Steve Asmussen

Steve Asmussen has won the last five training titles at Churchill Downs and will wrap up another successful meet at the home of the Kentucky Derby when its fall racing session concludes on Sunday. Entering the final day of the 21-day Fall Meet, Asmussen had saddled 14 winners from 63 starters and trailed Mike Maker by a single victory in his bid to add another “leading trainer” title to his collection.

“We were very fortunate to get a couple of wins at the Breeders’ Cup and we’ve had some really nice 2-year-olds this meet,” Asmussen said via phone Sunday morning. “The meet was everything we could have hoped for.”

Asmussen, the fifth all-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs with 426 wins, saddled two winners at the 2011 Breeders’ Cup World Championships when the event was held beneath the Twin Spires for a record eighth time on Nov. 4-5. The first came on Breeders’ Cup Friday with Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton’s unbeaten My Miss Aurelia in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I). The following day, the Asmussen-trained Regally Ready took the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) for Vinery Stables.

“The highlight of the meet was My Miss Aurelia,” Asmussen said. “She won so impressively and you couldn’t be higher on a horse than we are on her.”

Well-known for his success with young horses, Asmussen saddled six 2-year-old winners aside from My Miss Aurelia to lead all trainers with seven wins in so-called “baby races.” Eddie Kenneally has the second-highest 2-year-old victory total with four.

“We had success with 2-year-olds this meet, with Unbridled’s Note and Hierro looking like the standouts,” Asmussen said. “They physically look like the kind of horses that will appreciate more distance. The plan is to bring them to Santa Anita this winter and get them ready for next year.”

Mike McCarthy’s Unbridled’s Note was a debut winner on the undercard of the Stars of Tomorrow I program on opening day of the Fall Meet on Oct. 30. The 2-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song won by 4 ½ lengths under leading rider Julien Leparoux.

Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Hierro broke his maiden on Nov. 9 in his third career start with an eye-catching 5 ¼-length romp as am odds-on favorite. The chestnut son of Hard Spun was also ridden by Leparoux.

COURT BECOMES 17^TH RIDER TO REACH 400-WIN MILESTONE AT CD – Jockey Jon Court became the latest rider to record a career milestone at Churchill Downs when a Saturday victory aboard Bluegrass Hall LLC’s Red Jack in the sixth race made him just the 17^th rider to record 400 wins under the Louisville track’s venerable Twin Spires.

“It’s nice to get the 400^th win at Churchill Downs,” Court said. “I’ve always loved riding here. It’s been a great meet and I hope I can keep it going. I knew Churchill had that (400-win) sign. I was just hoping they wouldn’t have to use it next spring. At 51-years-old I think I can still ride with the youngest and the best and I’m very thankful to be healthy and have the opportunity to do what I do.”

Court, who has over 3,600 wins in his riding career, has won 14 stakes beneath the Twin Spires, including the 2011 Firecracker Handicap (Grade II) aboard Wise Dan, who captured the 137^th running of the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) on Friday. Other notable winners at Churchill Downs include With Anticipation in the 2001 Louisville Handicap, Belterra in the 2001 Golden Rod (GII) and Softly in the 2002 Churchill Downs Distaff Handicap (GII).

His number of Churchill Downs victories would have certainly been higher had Court not left the Kentucky-circuit in 2004 to ride in Southern California for trainer Doug O’Neill. He returned to his Midwest-roots in 2009.

“A few of the trainers gave me a hard time, saying if I hadn’t gone to California to ride I could have doubled that and beyond, but that’s fine,” Court said. “It’s all in the name of racing and that’s good.”

Court began his riding career in 1980 and recorded his first victory aboard Nevada’s Hope at the now defunct Centennial Park in Colorado. He has won riding titles at Oaklawn, Ellis Park, Hoosier Park, Turfway and Birmingham and has recorded six top-five finishes at Churchill Downs, including a trio of thirds: 1999 Fall Meet, 2001 Fall Meet and 2002 Spring Meet.

The victory aboard Red Jack was Court’s second victory of the day and 13^th of the Fall Meet. He is poised for another top-five finish in the jockey standings as he is currently in fourth behind Julien Leparoux, Corey Lanerie and Calvin Borel.

STARS OF TOMORROW II WINNERS EXIT RACES IN GOOD ORDER – WinStar Farm LLC’s Gemologist exited his 1 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s 85^th running of the Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II) in good order, according to Michael McCarthy, assistant trainer to Todd Pletcher.

“He came out of the race well,” McCarthy said. “He’ll go to WinStar Farm on Monday for a brief freshening and then make his way down to Palm Meadows.”

            A 2-year-old son of Tiznow, Gemologist improved his record to a perfect 3-for-3 and increased his earnings to $145,855 in the Kentucky Jockey Club. There are currently no plans for his next start.

The Kentucky Jockey Club was the co-featured event on Saturday’s Stars of Tomorrow II program with the 68^th running of the Golden Rod (GII), which was won by Anita Cauley’s homebred On Fire Baby. A 2-year-old gray/roan daughter of Smoke Glacken, On Fire Baby won the Golden Rod in gate-to-wire fashion by 6 ¼ lengths.

“It was an excellent performance and she’s doing well this morning,” trainer Gary Hartlage said. “She’ll head to Oaklawn Park on Thursday morning and the goal is to be back here (at Churchill Downs) in the spring (for either the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks).”

On Fire Baby became just the seventh 2-year-old filly to sweep the Pocahontas (GII) and Golden Rod and improved her record to 3-0-0 from four career starts with earnings of $227,329.

Another impressive winner on Saturday’s card was John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock’s Indian Ambush, who won the seventh race by two lengths at the 3-2 favorite for trainer Bill Mott. A 2-year-old son of Indian Charlie, Indian Ambush was doing well Sunday morning will be sent to Florida on Monday. He will be stabled at Mott’s barn at Gulfstream Park or Payson Park.

Other winners Saturday who will be shipped to Gulfstream Park this week include Elm Tree Farm’s Callmenancy, winner of the second race on the Matt Winn Turf Course for trainer Ken McPeek, and McKee Stables Inc.’s King Kid, who took the finale by two lengths for trainer Dale Romans. Both 2-year-olds exited their races in fine order.

BARN TALK – Entering the final day of the 21-day Fall Meet, the race for leading trainer is still wide open with Mike Maker holding a 15-14 lead over Steve Asmussen. Maker, who won only training title at the Louisville track in the 2008 Fall Meet, has two horses entered Sunday: Chyhyryn (Race 1, 3-1 on morning-line) and Twinspired (Race 10, 8-1). Asmussen will be seeking his 11^th training title at Churchill Downs with his previous titles coming in 2001 Fall, 2004 Spring, 2004 Fall, 2007 Spring, 2007 Fall, 2009 Spring, 2009 Fall, 2010 Spring, 2010 Fall and 2011 Spring. He has four horses entered Sunday: Miss Chloe H. (Race 6, 9-2), Eyeseeyou (Race 8, 5-1), Hunterwood Point (Race 8, 6-1) and Joes Blazing Aaron (Race 10, 5-1). …

In the race for leading jockey, Julien Leparoux held a 32-27 advantage over Corey Lanerie heading into Sunday’s closing day program. Leparoux is seeking his ninth Churchill Downs riding title with his previous titles coming in 2006 Spring, 2007 Spring, 2007 Fall, 2008 Fall, 2009 Spring, 2010 Fall and 2011 Spring. Lanerie is seeking his first riding title at the Downs. …

Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the track’s all-time leading owners, wrapped up their record 18^th Churchill Downs title as leading owner and 10^th in the Fall, including five in a row. They enter closing day with a 12-5 lead over Billy, Donna and Justin Hays. The Ramseys’ local titles: 2000 Spring, 2000 Fall, 2001 Spring, 2001 Fall, 2002 Spring, 2002 Fall, 2003 Spring, 2003 Fall, 2004 Spring, 2005 Fall, 2006 Spring, 2007 Fall, 2008 Spring, 2008 Fall, 2009 Spring, 2009 Fall, 2010 Fall and 2011 Fall.

WORKTAB – Barry Butzow and Westrock Stables LLC’s Hamazing Destiny, second in the Sentient Jet Breeders Cup Sprint (GI) in 2010 and fifth in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, breezed four furlongs in :48.60 on a sloppy main track at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

WISE DAN IN PERFECT SHAPE MORNING AFTER CLARK ‘CAP VICTORY – Mort Fink’s Wise Dan had an easy morning after his impressive 3 ¾-length victory in the 137^th running of Churchill Downs’ $572,500 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade I). The 4-year-old gelded son of Wiseman’s Ferry walked the shedrow and then grazed for an hour outside trainer Charlie Lopresti’s barn at Keeneland.

“He came out of the race in perfect shape,” Lopresti said. “He’s 100%.”

The Clark Handicap victory caps a phenomenal year for Wise Dan, who recorded stakes victories on turf, dirt and synthetic surfaces. Other than the Clark, he was also victorious in the Firecracker Handicap (GII), Presque Isle Mile and Fayette (GII), with the latter two on synthetic surfaces, Lopresti said Wise Dan would now get some well-deserved time off.

"We’ll let him wind down (at Keeneland) and then take him to our farm in Lexington,” Lopresti said. “He’ll have the whole month of December off and some of January and then we’ll start getting him ready for a 5-year-old campaign.”

While plans for Wise Dan’s first start next year are not definite, Lopresti does have a race in mind.

“He can run on any surface at different distances, so we have a lot of options with him,” Lopresti said. “Most likely we will bring him back in the Commonwealth (GII) at Keeneland like we did this year.”

Wise Dan won’t be the only talented horse racing from the Lopresti barn next year. Turallure, winner of the Woodbine Mile (GI) and second by a nose to Court Vision in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI), is expected to race next year, as is Successful Dan, Wise Dan’s older half-brother who missed 2011 with a tendon injury. Successful Dan was disqualified from first and placed third in last year’s Clark.

“Successful Dan is at our farm and gallops about five days a week,” Lopresti said. “We’ll keep doing that for awhile and then get more serious with him in January or February. Look for him in the spring.”

With so many top horses in the barn, Lopresti will be faced with the tough task of keeping them apart from each other during their 2012 campaigns; however, he is unsure if that will even be possible.

“I was able to keep Turallure and Wise Dan apart this year, but I don’t know if I can keep them all apart next year,” Lopresti said. “It’ll be tough and a couple of them may have to go in the same race. But this is a good problem to have. It’s been a dream year and if next year is half as good as this one, then I’ll be thrilled.”

