Maggi Moss

Memorable renewals of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), won by WinStar Farm’s homebred Super Saver, and the Kentucky Oaks (GIII), won by a nose by Blind Luck: brilliant performances by reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and rising star Blame; and four exciting evenings of “Downs After Dark” night racing were among the most magical moments of the 42-day Spring Meet at Churchill downs that concluded on Sunday, July 4.

The central human figure in many of the meet’s brightest moments moments was jockey Calvin Borel, who not only achieved his 1,000th career victory beneath the Twin Spires during the meet, but also won his first Spring Meet riding title.  He piloted Super Saver to victory in the Run for the Roses, an unprecedented third Kentucky Derby victory in four years, and was aboard for Rachel Alexandra’s return to form as the 2009 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner took the Fleur de Lis Handicap (GII) by 10 ½ lengths for her first victory of the year.

“Our renewals of the Kentucky Derby and Oaks, run under vastly different weather conditions, were among the most successful in history and American racing’s greatest weekend continues to display the best of the sports and entertainment aspects our industry offers,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs. “Our ‘Downs After Dark’ night racing is now clearly established as an entertainment option that is attractive to a wide range of age groups and all segments of the population in our city and region.  We were disappointed that overall field sizes during the meet were not as large as our fans would prefer, but that is an industry-wide concern and we thank our horsemen who worked hard to participate in our Spring Meet.  We look ahead to our Fall Meet and the return of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to our track for the next two years.”

Borel guided Super Saver to a 2 ½-length victory over Ice Box over a sloppy track in the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) before a crowd of 155,804, sixth-largest in Derby history and easily the largest attendance for a renewal of the Derby run over a wet track. The huge crowd that endured nearly day-long rains was rewarded when the clouds parted as the field stepped onto the track for the Kentucky Derby post parade and the sun was shining for both for the traditional singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” and the famed race itself.

Super Saver provided trainer Todd Pletcher with his first victory in the Kentucky Derby. Pletcher, who sent four runners in this year’s Run for the Roses, started his first Kentucky Derby runner in 1990 and prior to this year had saddled 24 starters without getting a sniff of the roses.

On the sun-splashed day before the Derby, Blind Luck rallied to defeat Evening Jewel by a nose in the 136th running of the Kentucky Oaks (GI) before a record crowd of 116,046. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Blind Luck gave trainer Jerry Hollendorfer his third victory in America’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies.    Wagering on the 2010 renewal of the Kentucky Derby race totaled $112.7 million, a 7.8 percent gain on all-sources betting from the 104.6 million wagered on the 2009 Derby.   Total betting on the 13-race Kentucky Derby Day card rose to $162.7 million, a 4.3 percent increase from the $158.0 million wagered on all Kentucky Derby Day races in 2009.

The 2010 renewal of the Kentucky Oaks was the most successful in history.  A record crowd of 116,046 watched the race and all-sources wagering on the Kentucky Oaks race was $10.6 million, an increase of 55 percent over 2009.  Total wagering on entire 12-race Kentucky Oaks Day racing program reached a record $36.0 million, an increase of 20 percent over the previous year.

The success of Kentucky Derby and Oaks Days allowed Churchill Downs to raise purses for its overnight races for the final three weeks of the Spring Meet by 10 percent.  It was the first in-meet increase in purses at Churchill Downs since a similar 10 percent purse hike in June, 2003.  This increase raised purses by about $3,000 per race.

But continued competitive pressure from tracks in racing states that supplement purses with casino and slot machine revenues or other purse subsidies contributed to a decline in average field size for the meet’s races.  The average field in the 439 races run during the 42-day Spring Meet consisted of 7.75 horses, down from 7.85 in 2009.

“Downs After Dark” night racing continued to be an immensely popular product as this year’s four sessions were conducted under Churchill Downs’ new permanent lights, which were installed over the winter at a cost of approximately $4 million.  The 2009 experiment with night race included three sessions under temporary lights.

An average of 27,139 patrons attended the evening programs, ranging from 24,625 to June 18 to 32,481 on July 2. Two more night programs are scheduled for the Fall Meet: Sunday, Oct. 31 and Friday, Nov. 19.   There was added luster to the June 11 launch of “Downs After Dark” racing under permanent lights retired U.S. Army General Tommy Franks, the one-time Commander of the United States Central Command, visited the track and turned on those lights to usher in the new era at Churchill Downs.

The 2010 renewal of the Kentucky Oaks marked it second year as part of a fundraising partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.  Because of that partnership Komen for the Cure later received a check for $118,346 to help fund the search for a cure for breast cancer.  Another Kentucky Oaks fundraising partnership resulted in a check for $30,000 to benefit Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear’s Horses and Hope breast cancer outreach initiative in Kentucky’s horse industry.

