D. Wayne Lukas

Augustin Stable’s Ever So Lucky, a dazzling winner in his Churchill Downs debut, and WinStar Farm LLC’s Gemologist, perfect in two outings at Turfway Park and Churchill Downs, put their spotless racing records on the line Saturday as the promising colts head a field of 11 2-year-olds entered for Saturday’s 85^th running of the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II), the co-featured event on the Stars of Tomorrow II program devoted to juvenile runners at Churchill Downs.

The Kentucky Jockey Club, run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, shares Saturday’s Stars of Tomorrow II marquee with the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII), a race at the same distance for fillies.  Named in honor of the holding company that operated Churchill Downs at the time of the race’s inaugural running in 1920, the Kentucky Jockey Club will be run as race 11 with a scheduled post time  5:12 p.m. (all times EST).  Post time for the day’s first race is 12:40 p.m.

Trained by steeplechase legend Jonathan Sheppard, Ever So Lucky made the much-discussed date of 11.11.11 at Churchill Downs extra memorable with an impressive 3 ¼ length romp under jockey Julien Leparoux in his 6 ½-furlong racing debut. The son of Indian Charlie, the $600,000 sale topper in May at the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic auction at Maryland’s Timonium, will break from the rail post under Leparoux in the Kentucky Jockey Club.  Ever So Lucky, a supplemental entry to the race at a cost of $7,500, was installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

Gemologist, a son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow trained by Todd Pletcher, reeled off strong victories in his racing debut at Turfway Park and an allowance race at the Kentucky Jockey Club distance on the Stars of Tomorrow I program that kicked off the Churchill Downs Fall Meet.  Those efforts prompted Battaglia to install Gemologist as the 3-1 second choice in the morning line and Gemologist will break from post nine under jockey Javier Castellano.

WinStar Farm and Pletcher won the 2009 Kentucky Jockey Club with Super Saver, who returned to Churchill Downs the following spring to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).  The Derby victory by Super Saver was the first for both WinStar Farm and Pletcher.

Despite the star power of the favorites, the Kentucky Jockey Club is far from a two-horse race as the field includes the  promising New York invader Cyber Secret and stakes veteran Optimizer.

Another unbeaten colt,  Gary and Mary West Stables’ Cyber Secret make his stakes debut in the Kentucky Jockey Club on the heels of a 6 ½-furlong maiden win over a muddy surface on Oct. 20  at New York’s Belmont Park.  Trained by Chad Brown, the Kentucky-bred son of Broken Vow will be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan in his stakes debut.  Cyber Secret drew post five and is the 6-1 third choice in Battaglia’s Kentucky Jockey Club morning line.

Bluegrass Hall LLC’s Optimizer, a 2-year-old of English Channel and the 8-1 fourth choice in the Kentucky Jockey Club, which will make his second consecutive start over the main track at Churchill Downs after competing over grass and synthetic surfaces in his first three outings. Trained by Hall of Famer and four-time Kentucky Jockey Club winner D. Wayne Lukas, Optimizer finished eighth behind unbeaten Hansen after breaking from the outside post in a field of 13 in the $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.   Prior to his Breeders’ Cup run, Optimizer won his debut on the Saratoga turf and was the runner-up to State of Play over the same surface in the With Anticipation (GII).  Lukas’ colt also ran third to Dullahan in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI) over Keeneland’s Polytrack.

Optimizer will break from post six under Robby Albarado, who won the 1999 renewal of the Kentucky Jockey Club with Captain Steve.

Other stakes veterans in Saturday’s race include Thomas Conway and Mike Maker’s Mr. Prankster and Silverton Hill LLC’s Fine.

Mr. Prankster, trained by co-owner Maker, was the runner-up to longshot Big Wednesday in the $150,000 Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial over the synthetic Tapeta surface on Oct. 1 at Pennsylvania’s Presque Isle Downs.  The son of It’s No Joke, a 10-1 shot in the Kentucky Jockey Club morning line, drew post four and will have Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Edgar Prado in the saddle.

The Bret Calhoun-trained Fine was a distant runner-up to Hansen in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile and fourth to Motor City in Churchill Downs’ Iroquois (GIII).  Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride the son of Flatter, who is a 20-1 risk in the morning line and will break from post seven.

The field for the Kentucky Jockey Club, from the rail out (with trainer, jockey and morning line odds), is as follows: Ever So Lucky (Sheppard, Leparoux, 5-2), Africanist (Eddie Kenneally, Corey Lanerie, 10-1), Timely Tally (Ian Wilkes, Calvin Borel, 10-1), Mr. Prankster (Maker, Edgar Prado, 10-1), Cyber Secret (Brown, Bridgmohan, 6-1), Optimizer (Lukas, Albarado, 8-1), Fine (Calhoun, Hernandez, 20-1), Atigun (Ken McPeek, Manny Cruz, 10-1), Gemologist (Pletcher, Castellano, 3-1), Seve (Dale Romans, Mark Guidry, 20-1) and Saint Honore (Nick Zito, Jesus Castanon, 12-1).    

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heuristic Stable’s Fortune Play outdueled Westrock Stables LLC’s Decelerator down the stretch to win the $77,270 Roxelana by a neck before a crowd of 27,787 on Friday night at Churchill Downs.

Trained by John Booker Jr. and ridden by Freddie Lenclud, Fortune Play covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:22.19.

