Jesus Castanon

Chasing Dreams Racing 2008’s favored Noble’s Promise, the fifth-place finisher behind Super Saver in the 2010 Kentucky Derby, returned to Churchill Downs on Saturday and wore down Atta Boy Roy in the stretch to score a one-length victory in the star-studded 23^rd running of the $110,300 Grade III Aristides Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

            The victory by Noble’s Promise completed a memorable day for trainer Ken McPeek, who swept Saturday’s pair of featured Grade III races at the home of the Kentucky Derby.  McPeek also saddled Salty Strike to win the $109,300 Dogwood Stakes for 3-year-old fillies earlier in the day.

            Noble’s Promise, one of three Grade I stakes winners in the eight-horse field for the Aristides, rallied from fourth under jockey Alan Garcia and paid $5.20, $3.60 and $2.40.  Atta Boy Roy, the Aristides runner-up for the second consecutive year, led most of the way under Jesus Castanon before giving way in the final yards and returned mutuels of $11.00 and $5.40.  Capt. Candyman Can, who broke slowly under Calvin Borel, rallied in the stretch to finish a clear third and paid $2.40 to show.

            The winner scored his first graded stakes victory since a win in Keeneland’s Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity in October of 2009.  He had won last fall’s $85,000 Jimmy V Stakes during Breeders’ Cup Weekend at Churchill Downs.  In his previous start, Noble’s Promise had finished a close fifth to Aikenite in his first start of the year in the Grade II Churchill Downs Stakes on Kentucky Derby Day.

            The Aristides victory improved the career record of Noble’s Promise to 5-3-1 in 14 races and made the son of Cuvee racing’s latest millionaire.  The winner’s prize of $66,336 pushed his career earnings to $1,027,774.  The Aristides victory was the second for McPeek, who won the race in 2009 with Bold Start.  The winner covered six furlongs over a fast track in 1:08.74.

            “It’s always fun to win two stakes in one day,” McPeek said.  “He’s a nice horse and now he’s a millionaire. There were some other nice horses in the race, but I thought they would have a tough time beating him today.”

            Noble’s Promise joined third-place finisher Capt. Candyman Can and Here Comes Ben, who finished sixth, as Grade I stakes winners in the strong Aristides field.  The field also included the 1-2-3 finishers in the 2010 Aristides in Riley Tucker, Atta Boy Roy (who also won the Grade II Churchill Downs over the track in 2010) and Cash Refund.  Hurricane Ike won the Grade III The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial in 2010.

            Cash Refund blew out of the starting gate to take the early lead in the Aristides, but was joined after the opening quarter by Atta Boy Roy, who had the lead at the half-mile in a swift :44.46, and Noble’s Promise moved under Garcia to join the leading duo.  Capt. Candyman Can, Here Comes Ben, and Riley Tucker all broke slowly, with the former making the steadiest progress of that trio as the battle continued on the front end.  Atta Boy Roy and Castanon pushed clear of Noble’s Promise and Cash Refund at the top the stretch, but Garcia sent the eventual winner after the leader and Capt. Candyman Can launched a bid on the far outside.  The top pair battled through the latter part of the stretch before the stubborn Atta Boy Roy gave way late and Noble’s Promise pushed clear.  

            Good Lord, the second longest shot in the field at 34-1, hopped at the start but rallied to finish fourth, three lengths behind Capt. Candyman Can.  He was followed past the finish by Riley Tucker, Here Comes Ben, Hurricane Ike and early pacesetter Cash Refund.          

ARISTIDES POST-RACE QUOTES

Alan Garcia, jockey on Noble’s Promise (winner)

“It was a very good trip for me and my horse. I was able to keep him relaxed behind the leaders in third. Finally I asked him at the top of the stretch and he ran very well. I had plenty of confidence in my horse and I knew he was going to win. It was definitely worth the trip (to Churchill Downs).”

Ken McPeek, trainer of Noble’s Promise (winner)

“I felt like he (Noble’s Promise) could improve three or four lengths off his last race. That race (the Churchill Downs (GII)) was a tough one coming off a layoff so we backed off him since then. He’s a nice horse and now he’s a millionaire. There were some other nice horses in the race, but I thought they would have a tough time beating him today.”

            “I think we did a good job of trying to stretch him out for the Triple Crown last year. He only got beat six lengths in the (Kentucky) Derby (GI), but we were really stretching him out as far as he could go and he didn’t embarrass us, but running that far wasn’t his game. I think he’s found his niche with sprinting. I’d love to run him in the Vanderbilt (GI on Aug. 7) and the Forego (GI on Sept. 3) at Saratoga and then bring him back here in the fall for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.”

On winning both stakes on the card:

“It’s always fun to win two stakes in one day.”

