Al Stall Jr.

FAWKES EXPECTS DUKE OF MISCHIEF BE TROUBLE FOR FOSTER OPPONENTS - A start in Saturday’s Grade I Stephen Foster Presented by Abu Dhabi was not the original plan for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, Marilyn McMaster and Fawkes Racing, Inc.’s Duke of Mischief, but everything changed following a sharp work at Calder Race Course on June 4.

“The race on our radar was the Cornhusker (Grade III at Prairie Meadows on June 25),” trainer David Fawkes said. “He’s been training extra good though and so we decided to bring him here. The work on June 4 (five furlongs at Calder) was great. He went :59.60 and galloped out in about 1:12. You don’t go 1:12 at Calder unless you can really, really run. If they work good over that track then they usually run good (in the afternoon).”

Duke of Mischief, a 5-year-old son of Graeme Hall, will enter the Stephen Foster off a 2 ¼-length win in the Grade III, $1 million Charles Town Classic on April 16.  Fawkes’ veteran defeated a strong field that included runner-up Game on Dude, who would return to finish third in the Lone Star Park Handicap (GIII), and third-place Tizway, who came back to win the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park in his next start.

"I think everyone thought they were going to get an easy field (in the Charles Town Classic), but that’s not what happened,” Fawkes said. “I think every horse in that race was a graded stakes winner. It was a very tough race.”

Duke of Mischief arrived at Churchill Downs on Tuesday afternoon and the Stephen Foster will be his third start over the Louisville track. He was previously eighth in last year’s running of the Stephen Foster won by Blame and was fifth in the Clark Handicap (GI) won by Foster rival Giant Oak.

“He’s doing really well and hopefully he has more success here this time than he’s had in the past,” Fawkes said.

The Stephen Foster field (with jockey, weight and morning line odds) from the rail out includes: Flat Out (Corey Lanerie, 114, 30-1), Crown of Thorns (Tyler Baze, 121, 4-1), Apart (Julien Leparoux, 118, 5-1), Worldly (Manoel Cruz, 113, 30-1), El Caballo (James Graham, 115, 15-1), Regal Ransom (Alan Garcia, 117, 6-1), Equestrio (Jose Lezcano, 116, 12-1), Pool Play (Miguel Mena, 116, 20-1), Duke of Mischief (Joe Bravo, 118, 6-1), Giant Oak (Shaun Bridgmohan, 122, 7-2) and Mission Impazible (Javier Castellano, 118, 9-2).

AFTER BLAME’S FOSTER, THIS YEAR’S MODEL IS DIFFERENT FOR STALL – After winning last year’s $500,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap with Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame, trainer Al Stall Jr. is back with Dilschneider’s Apart to bid for a second straight triumph in the race.

The two horses have many similarities: both carry Dilschneider’s gray silks with blue cross sashes, both horses came into the Foster off prep wins in the William Donald Schaefer Handicap (GIII) at Pimlico, each earned stakes wins at Churchill Downs the previous fall (Blame in the then Grade II Clark Handicap, Apart in the Grade III Ack Ack), both came into their respective Fosters as 4-year-olds and both are homebred sons of Claiborne stallions (Blame is by Arch, while Flatter is the sire of Apart).

But several things need to occur before a comparison between Blame and Apart can be taken any further.  Blame scored a dazzling victory in Foster that established Stall’s colt as one of the top older horses in America, a status that was validated in the fall when he outlasted Horse of the Year Zenyatta in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) over the same track to earn the Eclipse Award for America’s top older horse.

Apart, on the other hand, enters the Foster as a colt with a solid resume highlighted by a Grade II win in the Super Derby and a pair of Grade III victories.  But Stall’s 2010 Stephen Foster with Blame was a race of fulfilled expectations, while this year’s run by Apart can be more accurately described as a race of opportunity.

“I’m way more relaxed (than last year),” Stall said Friday as he watched Apart stand in a backstretch starting gate at Churchill Downs.  “It’s been like that every time we’ve run him this year.  It’s been very comfortable.  We just get him in a race, get him over there and run and see what happens.  With Blame we were all nervous all the time, thinking of what would be.”

Apart’s victory in the Schaefer snapped a four-race losing streak that began last year at Churchill Downs  in an eighth-place behind Giant Oak in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI), a roughly run race after which he was elevated to seventh by stewards because of the action within that 11-horse field.  All of Apart’s races this year have been good, including three outings at New Orleans’ Fair Grounds: runner-up finishes in the New Orleans (GII) and Louisiana Handicaps and a third in the Mineshaft Handicap (GIII).

While that record is well short of perfect, Stall believes Apart is a better horse than he was last fall, but the Foster will go a long way toward answering the question of just where the bay colt fits in this year’s wide-open division of American older horses.

“There’s no question he’s a better horse (than last year),” Stall said.  “His pedigree says he’ll get better with age.  It’s nothing we’re doing.  We’re just throwing oats at him and letting him develop on his own.  We’re spacing his races and trying to keep him going forward.

“This race will dictate where he goes: high road, low road or middle road.  He’s a race-to-race horse.  We have no plan for him.  He’s just got to earn his way to wherever he goes next.”

One encouraging fact for Stall is Apart’s record at Churchill Downs, where he is 2-1-0 in five races that include his Ack Ack win.  His lone poor outing at the track was last fall’s Clark, but Stall said the colt had an excuse that day – one he attributes to trainer error.

“He was sick,” Stall said.  “He’s legit – he just doesn’t throw a clunker for no reason.  He had been sick a little bit before the race, and we thought after two or three days it had run its course.  … But he survived it.”

Julien Leparoux will ride Apart, who will break from post three in the 11-horse field for the 1 1/8-mile Foster.  The consistent colt’s overall career record stands at 5-3-1 in 12 races with earnings of $640,018.

REGRET A PIVOTAL RACE FOR GAYA – AMOSS’S ‘ZENYATTA’ – When the field of eight 3-year-old fillies breaks from the gate in Saturday’s 42^nd running of the $125,000-added Regret Presented by Etihad Airways (GIII) on the Matt Winn Turf Course, trainer Tom Amoss will focus his gaze on the back of the pack.

Amoss exactly where Harris Thoroughbreds LLC’s Gaya, the filly he is most interested in, will be during that first run down the stretch in the 1 1/8-mile race.

“She is a deep closer,” Amoss said.  “I kiddingly – kiddingly – refer to her as my Zenyatta, because she closes so exceptionally well.  She is so far back she looks hopelessly beat.”

The gray daughter of Quest brings a three-race winning streak into the Regret that includes a maiden win and allowance victory at Fair Grounds, followed by a one-mile allowance win over a yielding course at Indiana Downs on May 21.  The Regret will be Gaya’s stakes debut, although that milestone comes later than Amoss had hoped."

She was entered to run in the stake Derby Weekend here at Churchill (the Edgewood), but she got sick,” Amoss said.  “That was obviously a huge disappointment to us.  But in terms of the Regret, it’s a mile and an eighth and I think that will suit her very well.”

The Regret field is headed by Kathmanblu, a stakes winner on turf and dirt who finished a troubled third to More Than Real in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII) last fall at Churchill Downs.  The field also includes Edgewood winner Diva Ash; Bouquet Booth, a stakes winner on dirt in the Delta Princess (GIII) and Silverbulletday; and Excited and Blushandbashful, the 1-3 finishers in the recent Hilltop Stakes on the turf on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico.

With that group of accomplished rivals awaiting her, the race should tell Amoss much about his filly.

“Tomorrow is going to decide if she’s a legitimate horse or not,” Amoss said.  “At this point we don’t know if she’s a legitimate horse.  Tomorrow’s race has a very good field and we’ll find out if we have just a good allowance horse, or a horse that can maybe be competitive in bigger races throughout the summer.”

Gaya, who will break from post seven under jockey James Graham, has a record of 3-2-0 in six races with earnings of $87,601.

The field for the Regret, from the hedge out (with jockey, weight), includes: Bizzy Caroline (Manoel Cruz, 116), Diva Ash (Robby Albarado, 116), Bouquet Booth (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118), Holidaysatthefarm (Jose Lezcano, 116), Kathmanblu (Julien Leparoux, 122), Excited (Javier Castellano, 116), Gaya (James Graham, 118) and Blushandbashful (Freddie Lenclud, 116).

ARABIAN RACE WILL BE NOTHING NEW FOR RACE-CALLER JOHNSON – To say that Churchill Downs track announcer Mark Johnson has experience calling Arabian races would be an understatement. The 45-year-old native of Lincolnshire, England has definitely called his fair share of Arabians during his years as a track announcer.

“I was the track announcer for all Arabian races in England for about 18 years,” Johnson said. “I was also the Racing Post’s Arabian correspondent for the same length of time.”

Johnson has not called an Arabian race for a couple of years, but will get the opportunity to in Saturday’s Grade I, $50,000-added The President of United Arab Emirates Cup, the first Arabian race in the history Churchill Downs.

“I am immensely excited,” Johnson said. “It will be a great spectacle and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Some people who are more familiar with Thoroughbred racing may overlook The President of United Arab Emirates Cup on a card that features four graded stakes races for Thoroughbreds.  But Johnson says the Arabian race, scheduled as the day’s sixth event, is loaded with quality horses.

"It’s a Grade I race and a couple of the best Arabian horses in the country will be running,” Johnson said. “Dixies Valentine is at the top of the distaff division and Grilla is probably the best long-distance Arabian in America.”

Bill Waldron’s Grilla will be ridden by an Arabian-specialist in Bill Hollick, but Calvin Borel, winner of three runnings of the Kentucky Derby, will take the mount aboard Dixies Valentine. In fact, all horses but Grilla and T M Fred Texas will be ridden by riders in the Churchill Downs jockey colony.