Fortune Play, a 5-year-old daughter of Five Star Day, rated in fourth through fractions of :23.08 and :46.24 set by the early pace-setting duo of Alex G. Campbell Jr.’s The Underling and Decelerator. Lenclud moved for the leaders with three furlongs remaining, angled out for the drive entering the stretch, caught Decelerator with a sixteenth of a mile remaining and finally edged clear of that stubborn rival in the final yards.

Breaking from the gate as the 4-1 third-choice, Fortune Play returned mutuels of $10, $5 and $3.60. Decelerator finished second to return $6.40 and $4.60 with John Gunther’s Stage Magic another 3 ½-lengths back in third returning $7.40.

The victory was worth $46,560 and increased Fortune Play’s bankroll to $273,052 with a record of 5-7-5 from 27 starts.

Racing continues Saturday with a 13-race program highlighted by the 110^th running of the Grade III, $100,000-added Bashford Manor, which is scheduled to be run as Race 12 at 6:23 p.m. EDT. First post is at 12:45 p.m.

FAREWELL CELEBRATION FOR MINE THAT BIRD SET FOR SUNDAY, NOV. 28 – Churchill Downs fans will have an opportunity to bid farewell for the longshot winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) on Sunday, Nov. 28, when Mine That Bird makes a final appearance on the site of one of the biggest upsets in American racing history.

Owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, Mine That Bird will make a paddock appearance and parade before the fans on the closing day of the 21-day Fall Meet.  The schedule for salute has yet to be finalized, but the event will highlight the unusual Sunday finale for the fall racing session at Churchill Downs, which has concluded on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in recent years.

The team that sent Mine That Bird, to victory at odds of 50-1 Kentucky Derby 135 – the second-biggest upset in the history of America’s greatest race – is scheduled to be on hand to honor their Derby winner.  Double Eagle’s Mark Allen, Buena Suerte Equine’s Dr. Leonard Blach and trainer Chip Woolley will travel from New Mexico to take part in the festivities.  Also expected to participate is jockey Calvin Borel, who scored the second of his three Kentucky Derby victories aboard the gelded son of Birdstone.

Mine That Bird was retired from racing following a 10th-place finish in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) on Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs.  It was the ninth consecutive loss for Mine That Bird, a string that included a runner-up finish to eventual Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness (GI) and a third-place run behind eventual 3-year-old champion Summer Bird in the Belmont Stakes (GI).

The 2009 Kentucky Derby winner is scheduled to return to New Mexico following the closing day-farewell at Churchill Downs.

Mine That Bird remains at Churchill Downs in the care of D. Wayne Lukas, the Hall of Fame trainer who conditioned him during a disappointing 4-year-old season in which he failed to finish better than fifth in four races.

He completed his racing career with a record of 5-2-2 in 18 races with earnings of $2,228,637.

BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE WINNER DAKOTA PHONE DRAWS TOP WEIGHT FOR CLARK HANDICAP – John Carver, Halo Farms, George Todaro and Jerry Hollendorfer’s Dakota Phone, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) here on Nov. 6, has been assigned the high weight of 124 pounds by racing secretary Ben Huffman for the 136th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) on Friday, Nov. 26.

Dakota Phone is not expected to make the trip back to Kentucky from California for the Clark, a 1 1/8th-mile race for 3-year-olds and up on the main track. The 2009 Clark was won by Blame, who returned this year to win the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) and $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).

Sharing the next high weight of 121 pounds is Godolphin Racing’s Etched and Morton Fink’s Successful Dan, the latter of which is expected to be among the horses entered Tuesday for the Clark.

Trained by Charles Lopresti, Successful Dan is two-for-two at Churchill Downs and has won five of seven career starts. In his most recent outing, Successful Dan was a three-length winner of the Fayette (GII) at Keeneland on Oct. 30.

Weight assignments for other horses considered as possible Clark starters include Apart (118), Redding Colliery (117), Brass Hat (116), Demarcation (116), Duke of Mischief (116), Stately Victor (116), Win Willy (116) and Giant Oak (115).

SUNNY MOON ASSIGNED HIGH WEIGHT FOR FALLS CITY – Mrs. C. Wilson McNeely III’s Funny Moon, winner of the Shuvee (GII) this spring and the 2009 Coaching Club of America Oaks (GI), has been assigned the top weight of 121 pounds by racing secretary Ben Huffman for the 95th running of the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII) for fillies and mares.

The Falls City, won last year by Serenading, is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day and is run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

Trained by Christophe Clement, Funny Moon ran second in her most recent start, the Turnback The Alarm Handicap (GIII) at Belmont Park. In her lone trip to Kentucky in her 13-race career, Funny oon ran fifth in last month’s Spinster (GI) at Keeneland.

Distinctive Dixie, winner of the Nov. 6 Chilukki (GII) here, is the next high weight at 120 pounds. Trained by Wally Dollase, Distinctive Dixie ran second to 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in this June’s Fleur De Lis (GII) and has a 6-3-1-0 record at Churchill Downs.

Other horses considered as possible to run in the Falls City and their weight assignments are Third Dawn (118), Striking Dancer (117), Acronym (116) and Ravi’s Song (114). Entries for the Falls City will be taken Sunday.

SNOW TOP MOUNTAIN FOLLOWS WELL IN KEERTANA’S FOOTSTEPS – The past two years, the Barbara Hunter owned and bred fillies Keertana and Snow Top Mountain have done their mother, Motokiks, proud.

On Saturday, Snow Top Mountain will try to bring more glory to the family when she runs in the 20th edition of the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (GII) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

The fillies are the sixth and seventh foals of the 15-year-old Motokiks and the first stakes winners the mare has produced.