Valorie Lund, trainer of Atta Boy Roy (runner-up)

“He ran really well.  If we didn’t have to hook that other horse the result might have been different, but somebody’s got to go after Cash Refund.  You can’t leave him alone on the lead.” 

Q: Are you thinking fall and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint again with this horse?

“That’s what I’m thinking.  We’ll have to take it step-by-step, but that would be what I’m thinking because I think he’s every bit as good this year as last.  We’ll just go on through the season and battle through the summer.”

Q: What were you thinking at the head of the stretch?

“I thought he might hold him (Noble’s Promise) off.  I could see that horse coming and I’m thinking, ‘We’ve already done an awful lot of work up here.’  He almost held on.  Jesus said he was so incredibly game and a classy horse – and, of course, I like to hear that.”

Q: But you knew that …

“Oh yes, I knew it.  But I still like to hear it.  I’m like a proud mother.”

Q: Will he stay here or will you ship back to Canterbury?

“We’ll go back to Canterbury and train over that surface.  It’s a real kind surface, plus he swims.  So they’ve got a pool there.  They’ve got a kind surface and I like it – it’s nice and deep, so he gets a lot out of it.  It’s a great surface to train on, so I’ll train him there and ship.”

Jesus Castanon, jockey on Atta Boy Roy (runner-up)

“He ran big and he gave a good kick.  He was doing it easy and when I got to the quarter-pole I let him pick it up and he really gave me a nice kick, but we just got beat.   When the other horse (winner Noble’s Promise) came to me with about 70 yards to go, my horse was trying so hard to keep up with that one.”

Ian Wilkes, trainer of Capt. Candyman Can (third)

“He ran good.  He broke a little bad today.  He stood in the gate a long time.  You can’t break that bad.  You have to be able to jump and run.”

Q: You had a little hope at the head of the stretch …

“He used himself to get into position.  He ran good.  You can’t complain.  He brings his ‘A’ game.”

Calvin Borel, jockey on Capt. Candyman Can (third)

“He didn’t break that good and I was kind of disgusted with that, but he showed up and he tries hard.  I thought I might get ‘em at the head of the stretch, but he kind of faltered there.  But he tried.  These are good horses.”

Mike Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge’s homebred Shackleford returned to Churchill Downs just before 10:30 (Eastern) Sunday morning after returning from Baltimore and his half-length triumph in Saturday’s $1 million Preakness (Grade I), the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

            Returning with Shackleford to trainer Dale Romans’ Barn 4 was Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’Prado, who won Pimlico’s Dixie Handicap (GII) in the race preceding the Preakness.

            “It was awesome. He ran a heck of a race,” Romans said by telephone from Baltimore.  The Louisville-born trainer, who earned his first Triple Crown victory, will spend the next three days in Maryland at the Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training sale at Timonium and will be back in Louisville on Wednesday afternoon.

            “A lot of the people in the barn watched it (the Preakness) back here,” said Baldemar Bahena, Romans’ Churchill Downs assistant. “I was watching it over on the other side because we had had a horse in the 10^th race.”

            Shackleford was ridden by Jesus Castanon, who picked up his first Triple Crown victory and also the first for his agent, Dennis Cooper.

            “These three races are a lot different from the Dubai World Cup or even the Breeders’ Cup,” said Cooper, a jock’s agent for the past 25 years. “Those races are nice, but these races are the ones people talk about.”

            Cooper, who took out his trainer’s license in 1966 and trained for 19 years, had Mark Guidry’s book for 14 years, Rene Douglas for seven years and Shaun Bridgmohan for two years before hooking up with Castanon in September 2009.

            This winter at Gulfstream Park, Castanon and Shackleford hooked up for the first time and the result was a 2 ¼-length allowance victory and a partnership was formed.

“We got on him in Florida and they just clicked,” Cooper said. “Jesus has a lot of confidence in him.”

            In the Preakness, Shackleford stalked the pace set by Flashpoint before moving to the lead at the head of the lane.

            “When I saw him look to his right at the head of the stretch and he hadn’t pushed the button yet, I knew he had a lot of horse left,” Cooper said. “He was not worried at all about the horse on his left (Flashpoint). He knew he had him. There was only one horse (Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom) coming and Jesus said that as soon as Shackleford saw him, he was not going to let him by.”

READY’S ROCKET DOING WELL AFTER RECORD RUN – Veteran starter allowance star Ready’s Rocket entered the Churchill Downs record book on Saturday when he when he persevered at the end of a long stretch drive won the second race by a neck.

            It was the ninth victory in 23 starts on the main track beneath the Twin Spires for the 8-year-old son of More Than Ready.  The victory made Ready’s Rocket the first horse to win nine races at Churchill Downs since 1991, which is the first year detailed information was gathered by Equibase.      