"I’ve ridden a few of them and it’s not completely different,” Borel said. “They’re a little bit smaller and go slower (than Thoroughbreds), but at the end of the day it’s still a horse race.”

Leading rider at the meet Corey Lanerie will be aboard Cre Run Enterprises LLC’s Ovour the Top.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Lanerie said. “I think it’s going to be fun. Maybe I’ll win the second Grade I of my career.”

Lanerie’s first and only Grade I win came aboard Hooh Why in the 2009 Ashland at Keeneland.

The field for The President of United Arab Emirates Cup for Arabians, 4-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles on the main track from the rail out (with jockey, weight): T M Fred Texas (Santos Chavez, 118), Dixies Valentine (Borel, 118), Another Color (Constantino Roman, 123), Ovour the Top (Lanerie, 118), Crownn Royal (Brian Hernandez Jr., 123), Vip (Aldo Canchano, 118), Wodkka (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., 123) and Grilla (Hollick, 123).

DREAM WARRIOR MAKES STAKES DEBUT IN JEFFERSON CUP - Anthony Chok’s Dream Warrior, who will make his stakes debut in Saturday’s $100,000-added Jefferson Cup Presented by Abu Dhabi (GIII), has not always shown the signs of being a stakes-caliber horse.

He was purchased at the 2009 Keeneland September Sale for $1,000, which is the minimum price a horse may be sold for at Keeneland, and finished ninth and seventh in his first two career starts.

Dream Warrior was placed on the turf for his third start and his debut on the new surface was a winning one, drawing away by over four lengths in a maiden special at Calder Race Course last October. He followed that win with a disappointing eighth-place finish in a Calder allowance, but rebounded to take an allowance over Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course on May 20. It was after that race that the Eddie Kenneally barn began to believe that Dream Warrior was a horse with stakes potential.

“He kind of surprised in his last race with how well he ran,” said Brendan Walsh, assistant trainer and exercise rider for Kenneally. “He really ran a nice race. He’s been training great since then and I expect him to run well Saturday.”

Dream Warrior has had two works over the main track at Churchill Downs in preparation for a start in the Jefferson Cup. His most recent work – a half-mile move over a fast track :47.60 on June 10 –  was the fastest four furlong effort of 60 at the distance.

The 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus has a record of 2-0-0 from five starts with earnings of $49,264. Corey Lanerie, the Spring Meet’s leading rider, will be aboard Dream Warrior in the Jefferson Cup.

The field for the Jefferson Cup, from the hedge out (with jockey, weight), includes: Live In Joy (Manoel Cruz, 117), Redboard (Leandro Goncalves, 117), Dream Warrior (Lanerie, 117), Banned (Jose Lezcano, 121), Swagger Jack (James Graham, 117), Perregaux (Robby Albarado, 117), Benergy (Javier Castellano, 117) and Great Mills (Julien Leparoux, 117).

Note: Live in Joy (5^th), Swagger Jack (6^th) and Great Mills (10^th) competed in Wednesday night’s $200,000 Oliver Stakes at Indiana Downs and are unlikely to start Saturday.

ILLINOIS DERBY WINNER EXPECTED TO START IN MATT WINN – Zayat Stables LLC’s Joe Vann, who won the Grade III Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Park prior to finishing fourth in the Peter Pan (GII) at Belmont Park in his most recent start, is expected to run in Saturday’s $125,000 Matt Winn Presented by Emirates Equestrian Federation (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

Although he was entered Wednesday for the Matt Winn, the Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-old son of Silver Deputy was also being considered for the Iowa Derby (GIII) next Saturday at Prairie Meadows.

“As of right now, we are still running (in the Matt Winn),” assistant trainer Michael McCarthy said Friday morning.

Joe Vann shipped in from Belmont last week and had his first work over the Churchill Downs track June 12. He covered five furlongs over a fast track in 1:01.40, which was the eighth fastest of 41 workers at the same distance that morning.

A start with Joe Vann in the Matt Winn (Race 10) would give the Pletcher barn a chance to sweep the late, stakes triple Saturday. Michael Tabor’s Excited will run in the Grade III Regret (Race 11) and Twin Creeks Racing Stable LLC’s Mission Impazible will start in the Grade I Stephen Foster (Race 12).

The Matt Winn field, from the rail out (with jockey, weight), includes: Alstom (Calvin Borel, 116), Infrattini (Corey Lanerie, 116), Wilburn (Mike Smith, 116), Supreme Ruler (Jon Court, 116), Uncle Brent (Manoel Cruz, 120), Chalice (Julien Leparoux, 116), Scotus (Alan Garcia, 116) and Joe Vann (Javier Castellano, 120).

BARN TALK – Nominations for the 110^th running of the Grade III, $100,000-added Bashford Manor for 2-year-olds at six furlongs on the main track at Churchill Downs will close Saturday. The Bashford Manor, which is scheduled to be run Saturday, July 2, was won last year by Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Kantharos under Robby Albarado for trainer Steve Asmussen. …

Nominations for the 21^st running of the Grade II, $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap for 3-year-olds and upward at one mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course will close Saturday. The Firecracker Handicap, which is scheduled to be run on Monday, July 4, was won last year by Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu under Jesus Castanon for trainer Greg Fox. …

Donegal Racing’s O’Prado Again, a 2-year-old son of El Prado-IRE who was purchased for $350,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling sale, will make his first start in Saturday’s seventh race for trainer Dale Romans. Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing named the colt in honor of the recently retired Paddy O’Prado, a Grade I winner with more than $1.7 million in career earnings. …

To Honor and Serve’s 4-year-old half-brother named Dream Steeler will make his debut in Saturday’s eighth race for trainer Mike Maker and owner Twin Creeks Farm. To Honor and Serve, a 3-year-old son of Bernardini, was a multiple Grade II winner at 2-years-old and was on the 2011 Kentucky Derby trail before being sidelined with a strain to the suspensory ligament of his left foreleg. …

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (June 9-16) are Corey Lanerie (8-for-36), Julien Leparoux (7-for-20) and Manoel Cruz (6-for-27). Tom Amoss (4-for-6) and Mike Maker (3-for-8) are the hottest trainers over the same period. The hottest owners are Brereton C. Jones (2-for-2), A.L. Luedtke (2-for-2), Maggi Moss (2-for-2) and Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey (2-for-5).

WORKTAB – Columbine Stable’s J.B.’s Thunder, who won the Grade I Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland before finishing ninth in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs in his most recent start, worked four furlongs in :49.60 on a fast main track beneath the Twin Spires on Friday morning for trainer Al Stall Jr. 

W.S. Farish and Skara Glen Stables’ Close Ally worked four furlongs in :51.60 Friday morning for trainer Neil Howard. Close Ally finished second to Glen Hill Farm’s Banned in the Grade II American Turf Presented by Ram prior to a second place finish to Thirtyfirststreet in the $200,000 Lone Star Derby on May 30.

WEATHER – Friday: partly sunny with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 87. Friday night: mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 72. Saturday: partly sunny with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 89. Sunday: partly sunny and hot with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, 91. Monday: mostly sunny and hot, 95. Tuesday: mostly sunny and hot, 94. Wednesday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 92. Thursday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 88.  

HIGHLY REGARDED BIND OUT OF MATT WINN WITH FRACTURE, PROBABLY OUT FOR YEAR – An injury suffered during a Monday workout has taken Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s highly regarded Bind out of consideration for Saturday’s $125,000-added Matt Winn Presented by Emirates Equestrian Federation (GIII) at Churchill Downs and has probably knocked him out of racing for the year.

Trainer Al Stall Jr. said Bind suffered a condylar fracture in his right front leg during a four-furlong work over Keeneland’s synthetic Polytrack surface that was to have been his final major work prior to his stakes debut in the Matt Winn.  Bind covered the distance in :49.60 under exercise rider Jerry O’Dwyer.

"He worked like a champ,” Stall said.  “He worked like his normal self.  He looked like a gazelle running down the lane, but he didn’t cool out properly and there it was.”

Stall said the injury would require surgery and Bind was transported later in the morning to the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for the procedure.  He said the prognosis for Bind’s fracture is “very good” at this point.

“It’s non-displaced, clean, there’s no trash,” Stall said.  “It’s a kick in the teeth right off the bat on a Monday morning, but that’s just how it goes.”

Stall said that the best case scenario for Bind would probably see him return to competition late this year or early 2012 when his stable returns to New Orleans’ Fair Grounds.  Even if the surgery is as successful as he anticipates, Stall said the colt would probably be out of training for 120 days.

Meanwhile, another major contender for the Matt Winn – George Bolton, Stonestreet Stables and Spendthrift Farm’s Dominus – is dealing with a foot issue, but remains “possible” for the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds.

The son of Smart Strike was nipped at the finish by Machen in a runner-up finish in The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII) on April 30 and trainer Steve Asmussen said he hopes the issue will clear up in time for the colt to be entered for the Matt Winn on Wednesday.

Another Matt Winn contender, Iron Horse Racing LLC’s Alstom, worked a sharp five furlongs on Monday in :47.40 for Hall of Fame trainer and four-time Kentucky Derby-winner D. Wayne Lukas.

The move over a fast track by the son of Silver Train was the fastest of 54 at the distance.  Alstom finished third to Meistersinger in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Churchill Downs in his most recent outing.

Another Asmussen nominee for the Matt Winn – George Bolton and Stonestreet Stables’ Astrology – worked six furlongs at Churchill Downs on Monday.  The third-place finisher in the Preakness (GI) and winner of Churchill Downs’ Iroqouis (GIII) breezed in company with 3-year-old stablemate Brock and covered the distance in 1:13.20.

The list of 3-year-olds considered for the Matt Winn (formerly the Northern Dancer) includes (with trainer): Alstom (Lukas); Dominus (Asmussen); Infrattini (Paul McGee); Joe Vann (Todd Pletcher); and Uncle Brent (Lynn Whiting).