LEPAROUX, MAKER LOOK TO HOLD MEET LEADS ENTERING FINAL DAYS – With just two days remaining in the Fall Meet, the races for leading jockey and leading trainer are still wide open. Entering Saturday’s action, Julien Leparoux, seeking his ninth riding title at the Louisville track, holds a 31-to-26 lead over Corey Lanerie, who is seeking his first Churchill Downs riding title, and Mike Maker, the leading trainer at the 2008 Fall Meet, is leading Steve Asmussen, a 10-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs, 15 to 12. Below is a rundown of entries for the top two in the jockey and trainer standings for the final two days of the 2011 Fall Meet.

Julien Leparoux, Saturday, Nov. 26

• Race 1, Casa de Cambio (5-1 on morning-line)
• Race 2, La Capella (6-1)
• Race 3, Brando (8-1)
• Race 4, Soft Whisper (3-1)
• Race 5, Swaythisway (3-1)
• Race 6, Wayward Sailor (3-1)
• Race 7, Tito (8-1)
• Race 8, Voodoo Daddy (2-1)
• Race 9, Customer Base (7-2)
• Race 10, Daddy Nose Best (5-2)
• Race 11, Ever So Lucky (5-2)
• Race 12, Big John B (3-1)

Julien Leparoux, Sunday, Nov. 27

• Race 1, Chyhyryn, (3-1)
• Race 2, Romans Reward (4-1)
• Race 3, Bluegrass Summer (5-2)
• Race 4, Biogio’s Gift (5-1)
• Race 6, Hillary D (5-1)
• Race 7, Woodford Lady (7-2)
• Race 8, Eyeseeyou (5-1)
• Race 10, Gutsy Call (7-2)

Corey Lanerie, Saturday, Nov. 26

• Race 1, Mr Saturday (12-1)
• Race 2, Audington (10-1)
• Race 3, Charlie in Charge (6-1)
• Race 4, Yorona (15-1)
• Race 5, Bluegrass Rumor (12-1)
• Race 6, Burning Fire (12-1)
• Race 7, Battle Hardened (8-1)
• Race 9, Glinda the Good (5-1)
• Race 10, Salvatore G (15-1)
• Race 11, Africanist (10-1)
• Race 12, King Kid (8-1)

Corey Lanerie, Sunday, Nov. 27

• Race 1, Minestone (5-2)
• Race 2, Winkatdawat (8-1)
• Race 4, Preach Easy (3-1)
• Race 5, Tend (5-1)
• Race 6, Four Point (12-1)
• Race 7, Miz Ida (5-1)
• Race 8, Paladin’s Fury (12-1)
• Race 9, Accesorize (12-1)
• Race 10, Joes Blazing Aaron (5-1)
• Race 11, Ocean Bertie (2-1)

Mike Maker, Saturday, Nov. 26

• Race 3, Stevie Jones (8-1)
• Race 6, Tizanexpense (15-1) and Wayward Sailor (3-1)
• Race 10, Magical Season (8-1)
• Race 11, Mr. Prankster (10-1)
• Race 12, Big John B (3-1)

Mike Maker, Sunday, Nov. 27

• Race 1, Chyhyryn (3-1)
• Race 4, Biogio’s Gift (5-1)
• Race 10, Twinspired (8-1)

Steve Asmussen, Saturday, Nov. 26

• Race 1, Goingoingone (6-1) and Casa de Cambio (5-1)
• Race 2, La Capella (6-1)
• Race 3, Brando (8-1)
• Race 5, Tapajo (4-1)
• Race 6, Power Emblem (7-2)
• Race 7, Tito (8-1)
• Race 8, Voodoo Dancer (2-1)
• Race 9, Glinda the Good (5-1)
• Race 10, Daddy Nose Best (5-2)

Steve Asmussen, Sunday, Nov. 27

• Race 6, Miss Chloe H. (9-2)
• Race 8, Eyeseeyou (5-1) and Hunterwood Point (6-1)
• Race 10, Joes Blazing Aaron (5-1)

CHURCHILL JOCKEYS MAKE PLANS FOLLOWING SPRING MEET – With the conclusion of the Fall Meet at Churchill Downs coming on Sunday, the leading jockeys at the Louisville track are preparing to move their tack elsewhere for the winter and most are heading for warmer climates.

Jockeys expected to ride at Fair Grounds: Corey Lanerie, Brian Hernandez Jr., Shaun Bridgmohan, Robby Albarado and Miguel Mena.

Jockeys expected to ride at Gulfstream Park: Julien Leparoux, Calvin Borel, Jesus Castanon, Edgar Prado and Kent Desormeaux.

Members of the Churchill Downs jockey colony who will not be riding at either Gulfstream Park or Fair Grounds include Jon Court (Oaklawn Park), Leandro Goncalves (Tampa Bay Downs) and Roberto Morales (Turfway Park).

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockey over the last five racing days (Nov. 19-25) is Corey Lanerie (11-for-43). Eddie Kenneally (4-for-6) and Mike Maker (4-for-17) are the hottest trainers over the same period. Ken and Sarah Ramsey (3-for-11) are the hottest owners.

BARN TALK – Twin Creeks Racing Stable LLC’s Mission Impazible came back from his runner-up effort to Wise Dan in Friday’s Clark Handicap (GI) in good order, according to assistant trainer Michael McCarthy. No definitive plans have been made regarding his next start. …

Clark Handicap favorite Flat Out, who finished third behind Wise Dan and Mission Impazible, also exited the race in good order, according to trainer Scooter Dickey. Preston Stables LLC’s Flat Out, who won the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) at Belmont Park in October, will ship to Dickey’s barn at Gulfstream Park on Monday afternoon and will be given a few weeks rest before being prepared for a 2012 campaign.

“I’ll work him on the turf at Gulfstream and if he works well then he could start the year in the Fort Lauderdale (GIII at 1 1/16 miles on the turf on Jan. 14),” Dickey said. If he doesn’t work well on the turf, then we’ll probably point to the Donn Handicap (GI at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt on Feb. 11).” …

Churchill Downs will offer free general admission to all fans on Sunday, Nov. 27, the closing-day of the 2011 Fall Meet. Also, be sure to bring the kids out to see Santa Claus, who will be in the Paddock Pavilion on Sunday.

WORKTAB – Stoneway Farm LLC’s Exfactor, winner of the Bashford Manor (GIII) at Churchill Downs in July, breezed five furlongs on the fast main track beneath the Twin Spires on Saturday morning in 1:01 for trainer Bernie Flint. The work was the fourth fastest of 34 at the distance. …

Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Hierro, who turned heads when he broke his maiden by 5 ¼ lengths in his most recent start at Churchill Downs, breezed five furlongs on the main track in 1:02.80 for trainer Steve Asmussen. The work was the 22^nd fastest of 34 at the distance. …

Kirk and Judy Robison’s Wine Police, third in the Hopeful (GI) as a 2-year-old and second in the Jimmy V “Don’t Give Up…Don’t Ever Give Up!” in his most recent start, breezed five furlongs in 1:03.20 for Steve Asmussen. It was the 25^th fastest half-mile work Saturday morning.

Anita Cauley’s homebred On Fire Baby, winner by three-quarters of length in the $150,000-added Pocahontas (Grade II) in the Stars of Tomorrow I program on the opening day of the Fall Meet, is the early favorite to add another graded-stakes win to her growing resumé when she faces 10 rivals in Saturday’s 68^th running of Churchill Downs $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs.

Named for the official flower of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Golden Rod will be the ninth race on Saturday’s 12-race Stars of Tomorrow II program devoted exclusively to races for 2-year-olds and has a scheduled post time of 4:42 p.m. (all times EST).  Post time for Saturday’s first race is 12:40 p.m.

Trained by Churchill Downs veteran Gary Hartlage, On Fire Baby began her career with an impressive four-length victory in a maiden-special weight race at Ellis Park. The gray/roan daughter of Smoke Glacken then finished fifth to eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII) winner Stephanie’s Kitten in Keeneland’s Darley Alcibiades (GI), but rebounded to win the Pocahontas.

On Fire Baby is a half-sister to 2007 Fantasy (GII) winner High Heels, who finished third in the 2006 Golden Rod and returned the following spring to run third to eventual Belmont Stakes (GI) winner Rags to Riches in the Kentucky Oaks (GI).  She will break from post six under Joe Johnson, and oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed Hartlage’s filly as a narrow 3-1 favorite.

On Fire Baby’s main competition in the Golden Rod could the trio Glen Hill Farm’s Customer Base, Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Glinda the Good, and John C. Oxley’s duo Spirited Miss and Golden History.  Each filly possesses experience in stakes races during their brief careers.

Customer Base, a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid trained by Tom Proctor, won her first two starts over synthetic surfaces at Del Mar and Keeneland before she ran 11^th  from an outside post to Stephanie’s Kitten in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII).  Jockey Julien Leparoux will be in the saddle for the third consecutive race aboard Customer Base, who is the 7-2 second choice in Battaglia’s morning line and breaks from post eight in her debut on traditional dirt.

The Steve Asmussen-trained Glinda the Good was runner-up to Grace Hall in the Blue Hen at Delaware Park before that rival finished second to Asmussen’s unbeaten My Miss Aurelia in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.  The 2-year-old daughter of Hard Spun ran third to On Fire Baby in the Pocahontas and will break from post 10 in the Golden Rod under Corey Lanerie.  Asmussen’s filly is the 5-1 third choice in Battaglia’s morning line odds.

Both Spirited Miss and Golden History launched their careers at Canada’s Woodbine for trainer Mark Casse, who has earned three Sovereign Awards as Canada’s top trainer who earned a training title at Churchill Downs early in this career.

Spirited Miss, a homebred daughter of Sky Mesa, will race on traditional dirt for the first time after running on grass and Polytrack at Woodine in her previous three starts.  She won at first asking on grass, then ran fourth on that surface to Northern Passion in the Grade III Natalma – a race in which Stephanie’s Kitten ran third.  Spirited Miss narrowly lost on Polytrack last out in Woodbine’s Mazarine, but is the 6-1 fourth choice in the Golden Rod and Javier Castellano rides from gate three.

Golden History is a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro and an impressive winner in her racing debut on Polytrack at Woodbine in October.   She ran fifth to On Fire Baby in her debut over traditional dirt in the Pocahontas, but finished only three lengths behind the winner. Shaun Bridgmohan will ride Golden History, an 8-1 risk who will break from post nine.

Another possible contender is Alex G. Campbell Jr.’s Karlovy Vary, a daughter of Dynaformer who makes her dirt debut after a pair of starts on grass at Keeneland and Saratoga.  Robby Albarado will ride the Rusty Arnold trainee who comes off an impressive maiden win at 1 1/16 miles on the Keeneland turf.  Karlovy Vary was entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, but did not draw into the race from its list of also-eligible horses.  She will break from the outside post in the 11-horse Golden Rod field and is listed at 8-1 in Battaglia’s morning line odds.