            Trainer and co-owner Tim Glyshaw was happy with the way his gutsy gelding came out of the race.        “He’s not sore at all or anything,” Glyshaw said. “He came out of it really well.”

            Ready’s Rocket is likely to make another start during the Churchill Downs Spring Meet in June.

            “Nothing definite is picked out for him yet,” Glyshaw said. “We’ll take a look at the condition book and find something.”

Eight-time winners at Churchill Downs since 1991 and the years they raced here are Athenium (1991-94), two-time Aristides (GIII) winner Bet On Sunshine (1995-2002), Canela (2005-10), Crown Lease (1991-95), Lord Rusty (1993-2000) and Maxxed (1995-98). 

            It is possible that prior to 1991 when detailed records were not maintained that other horses could have reached or exceeded that plateau. One such example is Herreno, who was trained by Phil Thomas. Herreno won nine races from 40 starts from 1982-85 at Churchill Downs at distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile and eighth.

 

MUSKETIER ASSIGNED TOP WEIGHT FOR LOUISVILLE HANDICAP – Multiple graded stakes-winning 9-year-old Musketier (GER) has been assigned the high weight of 122 pounds by racing secretary Ben Huffman for Saturday’s 74^th running of the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII). Owned by Stella Perdomo and trained by Roger Attfield, Musketier was victorious in the Elkhorn (GII) at the Louisville Handicap distance of 1 ½ miles in his most recent start.

The next high weights are Will Farish Jr.’s Pool Play (119) and Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Grassy (118).

Weighted at 117 pounds and a probable starter in the race is Keertana, third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) over the Matt Winn Turf Course last fall and winner of the Bewitch (GIII) at Keeneland in her most recent start. Owned and bred by Barbara Hunter, the 5-year-old daughter of Johar has compiled a record of 25-10-5-6 with earnings of $914,371.  

Others considered probable by Churchill Downs officials and their weights are Bearpath (116), Memorial Maniac (116), Dark Cove (114) and defending Louisville Handicap winner Free Fighter (113). Grade I winner Stately Victor is a possible starter for the race. 

Entries for the Louisville Handicap will be taken Wednesday.

WINNING COLORS FIELD COMING TOGETHER – The field for the eighth running of the $100,000-added Winning Colors (GIII) is beginning to take shape. The six-furlong event for fillies and mares will be contested over the main track on Memorial Day, May 30.

Considered as probable starters by Churchill Downs officials and their trainers are Beat the Blues (Bret Calhoun), Indian Ink (Mike Rone), Jocata (Cecil Borel), My New Lady (Robert Hackworth Jr.), Stephanie Got Even (Marty Wolfson) and Wind Caper (Ronan Cunningham). Listed as possible for the race are Bell’s Shoes (Jinks Fires) and Fortune Play (John Booker Jr.). 

Dubai Majesty won the Winning Colors last year and then returned to Churchill Downs in November to win the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI).

BARN TALK – Jockey Fabio Arguello Jr. captured his 236^th Churchill Downs victory in the 11^th race on Saturday aboard 44-1 longshot Bk’s Clearanceisle. The win gave Arguello, who is ranked 23^rd in career Churchill Downs wins, his first victory under the Twin Spires since crossing the wire first aboard Senorita’s Secrets on Nov. 18, 2009.  Arguello’s biggest victory at Churchill Downs came aboard Philip Maas’ Luv Me Luv Me Not in the 1992 Kentucky Oaks. …

Double R Stable’s Deborah’s Moment, a half-sister to last week’s impressive 2-year old debut winner Sum of the Parts, broke her maiden in the opener at Churchill Downs on Saturday afternoon. Trained by Dallas Stewart, the 3-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid was guided to victory by Brian Hernandez Jr.  

 

WORK TAB – Wertheimer and Frere’s Exhi, winner of the Ben Ali (GIII) at Keeneland last month in his 2011 debut, worked a half-mile early Sunday morning over a track labeled as “good” in :48.20 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu took the lead out of the gate and was never headed to win the 20th running of the $205,625 Firecracker Handicap (Grade II) by 1 ½ lengths over Public Speaker on Sunday to close out the 42-day Spring Meet at Churchill Downs and ruin the return of 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird who finished eighth in his turf debut.

Trained by Greg Fox and ridden by Jesus Castanon, Tizdejavu ran the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:35.98, the fastest time of the meet at the distance. It was Tizdejavu’s fifth victory in six starts over the Matt Winn Turf Course with the only setback coming in a fifth-place finish in last year’s Firecracker.

Tizdejavu, now three-for-three in 2010, opened a daylight advantage the first time past the wire and led the field through uncontested fractions of :23.20, :45.94 and 1:09.73. At the head of the stretch, Tizdejavu kicked clear by 2 ½ lengths and was three lengths on top at the eighth pole and had more than enough left in the tank to hold off Public Speaker.