APART SHARP IN KEENELAND WORK FOR STEPHEN FOSTER – While trainer Al Stall Jr.’s Monday was darkened by news of the season-ending injury to his promising 3-year-old Bind, a glimmer of light was provided by a sharp workout by Adele Dilschneider’s Apart in his final prep for a run in Saturday’s $500,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) Presented by Abu Dhabi (GI).

The 4-year-old son of Flatter breezed four furlongs in :48.40 over the synthetic Polytrack course at Keeneland.  The move under exercise rider Jerry O’Dwyer was the second fastest of eight at the distance.

“Apart is on target,” Stall said.  “I think he’s an improving horse.  That’s what he’s got going for him.  He’s a Grade II, Grade III type of winner and we just feel like he’s going to get better with time.  It’s nothing we’re doing.  It’s just something Mother Nature will take care of, hopefully.”

Julien Leparoux is scheduled to ride Apart in the Stephen Foster, a 1 1/8-mile race won last year by stablemate Blame.

While Stall likes the way Apart is coming up to the race, he is a bit concerned about the prospect of a full starting gate for the race.

"This race is getting to be such a big field that the (post) draw will be important, so we’re going to have to sweat that out,” he said.  “It’ll be about set-ups and trips and that kind of thing this weekend, I think.”

Apart is coming off a neck victory over Colizeo in the William Donald Schaefer Jr. Memorial (GIII) at Pimlico, a Preakness Day race that Blame won a year earlier and used successfully as a Foster prep.  His career record stands at 5-3-1 in 12 races with career earnings of $640,018.  His Churchill Downs record is 2-1-0 in five races, with the 2010 Ack Ack Handicap (GIII) accounting for one of those victories.

Meanwhile, Godolphin’s Regal Ransom, a narrow runner-up for First Dude in the recent Alysheba (GIII) at Churchill Downs, arrived at the Louisville track on Monday to complete his preparation for the Foster.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained son of Distorted Humor stepped off a van at the track around 10:30 a.m. (all times EDT) following a flight from New York to Louisville International Airport.  He is stabled in Barn 41.

The winner of the 2009 runnings of the UAE Derby (GII) and Super Derby (GII) has made three career starts at Churchill Downs, with an eighth-place finish behind Mine That Bird in the 2009 Kentucky Derby and a ninth-place finish behind Stephen Foster contender Giant Oak in last fall’s $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) on his on his resumé along with his near miss in the Alysheba.

Southern California-based Stephen Foster contenders Crown of Thorns and Gladding are scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Tuesday following a flight from the West Coast.

The Stephen Foster appears to have lost a starter in Donald Dizney’s First Dude, who had been scheduled to be on the same plane.  Trainer Bob Baffert told Daily Racing Form he would keep the 4-year-old winner of the Alysheba in Southern California to run in the Hollywood Gold Cup (GI) on July 9.

Horses considered likely for the Stephen Foster (with trainer, weight) include: Apart (Stall, 118); Crown of Thorns (Richard Mandella, 121); Duke of Mischief (David Fawkes, 118); Equestrio (Nick Zito, 116); Flat Out (Scooter Dickey, 114); Gladding (John Sadler, 117); Giant Oak (Chris Block, 122); Mission Impazible (Todd Pletcher, 118); Pool Play (Mark Casse, 116) and Regal Ransom (bin Suroor, 117).

PERREGAUX WORKS FOR POSSIBLE JEFFERSON CUP BID – Courtlandt Farms’ Perregaux, a recent allowance winner on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course, tuned up for a possible run the $100,000-added Jefferson Cup Presented by Abu Dhabi (GIII) on Saturday’s Stephen Foster Day program.

The son of Distorted Humor breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 over a fast main track for trainer Neil Howard, who is also considering a Jefferson Cup run by William S. Farish and Skara Glen Stable’s Close Ally, runner-up in the American Turf (GII) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day.

The Jefferson Cup, a race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf, is one of four graded stakes races for Thoroughbreds on the Stephen Foster Day program.

Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course is scheduled to be open for training on Tuesday, June 14.  That will provide a final chance for contenders for the Jefferson Cup and the $125,000-added Regret Presented by Etihad Airways (GIII), a Foster Day race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf, to train over the grass surface before Saturday’s races.

Three-year-olds under consideration for Saturday’s Jefferson Cup (with trainer) include: Banned (Tom Proctor), Chalice (Kellyn Gorder), Chinglish (Mark Hennig), Close Ally (Howard), Derby Kitten (Mike Maker), Dream Warrior (Eddie Kenneally), Perregaux (Howard); Redboard (Garry Simms); and Swagger Jack (Darrin Miller).

Likely starters for the Regret (with trainer) include: Bizzy Caroline (Ken McPeek), Blushandbashful (John Terranova II), Bouquet Booth (Steve Margolis), Diva Ash (Dale Romans), Excited (Todd Pletcher); Gaya (Tom Amoss), Holidaysatthefarm (Tom Proctor). Kathmanblu (McPeek). My Phi Temper (Ronny Werner) and Sassy’s Dream (McPeek).

BARN TALK – Preakness (GI) winner Shackleford and Kentucky Derby runner-up Nehro returned to Kentucky on Monday on board a flight from New York to Louisville.

            Shackleford, who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby for trainer Dale Romans, ran fifth in the Belmont after leading to the top of the stretch and has settled back into Romans’ barn at Churchill Downs.

Nehro finished fourth for trainer Steve Asmussen, but came out of the race with an ankle chip.  Nehro is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday in Lexington, according to owner Ahmed Zayat.

The flight also carried Belmont also-rans Santiva (eighth in the Belmont and sixth in the Kentucky Derby) and Prime Cut (11^th in the Belmont) back to their Churchill Downs barns.   Santiva is trained by Eddie Kenneally, while Prime Cut is conditioned by Neil Howard.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Riley Tucker, winner of the 2010 Aristides (GIII), breezed four furlongs in :52.20 … Texas Mile (GIII) winner Thisskyhasnolimit breezed five furlongs in 1:03.

GIANT OAK NAMED HIGH WEIGHT FOR STEPHEN FOSTER - Dual Grade I winner Giant Oak has been assigned the high weight of 122 pounds by Churchill Downs racing secretary Ben Huffman for next Saturday’s 30^th running of the Grade I, $500,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

The Virginia H. Tarra Trust’s 5-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway recorded his first Grade I victory when he was promoted to first place following the disqualification of Successful Dan in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs last November. After a brief break, Giant Oak returned to in February to launch his 2011 campaign for Chicago-based trainer Chris Block with an impressive two-length victory in the Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park. After finishing third as the 3-2 favorite in the Grade II New Orleans Handicap, Giant Oak would return to Churchill Downs for his most recent start, where he finished fifth, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the Grade III Alysheba Presented by Besilu Stables on Kentucky Oaks Day.

Spendthrift Farm LLC’s Crown of Thorns, who won the Grade II Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park in his most recent start, is rated one pound below Giant Oak at 121 pounds. Trained by Richard Mandella, the 6-year-old son of Repent finished second in four consecutive Grade I events between 2009 and 2010, including the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) at Santa Anita. Crown of Thorns is confirmed as a starter in the Stephen Foster and is scheduled to fly from Los Angeles to Louisville on Tuesday.

Also scheduled to be on that flight from California on Tuesday is Donald Dizney’s First Dude, the narrow winner of the Alysheba who is third on the list of Foster weight assignments at 119 pounds. Trained by Bob Baffert, First Dude captured the first graded stakes victory of his career in the Alysheba and finishing second in last year’s Preakness (GI) and third in the Belmont Stakes (GI).

The 4-year-old son of Stephen Got Even has a career record of 3-5-4 from 16 starts with $1,142,140.

Other horses under consideration for a run in next Saturday’s Stephen Foster Handicap include A.U. Miner (trained by Clark Hanna, weighted at 114); Apart (Al Stall Jr., 118); Crown of Thorns (Mandella, 121); Duke of Mischief (David Fawkes, 118); First Dude (Baffert, 119); Giant Oak (Block, 122); Mission Impazible (Todd Pletcher, 118); and Regal Ransom (Saeed bin Suroor, 117).

A.U. MINER PUTS IN SHARP WORK FOR FOSTER BID – Don Benge’s A.U. Miner worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 Saturday morning prior to the renovation break over a “muddy” Churchill Downs track in final major training move prior to a bid for next Saturday’s Stephen Foster Handicap.

Jockey Calvin Borel, who will ride A.U. Miner in the Foster for trainer Clark Hanna, worked in company with Saintly Tale.  A. U Miner covered the distance in fractional splits of :13.20, :25.60, :37.40, and :49.40, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.20.

The work went very well today and I think he galloped out really strong,” Hanna said.

A.U. Miner was third in his most recent start, the Grade III Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Churchill Downs in November, a race in which he crossed the line in fourth-place, but was promoted to third following the disqualification of first-place finisher Prince Will I Am. The Kentucky-bred’s connections had hoped their luck would improve following their rough trip in the Marathon, but Hanna said the run of bad luck continued.

“He’s been battling some minor health issues since the Marathon,” Hanna said. “He had some knee issues and then a couple of foot problems. I think we’ve finally got him back on track though and we’re looking forward to running next Saturday (in the Foster).”

While hoping for a big run by A.U. Miner in the Foster, Hanna’s wish list for his veteran includes a least one more start for his veteran at Churchill Downs before the end of the year.

“The ultimate goal would be to bring him back in November for another run at the Breeders’ Cup Marathon,” Hanna said. 

Hanna’s veteran has a career record of 4-2-4 from 21 starts and earnings of $349,350.

