. “He wasn’t as smooth as he is when he’s perfect, but he went really well.”

The $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) on June 14 at Churchill Downs has been mentioned by Stonestreet Stable’s Jess Jackson as the likely next start for Curlin, but that is not yet the colt’s definite target.

Curlin has a record of 8-1-2 in 11 races that also includes victories in last year’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (GI) and the Preakness (GI). He has earned $8,807,800.

Several of Asmussen’s stars worked on Monday at Churchill Downs. Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pyro, winner of the Louisiana Derby (GIII) and a disappointing 8th in the Kentucky Derby, breezed five furlongs in 1:03.60. He breezed in company with Canadian 2-year-old champion Kodiak Kowboy, a Grade III winner in the Bashford Manor and Saratoga Special, who covered the distance in the same time. Pyro is scheduled to run next in the $175,000 Northern Dancer (GIII) on June 14 at Churchill Downs.

Zayat Stables’ Z Fortune, winner of the Lecomte (GIII) at Fair Grounds and 10th in the Kentucky Derby, breezed four furlongs in :50.40.

Fantasy (GII) runner-up Alina breezed four furlongs in :50 in preparation for Saturday’s $100,000-added Dogwood (GIII) at Churchill Downs, while Churchill Downs (GII) runner-up and Mr. Prospector (GIII) winner Noonmark breezed a half-mile in :49.20 in a prep for Saturday’s $125,000-added Aristides Handicap (GIII).

 

BARN TALK – Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Lattice, winner of Saturday’s 71st running of the $150,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII), will make his next start in the $175,000-guaranteed Stars & Stripes (GIII) at 1 ½ miles on turf on July 4 at Arlington Park. The Louisville Handicap win by Lattice was his first attempt at the 12-furlong distance and trainer Al Stall Jr. said the 4-year-old son of Arch came out of the race well and the Stars & Stripes was a logical spot for the colt. Lattice and the other horses trained by Stall for Claiborne are stabled at Keeneland and train over the Polytrack surface at the Lexington track. … Trainer John Glenney said Louisville Handicap runner-up Transduction Gold came out of the race well. Glenney was not sure where Transduction Gold would run next, but he said he could look for a 1 1/8-mile allowance race later in the Spring Meet for the 5-year-old son of Formal Gold who was an upset winner of Keeneland’s Sycamore (GIII) in 2007. … Steve Asmussen won Sunday’s 10th race with Stonestreet Stable’s Knock Out Cat to edge closer to leader Ken McPeek in the race for leading trainer of the Spring Meet. McPeek leads Asmussen 16-13 heading into Monday’s Memorial Day holiday racing program. Tom Amoss is third in the standings with 12 victories. … Robby Albarado maintained a narrow edge over Julien Leparoux in the battle for “leading jockey” honors during the 52 day meet. Albarado led Leparoux 27-26 heading into Monday’s racing. Just behind the top pair were Miguel Mena (23 wins), Shaun Bridgmohan (22) and Calvin Borel (21).

 

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Razorback Handicap (GIII) winner Jonesboro breezed five furlongs in :59.60, the second-fastest of move of 21 works at the distance. … Acoma, a 3-year-old daughter of Empire Maker and winner of two of three starts for trainer David Carroll, breezed five furlongs in 1:04.

 

008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

Through Sunday, May 25

 

Jockeys Starts 1-2-3

Robby Albarado 105 27-11-12

Julien Leparoux 149 26-26-27

Miguel Mena 145 23-20-21

Shaun Bridgmohan 99 22-19-12

Calvin Borel 157 21-21-24

Jesus Castanon 113 15-11-11

Jamie Theriot 96 10-12-9

Brian Hernandez, Jr. 75 7-12-8

Elvis Trujillo 27 7-4-6

Corey Lanerie 87 6-15-7

John McKee 64 6-10-10

Larry Sterling, Jr. 41 6-5-7

Kent Desormeaux 31 5-8-6

Tracy Hebert 56 5-3-5

Trainers

Ken McPeek 37 16-5-4

Steve Asmussen 55 13-10-10

Tom Amoss 36 12-6-5

Mike Maker 26 8-4-2

Ian Wilkes 21 7-5-3

Dale Romans 58 6-13-9

Greg Foley 38 6-7-4

Five (5) trainers tied with five (5) wins

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey 25 8-3-4

Zayat Stables, LLC 26 5-5-5

Maggi Moss 14 5-2-3

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein 18 4-4-1

Padua Stables 6 4-1-0

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable 7 4-0-0

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

• 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

 

 

 

(May 22, 2008) - Two Churchill Downs-based 3-year-olds that are being pointed toward a battle against unbeaten Kentucky Derby (Grade I) winner and Triple Crown winner Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes (GI) were reported to be doing well with just over two weeks remaining before the June 7 “Test of the Champion.”