Arnold also trains Annie Russell, a daughter of Ghostzapper who scored her first victory over Keeneland’s Polytrack course after a pair of solid runs on turf at Arlington Park, including a fourth-place run behind Stephanie’s Kitten in her racing debut.  She is listed at 15-1 under Brian Hernandez Jr. for her debut on traditional dirt in the Golden Rod.

The Golden Rod field, from the rail out (with trainer, jockey, morning line odds) is as follows: Back Spin (Jinks Fires, Jon Court, 15-1), Annie Russell (Arnold, Hernandez, 15-1), Spirited Miss (Casse, Castellano, 6-1), Goldrush Girl (Ken McPeek, Manny Cruz, 15-1), Spring Eclipse (David Vance, Edgar Prado, 20-1), On Fire Baby (Hartlage, Johnson, 3-1), Jamraa (Tim Girten, Jesus Castanon, 20-1), Customer Base (Proctor, Leparoux, 7-2), Golden History (Casse, Bridgmohan, 8-1), Glinda the Good (Asmussen, Lanerie, 5-1) and Karlovy Vary (Arnold, Albarado, 8-1).

SUPER ESPRESSO LOOKS TO END RACING CAREER WITH FALLS CITY VICTORY – Celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s Super Espresso will look to end her racing career in style on Thursday when she makes her final start in the 96^th running of the $175,000-added Falls City Handicap (Grade II) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs.

“This will be her last race,” said Michael McCarthy, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. “We’re looking to get her some more black type before she enters her second career (as a broodmare).”

Super Espresso, a $1.1 million Keeneland September Yearling purchase, will face nine rivals in the Falls City, the featured event on the Thanksgiving Day racing program.

She captured the DuPont Distaff (GIII) at Pimlico in May and then competed in five consecutive Grade I events. She hit the board in her first two starts at the highest level, running third to Awesome Maria in the Ogden Phipps Handicap (GI) and second to Ask the Moon in the Ruffian Handicap (GI).

The 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia D’Oro then finished fifth to Ask the Moon in the Personal Ensign, 10^th to Aruna in the Spinster (GI) over the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland and enters the Falls City off a seventh-place finish to Royal Delta in the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs.

The Ladies’ Classic was a bit of a reach,” McCarthy said. “This is a logical spot for her. She’s getting a bit of a class break and her numbers are as good as or better than everyone else in the field.”

In preparation for the Falls City, Super Espresso breezed a sharp four furlongs over the fast main track in company with Giant Sensation in :47.80, the third fastest of 47 at the distance. The duo recorded fractions of :12.20, :24.20, :35.80 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.60 and six furlongs in 1:14.20.

“She had a nice work over the track a few days ago and she’ll enter the race with good energy and a good attitude,” McCarthy said.

Super Espresso has a career record of 4-2-4 from 17 starts and earnings of $270,788. She will break from post eight in the field of ten under Javier Castellano.

The Falls City is the featured event on Thursday’s 12-race holiday program.  It will go as race 11 with a post time of 4:24 p.m. EST.

CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE GETS CLASS BREAK, BETTER DRAW ON THURSDSAY – Carl R. Moore Management LLC’s Chamberlain Bridge, winner of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) at Churchill Downs, returns to his favorite track on Thursday in an attempt to snap a five-race losing streak.

The 7-year-old War Chant gelding is entered in Thursday’s sixth race, an allowance optional-claiming event at five furlongs on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Chamberlain Bridge attempted to defend his title in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in his most recent start, but fell well short of that goal.  He broke from the outside post in a field of 14 on the Churchill Downs grass and finished eighth to the victorious Regally Ready.

"Hopefully that race is just a throw out,” said Dennis “Peaches” Geier, assistant to trainer Bret Calhoun. “He was coming into the Turf Sprint really well and his two works before the race (:59 on a wet-fast main track at Churchill Downs on Oct. 19 and :50.60 on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course on Oct. 29) were probably two of the best works of the entire Breeders’ Cup. He really had no chance whatsoever breaking from the 14-hole. It’s a tough gig out there.”

Chamberlain Bridge, who was made the 7-5 morning-line favorite by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia, will break from post two in Thursday’s race under Brian Hernandez Jr. It will be the first time since October of 2009 that Chamberlain Bridge has been ridden by a jockey other than Jamie Theriot.

Jamie is already in New Orleans (for the Fair Grounds meet), so we got Brian to ride,” Geier said. “Brian has definitely been hot this meet and I hope he (Chamberlain Bridge) runs well for him.”

Hernandez has experience aboard Charmberlain Bridge.  He rode the veteran turf sprint star to a  5 ½-length claiming victory at Keeneland in October of 2007.  And Hernandez has been on a roll during the Fall Meet and entered Wednesday’s racing with 11 wins from 55 mounts at the meet.  That’s good for third in the jockey standings behind Julien Leparoux and Corey Lanerie.

Thursday’s race is also notable for Chamberlain Bridget in that it will be his first outing in more than three years in which he has dropped out of the ranks of stakes horses to face allowance foes.

“It’s a break, but it’s not going to be an easy race,” Geier said. “There are several horses in there that are running really well. I think they’ll be enough speed in there for him to run at, though, and if he’s anything like he was last year then he should win.”

Future plans for Chamberlain Bridge, whose 17 career wins include four victories over the Matt Winn Turf Course, have not been decided.  But he is expected to race as an 8-year-old.

“We’ll bring him to Fair Grounds with us, but I’m not sure what we’ll do with him,” Geier said. “There aren’t too many races down there for him, though. We didn’t go too hard on him this year, so he might stay in training, but he could also get some time off before next year. A lot will depend on Thursday’s race.”

FALL MEET LEADERS ENTERING FINAL WEEK – Through 16 days of the 21-day Fall Meet, jockey Julien Leparoux, and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey had clear leads in their respective divisional races at Churchill Downs.  But trainers Steve Asmussen and Mike Maker were locked in a tight battle for “leading trainer” honors.  Below is a look at the leaders entering the final week of the Fall Meet:

Top Jockeys

1. Julien Leparoux (28-for-106, 26% win-percentage, $1,441,452 in earnings)

2. Corey Lanerie (20-for-103, 19%, $511,772)

3. Brian Hernandez Jr. (11-for-55, 20%, $285,115)

4. Jesus Castanon (9-for-55, 16%, $415,003)

5. Jon Court (8-for-51, 16%, $185,269)

Top Trainers

1. Steve Asmussen (11-for-49, 22%, $2,013,337)

1. Mike Maker (11-for-42, 26%, $1,374,178)

3. Dale Romans (8-for-43, 19%, $1,583,459)

4. Eddie Kenneally (6-for-25, 24%, $297,652)

4. Ken McPeek (6-for-30, 20%, $250,988)

4. Bill Mott (6-for-18, 33%, $4,027,702)

Top Owners

1. Ken and Sarah Ramsey (9-for-33, 27%, $735,718)

2. Billy, Donna and Justin Hays (5-for-20, 25%, $98,805)

3. Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. (3-for-10, 30%, $34,053)

4. 14 owners are tied for fourth with two wins each

BARN TALK – Veteran trainer Robert Holthus, a regular on racing circuits in Kentucky, Arkansas and the Midwest for nearly 60 years, died Tuesday morning in Louisville, Ky. at the age of 77. A local memorial service for Holthus has been scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 at 10:30 a.m. (EST) at Christ Chapel on the Churchill Downs backside. Holthus saddled 211 winners beneath the Twin Spires, including 11 stakes wins. …

For the second year in-a-row, jockey Corey Lanerie was named a finalist for Santa Anita's George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. The other finalists are Ramon Dominguez, Martin Pedroza, DeShawn Parker and Scott Stevens. The winner, to be determined by a nationwide vote of jockeys, will be announced in January. The Woolf Award has been presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950 and is regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in all of racing.  It recognizes those riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing. …

Leading-rider Julien Leparoux will travel to Hollywood Park on Friday to ride Team Block's Never Retreat in the Matriarch (GI). Leparoux enters Wednesday with a 28-20 lead in the jockey standings over Corey Lanerie. He will return to beneath the Twin Spires on Saturday and is named to ride in all 12 races on that day’s Stars of Tomorrow II program.  ...

Churchill Downs will host a “Stache Bash” on Saturday during the races to honor and celebrate all of the Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who participated in Movember. Churchill Downs will donate $1 per attendee who is sporting a mustache to the Movember Foundation with a minimum guaranteed pledge of $5,000 given through the Churchill Downs Foundation. The day’s festivities will include between-race live music by popular Cincinnati-based My Sister Sarah in the paddock area and Happy Hour drink specials from 3-5 p.m. …

Trainer Angel Montano Sr. recorded his 334^th victory at Churchill Downs with Autumn Eyes in Sunday’s sixth race. Montano ranks ninth in career victories at Churchill Downs and his next victory will pull him into a tie for eighth with Jack Van Berg. …

Jockey Jon Court is five wins away from the 400-win milestone at Churchill Downs. Court has mounts in eight races Wednesday, six races Thursday and nine races Friday.

FLAT OUT PREPS FOR CLARK; DICKEY HOPES FOR BETTER DRAW – Jockey Club Gold Cup (Grade I) winner Flat Out impressed his connections Saturday morning with a four-furlong breeze in :48 on the main track at Churchill Downs in preparation for Friday’s 137^th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI).

Under jockey Greta Kuntzweiler, Flat Out recorded fractions of :12.60, :24.40 and :36 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01. The four-furlong time was the eighth fastest of 91 at the distance on a very busy morning beneath the Twin Spires.

“The horse worked perfectly,” trainer Scooter Dickey said. “The owners were here to watch him and we were all really happy. He’s doing great.”

Flat Out was doing so great Saturday morning that Dickey noted Kuntzweiler had to restrain him more than usual to keep the 5-year-old son of Flatter from working too quickly.

“We didn’t want her (Kuntzweiler) to really pull on him and make him throw his head, but she had a better hold of him than she usually does and he still worked pretty fast,” Dickey said. “We wanted him to do it all by himself and that’s how he did it. He loves to work.”

Flat Out returned to Dickey’s barn in good order following the breeze.

“He cooled out great,” Dickey said. “He was acting like he didn’t even work this morning.”

Owned by Preston Stables LLC, Flat Out has raced twice at Churchill Downs this year, finishing sixth to Pool Play in the Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi (GI) and fifth to Drosselmeyer in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).

In both races, Flat Out broke from an inside post – breaking from the rail in the Stephen Foster and post position two in the Classic. With the scratch of Prayer for Relief, who had drawn the rail, in the Classic, Flat Out once again drew further inside than any other starter. (Note: Post one was left open following the scratch of Prayer for Relief.)