STALL SAYS BIND WILL ‘RUN FREELY’ IN MATT WINN – After a pair of disappointing losses that following a spectacular racing debut at Fair Grounds, trainer Al Stall Jr. said Friday there would be a change of tactics for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Bind when he makes his stakes debut in the $125,000-added Matt Winn Stakes Presented by Emirates Equestrian Federation (GIII), a race formerly known as the Northern Dancer, on next Saturday’s Stephen Foster Day program.

The son of the Claiborne stallion Pulpit has fought his rider when he was restrained just off the lead in runner-up finishes allowance races at Fair Grounds and Churchill Downs in his last two starts.  So Stall said Bind would be allowed to do what he wants to do in the 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn.

“We’re going to let him run like his old man,” said Stall.  “We’re going to let him bounce away from there and let him run freely.”

The most recent loss for Bind was his runner-up finish behind the 4-year-old Worldly in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on Kentucky Derby Day.  Worldly is now expected to compete in last week’s $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI), the headline event of four graded stakes events on that program.  Along with Bind’s clear resentment of attempted restraint by jockey Rosie Napravnik, Stall’s colt had to wait for running room in the stretch before he launched a bid that fell a half-length short of catching his older and more experienced rival.

“There’s no question in my mind that we were pounds better than him, but you can’t just go run around there with your head stuck straight up in the air,” Stall said.  “That’s two races in a row that he’s done the same thing, because we’ve been restraining him and he clearly doesn’t want any part of that.”

Bind will have a new rider for the Matt Winn, but Stall is not sure yet who that will be.

            The most recent work for Bind was a five-furlong move in 1:01 over Keeneland’s Polytrack course on June 5.  The work was the fastest of seven at the distance on that day.

“He’s something to behold when you watch him train,” Stall said.  “He’s an absolute man-child and he’s not quirky to deal with at all.  He’s beautiful to deal with and we just don’t know what’s happened in those two races, except maybe it’s from his sire.  So we’re not going to take the run away from him.  I honestly think this horse can click off ‘twelves’ (12-second furlongs), and I mean keep clicking them off, too.”

Stall said Claiborne and Dilschneider’s 3-year-old filly Might would get some rest after a disappointing fifth-place finish as the favorite in last week’s $100,000-added Dogwood (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

He said the sister to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner Blame came out of the race well and her poor effort in her stakes debut in the Dogwood could have been a case of asking too much of the filly after back-to-back victories at Fair Grounds and Churchill Downs.

“Might has always had soft ankles,” Stall said.  “That’s why we slowed down on her.  Maybe in the heat of the battle they pinched her.  That’s the only think I could think of. “

Stall is hoping that rest will be the tonic for Might and will allow her to return later on to build on her otherwise successful year.

“I’m just going to try to quiet her down and make a fall run to try and get black-type on her,” Stall said.  “We most likely went to the well once too often.”

Other 3-year-olds known to be under consideration for the 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn include: Alstom (trained by D. Wayne Lukas); Dominus (Steve Asmussen); Infrattini (Paul McGee); Joe Vann (Todd Pletcher); and Uncle Brent (Lynn Whiting).

BOUQUET BOOTH POINTS TO REGRET FOLLOWING ‘GREAT’ WORK – Trainer Steve Margolis was unsure if Right Time Racing LLC’s Bouquet Booth would start in next Saturday’s Grade III, $125,000-added Regret Presented by Etihad Airways until she completed a five-furlong workout over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course on Thursday in a “bullet” time of 1:01.80.

“It was a really great work and she is definitely going to run (in the Regret) now,” Margolis said.

Shaun Bridgmohan, who is currently second in this meet’s jockey standings behind Corey Lanerie with 24 wins, was aboard for the workout.

“She worked really nicely,” Bridgmohan said. “She was very relaxed and really finished up well. Everything went perfectly.”

Bouquet Booth, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Flower Alley, was fifth, beaten 3 ¼-lengths, in the Kentucky Oaks (GI), last time out.  She will enter the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies on the Matt Winn Turf Course record of 3-1-1 in eight career races with earnings of $452,300.

Known horses under consideration the 42^nd running of Regret include: Bizzy Caroline (trained by Ken McPeek); Blushandbashful (John Terranova II); Bouquet Booth (Steve Margolis); Diva Ash (Dale Romans); Excited (Todd Pletcher); Gaya (Tom Amoss); Holidaysatthefarm (Tom Proctor); Kathmanblu (McPeek); My Phi Temper (Ronny Werner); and Sassy’s Dream (McPeek).

PROCTOR, BANNED LOOK TO KEEP ROLLING ON TURF IN JEFFERSON - Churchill Downs-based trainer Tom Proctor has already won stakes races on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course during the Spring meet with the history-making mare Keertana, who became the first of her gender to win the Grade III Louisville Handicap, and the impressive 3-year-old Banned in the Grade II American Turf Presented by Ram.

More good fortune on the grass for the 55-year-old Proctor could be just days away when send Banned out in search of another graded stakes triumph in the $100,000-added Jefferson Cup Presented by Abu Dhabi (GIII) on Stephen Foster Day Presented by Abu Dhabi for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Foster was confident Glen Hill Farm’s 3-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy would run well in the Oaks Day race, and Banned more than justified that optimism.

“I thought he would win, but he really ran big that day,” Proctor said. “Although the race set up for him because they went very fast up-front. That will always make a horse look better.”

Proctor is pleased with Banned’s training since that win.  One more pre-Jefferson Cup work lies ahead.

“He’s been doing really well since that race,” Proctor said. “I plan on working him an easy five-eighths on Tuesday.”

Other 3-year-olds under consideration for Saturday’s 36^th running of Jefferson Cup include: Coolmore Lexington (GII) winner Derby Kitten (Mike Maker); Dream Warrior (Eddie Kenneally); Redboard (Garry Simms); Swagger Jack (Darrin Miller); and either Close Ally (Neil Howard) or Perregaux (Howard).

NOMINATIONS FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS’ FIRST ARABIAN RACE - Churchill Downs will hold its first Arabian race next Saturday as part of the undercard on Stephen Foster Day Presented by Abu Dhabi.

The Grade I, $50,000-added The President of United Arab Emirates Cup will be run at 1 ¼-miles and its nominees include: A Ladys Man (trained by Lynn Ashby); Another Color (Renee Lafleur); Crownn Royal (Ashby); Dixies Valentine (Tracy Nunley); Full of Fiesta (Greg Ketter); Grilla (Bill Waldron); Ovour the Top (Ashby); T M Fred Texas (Ronald Martino); Vip (Martino); and Wodkka (Lafleur).

Grilla won an earlier stop on the The President of the United Arab Emirates Cup tour at Keeneland.

VALID CITIZEN FIRST THREE-TIME WINNER OF SPRING MEET – Kenneth Dalton’s Valid Citizen is stabled at River Downs with trainer Matt Kordenbrock throughout the year, but he has made a home for himself this spring on the main track at Churchill Downs.

Valid Citizen won Friday’s fourth race to become the first three-time winner of the 2011 Spring Meet.

“That’s pretty cool,” Kordenbrock said.  “He’s an honest horse and we’ve really tried to pick our spots with him. He really likes this track and things have worked out.”

The milestone win by the 6-year-old son of Proud Citizen came on day 24 of the 39-day meet.  It was Kordenbrock’s fifth career victory at Churchill Downs, and he hopes Valid Citizen gets another chance to run.

“We’ve still got some time left,” he said.  “We will try and bring him back to get (win) number four.”

Bred in Kentucky by Oak haven Farm LLC, Valid Citizen has a career record of 9-5-5 from 35 starts with earnings of $120,294.

BARN TALK – The top six leading riders at Churchill Downs all won at least one race beneath the Twin Spires on Friday. Julien Leparoux, currently third in the standings, and Miguel Mena, sitting in fifth position, each won two races on the card, while leading-rider Corey Lanerie won three. …

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

Saturday’s 11-race program at Churchill Downs will include a Pick 6 carryover of $23,644. The Pick 6 begins with Race 6 at approximately 3:23 p.m. There will also be a Super High 5 carryover of $6,361. The Super High 5 will take place in the final race Saturday: Race 11 at 5:55 p.m. …

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

WORKTAB – Five D Thoroughbreds and Wind River Stables’ Kathmanblu worked five furlongs on a “muddy” Churchill Downs track in 1:01.60 Saturday morning for trainer Ken McPeek. Kathmanblu is scheduled to make her next start in the Grade III, $125,000-added Regret Presented by ETIHAD Airways beneath the Twin Spires on June 18 as part of the Stephen Foster Day undercard.

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (June 3-10) are Julien Leparoux (9-for-32), Corey Lanerie (8-for-32) and Calvin Borel (7-for-24). Ken McPeek (3-for-11) and Steve Asmussen (3-for-14) are the hottest trainers over the same period. The hottest owners are Lothenbach Stables, Inc. (2-for-2), Maggi Moss (2-for-3), Stoneway Farm (2-for-3), and Charles E. Fipke (2-for-5).

WEATHER – Saturday: showers and thunderstorms, 89. Sunday: mostly sunny, 82. Monday: mostly sunny, 81. Tuesday: mostly sunny with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 85. Wednesday: partly sunny with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 88. Thursday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 86. Friday: mostly sunny, 89.

Craig B Singer’s Salty Strike took the lead approaching the top of the stretch and drew away to an emphatic 3 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s 37^th running of $109,300 Grade III Dogwood Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.

            Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s heavily favored Might, a full sister to 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame who left the starting gate as the odds-on choice at 4-5, faded to fifth in the Dogwood field that was reduced to six fillies by the late scratches of Juanita and Henny’s Hurricane.

            Ridden by Manny Cruz, who scored his first career stakes victory at Churchill Downs, Salty Strike started a sweep for trainer Ken McPeek of the two Grade III stakes races offered by the historic track on Saturday.  McPeek also won the $110,300 Aristides with Noble’s Promise.