Keertana, a 4-year-old daughter of Johar, raised the local bar high here two weeks ago when she finished third, beaten two necks, in the $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI). Keertana’s Churchill Downs record is 3-2-2 in eight races, including a victory in the 2009 Regret (GIII) and a runner-up finish in last year’s Mrs. Revere.

Snow Top Mountain, a daughter of Najran who is 1-1-0 in two outings over the Matt Winn Turf Course, ran second in this year’s Regret. Snow Top Mountain also finished second in the Grade I Garden City at Belmont Park, a race Keertana ran third in last year.

“She is just a little thing and is really an overachiever,” trainer Tom Proctor said of Snow Top Mountain. “She probably should have won a stakes by now.”

Snow Top Mountain was awarded the victory via disqualification in the Arlington Park Oaks (GIII) and also had runner-up finishes in two ungraded stakes at Saratoga. In her most recent start, she ran fifth in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (GI) at Keeneland.

“She is looking for more ground,” Proctor said. “I wish this race was a mile and an eighth or a mile and three-eighths. Her sister loves that.”

Garrett Gomez has been named to ride on Saturday, but the jockey may not be able to ride after suffering a bruised right shoulder in a spill during the first week of the meet. If Gomez cannot ride, Proctor said Rosemary Homeister Jr. will get the mount on Snow Top Mountain, who will break from post position seven.

“She’s ridden for me before and won a $100,000 and a $250 (thousand) for me,” Proctor said.

Proctor, who has won seven stakes at Churchill Downs, will have a second runner in the Mrs. Revere in the Rosemont Stud Syndicate’s Wild Mia. A winner of her past two starts by a combined nine lengths, Wild Mia will break from post position two under Freddie Lenclud.

BARN TALK – It has been two weeks since trainer Michelle Nihei saw $90,000 slip away from Prince Will I Am’s bank account following a disqualification for interference from second to 10th place in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (GIII). “I feel a little bit like the straight A student that gets an F on their transcript for taking the wrong test,” Nihei said. “He is doing great. He came out of the race well and the most logical spot for him next is the McKnight.” That would be the W.L. McKnight Handicap (GII) at Calder on Dec. 18 at 1 ½ miles on the turf. …

Apprentice Amanda Tamburello’s first victory of the meet lit up the tote board with the largest win payoff of the meet. Tamburello rode 57-1 shot G Areyoukidding to victory in the seventh race for a $117.40 payoff for $2, surpassing the $94.00 that Shared Account returned to her backers in winning the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 5. The $40.40 payoff to place also was the highest of the meet, topping the $39.40 mutuel by Mis Pardner Rules in the first race on Nov. 4. …

Tommy Turner’s victory in Thursday’s third race on Bell Got Even, was his second all time at Churchill Downs. The initial score came in 1993 in the Stephen Foster Handicap aboard Root Boy. Turner is a 44-year-old native of Indiana.

WORK TAB – Two Clark Handicap hopefuls and five nominees to next Thursday’s Falls City Handicap topped a busy work tab Friday morning at Churchill Downs. Fred Bradley’s Brass Hat, who ran second in the 2007 Clark, worked five furlongs under Calvin Borel in 1:02 over a track labeled as fast after the renovation break for the 11th fastest of 37 at the distance. Moments later, the Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation, who finished eighth behind Blame in last year’s Clark, covered the same distance in 1:03.40. …

Juddmonte Farms’ Acronym was the only Falls City nominee to work before the break when the track was labeled as good. Acronym worked five furlongs in 1:02, 11th best of 37. The bullet for the distance was provided by Dundalk 5, LLC’s Dundalk Dust, who covered the distance in 1:00.

Other Falls City workers were Stevestan Stables’ Striking Dancer (1:00.80 for five furlongs, third fastest), the Bob and Beverly Lewis Trust’s Distinctive Dixie (1:02.40 for five furlongs, 14th fastest) and Mrs. Yoshio Fujita’s Ravi’s Song (:49.60 for four furlongs, 17th fastest of 33 at the distance).

Returning to the work tab for the first time since running in the Breeders’ Cup were two Steve Margolis trainees who breezed after the break. Due Date, who finished sixth in the Turf Sprint (GII), worked a half-mile in :48.60 (sixth best of 33) and Cash Refund, who finished eighth in the Sentient Jet Sprint (GI), covered the same distance in :49.40 (14th best of 33).   

QUALITY ROAD, UNCLE MO HEAD SUNDAY WORKERS FROM PLETCHER CAMP – Edward P. Evans’ Quality Road, winner of the Woodward (Grade I) in his most recent outing and a major contender for Saturday’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), and Repole Stable’s Uncle Mo, the likely favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI), headed a group of five horses from the powerful stable of trainer Todd Pletcher that turned in their final works for the two-day Championships on Sunday.

The versatile Quality Road, who also earned Grade I wins this year in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park and Belmont’s Metropolitan Handicap, worked four furlongs in :48.60 in company with Dogwood Stable’s Aikenite, who will run in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.  Exercise rider Patty Krotenko was in the saddle as Quality Road covered the distance over a fast track in fractional splits of :12, :24.20 and :36 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02

Quality Road, running on the outside, finished about length in front of Aikenite, who was timed in :48.40 for his half-mile under veteran exercise rider Kevin Willey.

“I thought both horses worked very well,” said Pletcher. “Quality Road is obviously an exceptionally talented horse and does things very easily.  I thought it was a good progressive work.  He picked it up down the lane, galloped out well and seemed to get over the ground extremely well.”