“It wouldn’t exactly make me mad if we drew further outside,” Dickey said with a grin. “We’ve been inside both times he’s gotten beat here this year. We’re hoping to not draw the one, but that’s out of our hands.”

ON FIRE BABY BREEZES SEVEN-EIGHTHS IN PREP FOR GOLDEN ROD – Anita Cauley’s On Fire Baby, winner of the Oct. 30 Pocahontas (GII) at Churchill Downs, breezed seven furlongs in 1:27.20 on the main track beneath the Twin Spires on Saturday and it appears that all systems are “go” for run the $150,000-added Golden Rod next Saturday.

“She worked super,” trainer Gary Hartlage said. “She did everything exactly how we wanted her to do it. It was a nice, cruising seven-eighths and she galloped out a good mile. She’s doing great and we’re set to go for the Golden Rod.”

On Fire Baby recorded fractions of :13, :25.40, :37.80, :50.40, 1:02.60, 1:14.80 and galloped out a mile in 1:41.40.

On Fire Baby, a half-sister to High Heels, who was finished third in the 2006 Golden Rod and was also third to eventual Belmont Stakes (GI) winner Rags to Riches the following spring in the Kentucky Oaks (GI), has carried high hopes since the day she stepped into the Hartlage barn.

“A lot of times you think you have a good one, but you never know for sure until they prove it,” Hartlage said. “I think she proved how good she is in the Pocahontas.”

While Hartlage is hopeful that On Fire Baby will run well in the Golden Rod, the ultimate goal for this daughter of Smoke Glacken is another six months away.

“We’re hoping to have her back here in the spring for the big one (the Kentucky Oaks),” Hartlage said.

The 68^th running of the Golden Rod will be the co-feature with the 85^th running of the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) on Stars of Tomorrow II at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26.

FLAT OUT NAMED HIGH WEIGHT FOR 137^TH CLARK HANDICAP – Flat Out, winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup (Grade I) and beaten favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), has been assigned the high weight of 123 pounds by Churchill Downs racing secretary Ben Huffman for Friday’s 137^th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

Preston Stables LLC’s Flat Out is expected to make his third start beneath the Twin Spires this year in the Clark. Trained by Scooter Dickey, Flat Out finished sixth to Pool Play in the Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi (GI) in June and ran fifth to WinStar Farm’s Drosselmeyer in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.

In between runs at Churchill Downs, Flat Out experienced a great deal of success in New York. In his four races in the Empire State, Flat Out recorded wins in the Suburban Handicap (GII) and Jockey Club Gold Cup and was second in both the Whitney Handicap (GI) and Woodward (GI).

Next on the roster of Clark Handicap weight assignments at 120 pounds is Morton Fink’s Wise Dan, who won the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland by four lengths in his most recent start. A 4-year-old gelded son of Wiseman’s Ferry, Wise Dan also has stakes victories this year in the Firecracker Handicap (GII) on grass at Churchill Downs and the Presque Isle Downs Mile over a synthetic Tapeta surface at the Pennsylvania track.

Six 3-year-olds were nominated to the Clark, led by Belmont Stakes (GI) winner Ruler On Ice, who has been assigned 118 pounds. A 3-year-old gelded son of Roman Ruler, the Kelly Breen-trained Ruler On Ice finished third behind Drosselmeyer and Game On Dude in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Horses expected to be entered in the Clark on Tuesday include Flat Out (weighted at 123 pounds), Wise Dan (120), Ruler On Ice (118), Mister Marti Gras (117), Prayer for Relief (117), General Quarters (116), Mission Impazible (116), Headache (115), Stately Victor (115) Demarcation (114), Equestrio (114) and Pleasant Prince (114).

Weights for the 96^th running of the Falls City Handicap (GII) were also released Friday and Arena Elvira and Super Espresso have been named co-high weights at 121 pounds. The Falls City Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs will be run on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24.

Carolyn Wilson’s Arena Elvira currently sports a three-race wining streak and most recently took the Turnback the Alarm Handicap (GIII) at Aqueduct by 6 ¾ lengths. Trained by Bill Mott, Arena Elvira has never been off the board in 11 career starts.

Super Espresso, owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, captured the Allaire DuPont Distaff (GIII) at Pimlico in May. A $1.1 million Keeneland September Yearling, Super Espresso finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4 in her most recent start.

Entries for the Falls City will be taken Sunday and horses expected to be entered include Super Espresso (weighted at 121 pounds), Ravi’s Song (117), It’s Tea Time (116), Masked Maiden (115), Secret File (115), Spring Party (114) and Brushed by a Star (111).

BARN TALK – Trainer Steve Asmussen became the fifth trainer to reach the 6,000-win plateau when Basalt won the first race at Remington Park on Friday night. Asmussen, who turned 46 Friday, is fifth in the all-time trainer standings at Churchill Downs with 422 victories. …

It is “Pony Up for Charity” weekend beneath the Twin Spires. Patrons attending Churchill Downs during the weekend’s races will have the opportunity at all food and beverage points of sale to add $1 or more to their tab to benefit the day’s designated charitable organization. Saturday’s proceeds will be donated to The Lord’s Kitchen and Sunday’s donations will benefit Horses and Hope.

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockey over the last five racing days (Nov. 12-18) is Julien Leparoux (11-for-33). Mike Maker (4-for-12), Ken McPeek (4-for-12) and Dale Romans (4-for-13) are the hottest trainers over the same period and Ken and Sarah Ramsey (3-for-11) are the hottest owners.

WORKTAB – Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC’s Mission Impazible and Bourque Goldstein Thoroughbreds LLC’s Alma d’Oro breezed four furlongs in company on a fast main track at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning in :47.60 for trainer Todd Pletcher. The works were the third fastest of 91 at the distance.  Mission Impazible is expected to make his next start in the Clark Handicap. …

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Pleasant Prince, fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (GII) in his most recent start, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 for trainer Wesley Ward. It was the fifth fastest five-furlong breeze Saturday morning. Pleasant Prince is expected to make his next start in the Clark Handicap.

Bluegrass Hall LLC’s Optimizer, eighth in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) in his most recent start, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The work was the fourth fastest of 50 at the distance. Optimizer is expected to make his next start in the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) on Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs…

WinStar Farm LLC’s Gemologist, winner of an allowance at Churchill Downs on Oct. 30 as part of Stars of Tomorrow I, breezed five furlongs in company with Dancing Solo in 1:01.40 and the duo recorded fractions of :13.20, :26, :37.80, :49.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.60. Gemologist is expected to make his next start in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

Mrs. Yoshio Fujita’s Ravi’s Song breezed three furlongs in :37 for trainer Carl Bowman. The work was the second fastest of eight at the distance. Ravi’s Song is expected to be entered in Thursday’s $175,000-added Falls City Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs. …

Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein’s Country Day, second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) in his most recent start, breezed a “bullet” four furlongs in :47 for trainer Steve Margolis. …

Stoneway Farm LLC’s Exfactor, winner of the Bashford Manor (GIII) at Churchill Downs in July, breezed four furlongs in :48.80 for trainer Bernie Flint. It was the 14^th fastest half-mile breeze Saturday morning.

CORRECTION: Friday’s Barn Notes listed Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice as a colt.  The Clark Handicap contender is a gelding.

RULER ON ICE BREEZES HALF-MILE IN PREP FOR CLARK HANDICAP – Ruler On Ice, winner of the Belmont Stakes (Grade I), has joined the roster of horses that will compete in the 137^th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) on Friday, Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs.

Ruler On Ice breezed five furlongs on Friday in :48.60 for trainer Kelly Breen  over a fast main track at Churchill Downs.  It was his first breeze since the Classic and his only major training move prior to the Clark.

Starting two lengths behind stablemate Nacho Friend and finishing even with his workmate at the wire, the Kelly Breen-trained Ruler On Ice recorded fractions of :24.60 and :36.60 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02. The four-furlong time was the 12^th fastest of 47 at the distance.

“It was excellent,” Breen said. “It was a textbook work and he seems to really like this track.”

George and Lori Hall’s will be entered in the Clark off a third-place finish behind Drosselmeyer and Game On Dude in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. It was the first start against older horses for the 3-year-old son of Roman Ruler.

“I’m very happy to report that he came out of the race in good order and he’s currently in great shape,” Breen said. “He’s eating well and training well. He’s a lean, mean fighting machine.”

Breen said Ruler On Ice came out of his Classic run in great condition, and the gelding's well-being and the uncertain nature of this year’s Eclipse Awards races were the major factors in the decision to run in the Clark.

“We’re thinking that if he wins this race then he is in the running for champion 3-year-old,” Breen said. “That would give us two Grade I wins and he would be beating older horses (in the Clark).”

Other horses working at Churchill Downs on Friday morning included Clark Handicap candidates General Quarters and Equestrio.

Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, a multiple Grade I-winner with over $1.2 million in earnings, breezed five furlongs on the main track in 1:01.80.  He covered the distance in fractional splits of :12.60, :25, :37.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.40.  The work was the 11^th fastest of 41 at the distance.

Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable’s Equestrio, third by a head to First Dude in the Alysheba (GIII) on Kentucky Oaks Day, breezed a “bullet” four furlongs in :47 for trainer Nick Zito. A 4-year-old son of Elusive Quality, Equestrio recorded fractions of :12.20 and :24 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.60.

STIDHAM HOPES GLEAM OF HOPE MAINTAINS FOCUS IN RIVER CITY – Gleam of Hope hasn’t been the most consistent or focused horse since he joined Mike Stidham’s barn earlier this year, but the 53-year-old trainer hopes that will change in Saturday’s 34^th running of the $100,000-added River City Handicap (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

“He came under our care this summer and we gelded him shortly after his win in the allowance at Arlington Park,” Stidham said. “He ran well as a first-time gelding (a runner-up finish to Princeville Condo in the Robert F. Carey Memorial at Hawthorne) and we’re hoping that gelding him will keep him focused and make him a more consistent horse.”

Gleam of Hope, a 4-year-old son of City Zip who won last year’s Jefferson Cup (GIII) at Churchill Downs, will break from post three under jockey Corey Lanerie as he returns to familiar surroundings at the Louisville track.

“I looked at the race and it is a very competitive field,” Stidham said. “There doesn’t appear to be any standouts.”

Since his runner-up effort in the Robert F. Carey Memorial, Gleam of Hope has worked twice over the Polytrack at Keeneland. In his most recent work on Nov. 12, he went five furlongs handily in :59, which was the fastest work of 30 at the distance.

“Both of his works since his last race have been very good,” Stidham said. “I know our horse is doing well and training well and I think he has a good shot.”

The River City is the ninth of 10 races on Saturday with a scheduled post time of 4:37 p.m. EST.