            The 5-1 third choice in the Dogwood, Salty Strike scored her first career stakes victory and won for the third time in four career starts at Churchill Downs as she returned mutuels of $12.80, $4.80 and $3.20.  IEAH Stable’s Fantasy of Flight, making only her second career start under jockey Robby Albarado, finished second and returned $4.60 and $3.20.  Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s Gran Lioness held well under Jamie Theriot to finish 1 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up in third and paid $3.60 to show.

            The victory by Salty Strike improved the career record of the homebred daughter of Smart Strike to 3-1-1 in seven races and the winner’s purse of $67,090 boosted her career earnings to $152,492.  She completed the one mile distance over a fast track in 1:35.39.

            Salty Strike’s only loss at Churchill Downs came in a close third-place finish to Just Louise in last year’s $100,000 Grade III Debutante Stakes in early July.  McPeek’s filly fractured a cannon bone in that race and did not return to competition until mid-February.  Salty Strike was coming off a seven-length victory in a May 20 allowance race at Churchill Downs that was her first win since a successful racing debut at the same track just over a year earlier.                        

            “She has really come around,” McPeek said. “I’d like to keep her sprinting on the dirt. I think we will look at sending her to the (Grade I) Test at Saratoga.”           

            Fantasy of Flight, coming off an impressive victory in her career debut during Kentucky Derby Week, shot to the lead when the starting gates open and held a two-length advantage down the backstretch over Gran Lioness, Salty Strike and the favored Might.  Cruz turned Salty Strike loose on the far turn and she made a quick three-wide move to grab the lead and quickly drew clear as the rest of the strung out field gave chase down the stretch.

            Might, a winner of two of three starts for trainer Al Stall Jr. prior to her stakes debut in the Dogwood, made a mild rally under Julien Leparoux near the top of the stretch, but faltered in the drive and was beaten by nearly six lengths. 

            “Julien said she was traveling fine down the backside and just didn’t go on,” Stall said.  “She didn’t seem to be the worse for wear when I watched her jog back and walk off.  So, I don’t know.  She has no excuses as far as I can see right now.” 

            Angelica Zapata finished fourth, and was followed by Might and Holy Heavens.

DOGWOOD STAKES QUOTES

Manny Cruz, rider of Salty Strike (winner)

“This is my first stakes win at Churchill Downs. I hope this is just the first of many more to come.

            “She (Salty Strike) sat perfectly in the race. I took her outside because I knew I had a ton of horse and I didn’t want to take any chances. When I asked her to move, she responded and broke away from the group.”

Ken McPeek, trainer of Salty Strike (winner)

“She (Salty Strike) has really come around. She was injured here in the Debutante last year (stress fracture to cannon bone), but we got that fixed and she was able to come back this year. She wasn’t herself in the race at Oaklawn (Honeybee (GIII)) and then she really didn’t like the Polytrack at Keeneland.”

            “We took her off Lasix for her last start and she really responded and so we didn’t put her on Lasix again today. She doesn’t need it, it seems to dull her out, and we especially didn’t want to put her on it with the heat today.”

            “I’d like to keep her sprinting on the dirt. I think we will look at sending her to the Test (GI) at Saratoga.”

Robby Albarado, rider of Fantasy of Flight (runner-up)

“She ran a huge race.  She just couldn’t hold off the winner.  That winner is a really good filly – I’ve ridden her before.  So it’s no shame to finish second to her off just one race.  My horse ran a big race and looks like she has a really bright future.”

 Julien Leparoux, rider of Might (fifth as the favorite)

“We got a very good spot, but she just never picked it up for me at the end.  I don’t know.  She felt real good all the way around.  It seemed like I had plenty of horse underneath me.”

Q: At what point did you think you were in trouble?

“When I asked her to accelerate on the turn, around the quarter pole.  I asked her, and she didn’t really kick.”

Al Stall Jr., trainer of Might (fifth as the favorite)

“Julien said she was traveling fine down the backside and just didn’t go on.  He didn’t alert us to any problems and she came back fine, it seemed like.  So I really don’t know right now.  She didn’t seem to be the worse for wear when I watched her jog back and walk off.  So, I don’t know.  She has no excuses as far as I can see right now.”

MIGHT HOPES TO STEP OUT OF BLAME’S SHADOW IN DOGWOOD - Since Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Might made her debut on Feb. 20 of this year, she has been known to most racing fans as “Blame’s younger sister.”

            Her older brother is most famous for winning the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs by a head over Zenyatta last November. Saturday’s Dogwood (GIII) at Churchill Downs may not be the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but it will be Might’s first opportunity to make history of her own beneath the Twin Spires as she competes stakes company for the first time.

            Trainer Al Stall Jr. was pleased with Might’s two most recent works and saw the Dogwood as the next logical step following her very impressive 4 ¾-length victory in a seven-furlong allowance race at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day.

            “She won so impressively in her last start and has been working well since then,” Stall said. “If she ran in another allowance she probably would have had to face older horses. Running in the Dogwood allows her test stakes company and keep running against 3-year-olds.”

            While Stall is well-aware that it will be difficult to replace Blame, who was crowned champion older horse at the most recent Eclipse Awards, he is excited about Might’s potential. “I don’t know if she (Might) is as good as him (Blame), but she’s pretty good in her own right,” Stall said.

            The 3-year-old Arch filly may be talented, but she doesn’t have the nicest of dispositions.

            “She’s hot and fiery,” Stall said. “Blame was very laid back and a total gentleman. They have totally different personalities.”

            The Dogwood is the main focus for Might; however, the Stall barn has looked ahead to a few possible spots for her if Saturday goes as planned.

            “We want to get by Saturday first, but then we may look at the Test (GI at Saratoga on Aug. 6),” Stall said. “Looking way ahead we may bring her back to Churchill for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI).”

            Might will face a field of eight in Saturday’s race. The field for the Dogwood from the rail out (with jockey, weight) includes: Might (Leparoux, 117), Angelica Zapata (Pedroza Jr., 117), Salty Strike (Cruz, 117), Juanita (Court, 119), Fantasy of Flight (Albarado, 117), Henny’s Hurricane (Garcia, 117), Holy Heavens (Bridgmohan, 117), and Gran Lioness (Theriot, 119).               

NUMBER ONE IN LUND’S BARN – Having two Roys in the same barn can get a little confusing. So how does trainer Valorie Lund handle being around Roy Schaefer of R.E.V. Racing and stable star Atta Boy Roy at the same time?

“It’s simple. I call him (Atta Boy Roy) Roy number one and he (Schaefer) is Roy number two,” Lund said.

Atta Boy Roy, winner of the Churchill Downs (GII) in 2010 and the number one Roy in Lund’s barn, will face a strong field of eight Saturday in the $100,000-added Aristides (GIII). The 23^rd running of the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up includes three Grade-I winners in Here Comes Ben, Capt. Candyman Can and Noble’s Promise; the defending Arisitides champion in Riley Tucker; two graded-stakes winners at Churchill Downs in Hurricane Ike, winner of last year’s The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII), and Atta Boy Roy; a multiple-stakes winner in Cash Refund; and Good Lord, who has a record of 2-2-2 in eight starts over the main track at Churchill Downs.

“Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s one of the toughest Aristides’ fields they’ve ever seen,” Lund said. “It’s a very tough race, but we are excited to be apart of it.”

Atta Boy Roy, a 6-year-old ridgling by Tribunal out of Irish Toast by Synastry, is one of six horses who currently race under the colors of R.E.V. Racing for Schaefer. The owner recently flew into Louisville from his home in Seattle, Wa. and was on hand to watch Atta Boy Roy jog around the historic Churchill Downs track prior to the renovation break on Friday morning.  

“He’s my first and only stakes winner,” Schaefer said. “There’s something special about the first one and I don’t think anyone will ever be able to replace him.”

Following Atta Boy Roy’s victory in the Churchill Downs last year, he would go on to finish second in both the Aristides and the Iowa Sprint Handicap before making a return to the winner’s circle in the $200,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup. Atta Boy Roy finished his 2010 campaign with an eighth place finish in the Woodford (GIII) on the turf at Keeneland and a 10^th place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) at Churchill Downs.

After a disappointing last-place finish in the in the Potrero Grande (GII) at Santa Anita, the Washington-bred won a six-furlong allowance race at Turf Paradise on May 1 in his most recent start.

Atta Boy Roy will be ridden Saturday by Jesus Castanon, but he won’t be the first member of the family to have ridden “Roy number one.”

“Jesus’ brother, Antonio, was aboard him for his first two starts and he broke the horse’s maiden,” Lund said. “So we’re happy that Jesus gets to ride him now.”

The Aristides, which will be the 10^th race of Saturday’s 11-race program, is scheduled to go off at 5:29 p.m. The field for the Aristides from the rail out (with jockey) includes Here Comes Ben (Leparoux), Riley Tucker (Desormeaux), Capt. Candyman Can (Borel), Hurricane Ike (Albarado), Cash Refund (Bridgmohan), Good Lord (Lanerie), Atta Boy Roy (Castanon) and Noble’s Promise (Garcia).