Stonestreet Farm and Harold McCormick’s Rachel Alexandra, the Churchill Downs-based Horse of the Year during her 3-year-old season that included a record-smashing 20 ¼-length victory in the 2009 Kentucky Oaks, made two appearances during the Spring Meet.  The first was a narrow loss to Unrivaled Belle in the La Troienne (GII) on the 2010 Kentucky Oaks undercard, but the champion followed that effort on June 12 with her dominant victory in the Fleur de Lis.

Four races after Rachel Alexandra’s return to the winner’s circle, Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Blame established himself as a major player in the handicap ranks and a contender for this fall’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs by erasing a four-length deficit in midstretch to defeat Battle Plan by three-quarters of a length in the $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI).

Other Grade I winners during the meet were owner-trainer Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, who captured the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic under Bejarano, and Mona de Momma, who defeated eight rivals including Eclipse Award winner Informed Decision, in the Humana Distaff.

Borel, who won the 1999 Fall Meet riding title outright and shared titles in the 2006 and 2009 Fall Meets, rode 52 winners during the Spring Meet to easily outdistance Corey Lanerie for his first Spring Meet title. One of those winners was Gray Hart’s Girl on June 4 to give the 43-year-old Borel his 1,000th Churchill Downs victory. Only Hall of Famer Pat Day (2,482) has ridden more winners at Churchill Downs.

Borel was reunited during the Spring Meet with his 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who returned to the races on July 4 in the Firecracker Handicap Presented by Thorntons (GII). Owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, Mine That Bird became the first Kentucky Derby winner to race at Churchill Downs since 2005 winner Giacomo returned to run fourth in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).  Mine That Bird finished a disappointing eighth in his 2010 debut, but new trainer D. Wayne Lukas continues to hope that the 2009 Derby winner will progress in the coming months and return to Churchill Downs in the fall for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Steve Asmussen won his third consecutive training title, saddling 24 winners. It was the fourth Spring Meet title for the two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, who also has won leading trainer honors four times during the Fall Meet. Asmussen’s roster of winner’s included Stonestreet Stable’s Kantharos, an impressive 9 ½-length winner of the 109th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor Stakes (GIII) for 2-year-olds on Saturday, July 3.  The victory by the unbeaten colt stamped him as an early contender for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) in November and the 137th Kentucky Derby (GI) next May.

Trainer Dale Romans, who finished second in the trainers’ race with 19 victories, hit the 500-victory milestone at Churchill Downs when Skipadate won the eighth race on June 17. Romans, a 43-year-old Louisville native, saddled his first winner at Churchill Downs on Nov. 12, 1987.

Maggi Moss earned her second leading owner title as she collected nine winners to edge Ken and Sarah Ramsey.  Moss’ other Churchill Downs title came in the 2007 Spring Meet.

BOREL, ASMUSSEN MAINTAIN SOLID LEADS IN RACE FOR MEET HONORS – With four days to go in the 2010 Spring Meet, Calvin Borel is on track for his first leading rider title for a Spring Meet at Churchill Downs.

Borel, who won an outright Fall Meet title in 1999 and shared Fall honors in 2006 and 2009, has a 44-35 advantage on Corey Lanerie. Borel is named on three mounts Thursday, nine on Friday night’s card and nine on Saturday while Lanerie is named on eight mounts Thursday and Friday and 10 on Saturday.
Asmussen, who swept the training titles at both meets in 2009, has a 22-16 edge on Dale Romans and Tom Amoss. Eyeing his fourth Spring Meet title and eighth overall, Asmussen has two horses entered Thursday, five on Friday and two on Saturday. Romans has three entrants Thursday, seven on Friday and three on Saturday. Amoss has two entrants Thursday and none Friday or Saturday.

Maggi Moss, hoping to secure her second leading owner title, has had eight winners during the meet and has a three-winner advantage over Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Amerman Racing Stable and WinStar Farm. The 2007 Spring Meet leading owner has Dartangia in the sixth race and is the only member of this year’s group of  top four owners to have a runner on Thursday.

BACK TO THE GRASS FOR VETERAN BRASS HAT – The return to dirt experiment is over for Fred Bradley’s Brass Hat after beating only one horse and trailing the victorious Shadowbdancing by more than 12 lengths in last Saturday’s Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (GII) in Iowa.

“He is going to go back on the grass and we are looking at the closing day stake at Ellis Park,” trainer Buff Bradley said of the Cliff Guilliams Handicap at 1 1/16 miles. “I may give him a couple more weeks off and wait for that.”

The 9-year-old Brass Hat had not run on dirt since the 2008 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) and primarily had been in 1 1/2-mile turf races for the past two years.

“I was looking to cut him back in distance and I didn’t want to do what we did last year,” Bradley said of Grade I bids by Brass Hat in the United Nations and Sword Dancer at Monmouth Park and Saratoga, respectively.

Bradley knew early on that Brass Hat was in trouble at Prairie Meadows.