Mr. and Mrs. William Warren Jr.’s Denis of Cork, third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, runner-up in the Preakness (GI) and winner of the $100,000-added Derby Trial at Churchill Downs, turned in some exercise over a “fast” surface under the historic Twin Spires on Thursday.

Denis of Cork galloped on Thursday in his second trip to the track since a five-furlong work in 1:01 over a “fast” track on Monday at Churchill Downs. The David Carroll-trained son of Harlan’s Holiday had jogged on Wednesday.

“He came out of the work beautifully and we’re very happy with him,” Carroll said. “It just seems like he’s coming back into form, and we’re getting some nice weather, too. He just seems to be seems to be coming back to himself. We still have a couple of weeks and I’m very happy with him.”

Carroll said that Denis of Cork was scheduled to work on Monday. Jockey Robby Albarado, who will ride Carroll’s colt in the Belmont Stakes, is scheduled to be aboard for that Memorial Day holiday move.

Denis of Cork will take a record of 3-0-1 in five races and earnings of $413,582 into the Belmont. His victories include a win in the Southwest (GIII) at Oaklawn Park.

Trainer Dallas Stewart said that Macho Again jogged Thursday in his first visit to the track since Saturday’s Preakness. The son of Macho Uno overcame traffic problems to finish second, 5 ¼ lengths behind Big Brown at Pimlico.

Stewart said that the colt would go to the Belmont if all continues to go well.

“It’s been a while, but it’s great to have a good 3-year-old,” Stewart said. “It’s a shame we didn’t get going earlier. We were thinking he was a Louisiana Derby (GII)-type horse, but we just got set back with him. But it’s all working out now. He needed a little time to mature. It would have been nice to have a Kentucky Derby horse, but it doesn’t always happen. That’s why the Derby is the Derby.”

If Macho Again does go to the Belmont, Stewart anticipated a half-mile work for the son of Macho Uno on Saturday, May 31. The colt is scheduled to ship to Belmont Park on June 3.

The career record for Macho Again stands at 3-3-0 in nine races and he has earned $343,761.

McPEEK’S 3-YEAR-OLD FILLIES THRIVE ON GRASS – Trainer Ken McPeek entered 2008 with a roster of 3-year-old fillies that appeared to have major contenders for the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks in Koolmen Racing Stables LLC’s A to the Croft and Sarah Lynn Stables LLC’s C J’s LeeLee.

But as the year approaches its midpoint, both fillies hold the possibility of a brighter future on the grass than on the main track. The Grade I-placed A to the Croft, who made it to the Kentucky Oaks but finished a non-threatening seventh behind Proud Spell, made a successful debut on turf Wednesday with a 1 ½-length victory over older rivals in a Churchill Downs allowance race.

C J’s LeeLee, an allowance winner on turf last fall at Keeneland who finished a good second to Pure Clan on the main track in the $250,000-added Golden Rod (GII) on Oct. 28, is set to return to the grass Friday as she makes her 3-year-old debut in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming for 3-year-old fillies.

A to the Croft had finished second to Irish Smoke in the Spinaway (GI) at Saratoga and Country Star in the Darley Alcibiades (GI) at Keeneland last year before she ended her season with ninth-place run in the slop behind unbeaten champion Indian Blessing over a “sloppy” track in the in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Monmouth Park.

She has opened her 2008 campaign with three straight losses, but had run well over Polytrack at Keeneland and Turfway Park – efforts that helped lead McPeek to believe she could handle the switch to the grass.

“I had an idea she’d like it,” he said. “She's a lovely filly.”

McPeek said A to the Croft would probably run next in the $200,000-added Regret (GIII) on the Matt Winn Turf Course on June 14.