MEET LEADERS AT THE HALF – Through the first 19 days of the 39-day Spring Meet, jockey Corey Lanerie, trainer Steve Asmussen and owners Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds were the leaders in their respective categories at Churchill Downs. Below is a look at the leaders entering Friday’s action:

Top 12 Jockeys

  1. Corey Lanerie (23-for-103, 22% win-percentage, $703,881 in earnings)

  2. Shaun Bridgmohan (22-for-102, 21%, $656,817)

  3. Julien Leparoux (14-for-88, 16%, $569,593)

  4. Jon Court (13-for-71, 18%, $328,416)

  5. Calvin Borel (12-for-107, 11%, $419,040)

  5. Miguel Mena (12-for-88, 14%, $415,038)

  7. Kent Desormeaux (11-for-67, 16%, $671,463)

  8. Freddie Lenclud (8-for-68, 12%, $243,320)

  9. Marcelino Pedroza Jr.* (7-for-85, 8%, $241,269)

  9. Constantino Roman* (7-for-79, 9%, $189,418)

11. Manny Cruz (6-for-52, 12%, $235,433)

11. Brian Hernandez Jr. (6-for-49, 12%, $184,594)

Top win-percentage for jockeys with more than three wins: Martin Garcia (75.0%), John Velazquez (31.3%), Corey Lanerie (22.3%), Shaun Bridgmohan (21.4%), Garrett Gomez (20.0%), Jon Court (18.3%), Jimmy Graham (18.2%), Rafael Bejarano (17.6%), Kent Desormeaux (16.4%) and Julien Leparoux (15.9%).

Top 16 Trainers

  1. Steve Asmussen (9-for-53, 17%, $871,152)

  2. Tom Amoss (8-for-21, 38%, $213,661)

  2. Dale Romans (8-for-53, 15%, $674,665)

  4. Brad Cox (6-for-23, 26%, $113,485)

  4. Tim Glyshaw (6-for-19, 32%, $100,525)

  4. Eddie Kenneally (6-for-26, 23%, 143,411)

  4. Steve Margolis (6-for-31, 19%, $197,595)

  4. Merrill Scherer (6-for-22, 27%, $131,007)

  9. Bob Baffert (5-for-7, 71%, $880,869)

  9. Ian Wilkes (5-for-29, 17%, $198,060)

11. Jim Baker (4-for-11, 36%, $92,889)

11. Greg Foley (4-for-20, 20%, $81,974)

11. D. Wayne Lukas (4-for-35, 11%, $183,828)

11. Mike Maker (4-for-38, 11%, $178,467)

11. Ken McPeek (4-for-28, 14%, $207,468)

11. Tom Proctor (4-for-17, 24%, $277,712)

Top win-percentage for trainers with more than three wins: Bob Baffert (71.4%), Kellyn Gorder (42.9%), Tom Amoss (38.1%), Jim Baker (36.4%), Tim Glyshaw (31.6%), Garry Simms (30.0%), Merrill Scherer (27.3%), Brad Cox (26.1%) and Michelle Lovell (25.0%).

Top 8 Owners

1. Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds (5-for-20, 25%, $101,870)

2. Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack (4-for-12, 33%, $76,775)

3. Don Adam’s Courtlandt Farms (3-for-14, 21%, 215,979)

3. Billy, Donna and Justin Hays (3-for-26, 12%, $73,965)

3. Mace and Samantha Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stable (3-for-12, 25%, $92,018)

3. Merrill Scherer, Dan Lynch and Ken Sentel (3-for-14, 21%, $83,242)

3. Tom Ludt’s Vinery Stables (3-for-6, 50%, $126,316)

3. Ahmed Zayat’s Zayat Stables LLC (3-for-8, 38%, $534,244)

Horses with multiple wins: Backside Blackie (2-for-2, $45,000), Cherry Included (2-for-2, $19,200), C J Russell (2-for-2, $60,000), Distorted Love (2-for-2, $62,700), Manhattan Man (2-for-2, $21,000), Racing Office Joe (2-for-2, $23,400), Sassy Image (2-for-2, $276,412), She’s an Alpha Gam ($25,200), Shot of Kela (2-for-3, $19,800), Strike Impact (2-for-2, $71,760) and Valid Citizen (2-for-2, $18,000).

 

BARN TALK – Donald Adam’s possible Belmont Stakes (GI) starter Prime Cut is scheduled to work at Churchill Downs Monday morning according to trainer Neil Howard. The work will be the final major move for Prime Cut before a decision is made on his next start. …

             Gaillardia Racing LLC’s Wilkinson, who was considered to be a possible starter for the Belmont Stakes, will opt to run in the Ohio Derby (GIII) Saturday at Thistledown rather than make a start in the third and final leg of the Triple Crown. …

Trainer Benard Chatters recorded the first Churchill Downs win of his career when Slew of Medals crossed the line first in the sixth race at Churchill Downs Monday. Chatters will send out Holy Heavens Saturday in the $100,000-added Dogwood (GIII) at a mile on the main track at Churchill Down. …

Jockey Nathaniel Puello also recorded his first Churchill Downs win with Slew of Medals. It was only the second mount beneath the Twin Spires for the 38-year-old journeyman. …

Trainer Al Stall Jr. said Claiborne Farm and Adele Dischneider’s Bind, second beaten a half-length to Worldly in his most recent start in a Churchill Downs allowance race on Kentucky Derby Day, will next run in the $125,000-added Matt Winn (GIII).  The 1 1/16-mile race, formerly known as the Northern Dancer, is part of the June 18 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) undercard. …

Scavenger hunts and crafts involving horse shoes for children aged 3-10 will highlight the weekend’s activities at Churchill Downs’ Junior Jockey Club located near the Guest Services Booth inside Gate. 10. The Junior Jockey Club is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Churchill Downs’ mascot Churchill Charlie will be on hand for photographs between 2-2:30 p.m. Coloring books, crayons, individual games and reading material are available as well.      

  STEPHEN FOSTER HANDICAP, THREE FOSTER DAY STAKES CLOSE SATURDAY - Nominations for the four graded-stakes to be run on Stephen Foster Day on Saturday, June 18 will close this Saturday, June 4. Heading the roster is the 30^th running of the $500,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI), a race won last year by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Blame, who returned to Churchill Downs in November to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). 

            Other horses that completed the Stephen Foster-Breeders’ Cup Classic sweep in the same year include Black Tie Affair (1991), Awesome Again (1998) and Saint Liam (2005).

The other graded stakes races set for Stephen Foster Handicap Day include the $125,000-added Matt Winn (GIII), formerly known as the Northern Dancer, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16^th miles on the main track; the $125,000-added Regret (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8^th miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course; and the $100,000-added Jefferson Cup (GIII) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16^th miles on turf. 

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (May 26- June 2) are Corey Lanerie (9-for-31) and Shaun Bridgmohan (7-for-28). Brad Cox (4-for-8) and Merril Scherer (3-for-6) are the hottest trainers over the same period. The hottest owners are Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. (3-for-7) and Ken Sentel and Merrill Scherer (2-for-2).

WORKTAB – Robert Baker and William Mack’s Dublin worked four furlongs over a fast main track in :47.20 at Churchill Downs on Friday morning for trainer Wayne Lukas. The workout was the fastest of 45 at the distance, giving Dublin his third bullet work beneath the Twin Spires in three weeks. The 4-year-old son of Afleet Alex has not raced since finishing fifth in the 2010 Preakness Stakes (GI). ...

Columbine Stable’s J.B.’s Thunder breezed three furlongs in 37.80 on Friday for trainer Al Stall Jr. The 3-year-old son of Thunder Gulch was victorious in the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland before finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) at Churchill Downs in his most recent start. …

Frank L. Jones Jr.’s Tapitsfly, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs last November, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 for trainer Dale Romans. Tapitsfly is a possible starter for the 35^th running of the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs on June 11.

WEATHER – Friday: Mostly sunny, 91. Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot, 96. Sunday: Partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 92. Monday: Mostly sunny, 92. Tuesday: Mostly sunny and hot, 94. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, 93. Thursday: Mostly sunny and hot with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, 94. 

Wind River Stables and Five D Thoroughbreds’ Kathmanblu, a troubled third to More Than Real in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade II) in her most recent start, and Adele Dilschneider’s homebred Aide, a dazzling 19 ¾-length allowance winner here on Oct. 31, head a field of seven 2-year-old fillies entered to compete in Saturday’s 67th running of the $150,000 Golden Rod Stakes (GII).

The Golden Rod, won last year by Sassy Image, will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track and goes as the co-featured ninth event on the 12-race “Stars of Tomorrow II” card devoted exclusively to 2-year-olds. Post time for the Golden Rod is 4:42 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post time for the program that also features the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) is 12:40 p.m.

Trained by Ken McPeek, Kathmanblu debuted on the dirt in a 4 ½-furlong sprint here in June, finishing eighth. Since then, the daughter of 2006 Kentucky Derby (GI) runner-up Bluegrass Cat has found herself at home on the grass with a record of 2-1-1 in four turf races that includes a four-length victory in the Jessamine at Keeneland.

Churchill Downs handicapper Mike Battaglia has installed Kathmanblu as the narrow 8-5 favorite in his morning line odds for the Golden Rod.  Julien Leparoux, who won the Golden Rod in 2007 aboard Pure Clan, has the call on Kathmanblu, who will break from post position four.

Aide, the 9-5 second choice in the Golden Rod., runs for the team that took the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) with Blame.  The daughter of Arch will break from post one under Garrett Gomez, who rode Blame in the Classic for Dilschneider and trainer Al Stall Jr., Blame’s co-owner/breeder and trainer, respectively.  She broke her maiden at second asking on Polytrack at Turfway Park prior to her eye-catching Churchill Downs allowance win at the Golden Rod distance.

Also in the field are the third- and fourth-place finishers from the opening-day Pocahontas (GII), Missyoulikecrazy (7-2) and Gran Lioness (6-1), respectively. Robby Albarado, who won the 1997 Golden Rod on Love Lock, has the call on Missyoulikecrazy, who will break from post position two and Shaun Bridgmohan will ride Gran Lioness, who breaks from post position six.

The field for the Golden Rod, from the rail out (with rider and morning line odds), is as follows: Aide (Gomez, 9-5), Missyoulikecrazy (Albarado, 7-2), Missed the Point (Tony Farina, 15-1), Kathmanblu (Leparoux, 8-5), Suave Voir Faire (Sal Gonzalez Jr., 20-1), Gran Lioness (Bridgmohan, 6-1) and Sweet Deal to Win, (Jon Court, 20-1). All starters will carry 119 pounds.