“It was a speed-favoring track and records were set both nights,” Bradley said in reference to Majesticperfection’s 1:07.24 six-furlong mark established Friday and then Concord Point’s 1:40.37 for 1 1/16 miles on Saturday. “I knew we were in trouble when the first race Saturday for $12,500 fillies went in 1:09 and 1 for six furlongs.”

Brass Hat has earned more than $2 million and Bradley does not envision that career coming to a close soon.

“There are some people saying we should retire him, but he is doing fine and we space his races out,” Bradley said.

DANZON CAN MAKE QUICK RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN LOCUST GROVE – The highest-priced claim of the meet can make a quick return on investment Saturday when Danzon runs for new owner Alfred Nuckols Jr. in the 29th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

“They claimed her to breed next spring,” trainer Jim Baker said of the $80,000 purchase. “The plan is to run her until the end of the year and breed her next year.”

The 7-year-old Danzon appeared on Nuckols’ radar when she won on April 30 for the $80,000 tag. When she was entered back on June 4 under the same conditions, Baker got a call.

“They called me and asked if I would claim a horse for them,” Baker said and the claim was made as Danzon romped to another victory.

Alex Solis will ride Danzon on Saturday in what will be fifth stakes start over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

"She has got some back class to her and she has been doing good and is two-for-two this meet,” Baker said.

Danzon first ran here in 2007 at age four when she finishing third, beaten a length, against males in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI). She finished third later that meet in the Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) and came back the following spring to compete in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GIII) and the Early Times Mint Julep.

A Kentucky-bred daughter of Royal Academy, Danzon has compiled a record of 9-4-6 in 28 races for earnings of $484,823.

BARN TALK – Heading into the final four days of the meet, six riders have had their mounts earn in excess of $1 million. Leading the way is Calvin Borel, whose mounts have earned $3,012,009. Following in order are Robby Albarado ($1,338,365), Corey Lanerie ($1,075,995), Shaun Bridgmohan ($1,071,074), Miguel Mena ($1,049,410) and Garrett Gomez ($1,001,163). Two trainers have surpassed the $1 million mark: Todd Pletcher ($2,397,898) and Steve Asmussen ($1,082,445). …

Leading apprentice Freddie Lenclud, who is seventh in the standings with 27 victories, plans to ride at Saratoga. “I will ride some for Ian (Wilkes), some for Rick Dutrow and some for Rusty Arnold,” Lenclud said. “As long as I have (agent) Doc (Danner), I am not worried (about getting mounts).” Lenclud’s victory total is the highest for an apprentice at a Churchill Downs Spring Meet since Julien Leparoux and Randall Toups won 87 and 39 races, respectively, in 2006. …

Leparoux returns to the saddle this afternoon for the first time since being injured May 16. Leparoux, who suffered a compression fracture in his vertebrae after being unseated in the Black-Eyed Susan (GII) at Pimlico on May 14, is named on five mounts today and five on Friday. …

Francisco Torres, third in the rider standings with 31 victories, plans to ride this summer at Ellis Park and Hoosier Park with an occasional foray to Arlington Park.

Churchill Downs will celebrate “Ladies’ Weekend” on Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15 with a special ladies only handicapping seminar, unique boutique bazaar and warehouse sale and the second annual celebration of “Horses and Hope” to raise awareness for breast cancer.

The weekend festivities begin early on Saturday, Nov. 14 with an informative new seminar entitled “Ladies First” Racing Seminar & Breakfast: How to be a Lucky Lady! Churchill Downs has partnered with the newly formed group F.A.T.E. (Females Are Thoroughbred Enthusiasts) in an effort to educate women on all aspects of horse racing, from beginner handicapping to Thoroughbred ownership. The seminar and breakfast for ladies of all ages will take place in the Oaks Room on the fourth floor of the Jockey Club Suites from 9-11 a.m. and feature Churchill Downs’ Jill Byrne, the Courier-Journal’s Jennie Rees, top horse owner Maggi Moss and former jockey P.J. Cooksey. In addition to the seminar and breakfast, the $25 admission will include parking, an official program and reserved seat for a day at the races.

Guests of the seminar will also get a sneak preview of Churchill Downs’ first Boutique Bazaar and Warehouse Sale to benefit the Kentucky Derby Museum. Approximately 15-20 Louisville-area boutiques – including Clodhoppers, Dressing Room, Peacock Boutique and General Eccentric – will be on hand Saturday, Nov. 14 for a sure-to-be fabulous warehouse sale of discounted ladies fashion, accessories and hostess gifts. The one-stop shop haven is free to attend with paid general admission from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will also feature a Chambord and Champagne cocktail sample and an appearance by Brown-Forman’s Chief Entertainment Officer Tim Laird with demonstrations of unique signature cocktails.