The victory was worth $116,016 and increased Tizdejavu’s earnings to $693,153 with a record of 16-8-3-2. The Firecracker was the fourth stakes victory at Churchill Downs for Tizdejavu, who won the American Turf (GIII) and Jefferson Cup (GII) in 2008 and took the Opening Verse earlier this meet.

Tizdejavu is a 5-year-old homebred son of Tiznow out of the Dixie Brass mare Remember When.

Mine That Bird became the first Kentucky Derby winner to return to race at Churchill Downs since 2005 Derby victor Giacomo finished fourth in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). Mine That Bird, ridden by Calvin Borel and carrying top weight of 122 pounds, trailed the field of 14 through the first half-mile and had only one horse beat turning for home before passing four rivals in the stretch to finish less than eight lengths behind Tizdejavu.

Tizdejavu, carrying second high weight of 119 pounds, returned $10.20, $5 and $3.60 as the second choice. Public Speaker, ridden by Robby Albarado, paid $4.60 and $3.80 and finished a nose in front of Inca King, who paid $4.20 to show under Victor Lebron.

Veiled Prophet finished fourth another 1 ¼ lengths back and was followed in order by Unbridle’s Dream, Skipadate, Wise River, Mine That Bird, Pop Tarrt, Attempted Humor, Driving Snow (GB), Baryshnikov, Euroears and Orthodox.

Borel, who rode three winners on closing day, won his first Spring Meet riding title with 52 victories with Corey Lanerie a distant second with 39 triumphs. Steve Asmussen took leading trainer honors by a 24-19 margin over Dale Romans and Maggi Moss won the leading owner title by sending out nine winners this meet, two more than Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

Racing returns to Churchill Downs on Sunday, Oct. 31 for a 20-day Fall Meet that will be highlighted by the returning of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to the track on Nov. 5 and 6. Simulcast wagering at Churchill Downs will continue through Monday and shift to Trackside Louisville at 4520 Poplar Level Road starting Wednesday, July 7 through Wednesday, Aug. 4 so track officials can prepare the 147-acre facility for the inaugural HullabaLOU Music Festival on July 23-25.

FIRECRACKER HANDICAP QUOTES

JESUS CASTANON (jockey, TIZDEJAVU, winner): “I made him run his own race. I knew there was going to be a lot of pace at the beginning. He was running the race pretty easily. When I asked him to pick it up he just drew away. I knew my horse has a lot of speed so I let him break and tried to get the lead and be clear through the first turn. He’s a very nice horse. I knew through the first turn I was in great shape. He really improves every time he comes to the races; he really has improved a lot. This time he just felt a 110 percent better than last time. Against this type of horses and with his speed he really gives me his best and I know he has plenty still left.”

GREG FOX (trainer, TIZDEJAVU, winner): “This race has been our goal, I mean hypothetically. We ended his season last year on a down note, but the beautiful thing is this is a very, very special horse. Giving him a break, and bringing him back steadily, you saw what he did today. He really threw the gauntlet down on a good group of horses. He’s won from the front on the hedge on (Kentucky) Oaks Day, and the Jefferson Cup. He loves this track and he loves the turns. Every horsemen’s dream (is to go to the Breeders’ Cup). This was a key race for the (Breeders’ Cup) Mile race. We had a great post position. Some of the other speed horses seemed hurt by the big field. (Jockey) Jesus (Castanon) is an incredibly astute rider and took advantage of our post position and of course the horse did the rest. I don’t think we are going to put him on the road this summer.”

ROBBY ALBARADO (jockey, PUBLIC SPEAKER, second): “I had a great trip. Just a nice horse beat me today. He ran hard.”

CALVIN BOREL (jockey, MINE THAT BIRD, eighth): “He was struggling so much. He kept moving back and forth, back and forth, switching leads. We will see a different horse after this, a totally different horse. He came back real good, jogging good. He was perfect, the horse is doing good. I’m telling you get him on the dirt and you’ll see a different horse.” 

D. WAYNE LUKAS (trainer, MINE THAT BIRD, eighth): “His first start back wasn’t a successful one, but I thought he would handle the turf a lot better than what he did. He didn’t handle it that well. I thought the first time by the grandstand he was climbing a little bit, and to have him back that far back … He was training too forwardly to have him that far back, but he finished up and got a little more comfortable the last three-eighths. I think it put us in a position to do something better. I was hoping to have a little better result for the owners, but I’m not discouraged that I can get him where I want him. I don’t think we are going to the Arlington Million. The Whitney (Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 7) is our goal. If we could have gotten that allowance race to go, I think it would have been a different story. I didn’t want to ship and we took a shot. It is what it is. I feel very comfortable in the mornings with what I see and we’ll show up in the Whitney.”

Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma outlasted You Go West Girl by a head to win the 36th running of the $111,700 Cardinal Handicap (Grade III) for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs.

    Ridden for the first time by Jesus Castanon, Acoma surged past Lemon Chiffon just inside the eighth pole and then repulsed the bid from You Go West Girl to remain perfect at Churchill Downs.

    A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Empire Maker, Acoma has won all five of her starts beneath the Twin Spires with three of the victories coming over the turf in graded stakes and two on the main track.
    
    Zaskar (GB) and Leamington led the field through fractions of :24.11, :48.55 and 1:13.42 over a “firm” Matt Winn Turf Course. Castanon had Acoma racing in mid pack in the run down the backstretch.

    On the far turn, Lemon Chiffon rocketed past the leaders with Acoma following a length behind. Meanwhile, You Go West Girl began to move on the inside and quickly joined Acoma at the front, but could not go by.

Trained by David Carroll, Acoma covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.02. The victory was worth $66,484 and increased Acoma’s earnings to $665,999 with an overall record of 14-8-1-2.

    Acoma rewarded her backers with payoffs of $9.40, $5 and $3.40. You Go West Girl, ridden by Jose Lezcano, returned $5.40 and $3.80 in finishing 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Lemon Chiffon, who paid $3.20 to show under Jon Court in the field of nine.

    In the $58,400 Bet On Sunshine, an overnight stakes for sprinters, favored Custom for Carlos romped to a 3 ¾-length victory over Accredit.

 Ridden by Jose Lezcano for trainer Eddie Kenneally, Custom for Carlos covered the six furlongs in 1:09.71 over a fast track and returned mutuels of $3.40, $2.60 and $2.40. Accredit, ridden by Miguel Mena, paid $4.80 and $3.60 with Golden Country finishing another half-length back in third under Freddie Lenclud and paying $5.80 to show.

 Custom for Carlos, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of More Than Ready, is owned by Homewrecker Racing and Avalon Farms. The $37,040 winner’s check increased Custom for Carlos’ earnings to $290,630 for his fourth victory in 10 starts.

Racing continues Sunday as the 21-day Fall Meet enters its final week with a 10-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m. ET. There’s a four-day Pick 6 carryover of $21,378.88 on Races 5-10 and a $9,848.08 Super Hi-5 carryover for the finale.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE CARDINAL HANDICAP

JESUS CASTANON, jockey of ACOMA, winner: “She is really just a nice filly. I want to thank the owners (Helen C. Alexander and Helen K. Groves) and the trainer (David Carroll) for putting me up on this one and giving me a shot today. I had a heck of a good trip around today. I waited as long as I could before I made a move toward home. When I finally moved for home, she really had a great turn of foot. When we went around the turn for the first time she was in the bridle, but when we were on the backside she really began to settle in nicely and relax. She really just seems to love it here.”

DAVID CARROLL, trainer of ACOMA, winner: “Home sweet home. She loves it here, obviously (5-for-5). She’d been training beautifully. Normally I’d go into this race with tremendous confidence but she came off a poor race and I was little bit more subdued. When she walked into the paddock today . . . she’s just a beautiful filly. When I saw her warm up she was on her toes. I just told Jesus (Castanon) to ride her with confidence because she’s let you know when she’s there. Down the backside he had a lot of horse. We were a bit wide and I was afraid that we didn’t get enough out of that last race condition-wise. Tom (Proctor)’s filly (You Go West Girl) ran huge, who was a very fit and in form filly.”
    Q: What’s next? “That’s it for this year. We’ll shut her down and get ready for next year. We needed to see that race from her and why not? The Breeders’ Cup is here next year.”
    Q: Is this relief or excitement? “It’s more relief. You take pride in knowing your horses. All the signs were that she was going to run big. But that also was the way she went into Keeneland and she never showed up at Keeneland for whatever reason. Maybe it was the soft turf? Regardless, she was never at the races. When she walked into the paddock how could you not have confidence? She was the pick of the paddock. I’m so proud to have her and she looked fantastic. She popped out of the gate and got good position but was a little wide down the backside. But he had a lot of horse and that’s all I really wanted. I wanted her to indicate that she wanted to run. She was very wide but she was game. She got nothing out of her last race. We had to run. I felt great win or lose. She was back. The win was the cherry on top. I can’t say enough about Miss Helen (Alexander) and her mother. They are unbelievable people to train for. This is a filly with a great pedigree and we look forward to a big year next year.”

TOM PROCTOR, trainer of YOU GO WEST GIRL (runner-up): “She got in a little trouble turning for home.  She runs hard all the time and, actually, I thought the winner won a little easier than it looked. I think she had me measured.”
Q: But you’re pretty happy with her effort? “Yeah, I’d liked to have seen her have a little better trip.”
Q: Will she come back next year? “Oh, yeah.”