A to the Croft improved her career record to 2-3-2 in nine races with her successful turf debut. She has earned $263,189.

C J’s LeeLee had McPeek thinking big after a 2-year-old campaign in which she compiled a record of 2-1-0 in five races and earned $120,023. But thoughts about the Kentucky Oaks just didn’t work out.

“She had a little issue over the winter that we had to address, and we gave her a little time,” McPeek said. “I do think she would have been one of the better fillies in the country, turf or dirt. But unfortunately she had that setback. But she’s very talented.”

Jockey Robby Albarado will be aboard C J’s LeeLee in Friday’s race, which is scheduled as the 8th on the special 11-race “Friday Happy Hours” program.

The victory by A to the Croft allowed McPeek to retain the top spot in the race for leading trainer after 18 days of the 52-day Spring Meet. The victory was the 12th on the meet for McPeek, who led Steve Asmussen by a single victory heading into Thursday’s racing. Tom Amoss was next with nine wins, and was followed by a surging Mike Maker (seven wins), Dale Romans (six) and Greg Foley (six).

“I’m real proud of everybody,” McPeek said. “We’ve got a great group of people and a great group of horses and clients. I think our restructuring of our operation has helped – we’ve got everything more consolidated and it makes us stronger. We’re doing a better job.”

BARN TALK – Leading rider Julien Leparoux was shut out of the winner’s circle on Wednesday’s nine-race card, which allowed second-place Miguel Mena to narrow the leader’s advantage to a single win. Mena won the 6th race aboard Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Unbridled Spring ($5.20) to narrow Leparoux’s lead to 21-20. … Newcomer Elvis Trujillo won two races Wednesday to climb into the top 10 in the “leading jockey” standings. Trujllo won aboard Regardlesofoutcome ($5.20) in the 2nd and Beautiful You ($8.80 ) in the 9th to improve his meet record to 6-1-2 in 12 mounts since his arrival from Florida’s Calder Race Course on Saturday. He was a perfect three-for-three on Saturday’s program, which included a win aboard Eaton’s Gift in the $100,000-added Matt Winn Stakes for 3-year-olds. … Wednesday’s victory by Unbridled Spring gave owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey their eighth victory of the meet. They led runner-up Zayat Stables LLC by three wins heading into Thursday’s program. The Ramseys have won a record 12 “leading owner” crowns at Churchill Downs, a total that includes six each in the Spring and Fall Meets.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

Through Wednesday, May 21

Jockeys Starts 1-2-3

Julien Leparoux 121 21-23-21

Miguel Mena 118 20-14-20

Calvin Borel 131 18-17-22

Shaun Bridgmohan 80 18-14-10

Robby Albarado 79 18-7-10

Jesus Castanon 92 14-9-6

Jamie Theriot 76 8-8-5

Elvis Trujillo 12 6-1-2

Brian Hernandez, Jr. 61 5-10-6

Kent Desormeaux 31 5-8-6

Larry Sterling, Jr. 38 5-5-6

Corey Lanerie 73 4-13-5

John McKee 55 4-9-9

Fernando De La Cruz 51 4-3-5

Trainers

Ken McPeek 27 12-2-3

Steve Asmussen 46 11-8-8

Tom Amoss 28 9-6-5

Mike Maker 20 7-2-1

Greg Foley 31 6-6-2

Dale Romans 48 6-9-5

Eddie Kenneally 27 5-6-6

Ian Wilkes 17 5-5-3

Steve Margolis 19 5-3-3

Three (3) trainers tied with four (4) wins

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey 22 8-2-3

Zayat Stables, LLC 23 5-5-3

Maggi Moss 12 5-2-3

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

Padua Stables 6 4-1-0

Four owners tied with three (3) wins

 

A busy Monday at Churchill Downs saw significant training moves by several major stakes winners, including works by reigning “Horse of the Year” Curlin and Belmont Stakes (Grade I) contender Denis of Cork.

Stonestreet Stables LLC and Midnight Cry Stables Curlin, winner of the $6 million Dubai World Cup in his most recent start, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.80 over a “fast” track under exercise rider Carlos Rosas. Curlin breezed in the company of a stablemate and the move by the Steve Asmussen-trained son of Smart Strike ranked as the 17th fastest of 31 at the distance. It was the colt’s sharpest move since his return to training following his World Cup victory at Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba on March 29.