On Sunday, Nov. 15, “Horses and Hope,” the initiative created in 2008 by Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear with the Kentucky Cancer Program, will return to focus attention on breast cancer awareness, education, screening and treatment referral for the women who work in the barn areas at Kentucky racetracks. More than 700 cancer survivors attended the inaugural event a year ago in Millionaire’s Row 4. In conjunction with “Horses and Hope”, the color of pink will be scattered throughout Churchill Downs, including saddle towels for a featured race, jockey arm bands, groom’s vests, outriders, flags, bunting and trophies for winning horse owners.

To help celebrate “Ladies Weekend”, Churchill Downs’ world famous Twin Spires will be bathed in pink light throughout the week, starting on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Additionally, Churchill Downs, in conjunction with Thorntons, will host an on-track sweepstakes to win one of 20 $250 gas cards on Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15. All patrons age 18 and up will be eligible to submit one entry at the Thorntons booth in the paddock area until 3 p.m. each day. In turn, one winner will be drawn after each of the 10 races on Nov. 14-15.

    Churchill Downs’ 120th Fall Meet, featuring world-class horse racing, continues its 21-day run through Saturday, Nov. 28. General admission is $3, but only $1 for senior citizens and members of the track’s free-to-join Twin Spires Club. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Parking is free in the Longfield Avenue lot (Gates 10 & 12) and $3 in all other lots. Valet parking is $5. For more information or to purchase reserved seats, call (502) 636-4400 or visit www.ChurchillDowns.com.

    Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010. The track will conduct its 2009 Fall Meet from Sunday, Nov. 1 through Saturday, Nov. 28. Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on November 5 and 6, 2010. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.

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(November 22, 2008) – Green Lantern Stables’ Karelian and Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation hit the finish line together and dead-heated Saturday in the 32nd running of the $114,400 River City Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

            Karelian, carrying 119 pounds and ridden by Bill Troilo, swept past favored Thorn Song in the upper stretch and appeared on his way to victory until Demarcation, carrying 117 pounds with Jesus Castanon up, came charging late.

Demarcation appeared to have the edge a jump from the wire, but a final lunge by Karelian created the dead heat, the first in the history of the race. The victory was the first graded stakes victory for Troilo and initial stakes win at Churchill Downs.

The dead heat to win was the first in a stakes race at Churchill Downs since the 2002 Louisville Handicap (GIII) with Pisces and Classic Par.

Karelian, trained by Rusty Arnold, returned payoffs of $6.80, $6.80 and $4.80. Demarcation, trained by Paul McGee, rewarded his backers with mutuels of $30.40, $25.40 and $14.20. Finishing another 1 ½ lengths back in third was Telling, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, who paid $10.60 to show.

Time for the 1 1/8 miles over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course was 1:50.06.

The winners received $44,090 each. Karelian, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Bertrando, won for the eighth time in 16 starts and increased his bankroll to $347,548. Demarcation, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Gulch, won for the sixth time in 19 starts and hiked his earnings to $266,833.

Completing the field of 11 in order were Star Plus, Just as Well, Steve’s Double, Pleasant Strike, Thorn Song, Yate’s Black Cat, Mr. Sidney and Canela.  

In the race preceding the River City, Maggi Moss’ Native Ruler benefited from a speed duel between favorites Kelly’s Landing and Euroears and swept to a 4 ¼-length victory in the $55,150 Bet On Sunshine overnight handicap.

             Ridden by Jamie Theriot and trained by Chris Richard, Native Ruler completed the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:08.91 for his eighth victory in 20 starts.

            Euroears, who entered the race undefeated in six career starts, and the millionaire Kelly’s Landing dueled through the first quarter of a mile in :21.81 and the half in :44.83 with Native Ruler rating back in third place. Native Ruler collared the pacesetters at the quarter pole and drew clear to easily hold off a late bid by Vicarian.

            Native Ruler paid $10, $5.40 and $3.80. Vicarian, ridden by Robby Albarado, returned $6.20 and $4 with Success Success, another 1 ¼ lengths back under Jesus Castanon, returning $4.80 to show. Euroears finished fifth and Kelly’s Landing last in the field of seven.

            The winner’s share of $35,546 raised Native Ruler’s earnings to $268,011. Native Ruler is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Elusive Quality out of the Dixieland Band mare Tajannub.

            “I had a perfect trip,” Theriot said. “There was plenty of pace in the race. I got a good break and he stalked on the outside. I pushed the button at the quarter pole and he took off.”

Live racing continues Sunday at Churchill Downs with a 10-race program that begins at 12:40 p.m. Only five racing dates remain at the 2008 Fall Meet.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE RIVER CITY HANDICAP

BILL TROILO (Jockey, KARELIAN, dead-heat winner) – “That’s a great pickup mount (scheduled jockey Calvin Borel took off mounts Saturday because of illness). Unfortunately, sometimes we benefit from other people’s misfortunes. Calvin was sick today and it was just unfortunate that he wasn’t on him, but I’m happy for myself.