ASMUSSEN EYES 6,000^TH WIN ON 46^TH BIRTHDAY – Trainer Steve Asmussen has the chance to give himself a rare birthday present on Friday: a 6,000^th career training victory.

Asmussen, who turns 46 on Friday, recorded his first victory at age 20 at New Mexico’s Ruidoso Downs.  He entered Friday’s racing with 5,998 career wins and had 10 horses entered throughout the day at two racetracks: Churchill Downs and Remington Park. Below is a chronological listing of the 10 horses entered for Asmussen on Friday. All times listed are Eastern.

• Churchill Downs, Race 1, 4:30 p.m., #3 Banded (5-2 morning line)
• Churchill Downs, Race 3, 5:27 p.m., #3 Grinning Gang (3-1)
• Churchill Downs, Race 6, 7:00 p.m., #2 Beer Garden (5-1) and #9 Quiet Command (12-1)
• Remington Park, Race 1, 7:30 p.m., #1 Lucky Gold Coin (8-1) and #9 Basalt (10-1)
• Remington Park, Race 4, 8:54 p.m., #13 La Belle Bear (also-eligible, 7-2)
• Remington Park, Race 5, 9:22 p.m., #4 Letsgetitonmon (7-2)
• Remington Park, Race 8, 10:46 p.m., #3 Pleasantly Blessed (6-5) and #6 Acanella (5-1)

Asmussen, who has won 10 leading-trainer titles at Churchill Downs and is currently second in the trainer standings behind Mike Maker with nine wins at the Fall Meet, would be just the fifth trainer to reach the 6,000 victory milestone. A two-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer, he recorded his 5,000^th victory with Passion Rules at Woodbine on Sept. 11, 2009.

BARN TALK – Preston Stables LLC’s Clark Handicap-hopeful Flat Out is scheduled to breeze at Churchill Downs between 6-7 a.m. Saturday morning for trainer Scooter Dickey. Greta Kuntzweiler will be in the irons for the work, but Alex Solis will have the mount in the Clark. …

Summer Tremor, a half-sister to 2005 2-year-old champion colt Stevie Wonderboy, will make her second start in Saturday’s fifth race at Churchill Downs. Trained by Rusty Arnold, Summer Tremor is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the field of 10. …

It is “Pony Up for Charity” weekend beneath the Twin Spires. Patrons attending Churchill Downs during the weekend’s races will have the opportunity at all food and beverage points of sale to add $1 or more to their tab to benefit the day’s designated charitable organization. Proceeds from Friday will be donated to the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, Saturday’s proceeds will be donated to The Lord’s Kitchen and Sunday’s donations will benefit Horses and Hope.  

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockey over the last five racing days (Nov. 11-17) is Julien Leparoux (9-for-31). Dale Romans (4-for-11) and Mike Maker (4-for-12) are the hottest trainers over the same period and Ken and Sarah Ramsey (4-for-10) are the hottest owners.

WORKTAB – Bobby Flay’s Super Espresso, seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (Grade I) in her most recent start, breezed four furlongs in company with Giant Sensation on a fast main track at Churchill Downs on Friday morning in :47.80 for trainer Todd Pletcher. Super Espresso recorded fractions of :12.20,, :24.20, :35.80 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.60 and six furlongs in 1:14.20.  She is nominated to the $175,000-added Falls City Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the main track on Thanksgiving Day. …

Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s Gran Lioness breezed four furlongs on the main track in :49.80 for trainer Bret Calhoun. The work was the 28^th fastest of 47 at the distance. Gran Lioness has not raced since finishing third to Salty Strike in the Dogwood (GIII) at Churchill Downs in June.

FLAT OUT CONFIRMED FOR CLARK HANDICAP – Owner Art Preston and trainer Scooter Dickey met at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning and decided to continue the 2011 campaign of Jockey Club Gold Cup (Grade I) and Suburban Handicap (GII) winner Flat Out in the 137^th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) on Friday, Nov. 25.

Flat Out is coming off a fifth-place finish behind WinStar Farm’s Drosselmeyer in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.

“He’s been doing really well since the Classic,” Dickey said. “Also, it’s a Grade I race worth a $500,000. We’re excited about it.”

Flat Out finished just three lengths behind the victorious Drosselmeyer in the Classic.

“He really didn’t run a bad race,” Dickey said.  “Losing by three lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is nothing to be ashamed of.”

The Clark, a race for 3-year-olds and up run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, could play a major role in the Eclipse Award voting for Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year.  But Dickey said that was not a factor that determined Flat Out’s participation in the race.

“A lot of people have been telling me that if he (Flat Out) wins (the Clark) that he could be champion older male or maybe even Horse of the Year,” Dickey said. “It’d be nice, but we’re not really worried about all of that.”

The Classic was the third start at the Louisville track for Flat Out, who launched his career at two with a sixth-place finish in a maiden race. He also finished sixth in this year’s the Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi (GI) won by Pool Play.

“We don’t really know why the same Flat Out that ran in the Suburban and the Jockey Club didn’t show up in the Stephen Foster and the Classic,” Dickey said. “He handles the track fine, though, and has always trained very well over it.”

Flat Out’s one and only work for the Clark will come this weekend; however, the exact date of the work has yet to be decided.

“We’re going to see what the weather does and how the track looks,” Dickey said. “The earliest he’ll work is Friday morning, but we might push it back a day or two.”

After the Clark, Flat Out will be given some well-deserved time off before being prepared for a 2012 campaign.

“This (the Clark) will be the end of his year and then we’ll give him some time,” Dickey said. “The goal is to come back next year in the Donn Handicap (GI at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 11).”

GOLDEN HOPES FOR GOLDEN HISTORY – It had been 48 hours since Golden History’s five-furlong bullet work at Churchill Downs, but the staff in the barn of trainer Mark Casse continue to beam over that sharp training move on a dreary Wednesday morning beneath the famed Twin Spires.

The barn is now counting the days until Churchill Downs’ Stars of Tomorrow II racing program on Saturday, Nov. 26, when the Kentucky-bred 2-year-old filly is expected to compete in the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII).

Golden History zipped five furlongs on in 1:00.40.  The work under exercise rider Melanie Giddings was the fastest of 24 moves at the distance.

“She worked great and went over the track really well,” assistant trainer Norman Casse said. “We’re still thinking that she’s going to run a big race in what will be just her third start in the Golden Rod. She’s trained well since her last race and she should be right there.”

John Oxley’s Golden History began her career with a 2 ¾-length victory over the synthetic Polytrack course at Woodbine and was entered in the $150,000 Pocahontas (GII) on Stars of Tomorrow I at Churchill Downs off that effort.  Breaking from the gate at odds of 18-1, Golden History finished fifth, beaten three lengths in the one-mile race.

“I think she needed a start over the dirt and she probably didn’t get a whole lot out of her first race,” Casse said. “It was also asking a lot of her to run in the Pocahontas in just her second start. We were hoping to run her in an allowance race here, but the race didn’t go, so our hands were tied and we had to go (in the Pocahontas). The Golden Rod has been the target all along."

The daughter of Medaglia d/Ore was a $450,000 purchase earlier this year Florida’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, and has carried high hopes since the day she came under Casse’s care.  Golden History is out of User History, who is out of User Friendly-GB., a winner of four Group I races in Europe on her way to the Cartier Award for European Horse of the Year in 1992.

She has a great pedigree and she’s a really good mover,” Casse said. “She’s also very intelligent. She has all the characteristics of a good horse.”

Another 2-year-old filly in the Casse barn with lots of potential is Sky High Lady, who will make her fourth career start in Thursday’s fourth race at Churchill Downs. Sky High Lady was pre-entered in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), but Casse opted to run her in a maiden-special at Churchill Downs on Oct. 30 when it seemed unlikely that she would draw into the Breeders’ Cup race from its list of also-eligibles.  After breaking slowly, Sky High Lady raced wide and finished third as the 9-5 favorite.

“She always breaks slow and that is one of the reasons she got beat in the stake (Mazarine at Woodbine),” Casse said. “Hopefully she’ll break better Thursday and I think she’ll really like going two turns. The race over the track should also help her.”

Sky High Lady is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Thursday’s race.

MEET LEADERS AT A GLANCE – Through 11 days of the 21-day Fall Meet, jockey Julien Leparoux, trainers Steve Asmussen and Mike Maker and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey are the leaders in their respective categories at Churchill Downs. Here is a look at the “human race” leaders entering Wednesday’s racing action:

Top Jockeys

1. Julien Leparoux (22-for-83, 27% win-percentage, $1,297,540 in earnings)

2. Corey Lanerie (13-for-68, 19%, $324,673)

3. Brian Hernandez Jr. (9-for-40, 23%, $233,755)

4. Jon Court (6-for-35, 17%, $118,214)

5. Shaun Bridgmohan (5-for-24, 21%, $197,267)

Top Trainers

1. Steve Asmussen (9-for-37, 24%, $1,952,095)

1. Mike Maker (9-for-33, 27%, $1,311,788)

3. Bill Mott (5-for-16, 31%, $3,999,863)

3. Dale Romans (5-for-34, 15%, $1,518,380)

5. Eddie Kenneally (4-for-20, 20%, $201,866)

5. Ken McPeek (4-for-20, 20%, $200,021)

5. Ronny Werner (4-for-11, 36%, $116,665)

Top Owners

1. Ken and Sarah Ramsey (8-for-24, 33%, $689,378)

2. Billy, Donna and Justin Hays (4-for-10, 40%, $53,071)

3. Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. (3-for-8, 38%, $29,453)

4. Fred Allor (2-for-2, 100%, $51,120)

4. Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein (2-for-8, 25%, $258,500)

4. Robert Lothenbach’s Lothenbach Stables Inc. (2-for-5, 40%, $79,470)

4. Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith (2-for-11, 18%, $2,418,000)

4. Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables LLC (2-for-5, 40%, $67,470)

4. Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm LLC (2-for-4, 50%, $2,728,970)

MILESTONE WATCH – Jon Court, currently fourth in the Churchill Downs jockey standings with six wins, is nearing his 400^th win beneath the Twin Spires. Court recorded his 393^rd career victory at the Louisville track in Sunday’s second race aboard J Isle. …

In Sunday’s fourth race, Quick Praise gave trainer Greg Foley his 336^th career victory at Churchill Downs. The win moved Foley passed Jack Van Berg for seventh all-time in wins at the Louisville track. …

Trainer Paul McGee is nearing the 300-win milestone at Churchill Downs. The 49-year-old native of Louisville has saddled 295 winners in his career at his home track. ...

Trainer Ken McPeek tied Elliot Walden for 15^th all-time in the Churchill Downs trainer standings with his two wins on Sunday’s card. McPeek, who has 288 career wins beneath the Twin Spires, is now one win behind Jinks Fires. …

Trainer Steve Asmussen is nearing the 6,000-win plateau. Entering Wednesday, Asmussen is just five wins shy of the milestone that has been reached by only four other trainers.