JOSE LEZCANO, rider on YOU GO WEST GIRL (runner-up): “At the eighth pole, she was running between horses and she ran hard, but she just couldn’t hold off the winner.  She ran hard and fought in the run to wire.”

JON COURT, rider on LEMON CHIFFON (third): “She ran good – I just couldn’t believe they went by her that way down the stretch.  I had a bridle-full of horse turning for home and she kicked away from the field.  They were dogging me the whole way and then the one (You Go West Girl) and the three (Acoma) kicked away.  She had plenty of kick down the lane – she just couldn’t out-kick the three and the one.  They kicked-on by themselves.”

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Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma, a two-time graded-stakes winner over the Matt Winn Turf Course and unbeaten in four races on turf and dirt at Churchill Downs, will concede 2-6 pounds to eight rivals in Saturday’s 36th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (Grade III) for fillies and mares.

The Cardinal, run at 1 1/8 miles on the grass, will be the ninth race on Saturday’s 10-race card with an approximate post time of 4:37 p.m. (all times EST). First post time Saturday is 12:40 p.m.

Trained by David Carroll, Acoma will carry top weight of 121 pounds and be ridden by Jesus Castanon. She is unbeaten in two races over the Churchill Downs turf after closing out her 3-year-old campaign with a victory in the Mrs. Revere (GII) and this spring won the Mint Julep Handicap (GIII). The regally bred daughter of Empire Maker also owns a pair of dirt wins at Churchill Downs that include the 2008 Dogwood Stakes (GIII). Acoma will break from post position three on Saturday.

Sharing second high weight of 119 pounds are Brian Kahn and the Richard O’Neill Trust’s Tizfiz, Hickory Tree Stable’s Leamington and Ron Beegle’s Lemon Chiffon.

Tizfiz, who ran sixth in her most recent start against males over Polytrack in the Fayette (GIII) at Keeneland on Oct. 31, will break from post position two under E.T. Baird. Leamington, fifth in the Grade I Flower Bowl in her most recent start, and Lemon Chiffon, fourth in the Grade I Yellow Ribbon last out, will start from posts eight and nine under Calvin Borel and Jon Court, respectively.

    Augustin Stable’s Long Approach, runner-up to Indescribable in last year’s renewal of the Cardinal, returns Saturday in her first start since April. Kent Desormeaux will ride Long Approach, who will carry 116 pounds and break from post position five.

    The field for the Cardinal, from the hedge out, is as follows: You Go West Girl (J. Lezcano, 117 pounds), Tizfiz (E. Baird, 119), Acoma (J. Castanon, 121), Zaskar (GB) (S. Bridgmohan, 115), Long Approach (K. Desormeaux, 116), Social Queen (M. Mena, 118), My Baby Baby (R. Albarado, 116), Leamington (C. Borel, 119) and Lemon Chiffon (J. Court, 119).

The Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation rallied from far off the pace to score a 1 ½-length victory over Glamour Guy to win the 17th running of the $111,000 Ack Ack Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.
    
Ridden by Jesus Castanon for trainer Paul McGee, Demarcation ran in seventh place in the eight-horse field in the run down the backside as Spotsgone and favored Riley Tucker battled it out on the front end through fractions of :22.71 and :45.79.

Castanon had Demarcation on the move approaching the far turn and was in fifth place at the top of the stretch as the two early leaders were joined across the track by Greeley’s Conquest and Glamour Guy. Inside the eighth pole, Demarcation split Greeley’s Conquest and Spotsgone and spurted clear to his first victory since dead-heating in last year’s River City Handicap (GIII) on the Matt Winn Turf Course with Castanon aboard.

    Demarcation, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Gulch, covered the mile on a “fast” main track in 1:36.15.

    The victory, the seventh in 26 starts, was worth $66,756 and increased Demarcation’s earnings to $357,645.

    Demarcation returned $23.40, $10.40 and $6.20. Glamour Guy, ridden by Leandro Goncalves, paid $20 and $10.40 with Spotsgone, ridden by Jon Court, finishing a half-length back in third and paying $7.80 to show. Riley Tucker finished fourth another 1 ¾ lengths back.

    Racing resumes Saturday with a 10-day race program highlighted by the $150,000-added Chilukki (GII) that goes as the ninth race on the card that begins at 12:40 p.m. (all times EST). Also on the program will be the simulcast of the second day of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Santa Anita. The first of eight Breeders’ Cup races begins at 1:45 p.m. and concludes with the $5 million Classic with a 6:45 p.m. post time.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE ACK ACK

PAUL J. McGEE, trainer of DEMARCATION, winner: “That was good. You know, he’s won on everything. He’s won on dirt, he’s won on Poly (Polytrack) and he’s won on the grass. I’d say he’s very versatile. I entered him in a money-allowance race at seven furlongs at Keeneland that didn’t fill but I’ve been looking to switch it up with him a little bit. This worked out good.”