Uncle Mo finished his preparations for the Juvenile by working four furlongs in company with his Repole stablemate Stay Thirsty and the colts finished together in :50.60.  Uncle Mo, a son of Indian Charlie and a sizzling winner of the Champagne (GI) in his most recent start, worked on the outside of that duo under Horacio De Paz, while Krotenko was aboard Stay Thirsty as the pair worked in fractional times of :12.60, :25.40 and :37.40 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.60.

“I don’t believe we’ve ever worked them together, although they have both worked in company quite a bit,” Pletcher said.  “We were not looking for a whole lot from either one.  Stay Thirsty had a lot of his conditioning done at Belmont, and Uncle Mo obviously is running back 28 days, and ran a mile in 1:34-and-change 22 days ago (in the Champagne).

“I kind of let them get a little feel for the track.  I thought it was a little slower than I wanted it to be, but it was the right kind of slow.  They went each eighth a little faster than the previous one.  I thought Uncle Mo galloped out particularly well.  He was all the way back to the half-mile pole before he actually pulled up.”
The only other Pletcher trainee to work was Paul Pompa Jr.’s Rose Catherine, a 3-year-old filly who will take on males in the Turf Sprint.  The daughter of Speightstown breezed four furlongs around the dogs on firm turf under De Paz in :49.60.  She was very eager as she broke off for the move, covered her opening quarter in :26.40 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:04.40.

“She’s a superior work horse and would work as fast as a horse could possibly work if you allowed her to,” Pletcher said.  “But when you’re going five-eighths on the grass, they need to be ready to roll and that’s her game.  I thought she worked very well.  Sometimes you have to be a little careful with her or she will do way too much, but we had a nice, quiet turf course. No one else was out there and she handled it real well.”

Pletcher had worked five horses on Saturday: Life At Ten (Ladies’ Classic), Malibu Prayer (Ladies’ Classic), R Heat Lightning (Juvenile Fillies), More Than Real (Juvenile Fillies Turf), and Pluck (Juvenile Turf).  He said all came out of their works well and appear ready for their Breeders’ Cup races on Friday..

"I thought for preparing 10 horses here for the Breeders’ Cup, all 10 works were right within the range of what we were looking for,” he said.  “When you have horses that are fit and ready to go, you just want to keep them happy in their last breezes.  I think we accomplished that.”

ESPOIR CITY WORKS FROM WIRE TO HALF-MILE POLE FOR CLASSIC – The Breeders’ Cup Classic hope from Japan, Espoir City (JPN), worked a half-mile after the renovation break in :49.60 with exercise rider Toshiyuki Abematsu up.

What made the work unusual was the 5-year-old horse worked from the wire to the half-mile pole.

"“That is how they usually do it with him in Japan and they wanted to keep him in his routine,” said Mikki Tsuge, West Coast Representative for the Japan Racing Association who has been serving as the connections’ liaison at Churchill Downs. “Toshiyuki said the work went very well and he handled the track fine.”

Fractions for the work were :13, :25.40, :37.60 and out five furlongs in 1:05.

Espoir City had worked a leisurely six furlongs in 1:18.20 last Sunday under jockey Tetsuzo Sato. Sato and trainer Akio Adachi are scheduled to return to Louisville from Japan on Monday afternoon.

MINE THAT BIRD GETS SHARPENER FROM GATE FOR DIRT MILE – Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) had his final tuneup for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) by working three furlongs out of the gate in :37.40.

With Michael Baze up and starting on the inside of Derivative, Mine That Bird stepped the first quarter in :25 and galloped out a half-mile in :50.40.

“I just wanted to sharpen him up, and I think it worked,” trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “Fitness-wise, he is dead fit. But I still don’t know if I have him quick enough.”

Mine That Bird has been in Lukas’ care for five months but the lack of results have been frustrating to Lukas.

“Yes, it has been frustrating because he has been doing well physically,” Lukas said of the 4-year-old gelding who has not hit the board in three starts around two turns during the summer. “I think it is pretty much mental and I don’t know if his heart is in racing.”

Lukas, who won the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park with Cat Thief, was asked if he had handicapped this year’s Classic field. “It’s easy,” Lukas said. “Bet on the filly (Zenyatta) and go to the bank.”

BARN TALK – Turtle Bird Stable’s Haynesfield (Classic) worked a half-mile after the break in :50 under Ceasar Garcia. Fractions were :13, :25.80, :38 and out five-eighths in 1:02.40. The move was the 27th fastest of 60 at the half-mile distance. Toby Sheets, the Steve Asmussen assistant who has been with Haynesfield “since Day One”, was happy with the work, the colt’s third at Churchill Downs since his wire-to-wire victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) at Belmont Park. …

Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma (Ladies’ Classic) worked a half-mile before the renovation break in :50 under jockey Robby Albarado. Splits for the move, which has the 27th fastest of 60 at the distance, were :12.80, :25.40, :37.80 and out five furlongs in 1:04. Albarado has ridden Acoma three times in her 18-race career including a victory in the 2008 Dogwood (GIII) here. “She worked really well,” Albarado said. “This was just a maintenance move and she felt as good today as she did the last time I was on her (in the Locust Grove in July).” Acoma earned her spot in the Ladies’ Classic with a victory in the Juddmonte Spinster (GI) at Keeneland on Oct. 10. “She really turned around after her breeze on the Polytrack at Keeneland before the Spinster,” trainer David Carroll said. “She has been a different filly since that work. The key thing with her is how she is doing and she is doing very well.” …