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockey over the last five racing days (Nov. 9-13) is Julien Leparoux (12-for-31). Mike Maker (6-for-12) is the hottest trainer over the same period and Ken and Sarah Ramsey (5-for-8) are the hottest owners.

WORKTAB – Cash Refund, a multiple stakes-winning earner of $316,082, breezed five furlongs over a sloppy main track at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning in 1:04.60 for trainer Steve Margolis. The work was the second fastest of three at the distance.

LANERIE WINS 300^TH AT CHURCHILL DOWNS; EYES FIRST RIDING TITLE – Jockey Corey Lanerie  added another highlight to his career when he captured his 300^th win beneath the Twin Spires in Sunday’s ninth race aboard Taptowne.

Lanerie is just the 20^th rider in Churchill Downs history to reach the 300-win plateau.

“It feels good, but I honestly didn’t know I had that many,” Lanerie said. “I’ve had a lot of good mounts and it makes it easy.”

The native of Lafayette, La., who will turn 37 Sunday, rode his first winner at Churchill Downs during the Fall Meet in 2000 and his list of victories at the Louisville track since then includes eight stakes wins.

“The stakes races I’ve won here stand out as highlights, but all of them are important to me,” Lanerie said.

The next goal for Lanerie is to capture a riding title at the home of the Kentucky Derby. He has finished second in the jockey standings in the past two Spring Meets to Calvin Borel in 2010 and Julien Leparoux in 2011.

“It’d be great (to win a riding title),” Lanerie said. “It’s a tough chore, but I’m definitely up to the task.”

Lanerie, who recorded his 3,000^th career victory in February at Fair Grounds, is off to a red-hot start at the 2011 Fall Meet with eights wins from 28 mounts. He is currently second in the jockey standings behind Leparoux, who has 10 wins from 52 mounts.

READY’S ROCKET GOES FOR 11^TH WIN BENEATH THE TWIN SPIRES – Fan-favorite Ready’s Rocket will return to his favorite track and in search of an historic 11^th win at Churchill Downs in Thursday’s sixth race.

Ready’s Rocket, who has recorded more wins beneath the Twin Spires than any horse since 1991, which was the first year detailed information was gathered by Equibase, will enter Thursday’s race off two third-place finishes on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Turfway Park.

“He ran well, but he probably shouldn’t have lost either race,” trainer Tim Glyshaw said. “He did okay this summer (at Ellis Park and Turfway Park), but this is definitely his favorite place.”

Ready’s Rocket will break from post 11 under Calvin Borel in the starter allowance and Glyshaw hopes  the race could set the 8-year-old gelded son of More Than Ready up a run in the upcoming Claiming Crown at Fair Grounds.

"If he runs well-enough tomorrow (Thursday) then I’ll probably run him in the Claiming Crown (Express) on Dec. 3,” Glyshaw said. “If he doesn’t run well then I’ll enter him in another starter allowance here (Churchill Downs) toward the end of the meet.”

Ready’s Rocket will enter the race off a near seven-week layoff due to a foot issue that was discovered shortly after his most recent start at Turfway on Sept. 23.

"He got an abscess on his right-front foot a few days after the race,” Glyshaw said. “It took him about ten days to get over it and that’s why we didn’t bring him to Keeneland. He’s doing fine now.”

Long-term plans for Ready’s Rocket have not been finalized; however, Glyshaw would like to bring him back as a 9-year-old.

“We’ll bring to Fair Grounds with us this winter and hopefully run him every six weeks or so,” Glyshaw said. “I’d love to bring him back for the Spring Meet (at Churchill Downs) next year. He still loves his job and we’ll keep him going, but he’ll tell us when enough is enough.”

Ready’s Rocket has a record of 19-8-11 from 67 career starts and earnings of $235,995.

MEET LEADERS AT A GLANCE – Through six days of the 21-day Fall Meet, jockey Julien Leparoux, trainer Steve Asmussen and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey are the leaders in their respective categories at Churchill Downs. Below is a look at the divisional leaders entering Wednesday’s action:

Top Jockeys

1. Julien Leparoux (10-for-52, 19% win-percentage, $944,313 in earnings)

2. Corey Lanerie (8-for-28, 29%, $209,574)

3. Calvin Borel (4-for-27, 15%, $188,368)

3. Jon Court (4-for-17, 24%, $81,118)

3. Corey Nakatani (4-for-15, 27%, $1,836,830)

 

Top Trainers

1. Steve Asmussen (6-for-26, 23%, $1,876,049)

2. Bill Mott (5-for-11, 45%, $3,988,151)

3. Eddie Kenneally (4-for-9, 44%, $189,463)

4. Jinks Fires (3-for-5, 60%, $65,420)

4. Mike Maker (3-for-21, 14%, $1,207,012)

4. Steve Margolis (3-for-10, 30%, $296,400)

Top Owners

1. Ken and Sarah Ramsey (3-for-16, 19%, $601,423)

2. Fred Allor (2-for-2, 100%, $51,120)

2. Billy, Donna and Justin Hays (2-for-4, 50%, $19,590)

2. Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein (2-for-7, 29%, $256,200)

2. Robert Lothenbach’s Lothenbach Stables Inc. (2-for-3, 67%, $77,754)

2. Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm LLC (2-for-3, 67%, $2,728,905) 

BARN TALK – Monastic, a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Keertana and stakes winner Snow Top Mountain, will make his fourth lifetime start in Wednesday’s second race for trainer Tom Proctor. The 2-year-old gelded son of Rock Hard Ten finished 10^th as the 2-1 favorite in the Bourbon (Grade III) at Keeneland in his most recent start. …

Nominations for four graded stakes to be run at Churchill Downs over Thanksgiving weekend will close today (Wednesday). The races include the 96^th running of the $175,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII) for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track on Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving Day), the 137^th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track on Nov. 25, the 85^th running of the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the main track on Nov. 26 and the 68^th running of the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the main track on Nov. 26. …

Ten $1,000 scholarships will be distributed to full-time students from colleges and universities throughout the country when Churchill Downs joins the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association for the annual College Scholarship Day on Friday, Nov. 11. College Scholarship Day will also feature a concert by Grammy-nominated country music artist David Nail. The concert will begin after Friday’s 10^th and final race and Nail is expected to perform from 5:30-7 p.m. EST. The concert is included in the track’s regular $3 admission price, but is complimentary for full-time students with a valid college ID.

WORKTAB – Gold Mark Farm LLC’s Culotte, winner of the Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies Stakes and Opelousas Stakes this year, breezed five furlongs Wednesday morning over a wet fast track beneath the Twin Spires in 1:01.80 for trainer Tom Amoss. …

At the nearby Trackside Training Center, Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s multiple stakes winner Gran Lioness breezed four furlongs on a fast track in :49.80 for trainer Bret Calhoun. The work was the fourth fastest of 15 at the distance. … Alpha Stables, Skychai Racing LLC and Sand Dollar Stable LLC’s Twinspired breezed five furlongs in 1:04.80 for trainer Mike Maker.

UNCLE MO, OTHER BREEDERS’ CUP CONTENDERS ARRIVE FOR PLETCHER –Four Breeders’ Cup hopefuls trained by Todd Pletcher, led by Mike Repole’s probable Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic starters Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty, arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday at 9:52 a.m.

“Everyone arrived in excellent order,” said assistant trainer Michael McCarthy, who oversees the Churchill Downs barn for Pletcher, who is expected to be at the Louisville track Tuesday for training hours. “They all look great.”

Uncle Mo, the 2010 champion 2-year-old colt, returned to the Churchill Downs backstretch for the first time since missing this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) with a rare liver ailment. The bay son of Indian Charlie will enter the Classic off a dominating performance in the Kelso Handicap (GII) at Belmont Park on Oct. 1.

Stay Thirsty, who captured the Jim Dandy (GII) and Travers (GI) at Saratoga this summer, finished third behind Flat Out and Drosselmeyer in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) in his first try versus older horses. In two races beneath the Twin Spires, Stay Thirsty was fifth behind his stablemate Uncle Mo in the 2010 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) and 12^th in the Kentucky Derby.

Also arriving at Pletcher’s Barn 34 Monday morning were Repole’sStopshoppingmaria, who will pre-enter the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) or the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint following a runner-up performance in the Frizette (GI), and Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor’s Finale, winner of the Summer (GIII) at Woodbine who will pre-enter the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (GII).

All four of the probable Breeders’ Cup starters breezed Sunday at Belmont Park prior to boarding the plane to Louisville Monday morning. Training plans for this week at Churchill Downs have not been finalized.

MY MISS AURELIA HEADS FIVE ASMUSSEN-TRAINED CUP HOPES ON WORK TAB – Unbeaten Grade I Frizette winner My Miss Aurelia led a parade of five Steve Asmussen-trained contenders for the Nov. 4-5 Breeders’ Cup World Championships who worked on Monday at Churchill Downs. 

Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton’s 2-year-old daughter of Smart Strike breezed five furlongs over a fast track in 1:01.40.  Exercise rider Carlos Rosas was in the saddle as the candidate for the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) covered the distance fractional splits of :12.80, :24.80 and :36.80.  She galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.20 after a five-furlong move that ranked 17^th among 60 at the distance.

“We’re extremely pleased with her,” said Asmussen.  “She’s been very special at every stage, and has looked the part and has come through.  Her talent was obvious, but the races that she’s run have shown another dimension.”

My Miss Aurelia has not run over the one-mile dirt oval at Churchill Downs, but she did train over the surface during the track’s Spring Meet.

Four other Asmussen trainees out of an expected seven-horse Breeders’ Cup contingent worked Monday beneath the Twin Spires.  The other workers were Dirt Mile (GI) contenders Tapizar and Wilburn; Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) hopeSabercat; and Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint contender Seeker.  Cathyand Bob Zollars’ Juvenile Turf (GI) contender Daddy Nose Best worked Sunday andVinery Stable’s Turf Sprint (GI) contender Regally Ready did not work this week after winning the Canadian Grade I Neartic at Woodbine on Oct. 16.

Asmussen said Kirk and Judy Robison’s She Digs Me is no longer being considered for the Juvenile Sprint and was not pre-entered for that race on Monday. 

Ron Winchell’s Tapizar, winner of the Robert B. Lewis (GII) at Santa Anita, worked just after the mid-morning maintenance break and breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40, the sixth-fastest move of the day. 

Rosas was up as the son of Tapit worked in fractions of :12, :35.60 and :48 and galloped out in 1:14.

Stonestreet Stable’s Wilburn, whose win in the Indiana Derby (GII) was his third consecutive triumph, worked five furlongs under Rosas in 1:00.80 prior to the break.