JESUS CASTANON, jockey of DEMARCATION, winner: “I’ve always liked this horse ever since I started riding him. He broke good enough and they got away from us at the beginning. When we got to the half-mile pole, I knew he was going to get in the bridle and we’d have a big shot to get ‘em down the lane. This guy, he does it all. He always gives one hundred percent, no matter what kind of track he runs on.”

LEANDRO GONCALVES, rider of GLAMOUR GUY (runner-up): “He ran big – he was just second-best today.  He started great and (trainer) Ralph (Nicks) told me just to be patient going around and he would finish good.  I wish I’d known the horse.  This was the first time I’d ridden him and I think I should have just waited a little bit more.”

RALPH NICKS, trainer of GLAMOUR GUY (runner-up): “He ran well.  I took his blinkers off and I’ve been trying to get somebody to take him back all year since his claiming win at the Fair Grounds.  All he did in that one was run the last quarter and he sprinted real fast that day.  But he wants to show a little speed and I can’t get it across to our pilots that we have reins for a reason.  Even Leandro said today, ‘If I’d kept him back there, he wins’ – and I felt the same way.  He let him make a half-mile run today.  He just needs somebody to be a driver instead of a passenger.”
Q: He’ll probably run next at Fair Grounds? “He’ll run back at Fair Grounds.  If there was anything here, it would be too quick.  So it’ll be probably December or January before he runs again.”

JON COURT, rider of SPOTSGONE (third): “He ran real good.  He’s freshened up and he put on a valiant fight to the end.   He was just third-best today.”

AARON GRYDER, rider of RILEY TUCKER (fourth as the 6-5 favorite): “He traveled nice.  He got a little pressure, but he was underneath me and feeling good.  He was going good, but down the lane they were able to out-foot him.  Obviously he’s run against better company and today he probably didn’t show his ‘A’ race, but he felt great.”

SCOTT BLASI, assistant to Steve Asmussen, trainer of RILEY TUCKER (fourth as the 6-5 favorite): “He was probably a little flat.  He’s done a lot of traveling this year.  This was definitely not his best effort, although I’m not taking anything away from the winner.  He’s going to be an awesome horse down at the Fair Grounds this year.  We’ll get him freshened up.”

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Distinctive Dixie, ridden by Jesus Castanon, didn’t disappoint as the odds-on 3-5 favorite in Friday’s $51,840 allowance feature at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old filly trained by Wally Dollase led every step of the way and turned back a late charge from Ms. Margaret H. to win the one-mile test for fillies and mares by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:35.75.

         
A Kentucky-bred daughter of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, Distinctive Dixie paid $3.40, $2.20 and $2.10. Ms. Margaret H. paid $2.60 and $2.20. Nursery Rhyme finished third, another 4 ¼ lengths behind the runner-up, and returned $2.40. Extra Innings and Wisconsin Girl completed the order of finish. Quick Notice and She’s Due were late scratches.

 Distinctive Dixie clicked off fractions of :23.26 for the first quarter-mile, :46.52 for the half and 1:10.84 for six furlongs. She repulsed a bid by Nursery Rhyme at the head of the stretch and then drew clear to hold off Ms. Margaret H., who rallied from last in the field of five.

Distinctive Dixie won for the third time in 10 starts and earned $32,105 to pad her bankroll to $151,455 for the Robert B. and Beverly J. Lewis Trust.

Earlier on the 10-race program, 22-year-old jockey Miguel Mena won four races: the first race aboard Star Over Malibu ($5.20), the third on Stormin Yank ($6.20), the sixth with Final Copy ($3.60) and the seventh aboard Escrow ($3.80).

Live racing at Churchill Downs continues Saturday with an 11-race program, topped by the eighth running of the $100,000-added Matt Winn for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs. Also, Churchill Downs will simulcast the $1.1 million Preakness Stakes – an unprecedented Preakness showdown between Kentucky Derby champ Mine That Bird and Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra – from Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course immediately after the final live race at approximately 6:15 p.m. ET.

Preakness odds as of 6 p.m. ET on Friday (from the rail out): Big Drama, 10-1; Mine That Bird, 7-1; Musket Man, 17-1; Luv Gov, 25-1; Friesan Fire, 9-1; Terrain, 24-1; Papa Clem, 14-1; General Quarters, 17-1; Pioneerof the Nile, 7-1; Flying Private, 25-1; Take the Points, 14-1; Tone It Down, 19-1; and Rachel Alexandra, 3-2.