Other works involving Breeders’ Cup horses were a trio from the barn of trainer Wesley Ward. Classic pre-entrant Pleasant Prince worked five furlongs on the main track in 1:01.60 in company with Aegean under jockey Jamie Theriot. Fractions were :12.60, :24.40, :36.40, :48.80 and out six furlongs in 1:15.80. Working on the turf around the “dogs” in company were Nina Fever (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Madman Diaries (Juvenile Turf). Nina Fever was on the inside and started a length in front of Madman Diaries with the duo finishing on even terms. Madman Diaries was clocked in 1:03.40 and Nina Fever in 1:03.60. Splits were :25.40, :39.40 and out six furlongs in 1:18.60. …

Also working on the turf was Keertana (Filly & Mare Turf) for trainer Tom Proctor. Keertana worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 with splits of :12.20, :25.20, :38.40 and out six furlongs in 1:18.
Going before the renovation break was Atoned (Marathon) for trainer Neil Howard. Atoned worked a half-mile in :49.60 with splits of :12, :24.20, :37 and out five-eighths in 1:03.20. Working after the break was Riveting Reason (Juvenile) under Joe Deegan. Riveting Reason covered five furlongs in 1:01.80 with splits of :12.20, :24, :35.80 and :49, and Jordy Y (Juvenile Fillies/Juvenile Fillies Turf) worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 for trainer Wayne Catalano. …

Three horses that arrived early Saturday afternoon from Europe are scheduled to clear quarantine Monday morning and go to the track at 10 a.m. The trio consists of Arlington Million (GI) winner Debussy (IRE) (Turf) for trainer John Gosden, the undefeated Biondetti (Juvenile or Juvenile Turf) for trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni and Delegator (GB) (Mile) for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

HAMAZING DESTINY TUNES UP FOR BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT FOR LUKAS – Westrock Stables’ Hamazing Destiny worked a half-mile in :49.60 after the morning renovation break over a fast track in preparation for the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) to be run Nov. 6.

Fractions for the work were :13, :25 and out five furlongs in 1:04.40. The half-mile time was the ninth fastest of 35 on a bright, crisp morning.

“I thought it was an excellent work,” trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “I think we might be a little stronger than people think.”

Hamazing Destiny has posted a 2-1-0 record in four races at Churchill Downs, with his only off-the-board finish coming in the Grade II Churchill Downs over a sloppy track on May 1. In his most recent start over the track, Hamazing Destiny ran second, beaten only a neck in the Kelly’s Landing by Here Comes Ben, one of the leading contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI).

In adition to Hamazing Destiny, Lukas has two other Breeders’ Cup pre-entrants: Mine That Bird for the Dirt Mile (GI) and Tidal Pool for the Sentient Jet Filly & Mare Sprint (GI).

Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) is scheduled to work Sunday morning. Westrock Stables’ Tidal Pool, who is third on the preference list for the Filly & Mare Sprint, would run in the $85,000 Dream Supreme overnight stake at six furlongs on Nov. 6 if she doesn’t make the Breeders’ Cup race, according to Lukas.
This will be the record seventh time the Breeders’ Cup World Championships have run at Churchill Downs. Lukas has had runners on all previous occasions and saddled six of his 18 Breeders’ Cup winners beneath the Twin Spires, three coming in the event’s first stop at the Louisville track in 1988.
“That was my best day and I could have won four if Winning Colors had beaten Personal Ensign,” Lukas said. “We would have made history. Is It True beat Easy Goer and we ran 1-2-3 in the Juvenile Fillies.”
Gulch won the Sprint that year for Lukas, who also won the Juvenile here in 1994 with Timber Country and the 2000 Distaff (now Ladies’ Classic) here with Spain.

BOREL, STREET SENSE ROCKETED TO FOREFRONT IN 2006 CUP HERE – The most impressive performance the previous time the Breeders’ Cup World Championships were held at Churchill Downs in 2006 came from a 15-1 longshot and a rider whose greatest success had been largely confined to the South and Midwest.

But the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) changed all that for Street Sense and Calvin Borel.

“I knew (trainer) Carl (Nafzger) wanted to win the race real bad and he had him ready for it.” Borel said. “He thought he had the best horse and he was.”

Going into the Juvenile, Street Sense was coming off third-place finishes in the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland and the Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Futurity (GIII).  Until then Borel had only ridden in five previous Breeders’ Cup races, four of them at Churchill Downs.

Racing near the back of the 14-horse field and saving ground for the first six furlongs, it looked like Street Sense was going nowhere. But midway on the far turn, Borel took Street Sense around Principle Secret and then ducked back to the rail and began passing horses as if he were shot out of a cannon.
Street Sense slipped through a narrow hole and suddenly was four lengths on top at the eighth pole and wound up winning by 10, the largest margin in Juvenile history.

That was the first time he had really been tested,” Borel said. “I knew he had the talent. I got to riding him and he took off with a powerful run.”

The tour de force in the Breeders’ Cup was just a preview of what was to come six months and one day later when horse and rider ran basically the same race to win the 2007 Kentucky Derby. Street Sense is the only horse to pull off the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile-Kentucky Derby double.

“We made some history,” Borel said.

LEPAROUX SLATED TO RIDE IN 12 BREEDERS’ CUP RACES – Julien Leparoux, the 2009 Eclipse Award winner as America’s top jockey who has dominated the jockey standings the past four years at Churchill Downs, will be a busy man next weekend with mounts in 12 of the 14 Breeders’ Cup races.