“That was my first stakes win at Churchill and a lot of seconds and thirds. In fact, this was my first graded stakes win, too. I’ve had [2,455] wins [in 19,933 mounts since 1982] and this was my first graded win. It’s just the way it goes.”

Q: How was the trip?

“He was pretty fresh going into the first turn but he settled nice. I tracked [Thorn Song]. By the time I caught him turning for home, Robby [Albarado] hollered over that he was out of horse. I kind of went on. When I got after him, he was getting a little lazy on me because when [Demarcation] caught us right at the wire he opened again. I think if that horse would have come to me sooner, I think he would have drawn back away from him. It was just unfortunate that he caught me right at the wire.”

Q: Did you think you won the race?

“My honest option is that I thought we got beat. He was outside and, at the time, his horse’s head was in front of me. But my horse had his head down again and I guess that’s what saved us.”

Q: I take it that you’re happy with the dead heat?

“I’m thrilled to death! I galloped out thinking I got beat. This is a gift.”

Q: Is this one of your most exciting victories?

“It’s one of them. I’ve won a few hundred thousand and hundred-and-fifty thousand [dollar] stakes and they’ve been just as exciting. But any time you win a race like this it’s always exciting.

RUSTY ARNOLD (Trainer, KARELIAN, dead-heat winner) – “It’s better than getting beat because I thought he got beat when they hit the wire. We got forced and then [Demarcation] got to us and we got all the head-bob. That’s what it looked like to me. [Demarcation] was definitely in front at the wire. So as it turned out, I was rooting for a dead heat. I knew it was close.”

Q: You liked your horse going into this race, didn’t you?

“I loved my horse. I was shocked that they made [Mr. Sidney] the favorite in the paddock. (Note: Thorn Song was the 5-2 post-time favorite and Mr. Sidney closed as the 7-2 second choice). I was absolutely shocked. I mean my horse, when he’s sound, he’s such a good horse. He’s won half of his starts. He doesn’t run but twice a year, but he’s won half of his starts. He got an awful trip in the Shadwell [Turf Mile at Keeneland] and got beat two lengths. It was not an awful ride, it was an awful trip and just one of those things. He had the 11-hole and we got over and got in trouble. He’s a really, really nice horse. So I did like him.”

Q: What are some of the issues you’ve had to deal with?

“He’s just had a lot of problems. Look at him: he’s got a line drawn about every two or three races. He’s never been beat at Churchill Downs and he probably doesn’t want to go a mile-and-an-eighth. It was a big win for him.”

Q: What about Bill Troilo?

“Billy started with my dad. So I’m happy for him. . . .Billy galloped Wavering Monarch for me in 1982. We go back.” (Note: Wavering Monarch won six of 13 starts and $466,773 including the 1982 Jefferson Cup by seven lengths. He also was 12th in the 1982 Kentucky Derby).

Q: Did you prepare the horse any differently for this race?

“He trained terrific going into this race as he has all year. In his first start back this year he beat Lewis Michael. I know it was an ungraded race but he beat Lewis Michael. It was a great race and then he had the Shadwell which was still another good race and again today. He doesn’t run bad if you look at his form. He never runs bad. He gets hurt but he doesn’t run bad.

Q: Will he run next year?

“He’s a gelding. Until he can’t make a comeback, he’ll be training.”

JESUS CASTANON (jockey, DEMARCATION, dead-heat winner) – “I really thought I got him on the wire.  But as soon as we got close to the wire my horse was kind of like coming back and his horse was dropping his head, so that’s what happened.”

            “I had a little trouble down the lane.  The horse that was in front of me drifted out a little down the lane, and I had to take him to the outside and that probably took a little away from him.  But he ran big.”

PAUL McGEE (trainer, DEMARCATION, dead-heat winner)

“He’s a consistent horse.  He’s been running well.  He ran well in the graded Sea O’ Erin (at Arlington Park) and was a good third behind Thorn Song at the Spring Meet.  He’s been a very consistent, hard-running horse all along.  It surprised me he was that big of a price today.

            “He has won sprinting on the dirt and won on Polytrack, so he’s won on all the surfaces.”

Q: This is fresh now, but what are your thoughts on options now…

“He’ll probably run in something at the Fair Grounds.  He’ll go to the Fair Grounds.”

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN (jockey, TELLING, third)

“I thought he ran very well.  I thought we had a shot at the top of the stretch.  He gave me a nice little acceleration coming off the turn and I thought we were in a good spot, but the top two ran pretty hard.”

DALE ROMANS (trainer, THORN SONG, eighth as the favorite)

“I don’t know what happened.  There’s not much to say about it.  He was in position, but didn’t have the finish he needed.”

Q: Was the outside post a concern going in?

“Not really – I can’t blame it.  Robby [Albarado] had him over in the three-path on the first turn.  I think he might be a little tired.  It’s been a long campaign for him and he’s had a good year.  He might need a little rest.”