A year ago, a lightly raced 3-year-old named Blame used a victory in the Fayette (Grade II) at Keeneland as a springboard to victory in his subsequent start in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare, then a Grade II event and the highlight of the 2009 Fall Meet at Churchill Downs.

On Friday, history could repeat itself as Morton Fink’s Successful Dan, winner of this year’s running of the Fayette, is set to carry 121 pounds and concede from 3-6 pounds to 10 rivals as the favorite in the 136th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap, a prestigious race for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the main track that has been restored to Grade I status by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

The Clark will go as the 11th event on a 12-race “Black Friday” holiday racing program that begins at 12:40 p.m. (all times Eastern).  Like the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and the Kentucky Oaks (GI), the Clark has been run each year without interruption since it was introduced in the first race meeting at Churchill Downs, then known as the Louisville Jockey Club, in 1875.  Post time for the Clark is 5:42 p.m.

After his major introduction to the nation’s racing fans in last year’s Clark, Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame race twice at Churchill Downs in 2010.  The Al Stall Jr. trained colt won the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) in June, then returned in November to win a showdown for the ages over previously unbeaten Zenyatta in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).

Like Blame, Successful Dan will be making his eighth career start in the Clark. Trained by Lexington-based Charles Lopresti, Successful Dan is undefeated at Churchill Downs having won an allowance race in May 2009 and following that up with a victory over future Grade I winner Warrior’s Reward in the Northern Dancer (GIII) the following month.

Julien Leparoux, who was aboard for the two Churchill Downs victories and four of the 4-year-old gelding’s five career wins, has Friday’s mount on Successful Dan, who will break from post three.  Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed him as the 5-2 morning line favorite.

Another Clark starter who is following even closer in Blame’s footsteps is his Stall-trained stablemate Apart. Owned and bred by Dilschneider, Apart will be making his eighth career start in the Clark and, like Blame, is ridden by Garrett Gomez and based at Keeneland.

The 3-year-old Apart, the 7-2 second choice in Battaglia’s Clark Handicap morning line, brings a three-race win streak into Friday’s race, highlighted by a September victory in the Super Derby (GII) at Louisiana Downs and a three-quarter length win over older rivals in the Ack Ack Handicap (GIII) Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.

Gomez, who was aboard for the Ack Ack win, returns to the saddle aboard Apart, who will carry 118 pounds and break from post position two.

Six other graded stakes winners on dirt are in the field, topped by the 9-year-old veteran Brass Hat, who won the 2006 Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park for one of his six graded stakes victories. Trained by Buff Bradley for his father Fred, Brass Hat ran second to A.P. Arrow in the 2007 Clark.  The homebred Prized gelding brings a record of 10-8-5 in 39 career races and earnings of $2,167,921 into Friday’s race.  Brass Hat’s latest win came in his most recent start, when he rallied from last in a field of 12 to take the $100,000 Sycamore (GIII) at 1 ½ miles on turf at Keeneland.

Brass Hat (15-1) will carry 116 pounds and be ridden by Tony Farina as he tries to join the ranks of such veteran stars as John Henry, The Tin Man, John’s Call and Super Diamond in winning a Grade I stakes race at the advanced racing age of nine.  Brass Hat will break from post position six. Farina will ride Brass Hat as regular jockey Calvin Borel continues his recovery from surgery to repair a broken jaw suffered in a fall last weekend at Lousiana’s Delta Downs.

The other graded stakes winners on dirt in the field are Regal Ransom, Redding Colliery, Demarcation, Duke of Mischief and Win Willy. Stately Victor, who finished eighth in this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) over Polytrack at Keeneland in April. Dubious Miss won the Grade III Ben Ali at Keeneland, also in April.

Godolphin Racing’s Regal Ransom is the 9-2 third choice in Battaglia’s morning line.  The son of Distorted Humor, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, counts the 2009 UAE Derby (GII) at Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba and the Super Derby (GII) among his four career wins, with the latter coming at the expense of runner-up Blame.  But Regal Ransom finished a distant sixth to Tizway as the even-money favorite in the Kelso (GII) at Belmont Park in his most recent start.  Freddie Lenclud will ride at 116 pounds.

The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Redding Colliery won the recent Hawthorne Gold Cup (GII) by three-quarters of a length over Clark rival Giant Oak, who finished fourth to Blame both in last year’s Clark and the 2010 Stephen Foster.  Demarcation won last year’s Ack Ack and was second to Apart in this year’s renewal for Louisville-based trainer Paul McGee.  Duke of Mischief edged Win Willy in this year’s Oaklawn Handicap (GII), while the latter won last year’s Rebel (GIII) at Oaklawn.

The field for the Clark Handicap, from the rail out (with rider, weight and morning line odds), is as follows: Dubious Miss (Robby Albarado, 116 pounds, 15-1), Apart (Gomez, 118, 7-2), Successful Dan (Leparoux, 121, 5-2), Giant Oak (Shaun Bridgmohan, 115, 15-1), Redding Colliery (Anna Napravnik, 117, 10-1), Brass Hat (Farina, 116, 15-1), Stately Victor (Victor Lebron, 116, 10-1), Win Willy (Cliff Berry, 116, 10-1), Regal Ransom (Freddie Lenclud, 116, 9-2), Demarcation (Kent Desormeaux, 116, 12-1) and Duke of Mischief (Eibar Coa, 116, 12-1).

ACK ACK WINNER APART RETURNS TO KEENELAND; CLARK BID POSSIBLE – Adele Dilschneider’s Apart, a three-quarter length winner of Friday’s $100,000-added Ack Ack Handicap (GIII), settled back into his home base at Keeneland on Sunday with a return trip to Churchill Downs possible at the end of the month.

“The (GI) Clark (Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare on Nov. 26); maybe,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said. “He’s going back to Keeneland and I’ll talk it over with his owner.”

Stall won the Clark last year with Blame and Apart, a workmate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner earlier in the year, has followed almost an identical path in his 3-year-old year.

“He is with Blame on the calendar,” Stall said of Apart, who had won the Super Derby (GII) in the race before the Ack Ack, a race Blame had run second in in 2009. “We thought dirt was Apart’s best surface and he was not proven on Polytrack.”

Blame went from the Super Derby last year to a victory in the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland over Polytrack, while Apart came to the Ack Ack over the Oct. 30 Fayette.

“We had our eye on Charlie Lopresti’s horse (Successful Dan, who was stabled two barns away in the Rice Road stable area at Keeneland) and he ran like we thought he would in the Fayette,” Stall said. “We have a lot of respect for his horse.”

Nominations for the Clark close Wednesday and Successful Dan likely will be listed among the nominees. Another likely nominee is the Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation, who finished second in the Ack Ack.

“The Clark is possible,” trainer Paul McGee said of Demarcation, who ran eighth behind Blame in last year’s race. “Let’s say he will be nominated.”

MALIBU AT SANTA ANITA MAY BE NEXT FOR NOBLE’S PROMISE – Chasing Dreams Racing 2008’s Noble’s Promise made his return to the races a successful one on Friday when he scored a 2 ¼-length victory in the Jimmy V. “Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up!” overnight stake at six furlongs.

It was the colt’s first victory since the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland in 2009 and first in a sprint since September 2009.

The (Grade I) Malibu (on Dec. 26) going seven-eighths at Santa Anita would be a great race for him,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “And, we may look at some races in Hong Kong and Japan. But I will probably keep him at seven-eighths.”

Following his victory in the Breeders’ Futurity, Noble’s Promise closed out 2009 with a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) and a runner-up effort behind Lookin At Lucky in the CashCall Futurity (GI). This year, the colt was second in the Rebel (GII), fifth in the Arkansas Derby (GI), fifth to WinStar Farm’s Super Saver in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and fifth in the Group I St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“I think he did well to go as far as he did this year,” McPeek said of Noble’s Promise, a son of Cuvee out of a Clever Trick mare. “He is a talented, fast horse, but he is bred for shorter distances.”

CHILUKKI WINNER DISTINCTIVE DIXIE COULD RETURN IN FALLS CITY – A little layoff turned out to be a good thing for the Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust’s  Distinctive Dixie, who came off a four-month break to win Saturday’s Chilukki (GII) for her first graded stakes victory.

“After the Indiana race (the Shelby County Arts Handicap on July 7 at Indiana Downs), we gave her a break because she had run so hard here against Rachel Alexandra,” said Aimee Dollase, assistant to her father Wally, referring to Churchill Downs’ mid-June Fleur De Lis (GII) in which Distinctive Dixie ran second to the 2009 Horse of the Year.

“It was more mental than anything. After the break, she has been a totally different horse. She is a filly that gives you everything she has and wants to do too much. Now she is more relaxed and does things within herself.”

Dollase said the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII) is a possibility for Distinctive Dixie, who owns a 6-3-1-0 mark over the track.

“She loves this track and you may as well strike while the iron is hot,” Dollase said. “The plan now is to run her next year as a 6-year-old.”

Three horses have completed a Chilukki-Falls City double with the most recent being Halory Leigh in 2004.