Wilburn completed his work in fractional times of :12.80, :24.20, :36.20 and :48.20, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.20.  The move by the Bernardini colt was the eighth best of 60 at the distance.

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Sabercat worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 in company with stablemate Tritap.  Fractional times for the winner of Monmouth Park’s Garden State Stakes were :12.80, :24.60, :36.40 and :48.50.  The son of Bluegrass Cat finished on even terms with Tritap and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.60.

Ron Winchell’s Seeker breezed five furlongs under jockey Julien Leparoux in 1:00.20.  The son of Hard Spun worked in company with stablemate Governor’s Bridge, starting the work about two lengths behind his workmate and finished up a length in front.

Fractional times were :24.60, :36.40 and :48 and Seeker galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.80.

With seven horses in its ranks, the Asmussen 2011 Breeders’ Cup team remains his largest to compete in the World Championships.  He saddled four horses in 2008 and a trio of starters in three other years.

“I’m happy with the group of them,” Asmussen said, “I feel that they’re very fresh, sound and happy at the right time.”

SWITCH WORKS FIVE FURLONGS IN 1:01.20 FOR BREEDERS’ CUP – With exercise rider Edwin Orozco up, C R K Stable’s Switch worked five furlongs over a fast track Monday morning in 1:01.20 for trainer John Sadler.

The first horse to work after the renovation break, Switch posted fractions of :12, :24.60, :36.80 and galloped out six furlongs 1:14.40.

“That was a nice work for her,” said Sadler, who left Switch in Kentucky after she ran third in the six-furlong Grade II Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland on Oct. 8. “She looks good and bright and she shipped well over here (last week). (Trainer) Mike(Stidham) had a video of her last work at Keeneland (a :47.40 half-mile breeze on Oct. 18), so I got to watch that work.” 

Switch finished second in last year’s seven-furlong Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI), but Sadler left the door open after the work Monday for a possible run in the 1 1/8-mile Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI).

"I am going to talk to the owners (Lee and Susan Searing) and we may cross-enter in the Ladies’ Classic as well as the Sprint,” Sadler said.

A two-time Grade I winner at seven furlongs in her past two starts at the distance, Switch returned to sprinting in the TCA.

“The Keeneland race was a little short for her, but it was a good race,” Sadler said. “She made her run, but she just couldn’t get there. She was wide and the track was kind of speed favoring that day.”

Switch has run twice at the Ladies’ Classic distance this year, finishing second to Miss Match by a head in the Santa Margarita (GI) at Santa Anita and second to Blind Luckby a half-length in the Vanity (GI) at Hollywood Park.

OPTIMIZER, HAMAZING DESTINY WORK FOR LUKAS – Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has saddled a record 18 Breeders’ Cup winners and compiled a record $20,005,520 in earnings at the World Championships and Monday morning he sent out his two hopefuls for the 28^th edition of the races.

Working first with jockey Robby Albarado aboard shortly after 6 o’clock wasBluegrass Hall’s homebred Optimizer, who covered five furlongs in 1:01.

Working in company with Conway, Optimizer started two lengths back and finished four lengths in front while compiling fractions of :12.60, :36.60 and out six furlongs in 1:16. The five-eighths time was the 11^th fastest of 60 at the distance.

Albarado came out in the next set on Barry Butzow and Westrock Stables’Hamazing Destiny, who worked a bullet half-mile in :46.20 on his own. Fractions for the move were :11.40, :22.80 and out five furlongs in 1:01.

“Both of them worked well,” Lukas said. “I was pleased with both.”

Hamazing Destiny ran second in the Grade I Sentient Breeders’ Cup Sprint here last year.

“He is doing as well as he can be and he is coming up to the race great,” Lukas said. “He has an affinity for this track.”

Lukas said that Optimizer would be pre-entered in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI), which would mark the English Channel colt’s debut on dirt.

“All of his races have been two turns,” Lukas said of Optimizer, who broke his maiden at first asking on turf at Saratoga and then ran second in the With Anticipation (GII) on turf before a third-place finish on Polytrack in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland. “He’s running on the dirt. The (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile) Turf was not considered.”

CASSE WORKS STRING OF BREEDERS’ CUP HOPEFULS – It was a busy Monday morning for trainer Mark Casse as he sent out no fewer than three probable Breeders’ Cup starters to breeze beneath the Twin Spires for owner John Oxley.

The first horse to breeze for Casse was Prospective, a $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling purchase who captured the Grade III Grey over the Polytrack at Woodbine. The 2-year-old son of Malibu Moon worked five furlongs in 1:02.

Starting four lengths behind his workmate Saturday Classic, Prospective recorded fractions of :13.60, :26.80, :38.60 and crossed the wire five lengths in front under Luis Contreras, who was aboard for the Grey triumph. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.

“He worked about as well as a horse can work,” Casse said. “When we brought him here (to Churchill Downs) we thought there was only a 10-percent chance we would enter him in the (Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup) Juvenile (GI), but he worked himself into the race. He reminded us a lot of Pool Play.” 

The Casse-trained Pool Play won the Stephen Foster Presented by Abu Dhabi (GI) in his first start on dirt. Prospective debuted on turf and his next two starts have been on Polytrack.

Stepping on to the track shortly after the renovation break was Natalma (GIII) winnerNorthern Passion. Starting two lengths behind workmate Delightful Magic, a 2-year-old daughter of Mineshaft who only lost by a length to Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) hopeful My Miss Aurelia in her career debut, Northern Passion completed the work even with her stablemate in 1:02 under Contreras.

“We’re really happy with the work,” Casse said.

Northern Passion is likely to be cross-entered in the Juvenile Fillies and the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“If I had to make the decision right now, I would say we are leaning toward the (Juvenile Fillies) turf,” Casse said. “She worked very well over the dirt this morning, but we already know she handles the turf well.”

The last Oxley-Casse duo to hit the Churchill Downs track was Spirited Miss and Sky High Lady. Both horses are coming out of performances in the Mazarine on the Polytrack at Woodbine. Spirited Miss finished second by a head and Sky High Lady battled a troubled trip to finish fourth.

Under Contreras, Spirited Miss started three lengths behind Sky High Lady, guided byShaun Bridgmohan, and the two fillies crossed the wire together. Spirited Miss was credited with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.80 and Sky High Lady was clocked in 1:02.40. 

“Both horses worked well,” Casse said. “We are likely to cross-enter Spirited Miss in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Juvenile Fillies, but we’re leaning toward running her on the dirt. Most likely we wouldn’t enter her and Northern Passion in the same race.”

Sky High Lady, who has yet to break her maiden, might have also worked herself into the Breeders’ Cup like her stablemate Prospective.

“That was a really nice work and I might pre-enter her in the Juvenile Fillies after watching her this morning,” Casse said.

BARN TALK – Trainer Jim Baker said Monday morning that Darley Alcibiades (GI) runner-up Heart of Destiny would bypass the Breeders’ Cup in favor of Sunday’s Pocahontas (GII). “Our main goal is to have a good horse and a good broodmare,” Baker said of the homebred filly who is owned by Hurstland Farm and James Greene Jr. “We are going to be conservative with her and the Breeders’ Cup would be too much too quick.”

WORK TAB – The first day of training on the Matt Winn Turf Course brought out several Breeders’ Cup hopefuls including two top contenders for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI): Pam and Marty Wygod and W.S. Farish’s Courageous Cat and Spendthrift Farm’s Court Vision. Courageous Cat, working in company with Clear Attempt for trainer Bill Mott, covered five furlongs on a course rated as “good” in 1:02.60, around the “dogs.” Starting three lengths in back of his workmate and finishing on even terms, Courageous Cat had fractions of :25.40, :38.60, :50.40 and out six furlongs in 1:17.40. Court Vision, trained by Dale Romans, worked five furlongs on his own in 1:02.80 with fractions of :25.40, :37.80, :50.40 and out six furlongs in 1:18. …

Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein’s homebred Country Day worked five furlongs for an expected start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) in 1:01.20 with jockey James Graham up. Trained by Steve Margolis, Country Day posted fractions of :12, :24, :37.20 and out six furlongs in 1:17.40. …

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s Animal Spirits, winner of the Bourbon (GIII) at Keeneland (GIII) in his most recent start, worked a half-mile in company on even terms with Intercompany Loan in :52.60 on the turf. Fractions for the work were :28.20, :40.60 and out five furlongs in 1:07.20. Trained by Al Stall Jr., Animal Spirits is a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (GII). …

Dell Ennis’ Hunt Crossing, a candidate for the $500,000 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint, worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 for trainer Todd Pletcher. The move was the 46^th fastest of 60 at the distance. …

Several nominees for Sunday’s Pocahontas (GII) worked on the main track Monday morning. James Spence’s Aubby K, a 15 ½-length maiden winner last month at Belmont Park,  worked a half-mile in :49.20 (13^th best of 58) and Spendthrift Farm’sTrading Paint worked a half-mile in :52.20 (57^th fastest). Putting in five-furlong works were Schuylerville (GIII) winner Georgie’s Angel (1:02.20, 37^th fastest of 60) and Debutante (GIII) winner Flashy Lassie (1:05, 59^th fastest). Georgie’s Angel is owned bySheffer Racing Stable, Ronald Stocks, Betsy Wells and Kelly Weitsma; Barry King owns Flashy Lassie. …

Two nominees for Sunday’s Iroquois (GIII) worked Monday: Bluegrass Hall’sChalybeate Springs (half-mile in :50.80, 39^th fastest of 58), and Stewart Madison,Justin Querbes III and Al Stall Jr.’s Seven Lively Sins (half-mile in :48.60, 10^thfastest). …

Frank L. Jones Jr.’s Tapitsfly, winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and nominated to the Cardinal Handicap (GIII) to be run Nov. 6, worked a half-mile on the turf in :49.40. Another Cardinal nominee working Monday morning was Mrs. Yoshio Fujita’s Ravi’s Song, who worked five furlongs on the main track in :59.80, the fourth fastest of 60, for trainer Carl Bowman. …

Working five furlongs in 1:00.60 over a fast track at the Trackside Training Center wasKendall Hansen’s undefeated Hansen for trainer Mike Maker.

SASSY IMAGE INJURED, OUT OF BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT – Multiple Grade I winner Sassy Image has been taken out of consideration for the Grade I, $1 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint after a chip in a hind ankle was discovered following her most recent work on Oct. 8 at Churchill Downs.

“She’s a filly that has always moved perfectly and the next morning (Oct. 9) when we saw that she was a little off we knew that something was wrong,” said trainer Dale Romans, who conditions the filly for his brother Jerry.