Winner of the 2009 Eclipse Award, Leparoux also earned the Bill Shoemaker Award at Santa Anita last year as top rider in the Breeders’ Cup with three victories. Leparoux has won five Breeders’ Cup races overall, beginning with Nownownow in the Juvenile Turf in 2007 at Monmouth Park.

Leparoux, who has won or shared six riding titles at Churchill Downs since 2006, will partner Informed Decision in the Sentient Jet Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) in her bid to become the first repeat winner of the race.
According to Steve Bass, agent for Leparoux, the rider’s other mounts will be Harlan’s Ruby (Juvenile Fillies), Kathmanblu (Juvenile Fillies Turf), It’s Tea Time (Ladies’ Classic), Typhoon Slew (Juvenile Turf), Silver Timber (Turf Sprint), Rogue Romance (Juvenile), Cool Coal Man (Dirt Mile), Society’s Chairman (Mile), Warrior’s Reward (Sprint), Al Khali (Turf) and Fly Down (Classic).

BARN TALK – Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame, one of the leading contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), returned to the dirt Thursday morning, when he galloped for trainer Al Stall Jr. after the renovation break under exercise rider Marcus Alfred. The colt had been at Keeneland for nearly two months training on Polytrack with the exception of a quick trip to New York for the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) on Oct. 2. Stall plans to bring Blame to the track after the break Friday morning and then go at 6 a.m., under the lights, the next three mornings with a work scheduled Monday under jockey Garrett Gomez. Also on the track for Stall was Columbine Stable’s J. B.’s Thunder, winner of the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland and a pre-entrant in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI). “Man, I forgot how much he liked the dirt,” Stall said as J. B.’s Thunder galloped past under exercise rider Randi Melton. “He and Blame were on the same schedule and both shipped from Saratoga (to Keeneland) on Aug. 30, so this was his first morning on it in nearly two months.” …

One other Breeders’ Cup hopeful, Gold Mark Farm’s Double Espresso, worked Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. Double Espresso, who is far down on the preference list for the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI), worked a half-mile in :50.60 before the renovation break. The move was the 24th fastest of 35 at the distance. Trainer Tom Amoss said that if Double Espresso does not make the Breeders’ Cup field, she would run in the Nov. 6 Chilukki (GII). …

At Keeneland on Thursday morning, Brandon and Marianne Chase’s Here Comes Ben had his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) by working a half-mile on the Polytrack in :46.60. Fractions for the work were :11.40, :23.60, :35.40 and out five furlongs in :58.40 and six furlongs in 1:12.40. Trained by Charles Lopresti, Here Comes Ben has won four consecutive starts and has a 5-3-1-1 record at Churchill Downs including a victory in the Kelly’s Landing overnight stake this past June. Working on the turf at Keeneland was Sullimar Stables’ Get Stormy, who worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 for trainer Tom Bush in preparation for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI). Splits were :25, :49.20 and out six furlongs in 1:14.20. Get Stormy is 1-for-1 over the Matt Winn Turf Course here, having taken the Commonwealth Turf (GIII) last fall.

WARRIOR’S REWARD WORKS HALF-MILE IN :48.80 – A. Stevens Miles Jr.’s Warrior’s Reward, winner of the Carter Handicap (GI) and runner-up in the Churchill Downs (GII), worked a half-mile before the renovation break in :48.80 over a fast track Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) to be run Nov. 6.

Working solo and with exercise rider Tracey Wilkes up, Warrior’s Reward posted fractions of :25.60 and :37 with a five-furlong gallop-out time of 1:01.80 and 1:16.20 for six furlongs.

“I got the last eighth in 11 and 3. This was fine,” trainer Ian Wilkes said of Warrior’s Reward, who will be ridden in the Breeders’ Cup by Julien Leparoux.

Warrior’s Reward, who has posted a 4-1-3-0 mark at Churchill Downs, enters the Breeders’ Cup off a third-place finish over Polytrack at Keeneland in the Oct. 8 Phoenix (GIII). Prior to the Phoenix, Warrior’s Reward returned from a three-month layoff in the Forego (GI) at Saratoga.

“I messed up (running him in the May 31 Metropolitan Handicap) and made a bad decision to run there,” Wilkes said. “We gave him a break and freshened him with this (the Breeders’ Cup) in mind.”

Wilkes had a choice between the Sprint and the Dirt Mile (GI) for the 4-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro.
“I just think the Sprint is a better race for him,” Wilkes said. “It is just my gut feeling.”

LUKAS HOPING MINE THAT BIRD GETS BREEDERS’ CUP CHANCE – Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has won more Breeders’ Cup races (18) than any other conditioner and his six World Championships victories at Churchill Downs are the most at one venue, a mark he shares with Richard Mandella’s six triumphs at Santa Anita.

The Hall of Fame trainer hopes he gets a chance to add to those numbers with Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).
“I don’t think he will get in,” Lukas said of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI), “but he has done very well since he got back here from Saratoga.”

Lukas said Mike Smith would have the mount on Mine That Bird.

Mine That Bird has been with Lukas for five months and had three starts in 2010, a comeback race on the turf in the Firecracker Handicap (GII) here in July and two off-the-board finishes at Saratoga in the Whitney (GI) and Woodward (GI), both at 1 1/8 miles.

Since returning to Churchill Downs, where he is 1-for-1 on the main track, he has had five works, two of them bullets. Lukas said if Mine That Bird does not get in the Dirt Mile the $100,000-added Ack Ack Handicap (GIII) at 1 1/16 miles on the main track on Nov. 5 is a possibility.