ROBBY ALBARADO (jockey, THORN SONG, eighth as the favorite)

“I had him in what I thought was a good spot, but when I asked him he just didn’t respond.  I’m not sure what it was.  Maybe he’s telling us something.  It’s been a long year and maybe he needs a rest.  But he’s had a great year.”

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE BET ON SUNSHINE HANDICAP

JAMIE THERIOT (Jockey, NATIVE RULER, winner) – “I had a perfect trip. There was plenty of pace in the race. I got a good break and he stalked on the outside. I pushed the button at the quarter pole and he took off.”

Q: Is he just a better horse on dirt rather than turf or the synthetic surfaces?

“He is, I think. I’ve never ridden him on turf or Polytrack, but his numbers are nothing close to what he does on the dirt. He looks like he’s a better horse on the main track. The horse is really good right now and doing everything right. He moved forward from his last start and he’s just doing really good right now.”

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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

(May 31, 2008) – Indian Chant collected his first graded stakes win by the bob of a head with a narrow victory over Noonmark in Saturday’s 20th running of the Grade III, $117,779 Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Indian Chant, who determinedly held on for the win, stopped the teletimer in 1:08.40 – the fastest of 55 six-furlong races at Churchill Downs this season. Jamie Theriot rode the winner for owner Maggi Moss and trainer Tom Amoss.

Moss, the leading owner at Churchill Downs’ 2007 Spring Meet, notched her first stakes win under the Twin Spires.

Esperamos was rushed to the early lead through a flashy quarter-mile in :21.10 with Indian Chant right on his outside hip. Indian Chant began to vie for the lead on the turn from home, put away the early leader through a half-mile in a swift :43.78 and opened up at the head of the stretch. Noonmark, who rated behind the leaders from fourth under Shaun Bridgmohan, split rivals at the top of the lane, grabbed second with a furlong to run and surged home strongly only to come up short.

“I looked at the screen as I was going down by the sixteenth pole and saw (Noonmark) coming, and I kind of let my horse drift out a little bit to kind of get game with the other horse,” Theriot said. “Once he felt him come to his shoulder, he kind of gave me a little more and dug in. The last couple of jumps were a battle.”

“It’s a big win over a good bunch of horses, and we’re thinking big things for this guy,” Amoss said. “That’s what we’re going to do; we’re going to point toward the bigger things. Obviously he’s not Breeders’ Cup nominated, so I’m not going to step out there, but we’re going run in some big races and see where he fits with the group.”

Indian Chant, a 5-year-old gelded son of Suggest, has finished first or second in 18 of his 23 lifetime starts. This was his ninth triumph – second in five starts this year – and the $67,113 check padded his bankroll to $471,648.

Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in a field of six older horses, Indian Chant returned $6.40, $3.40 and $2.60. Noonmark paid $4 and $2.60. Elite Squadron, the narrow 2-1 fan’s choice after his victory in the Grade II Churchill Downs Stakes on Kentucky Derby Day, was another 5 ¼ lengths back in third and returned $2.20.

Kelly’s Landing, Esperamos and Carnack’s Choice completed the order of finish. Carnack’s Choice was pulled up after a quarter mile and was vanned off.

Aristides Stakes Jockey & Trainer Quotes

TOM AMOSS, trainer of INDIAN CHANT (winner)

“It’s exciting. It didn’t set up particularly like I thought it would. We were able, through a very clever ride and Jimmy’s horse (the James Baker-trained Elite Squadron) breaking poorly, to put him (Elite Squadron) in a bad position. I know that hurt him, and I’m sure he’ll have a lot to say if we meet again. Let’s put it that way. But that helped a great deal. In Indian Chant’s defense, the fight that he showed at the end of the race is a little newfound. I didn’t know that he could show that kind of fight at the end, and that’s exciting.”

Q: Noonmark looked like he had every chance to go on by and Indian Chant wouldn’t let him…
“He really dug in. At the sixteenth pole, I thought he was beat and at the wire he was able to hold him off.”

Q: How nice is this win for you? When you look at the horses you beat, you can make a case for almost all of them to show up, if things go well, in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint – with the possible exception of Indian Chant, who is not nominated to the Cup…

“It’s a big win over a good bunch of horses, and we’re thinking big things for this guy. That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to point toward the bigger things. Obviously he’s not Breeders’ Cup nominated, so I’m not going to step out there, but we’re going run in some big races and see where he fits with the group.”

JAMIE THERIOT, jockey on INDIAN CHANT (winner)

“Every time I’ve rode him, he’s very quick. So I just take a long cross and let him run his race and he dictates what he wants to do. When you call on him down the lane, he’s there for us. Tom did a great job with him.

Q: In the final strides to the wire, it looked like it could be either horse…

“I looked at the screen as I was going down by the sixteenth pole and saw this horse (Noonmark) coming, and I kind of let my horse drift out a little bit to kind of get game with the other horse. Once he felt him come to his shoulder, he kind of gave me a little more and dug in. The last couple of jumps were a battle.”