Sassy Image, a 4-year-old daughter of Broken Vow, had been given some time away from the track after tearing her left front quarter in a sixth-place finish as the favorite in the GI Ballerina at Saratoga, a race in which she leapt at the break and then bolted on the final turn. Her four-furlong breeze on Oct. 8 was clocked in :48.60, the fifth fastest of 38 at the distance over a fast Churchill Downs track. “She appeared to come out of it fine,” Romans said.

The injury to Sassy Image is a major disappointment for Romans, who was looking forward to running the filly in the Filly & Mare Sprint over her favorite surface. Sassy Image has compiled a record of 5-0-1 in six starts beneath the Twin Spires, including victories in the GI Humana Distaff, GII Golden Rod, GIII Winning Colors and GIII Pocahontas.

“This has made me sick,” Romans said. “You have to enjoy the high points in this game because there are going to be a lot of disappointments.”

The injury will knock Sassy Image out of this year’s Breeders’ Cup; however, she will still be offered at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Nov. 6 as a racing/broodmare prospect. “If the new owners wanted to remove the chip then she could probably come back next year,” Romans said. She will be consigned by Romans Racing & Sales, as agent, and will sell as Hip 17.Horses in the Romans barn that are still on track for Breeders’ Cup bids include Shackleford, who is scheduled to breeze for the first time Saturday (Oct. 22) since a second-place performance in the GII Indiana Derby, Dullahan, winner of the GI Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, will also breeze Saturday morning for the Juvenile or Juvenile Turf, Court Vision, who came out of his Oct. 15 work in good order and is on track for the Mile and  Me and My Gals, a 2-year-son of Sky Mesa who worked a “bullet” five furlongs Monday in 1:01 in preparation for the Juvenile Sprint.

MY MISS AURELIA HEADS SIX MONDAY BREEDERS’ CUP WORKERS FOR ASMUSSEN – Trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the 2007 Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic with two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, has eight candidates for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Championship races and six of those horses worked on Monday over the main track at Churchill Downs.

Asmussen’s roster of potential Breeders’ Cup stars includes Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton’s unbeaten My Miss Aurelia (Juvenile Fillies); Ron Winchell’s Tapizar (Dirt Mile); Stonestreet Stable’s Wilburn (Dirt Mile); Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Sabercat (Juvenile), Cathy and Bob Zollars’ Daddy Nose Best (Juvenile Turf); Vinery Stable’s Regally Ready (Turf Sprint); Kirk and Judy Robison’s She Digs Me (Juvenile Sprint) and Ron Winchell’s Seeker (Juvenile Sprint).

Seven of the eight Asmussen trainees are on the grounds at Churchill Downs and Regally Ready is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday after winning the GI $500,000 Nearctic at Woodbine on Sunday.  Vinery Stable’s 4-year-old More Than Ready gelding is perfect in two starts over the Churchill Downs turf course, with his most recent run here being a victory over Bridgetown and defending Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Chamberlain Bridge in the GIII Churchill Downs Turf Sprint on Kentucky Derby Day.

My Miss Aurelia, winner of the GI Frizette at Belmont Park and Saratoga’s GII Adirondack, headlined Monday’s Asmussen workers with a five-furlong move over “fast” footing in 1:02.  The work by My Miss Aurelia was the fifth fastest of 35 at the distance.

The homebred daughter of Smart Strike covered the distance in fractional times of :12.60, :24.80, :37 and :49.60, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.

"I’m very pleased with her breeze,” Asmussen said.  “We’re obviously extremely impressed with her talent and how she’s going.  We have a pretty good comfort level with the Breeders’ Cup running here.  She didn’t start here, but she spent a lot of time here in the spring.  She’s comfortable with the surroundings.”

Tapizar and Wilburn, coming off wins in their most recent outings, worked five furlongs on Monday.

Working in company with the 2-year-old Seeker, Tapizar breezed five furlongs as the workmates competed the distance in 1:02.80.  Internal fractions for Tapizar were :13.60, :25.80, :38.20, and he galloped out six furlongs in 1:17.20.

Tapizar was considered a major contender for Kentucky Derby 137 following a 10 ½-length victory in a Churchill Downs maiden race in November and a 4 ¼-length romp in the GIII Sham at Santa Anita in his stakes debut in January.  But the homebred son of Tapit went to the sidelines with injury following a fifth-place run in the GII Robert Lewis at Santa Anita.  He returned to competition on Oct. 8 with a 2 ¼-length victory in a Belmont Park allowance race.

Wilburn, who notched his third consecutive victory in a 4 ¾-length win over GI Preakness winner Shackleford in the GII Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.40.  His internal fractions were :12.60, :25.20, :37.60 and :49.80, and he galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.80.

Sabercat, a Bluegrass Cat colt who won the $75,000 Garden State at Monmouth Park last time out, worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 in preparation for his Juvenile bid.

She Digs Me, winner of the GIII Sapling at Monmouth Park, breezed five furlongs on Tuesday in 1:02.60.

Daddy Nose Best, third in the GIII Summer Stakes on turf at Woodbine, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.60 over a fast main track on Sunday at Churchill Downs.

If all eight horses start in their Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 4 and 5, it will be the largest contingent of Asmussen trainees to compete in the year-end Championships.  Asmussen, who is closing in on 6,000 career victories and ranks fifth in all-time wins by U.S. trainers, started four horses in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup and saddled a trio of starters in three other years (2003, 2007 and 2010). 

“We’re very pleased with the physical condition that we’re in right now,” Asmussen said.  “We surely want a couple of more weeks of that.”

ROCKET TWENTYONE BRINGS HOWARD FULL CIRCLE TO BREEDERS’ CUP – The first time Tom Howard attended a Breeders’ Cup was at Churchill Downs in 1988.

“That was Alysheba’s year. I watched it from right back here in the bleachers,” Howard said. “That was the best place to watch, because you could see all the horses going over to the paddock.”

Alysheba was housed in Barn 32 not only for the Breeders’ Cup, but the previous year when he won the Kentucky Derby. Fast forward to today and Howard has Rocket Twentyone walking in the same shedrow.

Owned by Frank Fletcher, Rocket Twentyone is undefeated in two starts and coming off a victory in the Grade III Arlington-Washington Lassie on Sept. 10. She shipped to Kentucky on Sept. 28 and was housed at the Trackside Training Center before coming over to Churchill Downs.

After the Lassie victory, Howard had mentioned the GI Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland on Oct. 7 as a possible next start leading up to the GI $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

“We looked at it (the Alcibiades) and thought we had enough points (to get in the Breeders’ Cup) and opted not to run,” Howard said.

A regular on the Louisiana-Arkansas circuit, Howard has five other horses stabled at Trackside. He gave Rocket Twentyone her first Churchill Downs work last Friday, a half-mile in :51.60 over a track labeled muddy.

“She worked OK in the slop last week and she probably will work again this Friday depending if her rider (Eddie Razo) can be here,” Howard said.

One filly who did run in the Alcibiades, Heart of Destiny, may be pre-entered next Monday in both the Juvenile Fillies and the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Owned by Hurstland Farm and James Greene Jr., Heart of Destiny broke her maiden on the grass at Saratoga and then ran second in the Alcibiades.

“We’d be foolish not to (look at the Breeders’ Cup),” trainer James Baker said. “We’d look at both races, but I think the dirt race may be easier than the turf.”

Baker plans to give Heart of Destiny two works prior to the Breeders’ Cup.

CASSE BARN STILL WEIGHING OPTIONS FOR NORTHERN PASSION – Northern Passion, an impressive winner of the Grade III Natalma at Woodbine in her most recent start, is scheduled to breeze Tuesday morning shortly after the renovation break at Churchill Downs under regular exercise rider Melanie Giddings for trainer Mark Casse in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies or Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

"We are still considering both races,” said assistant trainer Norman Casse, Mark’s son. “She’s going to have to show us enough in her workouts over the track for us to try her on the dirt.”

Northern Passion, a 2-year-old daughter of First Samurai who races under the colors of John Oxley, beat a competitive field in the Natalma, including Stephanie’s Kitten, who returned to win the GI Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland. “It looks like the Natalma has turned into a key race,” Casse said.

The chestnut Canadian-bred filly recorded two solid workouts at Woodbine following her score in the Natalma and then shipped to Churchill Downs, arriving beneath the Twin Spires on Oct. 12. “She’s doing great and her last workout (:59.60 bullet work at Woodbine on Oct. 9) was the best one of her life.”

BARN TALK - C R K Stable’s Switch, third-place finisher in the Grade II Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland on Oct. 8 in her most recent start, is scheduled to arrive from Keeneland for the GI Filly & Mare Sprint on Tuesday. The remainder of trainer John Sadler’s Breeders’ Cup continent is scheduled to fly in from California on Oct. 30. …

Shivananda Parbhoo’s two Breeders’ Cup hopefuls, Giant Ryan (Sprint) and Trinniberg (Juvenile Sprint), are scheduled to work Thursday morning after the renovation break. Giant Ryan has won his past six  starts, highlighted by a score in the GI Vosburgh, and Trinniberg followed up his runner-up effort in the GI Hopeful with a second-place finish in the GII Nashua. …

Activity in the stable area will begin to pick up next Monday with the scheduled arrival of trainer Todd Pletcher’s high-profile duo of Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty. Other expected arrival dates for marquee names include West Coast stars Turbulent Descent (Filly & Mare Sprint) and Weemissfrankie (Juvenile Fillies) on Oct. 30, Union Rags (Juvenile) on Oct. 31 and Gio Ponti (Mile) on Nov. 1. Trainer Bob Baffert’s Breeders’ Cup contingent is also scheduled to arrive on Nov. 1. Two European charters are slated to arrive on October 29 with a third plane scheduled for Oct. 31 or Nov. 1. …

Carl R. Moore Management LLC’s Chamberlain Bridge, winner of the 2010 edition of the GII Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint beneath the Twin Spires, is preparing to defend his title on Nov. 5 and will work at the Louisville track for trainer Bret Calhoun on Tuesday or Wednesday. …

Nominations for four graded stakes races to be run at Churchill Downs over Breeders’ Cup weekend will close Wednesday. The eighth running of the GIII, $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course will be contested on Thursday, Nov. 3. The 19^th running of the GIII, $100,000-added Ack Ack Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the main track will be part of the undercard on Breeders’ Cup Friday. The 26^th running of the GII, $150,000-added Chilukki for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up at one mile on the main track will be contested on Breeders’ Cup Saturday. The 38^th running of the GIII, $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course will be run Sunday, Nov. 6.

WORKTAB - Dell Ennis’ Hunt Crossing, winner of the NATC Futurity at Monmouth Park on Sept. 24 and who is being considered for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint, worked a half-mile over a fast track Monday morning in :49.20 for trainer Todd Pletcher. Fractions for the work were :12, :24 and out five-eighths in 1:03.60.