“It is up to them,” Lukas said of owners Mark Allen of Double Eagle Ranch and Dr. Leonard Blach of Buena Suerte Equine.

Lukas has two other possible Breeders’ Cup horses but acknowledges they are on the bubble to get in: Westrock Stables’ Tidal Pool for the Sentient Jet Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) and Westrock Stables and Barry Butzow’s Hamazing Destiny for the Sentient Jet Sprint (GI). Smith would have the mount on Tidal Pool and Terry Thompson would ride Hamazing Destiny.

ATONED GETS MARATHON TEST DRIVE FROM ALBARADO – Dogwood Stable’s Atoned worked a mile in 1:44 before the renovation break Wednesday morning under jockey Robby Albarado in preparation for a bid for the 1 ¾-mile Breeders’ Cup Marathon (GIII).

Fractions for the work were :13, :26, :39, 1:18 and 1:30.80 with a gallop-out time for 1:58.40 for 1 1/8 miles and 2:13.60 for the mile and a quarter.

“I wanted to put a jock on him this morning because we were doing something a bit more significant,” trainer Neil Howard said. “I was extremely happy with the work.”

Howard has had Atoned for only his past three races, the most recent being a third-place finish in the Turfway Park Fall Championship (GIII) on Sept. 11.

“He is doing good,” Howard said. “He is one of those horses that can get the distance and horses like that are in the minority, so we figured we’d take a shot.”

Atoned is one of five confirmed Breeders’ Cup mounts for Albarado, according to his agent, Lenny Pike. Other Albarado mounts are First Dude (Classic), Acoma (Ladies’ Classic), Central City (Turf Sprint) and Court Vision (TVG Mile).

BARN TALK – Trainer Dale Romans said a decision on where four-time graded stakes winner Paddy O’Prado would run next would be announced Friday. “All of us are having a conference call tomorrow and we hope to come to a decision as to where we will run next by sometime on Thursday,” Romans said of the colt who is owned by Donegal Racing, which is headed by Jerry Crawford. “We will let everyone know Friday morning where we are running.” Under consideration for Paddy O’Prado are the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI), the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) to be run Nov. 6 and the Nov. 28 Japan Cup (GI). …

Ron Anderson, agent for nine-time Breeders’ Cup-winning rider Garrett Gomez, has four definite rides lined up for this year’s World Championships, headlined by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Blame in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). Other confirmed Gomez mounts include Alcomo (BRZ) in the Marathon (GIII), More Than Real in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII) and Jessica Is Back for the Sentient Jet Filly & Mare Sprint (GI). …

Trainers Clark Hanna (A.U. Miner) and Tom Amoss (Falling Knife) reported that their runners came out of Tuesday works at Churchill Downs in good order in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Marathon. …

Defending Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag, owned by Hi Card Ranch, is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Thursday. Trained by Brian Koriner, California Flag has been at Keeneland since running 11th in the Woodford (GIII) on Oct. 9. Another Koriner trainee, Legacy Ranch and Shirley MacPherson’s Sweet August Moon, also is coming from Keeneland after a fifth-place finish in the Thoroughbred Club of America (GII) on Oct. 9. Sweet August Moon is being pointed to the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) on Nov. 5. The Koriner duo will be stabled in Barn 17. …

Scheduled for a Friday arrival from California is Alan Klein and Philip Lebherz’s Smiling Tiger for the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI). Trained by Jeff Bonde, the 3-year-old Smiling Tiger won the Bing Crosby (GI) at Del Mar in August and in his most recent start won the Grade I Ancient Title on Oct. 9 at Hollywood Park.

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.”

Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), will race for the first time in 2010 and make his career debut on the grass in Sunday’s 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) Presented by Thorntons.

Calvin Borel, who guided Mine That Bird to his 50-1 Kentucky Derby shocker last spring, will be aboard Sunday when the 4-year-old gelding makes his turf debut from post position two under high weight of 122 pounds.  Mine That Bird faces 13 foes in the 10th race (approximate post time 5:26 p.m., EDT) on the 11-race program. First post time Sunday’s program that wraps up the 42-day Spring Meet is 12:45 p.m.

Now trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Mine That Bird has not started since finishing ninth to the unbeaten Zenyatta in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) over the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Mine That Bird, who would become the first Kentucky Derby winner to race at Churchill Downs since 2005 Derby winner Giacomo ran fourth in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), was made the 3-1 morning line favorite by Churchill Downs linemaker Mike Battaglia.

After the Breeders’ Cup last fall, Mine That Bird returned to co-owner Mark Allen’s Double Eagle Ranch in Roswell, N.M. Mine That Bird began galloping on the track at the ranch in March and arrived at Churchill Downs on May 20. Mine That Bird has had six works at Churchill Downs, the past three all bullets including a :59.80, five-furlong drill on Monday.

Mine That Bird’s will bid to snap a five-race losing streak in the Firecracker.  He followed his Kentucky Derby victory with a strong runner-up finish to Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner and eventual Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness (GI) and a third-place run behind eventual 3-year-old champion Summer Bird in the Belmont Stakes (GI).  But he tailed off later in the year as he finished third as a heavy favorite in the West Virginia Derby (GII) at Mountaineer and then finished sixth to Gitano Hernando in the Goodwood (GI) at Santa Anita before his dull run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

A run in the Firecracker would make Mine That Bird the first Kentucky Derby winner to compete on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course. A victory in his comeback race would make Mine That Bird the first Kentucky Derby winner to return to Churchill Downs and win since Silver Charm.  The Bob Baffert-trained 1997 Derby winner took the 1998 Clark Handicap (GII) beneath the Twin Spires after runner-up finishes to Awesome Again in that year’s renewals of both the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The task of returning to the winner’s circle in the Firecracker will not be easy for Mine That Bird as he faces a field of accomplished turf runners that includes a trio that has prospered over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu, the second starting high weight at 119 pounds and 4-1 on the morning line, won the Opening Verse overnight stake here on June 11 and two years ago won the American Turf (GIII) and Jefferson Cup (GII). Trained by Greg Fox, Tizdejavu will be ridden by Jesus Castanon and break from post position four.