Q: But you thought you had it at the wire?

“Yeah, I thought I hung on and won. I thought I had the head-bob.”

Q: You had to know you were rolling along there and going pretty fast…

“Every time I ride him, he goes out there and does those those :21’s and :43 or :44’s and change, and he’s a horse that you don’t take it away from him. He puts you into the race and that’s where he wants to be, and I just let him run his own race.”

SHAUN BRIDGMOHAN, jockey on NOONMARK (runner-up)

“I had a full head of steam and I thought we had him, but the other horse just ran a game race. Everything worked out great, except we were unfortunate at the wire.”

JAMES BAKER, trainer of ELITE SQUADRON (third)

Q: What happened with him at the starting gate?

“He just kind of missed the break. Somebody said the one (Esperamos) hit him coming out of the gate, but I didn’t notice that. If you watched him Derby Day (in his win in the Churchill Downs), he didn’t break very sharp that day – but he kind of drug him to the lead. The pace was torrid – I didn’t want him on the front end, but he got a little far back and he made a little bit of a run. It wasn’t his ‘A’ game, but it wasn’t a bad race either. He carried a lot of weight today. I’m not disappointed, but I’m not happy.”

- 30 -

Unbeaten Big Brown, winner of the $2 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), got in a final gallop at Churchill Downs on Wednesday before rain started to fall on the historic Twin Spires. After a daylong wait, Big Brown boarded a van around 4:45 p.m. (EDT) for the short ride to Louisville International Airport, where he boarded a Sutton Forwarding Co. equine transport plane that was scheduled to fly to Baltimore for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes (GI) at Pimlico Race Course.

IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.’s colt turned in a mile and a half gallop under exercise rider Michelle Nevin over a “fast” surface prior to the break for track maintenance and in advance of heavy rain that pelted the track a short time later. The gallop was just the third for Big Brown since his resounding 4 ¾-length victory in the Kentucky Derby on May 3 and marked the first time he had been able to gallop on back-to-back days. Trainer Rick Dutrow had chosen to jog his Kentucky Derby winner a mile on days that the track was wet or sealed.

“It hasn’t been an issue because he just ran – we don’t have to go out there an ask him to train real hard in the mornings,” said Dutrow. “A little break ain’t gonna hurt him none. It might even be good for him, you never know. So I can’t complain about what’s happened since he’s run. He’s been really good every day.”

Dutrow planned to accompany Big Brown on the van and the plane ride to Baltimore. He remained confident about his colt’s chances in the second jewel of the Triple Crown as Big Brown departed Churchill Downs following a two-week stay.

“I feel he’s the horse to beat in the race,” Dutrow said. “I feel he’s the best horse – I feel they’ve got him to deal with.”

Other Preakness contenders scheduled to take the same Sutton flight to Baltimore include Beau Greely, John Greely IV and Phil Houchens’ Tres Borrachos, the third-place finisher in the Arkansas Derby (GII), and Jerry Carroll, Stan Kaplan, Ronald Plattner and Mark Guilfoyle’s Racecar Rhapsody, fourth in the Coolmore Lexington (GII) for trainer Ken McPeek.

Robert LaPenta’s Stevil, fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass (GI) for trainer Nick Zito, and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, winner of the Derby Trial for trainer Dallas Stewart, left Churchill Downs by van on Wednesday morning. Those horses traveled to Lexington to catch a mid-morning flight to Baltimore.

SIZZLING AMOSS TOPS SPRING MEET TRAINER STANDINGS – The Spring Meet at Churchill Downs was highlighted early by a significant career milestone for trainer Tom Amoss, but the Louisiana-born veteran seems intent on making the 52-day racing session memorable in other ways.

The meet’s opening week saw the 46-year-old Amoss notch career victory 2,000 when Maggi Moss’s Cat Splendor won race for $25,000 claiming horses by 5 ½-lengths on April 29. But Amoss quickly picked up another win later in that racing card and has maintained that momentum since. He entered Wednesday’s racing program with eight wins on the meet and sat atop the standings in the race for “leading trainer.”

“How long we can stay leading trainer, I don’t know – but we’re obviously enjoying it,” Amoss said. “These things have a way of building on themselves. When we get a good start, typically we’re able to carry that through the meet, so it’s very exciting that it’s going that way.”

Amoss led Ken McPeek by one victory heading into Wednesday’s racing program at Churchill Downs, with Steve Asmussen one victory farther back. He tied with Dale Romans for the 2002 Spring Meet training title for his only other “leading trainer” crown at the historic track.

“A lot of it is a little bit of luck and things falling into place,” Amoss said. “When you look back at other meets here or even other meets in general, that luck seems to even off. We had no luck at Keeneland. We won our first race there, which was a stake, and we didn’t win another race until the end of the meet. So I thought we had some bad luck there, but things have just worked out for us.”