“I thought he went beautiful,” said Asmussen. “I think we’re in a very good spot with him and he seems to be coming around as expected.”

Curlin, the winner of the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge and third in last year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), is being pointed toward a return to racing in the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) at Churchill Downs on June 14. Monday’s work was Curlin’s third since his return from Dubai. He had breezed a half-mile in :52.20 over a “fast” track at Churchill Downs on May 5 and followed that with a slow five furlongs in 1:06 on a “muddy” track on May 12.

Mr. and Mrs. William Warren’s Denis of Cork, third to unbeaten Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and winner of the Southwest (GIII) at Oaklawn Park, turned in a solid five-furlong breeze as he worked for the first time since his strong effort in “Run for the Roses.” The David Carroll-trained son of Harlan’s Holiday, who is being pointed toward a run in the mile and a half Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 7 at Belmont Park, covered the distance in 1:01 just after the break for track maintenance. Jockey James Lopez was in the irons for the breeze, which ranked fifth among the 31 at the distance.

“He’s just starting to come back to himself,” said Carroll. “He finished up strong in the Derby and galloped out. With all the rain we’ve had here, I didn’t do a whole lot with him since the Derby – you don’t have to do a whole lot with him. Today we just let him stretch his legs, and he just went beautiful.”

Carroll said the work was everything he had hoped to see in Denis of Cork’s first significant training move since his Kentucky Derby bid. The colt is expected to breeze twice more before he travels to Belmont Park in an effort to derail Big Brown’s bid to become the 12th horse to sweep Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.

“It’s good to get his head back in the game,” Carroll said. “We’ll see what happens in the Belmont. Big Brown is just a beautiful horse – a fantastic horse. But it wouldn’t hurt me to see him get beat. (Grade II Peter Pan winner) Casino Drive will be the second choice, but after that I don’t know. We fit well in that race with him.”

Denis of Cork won his first three starts, including the Southwest on Feb. 18, but turned in a poor effort in a fifth-place finish in the Illinois Derby (GII) at Hawthorne on April 5. Carroll’s colt rebounded in the Kentucky Derby, where he was last in the field of 20 in the early going and trained the leaders by 19 lengths. He rallied in the stretch to finish 8 ½-lengths behind the unbeaten Big Brown in third. Denis of Cork was ridden by Calvin Borel in the Kentucky Derby, but jockey Robby Albarado will have the mount on Warren’s colt in the Belmont Stakes.

Other works of note on Monday at Churchill Downs included moves by several stars from the Asmussen stable, including two horses that represented the barn in the Kentucky Derby. Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Pyro, winner of the Louisiana Derby (GII) and eighth in Kentucky Derby, breezed five furlongs in 1:04.40. Zayat Stables’ Z Fortune, tenth in the Kentucky Derby, covered the same distance in 1:02.20. Asmussen said Pyro would run next in the $175,000-added Northern Dancer (GIII) on June 14 at Churchill Downs, while Z Fortune would run in the Ohio Derby (GII) at Thistledown.

Indiana Derby (GII) and West Virginia Derby (GIII) winner Zanjero breezed four furlongs for Asmussen in :49.80 in preparation for a run in the $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on May 26. Fantasy (GII) runner-up Alina breezed five furlongs in 1:02.90 in preparation for a run in the $100,000-added Dogwood (GIII) on May 31 at Churchill Downs, while Churchill Downs Handicap (GII) runner-up Noonmark breezed the same distance in 1:03.40 in a prep for the $125,000-added Aristides (GIII) on the same date. Kodiak Kowboy breezed five furlongs for Asmussen in 1:02.80.

Other Monday works included a move by Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) runner-up Blackberry Road, who breezed four furlongs in :52.80. … Veteran sprint stakes winner Off Duty breezed four furlongs in :51 for trainer Lynn Whiting. … Cowtown Cat, 20th in last year’s Kentucky Derby, breezed six furlongs in 1:12.40 for trainer Todd Pletcher. … Tessa Blue breezed five furlongs for trainer Frank Brothers -in 1:01.40.