Don Benge’s Wise River owns the Matt Winn Turf Course record for 1 1/16 miles of 1:39.83 and comes into the Firecracker off a victory in the Dallas Turf Cup Handicap at Lone Star Park on May 31. Wise River, who will be ridden by Francisco Torres, will carry 118 pounds and break from post position 13.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Inca King, second in last year’s Firecracker to Mr. Sidney, enters this year’s race on a five-race win streak. Inca King, who will carry 117 pounds, has a record of 6-1-1 in nine races on the Matt Winn Turf Course that includes a victory in the 2007 Jefferson Cup and two other stakes victories. Victor Lebron will ride Inca King, who breaks from post position nine.

The field for the Firecracker Handicap Presented by Thorntons, from the rail out, is as follows with morning line odds: Driving Snow (GB) (Freddie Lenclud, 115 pounds, 20-1), Mine That Bird (Borel, 122, 3-1), Attempted Humor (Corey Lanerie, 117, 8-1), Tizdejavu (Castanon, 119, 4-1), Unbridle’s Dream (Shaun Bridgmohan, 115, 20-1), Tybalt (Corey Nakatani, 116, 15-1), Public Speaker (Robby Albarado, 117, 8-1), Veiled Prophet (Leandro Goncalves, 114, 30-1), Inca King (Lebron, 117, 6-1), Pop Tarrt (Sal Gonzalez Jr., 114, 50-1), Euroears (Jamie Theriot, 115, 6-1), Skipadate (Alex Solis, 114, 15-1), Wise River (Torres, 118, 15-1) and Orthodox (Jon Court, 114, 20-1). Also eligible: Baryshnikov (Rex Stokes III, 113, 20-1).

MINE THAT BIRD WORKS SIX FURLONGS IN 1:13 – Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird continued to work toward his first start of 2010 by breezing six furlongs in company in 1:13 over a fast Churchill Downs track on Tuesday morning.

With jockey Calvin Borel up, Mine That Bird worked after the renovation break in company with the 3-year-old Bird Empire for the second consecutive week. The 2009 Kentucky Derby winner spotted Bird Empire two lengths when breaking off at the three-quarter pole and tracked his workmate to the top of the stretch where he easily dispatched his company on the inside and finished five lengths in front.

Churchill Downs clockers caught Mine That Bird in fractions of :12.80, :25, :37.60, :49.60 and galloping out seven furlongs in 1:27.20. Bird Empire was given a clocking of 1:14.40 time for his six-furlong effort.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas was all smiles after the work, the fifth for Mine That Bird since joining the Lukas barn on May 20.

“When they started training horses 300 years ago, this is what they had in mind,” Lukas said. “His last quarter was in 23 and 2 and his last eighth, it had to be 11 and change. He was flying.”

There is an allowance optional claiming race in the condition book for which Mine That Bird fits for July 3 and Lukas also has nominated Mine That Bird to the Firecracker Handicap (GII) on grass for closing day, July 4. Lukas has not committed to a start in either spot.

“I am not sure where we’ll go,” Lukas said. “He is nominated to the ($250,000) Salvatore Mile (GIII at a mile on July 3 at Monmouth), which is a nice option. He is nominated to everything but the Tokyo Fair. Our goal is the Whitney (Handicap, GI on Aug. 7 at Saratoga). We are going to dive right into the deep end.”

LOCUST GROVE ATTRACTS 47 NOMINEES INCLUDING MINT JULEP TOP THREE – The top three finishers from the June 5 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) – Hot Cha Cha, Acoma and Keertana – headline a list of 47 fillies and mares nominated to the 29th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) to be run at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course on July 3.

The top three finished within three-quarters of a length of each other with Acoma carrying 122 pounds and Hot Cha Cha and Keertana 120. Weights for the Locust Grove will be announced Saturday.

Closeout won the 2009 Locust Grove, and the 5-year-old mare is nominated to this year’s renewal. Should Closeout win, she would join Colstar (2000-01) as the only repeat winner of the Locust Grove.

The Locust Grove is one of three graded stakes on the closing weekend of the 42-day meet. Sharing top billing with Locust Grove on July 3 is the 109th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor (GIII) for 2-year-olds going six furlongs.

Headlining the list of 22 nominees for the Bashford Manor is Dogwood Stable’s Lou Brissie, winner of the Kentucky Juvenile (GIII) here on April 30. Trained by Neil Howard, Lou Brissie is undefeated in two starts.
Entries for the Bashford Manor, as well as the Locust Grove, will be taken next Wednesday.

The closing-day feature is the 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Thirty horses were nominated to the Firecracker, won last year by Mr. Sidney.

Topping the nominations are Don Benge’s Wise River, winner of the Dallas Turf Cup Handicap on May 31 at Lone Star Park in his most recent start, and Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu, a two-time graded stakes winner on the turf at Churchill Downs and winner of the Opening Verse here on June 11.

Weights for the Firecracker will be announced Sunday and entries will be taken Thursday, July 1.