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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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(November 19, 2008) – Zayat Stables’ Thorn Song will face 10 rivals Saturday as he shoots for consecutive victories in the $100,000-added River City Handicap (Grade III) to be run at a mile and one-eighth over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            Trained by Dale Romans, Thorn Song will have to overcome the outside No. 11 post position if he is to join Same Old Wish (1996-97) and Dr. Kashnikow (2001-02) as a repeat winner of the River City. Thorn Song will be ridden by Robby Albarado and carry high weight of 122 pounds, conceding three-to-nine pounds to his rivals.

            Winner of the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland in October as well as the Grade II Firecracker Handicap over the Matt Winn Turf Course in July, Thorn Song enters the River City off a ninth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) at Santa Anita.

            Two other River City starters have stakes victories in 2008, although none is of the graded variety.

            Oxbow Racing’s Steve Double, trained by Ronny Werner, has won the Remington Green at Remington Park and the Unbridled Handicap at Louisiana Downs in his two most recent starts and ran third to Thorn Song in the Firecracker. Steve’s Double will be ridden by Jamie Theriot and carry 117 pounds.

            Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation took the Franklin-Simpson at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 15 for trainer Paul McGee. Jesus Castanon will ride Demarcation, who carries 117 pounds.

The field for the 32nd running of the River City (Race 9 at approximately 4:37 p.m. ET), from the hedge out: Yate’s Black Cat (Miguel Mena, 119 pounds), Mr. Sidney (John Velazquez, 113), Star Plus (ARG) (Kent Desormeaux, 116), Pleasant Strike (Chris DeCarlo, 115), Karelian (Calvin Borel, 119), Just As Well (E.T. Baird, 113), Telling (Shaun Bridgmohan, 117), Demarcation (Jesus Castanon, 117), Canela (Julien Leparoux, 115), Steve’s Double (Jamie Theriot, 117) and Thorn Song (Robby Albarado, 122).

Also on Saturday’s card will be the $56,000-added Bet On Sunshine (Race 8 at approximately 4:06 p.m. ET), an overnight handicap at six furlongs on the main track that drew a field of eight sprinters.

High weights Kelly’s Landing (123 pounds under Julien Leparoux) and the undefeated Euroears (120 pounds with Miguel Mena up), will start side by side, breaking from post positions two and three, respectively.

Kelly’s Landing, owned by Summerplace Farm, won the 2005 Aristides (GIII) here and also took the 2007 Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI). He returned to the races on Oct. 17 after a 4 ½-month layoff to win a six-furlong allowance sprint at Keeneland in his most recent start for trainer Eddie Kenneally.

Euroears, owned by Marilyn and James Helzer, has won all six of his career starts for trainer Bret Calhoun. Euroears, who suffered a non-displaced condylar fracture of his right hind leg in late March, has not raced since winning the Duncan Kenner Stakes on March 8 at Fair Grounds.

The field for the Bet On Sunshine, from the rail out: Native Ruler (Jamie Theriot, 116 pounds), Kelly’s Landing (Julien Leparoux, 123), Euroears (Miguel Mena, 120), Godolphin Gray (Aldo Canchano, 110), Success Success (Jesus Castanon, 116), Junior College (Hector Rosario Jr., 117), High Expectations (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118) and Vicarian (Calvin Borel, 116).

First post for Saturday’s 10-race card is 12:40 p.m. ET. The first 5,000 paid and pre-paid admissions will receive a free collectable hurricane glass, courtesy of Kentucky Derby Party, that salutes Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Also, Churchill Downs will offer free general admission Nov. 21-23 to all patrons who donate two non-perishable canned goods at Gates 10 and 17 in conjunction with the Kentucky Harvest Thanksgiving Food Drive, sponsored by Forcht Bank.

Grandstand gates open Saturday at 11 a.m.

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(June 7, 2008) – My Purple Haze Stables’ Fujita drew off in deep stretch to defeat Stryker and Parioli’s Trick, who dead-heated for second, by two lengths and win the $45,200 allowance feature for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Jesus Castanon, Fujita grabbed the lead from Stryker leaving the far turn and then shook off a challenge from Parioli’s Trick at the eighth pole to win comfortably.

As the even-money favorite, Fujita returned mutuels of $4.20, $2.60 and $2.20. Stryker, ridden by Calvin Borel, rewarded his backers with payoffs of $2.60 and $2.80. Parioli’s Trick, ridden by Jamie Theriot, returned $5.80 and $5.80 in the field of seven.

Fujita, a 3-year-old Maryland-bred son on Lion Hearted, covered the 6 ½ furlongs over a fast track in 1:15.58. The victory, the third in four career starts for the Todd Pletcher trainee, was worth $21,328 and increased his career earnings to $81,297. Fujita’s lone loss was a third-place finish behind Macho Again in the April 26 Derby Trial.

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