The 2,000th career victory was a major milestone for Amoss, who has collected several training titles in his native Louisiana. But Amoss was quick to share credit to his stable team that includes Frank Bernis, who started as a groom with Amoss and now serves as his assistant trainer.

“It felt great, but it’s really important to not that it’s a group accomplishment. A lot of the guys in the barn have been here a long time with me. Frank Bernis has been here since day one, and that’s going back to 1988. As a group, we’re very proud of that.”

Another important victory came on Sunday when Moss’ Indian Chant notched a sizzling victory in an allowance race. The 5-year-old gelding defeated five rivals that included Summerplace Farm’s third-place finisher Kelly’s Landing, who won the Aristides (GIII) at Churchill Downs in 2005 and took the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) last year at Nad Al Sheba.

Indian Chant set the Churchill Downs record of 1:07.55 in an allowance victory on the final day of the 2007 Spring Meet at Churchill Downs and would go on to win minor stakes races later in the year at Iowa’s Prairie Meadows and Pennyslvania’s new Presque Isle Downs. He could get a rematch with Kelly’s Landing, who was making his first start since a run in November’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) in Sunday’s meeting, in the $125,000 Aristides on May 31.

“Indian Chant has been a great horse for us,” Amoss said. “He loves Churchill’s strip and I think there’s a very good chance he’ll come back in the Aristides. That would probably be the biggest race he’s competed in, so obviously we’d like to win it.”

While Amoss could not catch Steve Asmussen in last year’s race for “leading trainer” in the Spring Meet, Moss – his primary client – did earn her first “leading owner” crown at the historic track. Wins by her horses have accounted for five of Amoss’ wins during the meet’s opening weeks and he his hoping that the former Des Moines, Iowa attorney – who perennially ranks among the nation’s top owners – can earn a second in the ongoing meet.

“Obviously with (current leader) Ken Ramsey being a strong participant this year and very active at the claiming box, her winning that title at the end is going to be very hard to do,” Amoss said. “But it’s our goal – our goal is to try to win the title for her.”

Amoss said he currently has “between 50 and 60” horses in his care. His stable has been bigger, but that’s a number that he likes.

“When we go to a new meet, we always try to carry a strong win percentage,” he said. “We set a goal of a win percentage and we try to maintain that. We don’t always get there – it’s not always an achievable goal. But that’s what our goal is: to try to win and win often.”

‘HORSE OF THE YEAR’ CURLIN NOMINATED TO LOUISVILLE ‘CAP – Stonestreet Farm and Midnight Cry Stable’s reigning “Horse of the Year” Curlin, winner of the $6 million Dubai World Cup (GI) in his most recent start, heads a roster of 24 older grass stars nominated to the 71st running of the $150,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII) on Saturday, May 24.

But chances are very slim that the horse that is currently acknowledged as the world’s best Thoroughbred would show up in the 1 ½-mile turf race. The 4-year-old son of Smart Strike is currently being pointed toward the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) at Churchill Downs on June 14, but nomination to the Louisville would make the colt eligible to work Curlin over the Matt Winn Turf Course should trainer Steve Asmussen decide to give him a try over that footing.

Curlin has been nominated to France’s classic Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group I) at Longchamp on Oct. 5.

Even without Curlin, the roster of Louisville nominees is strong. It includes Bushwood Stable’s Better Talk Now, winner of the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI) in 2004 and runner-up in the same race a year later; Fred Bradley’s Brass Hat, winner of the 2006 Donn Handicap (GI) and runner-up in the 2007 Clark Handicap (GII) at Churchill Downs; Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Inca King, winner of the 2007 Jefferson Cup (GII) at Churchill Downs, and Chrysalis Stables, LLC’s Silverfoot, who won three consecutive runnings of the Louisville from 2004-06. The Dallas Stewart-trained Silverfoot did not run in the race last year.

Nominations for the fifth running of the $100,000-added Winning Colors (GIII) for fillies and mares 3 & up at six furlongs are headed by West Point Thoroughbreds’ Dream Rush, the winner of the Test (GI) and Prioress (GI) at three. The Rick Violette Jr.-trained daughter of Wild Rush has not competed since a fifth-place finish behind Maryfield in the first running of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Others on the list of 16 fillies and mares nominated to the Winning Colors include Roll Reroll Stables’ multiple stakes winner Miss Macy Sue and Stonerside Stable and Oakcrest Farm’s Sutra, winner of the 2006 Frizette (GI).

WORK TAB (FAST before the break for track maintenance, SLOPPY afterward) – Grade I winner Sutra breezed four furlongs in :49.20 over a “sloppy” surface…Secret Gypsy, fifth in the La Troienne (GIII) on Kentucky Derby Day, breezed a half-mile over a “fast” surface in :47.40, the second fastest of 35 moves at the distance.