BARN TALK – Harvey Clark and Andrew Albstein’s Yankee Fourtune, wire-to-wire winner of the Hawthorne Derby (GIII) as the even-money favorite in his most recent start, headlines a list of 39 nominees for the seventh running of the $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (GIII) to be run Saturday at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Trained Kiaran McLaughlin, Yankee Fourtune is undefeated in four starts on the grass. Entries for the Commonwealth Turf will be taken Wednesday. Get Stormy won the 2009 renewal of the Commonwealth Turf. …

Augustin Stable’s Fugitive Angel, winner of four consecutive starts that include a score in the Valley View (GIII) at Keeneland, heads a list of 36 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 20th running of the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (GII) to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course on Nov. 20. Mary’s Follies won last year’s Mrs. Revere. …

Trainer David Fawkes, who earned his first Breeders’ Cup victory when Big Drama won the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) on Saturday, said he may return to Churchill Downs before the end of the meet with Duke of Mischief for the Clark Handicap. Fawkes said that Duke of Mischief, who finished eighth behind Blame in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) this summer, has been nominated to the Clark. …

Drew Coontz, assistant to trainer Chris Block, said that Askbut I Won’ttell came out of her Sunday victory in the Cardinal Handicap (GIII) in good order. Block is keeping a small string of horses at Churchill Downs and one who is staying here is Giant Oak, who was placed fourth in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Marathon (GIII). “He is going to go the track in tomorrow morning to train,” Coontz said. “I am not sure what their plans are for him.” Giant Oak ran fourth to Blame in last year’s Clark Handicap. …

Robby Albarado, who has ridden 10 winners through the first six days of the 21-day fall meet, is three wins away from joining the 900-win club at Churchill Downs. Albarado, who has one leading rider title here (Spring 2008), could pass Larry Melancon (914) for fourth all-time beneath the Twin Spires at his current pace. …

In addition to the $500,000-added Clark Handicap and the Falls City Handicap, nominations close Wednesday for two other final week stakes: the centerpieces of the Nov. 27 “Stars of Tomorrow II” card for 2-year-olds, the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for fillies and the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII).

Adele Dilschneider’s Apart wore down defending champion Demarcation in the final 100 yards to win Friday’s 18th running of the $108,600 Ack Ack Handicap (Grade III) by three-quarters of a length at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Al Stall Jr. and ridden by Garrett Gomez, Apart made a four-wide move at the head of the stretch and gradually wore down Demarcation, who was ridden by Calvin Borel.  The victory provided a good start to the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships for Dilschneider, Stall and Gomez, who will team to send Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm's Blame into the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) against the unbeaten favorite Zenyatta on Saturday.

Apart, a 3-year-old homebred son of Flatter out of the Unbridled mare Detach, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.79, the first time the race has been run at that distance.

The victory was worth $67,332 and increased Apart’s earnings to $469,878 with a record of 7-4-1-0 that includes a victory in the Super Derby (GII) in his race prior to the Ack Ack.

Sent off as the favorite in the field of five, Apart returned $4.80, $3 and $2.10. Demarcation paid $3.40 and $2.20 with Colizeo, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, finishing two lengths back in third and paying $2.20 to show. Jackson Bend finished fourth, followed by Silver Edition.

The race prior to the Ack Ack, Chasing Dreams Racing 2008’s Noble’s Promise won the $87,700 Jimmy V. “Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up!” overnight stake for 3-year-olds by 2 ¼ lengths over Backtalk.

Trained by Ken McPeek and ridden by Julien Leparoux, Noble’s Promise covered the six furlongs on the main track in 1:08.92 and increased his bankroll by $53,287 to boost his career earnings to $946,703 with four victories in 11 starts.

Noble’s Promise, the fifth-place finisher in the 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), returned $6, $3.40 and $2.80. Backtalk, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, returned $4.80 and $3.80 with Don Tito, Joel Rosario up, finishing a half-length back in third and returned $4.80 to show.

An 11-race program, highlighted by the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is scheduled for Saturday with first post time of 12:05 p.m. (all times Eastern). Eight Breeders’ Cup races dot the card that also features the 25th running of the $150,000-added Chilukki (GII) for fillies and mares running a mile on the main track and the $85,000 Dream Supreme overnight stake for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs.

 POST RACE QUOTES

Al Stall Jr. (trainer, Apart, 1st) – “In Louisiana, he ran off on us a couple of times.  Garrett was waiting around a little because sometimes this horse grabs the bit.  Garrett wanted to put him to sleep, and obviously he did a very good job.  He was a big gangly colt, starting to fill in and he’ll be a nice 4-year-old for us.”

Garrett Gomez (jockey, Apart, 1st) - “This colt's a nice colt. He's a colt that certainly figures things out as we go along. I can't wait until next year with him. He's moving in the right direction and today he got to see some different kind of competition than he's been facing and he passed that test. This is the first time I've ridden him. I watched his Super Derby run and when they picked up the pace a little, I thought I'd just move up on top of them and he stayed on well.”

Regarding coming back from yesterday's fall to ride today: “I'm fine. Just watch me ride. I'm a little achy, that's to be expected, I had a 1,200-pound animal fall on top of me yesterday. All in all my hand's a little swollen, but it doesn't really hurt. My shoulder's a little sore, but all you've gotta do is see me come down the lane.”

Paul McGee (trainer, Demarcation, 2nd) – “He was up a little closer than I thought he’d be, but he hung in there and ran a good race.”

Calvin Borel (jockey, Demarcation, 2nd) – “He ran a bang-up race, but we got outrun late. We have no excuses.”

Mike McCarthy (assistant trainer to Todd Pletcher, Colizeo, 3rd) – “It was an oddly run race. They all seemed to be jockeying for position at the half-mile pole and Ramon (Dominguez) didn’t have any choice but to keep his position. In the end it was OK. Better to run third than fourth.”

Ramon Dominguez, (jockey, Colizeo, 3rd) – “He ran well. Everybody took a shot at my horse and the other two just outran me.”

Adele Dilschneider’s Apart, winner of the Super Derby (GII) at Louisiana Downs in his most recent start, heads a field of six 3-year-olds and up entered Tuesday for the 18th running of the $100,000-added Ack Ack Handicap (GIII) to be run Friday on the Breeders’ Cup World Championships undercard at Churchill Downs.

The Ack Ack, at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, will go as the fourth race on Friday’s 10-race card and serve as the lead-in to six Breeders’ Cup World Championship races on the first day of the two-day championships.. First post time Friday is 2 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Ack Ack scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Trained by Al Stall, Jr., the 3-year-old Apart broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in his second start, but followed that victory with a pair of allowance wins at the Louisville track.  A late summer break was followed by a victory in the Prelude at Louisiana Downs, the track’s major prep for the Super Derby, and the colt brings a two-race winning streak into the Ack Ack.  Apart, who will break from post position one, will carry 117 pounds and be ridden by Garrett Gomez.

Apart, the 2-1 morning line favorite for the Ack Ack, shares the top weight in the race with Amerman Racing Stable’s defending Ack Ack champion Demarcation. Trained by Paul McGee, Demarcation was fifth in Churchill Downs’ Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap in his most recent start.  Calvin Borel has the mount on Demarcation, the 5-2 second choice who will break from post position four.

Another major player in the Ack Ack is Robert LaPenta and Fred Brei’s Jackson Bend, the third-place finisher in the Preakness (GI), runner-up in the Wood Memorial (GI) and 12th to Super Saver in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).  The Nick Zito trainee, a beaten favorite in the Pegasus (GIII) at the Meadowlands and the Star of Cozzene at Belmont Park in his last two starts, is the 4-1 third choice in the Ack Ack and will be ridden by Javier Castellano.

The field for the Ack Ack, from the rail out, is as follows: Apart (Gomez, 117 pounds), Stream Cat (James Graham, 113), Silver Edition (Mike Smith, 114), Demarcation (Borel, 117), Colizeo (Ramon Dominguez, 115) and Jackson Bend (Castellano, 115).

Tne race prior to the Ack Ack, with a 3 p.m. post time, is the $85,000-added The Jimmy V “Don’t Give Up … Don’t Ever Give Up!” overnight stakes race for 3-year-olds going six furlongs on the main track.  The Jimmy V drew a field of nine and features the return of Noble’s Promise.

Owned by Chasing Dreams Racing 2008, Noble’s Promise has not run since finishing fifth in the St. James’s Palace Stakes (GI) at Britain’s Royal Ascot meet in June that followed a fifth-place finish to Super Saver in the Kentucky Derby.  Trained by Ken McPeek, Noble’s Promise won the Grade I Breeders’ Futurity last fall at Keeneland and is graded stakes-placed in three other races.

Julien Leparoux has the mount on Noble’s Promise, who will break from post position nine. The son of Cuvee, trained by Ken McPeek, is the 9-2 third choice in the Jimmy V morning line.

The 3-1 favorite for the Jimmy V is Robert and Lawana and Winmore LLC’s Cool Bullet, runner-up to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile contender Thiskyhasnolimit in the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs in May and winner of the $100,000 Rumson at Monmouth Park. He is racing for the first time since July 4 when he finished last of six to Discreetly Mine in Monmouth’s Jersey Shore (GIII).

Shawn Bridgmohan will ride Cool Bullet for trainer Steve Margolis.

Also expected to attract fan support is Patti and Hal Earnhart’s Bulldogger, a son of Dixie Union with two wins in four starts for trainer Bob Baffert.  Bulldogger, the 4-1 second choice, is coming off a sixth-place finish to Discreetly Mine in the Aug. 28 King’s Bishop (GI) at Saratoga.  Martin Garcia will ride Bulldogger.

Noble’s Promise is one of two veterans of the 2010 Kentucky Derby in the Jimmy V field.  Gold Mark Farm’s Backtalk, a Tom Amoss trainee who finished last of 20 in the Derby field, finished second in a Remington Park allowance race in his most recent start.  Rafael Bejarano will ride the son of Smarty Jones, who is a 6-1 risk in the morning line.

The field for the Jimmy V, from the rail out, is as follows: Backtrack (James Graham), Cool Bullet (Shaun Bridgmohan), Don’t Put It Back (Larry Sterling Jr.), Don Tito (Joel Rosario), Latigo Shore (John Velazquez), Backtalk (Rafael Bejarano), Bulldogger (Martin Garcia), Close to the Edge (Ramon Dominguez) and Noble’s Promise (Leparoux). All starters will carry 116 pounds.