Locust Grove Handicap

DEBUTANTE WINNER JUST LOUISE FINE AFTER VICTORY – Eldon Farm Equine’s Just Louise was reported to be doing well Sunday morning, the day after her neck victory over Tristanme in the Debutante Stakes (GII)."She is doing good,” said Baldemar Bahena, assistant to trainer Dale Romans.

Romans indicated after the race that Just Louise would be pointed toward stakes action at Saratoga. The first 2-year-old filly stake at Saratoga is the Schuylerville (GIII) on July 23.

Bahena said the Romans horses heading to Saratoga would be leaving Churchill Downs beginning July 15.

Debutante favorite Salty Strike, who was caught in the last jump for second by Tristanme, was also doing well Sunday according to Philip Bauer, assistant to trainer Ken McPeek.

“She’s good this morning and she is tired,” Bauer said. “She ran hard, and to re-break again like she did at the quarter pole, that was pretty good.”

Bauer said the first two trucks shipping McPeek horses to Saratoga would be leave on Thursday with the possibility of Salty Strike being on board one of those trucks.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA, MINE THAT BIRD SET FOR MONDAY WORKS – There will be no racing at Churchill Downs on Monday, but there will still plenty of attention focused on the one-mile main track as 2009 Horse of the Year and Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) are scheduled to work.

Rachel Alexandra, a dominant 10 ½-length winner last out in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis (GII), is scheduled for her final work over her home track before the 4-year-old champion heads to Saratoga on Wednesday.  The Steve Asmussen trainee regularly works in trainer Steve Asmussen’s second set around 6:15-6:30 a.m. (all times EDT).

Mine That Bird continues to prep for his first race since ninth-place finish behind unbeaten Zenyatta in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) on the synthetic Pro-Ride    surface at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, is scheduled to breeze just after the maintenance break at approximately 8:30 a.m. for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.  Jockey Calvin Borel will be in the saddle for Mine That Bird’s move.

Mine That Bird could make his return to competition during the closing weekend of Churchill Downs Spring Meet.  There are two possible races for Mine That Bird: an allowance race 1 1/16-miles on the main track on Saturday, July 3, and the 4-year-old gelding is also nominated to the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on turf on Sunday, July 4.

WISE RIVER’S FIRECRACKER REQUEST: NO RAIN, PLEASE – Trainer Clark Hanna has one, simple request for the weather gods with regard to next Sunday’s 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course: Keep it dry!

Hanna trains Wise River, as solid and consistent a turf performer as there is as long as the course is firm.

“He just doesn’t like yielding turf and you have to hope for the best,” said Hanna, who has been training the 7-year-old Wise River since February 2008. “He is the best horse I have had and the most consistent. I’m a little hard-headed and have run him times I probably shouldn’t have because of yielding turf.”

Under Hanna’s care, Wise River has compiled a record of 12-4-3-1 in two-turn races on firm turf. Overall, the record in such races and conditions is 22-6-6-2 with his largest margin of defeat being only seven lengths in the Grade I Kilroe Mile last year at Santa Anita.

“He shows up every time and is usually 1-2-3,” Hanna said. “I even ran him short (5 ½ furlongs) this winter at New Orleans, which he doesn’t like, because he had no other spot to run and he was third.”
Wise River, a son of Belong to Me, broke his maiden at first asking in a one-mile turf test at Ellis Park. Three races later, Wise River opened his 3-year-old campaign by running second to Barbaro in the Tropical Park Derby (GIII).

At Churchill Downs, Wise River has compiled a record of 11-2-3-2 on the Matt Winn Turf Course and owns the course record for 1 1/16 miles (1:39.83 established April 26, 2009). Wise River’s past two turf starts here have come on yielding courses with typical yielding-course results for him: eighth in this spring’s Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) and sixth in last year’s Firecracker.

Owned by Don Benge, Wise River enters the Firecracker off a victory in the Dallas Turf Cup Handicap at Lone Star Park on May 31.

“He came out of the Texas race fine and I like the space between the races,” Hanna said. “I could have run in the prep for the Firecracker (the Opening Verse on June 11), but this gave us an extra week and a half.”

A week out, everything is looking good for Hanna and Wise River, whose career bankroll is $494,567 with a record of 36-7-10-5.

“The long-term forecast looks decent,” Hanna said. “He likes this track a lot and I’d rather run him here. If he doesn’t run here, I might go to the West Coast for the race the end of next month at Del Mar (the Grade I Eddie Read at 1 1/8 miles on July 24). It stays dry out there.”

ACOMA EXPECTED STARTING HIGH WEIGHT FOR LOCUST GROVE – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Acoma has been assigned 121 pounds by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman for Saturday’s 29th running of the Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) at a mile over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Acoma is expected to be the starting high weight in the race as Hot Cha Cha, assigned 122 pounds, is expected to bypass the Locust Grove for Modesty Handicap (GIII) at Arlington Park on July 17. Hot Cha Cha defeated Acoma by three-quarters of a length in the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) here on June 5 while carrying 120 pounds to 122 for Acoma.

Barbara Hunter’s Keertana, who finished a head in back of Acoma in the Mint Julep while carrying 120 pounds, was assigned 120 for the Locust Grove.

Other probable Locust Grove starters and their weight assignments are Alfred Nuckols Jr.’s Danzon (116), Vegso Racing Stables’ Happiness Is (114) and Magdalena Racing’s My Baby Baby (114).

Considered possible for the race is Hidden Brook’s Quiet Meadow (115).

Entries for the Locust Grove will be taken Wednesday.

BARN TALK – Trainer Bret Calhoun was all smiles Sunday morning after the 4 ½-length victory by Chamberlain Bridge in Saturday’s Arlington Sprint Handicap at 5 ½ furlongs. The race was a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) to be held here Nov. 6. “That’s the long-term goal. Now we figure out the best way to get here,” Calhoun said. “There is a race the end of July at Penn National (the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governors Cup Handicap at five furlongs) and then the Turf Monster ($250,000 on Sept. 6 at five furlongs) that he won last year at Philadelphia Park.” Options in October include the Woodford at Keeneland, a race Chamberlain Bridge won in 2008. …  

Another happy trainer Sunday was Dallas Stewart after his Seeking the Title won the Iowa Oaks (GIII) on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows by a half-length. Seeking the Title had been excluded from the Kentucky Oaks (GI) because of insufficient graded stakes earnings and then lost rider Kent Desormeaux in the Black-Eyed Susan (GII) at Pimlico when she tried to avoid a fallen horse. “We finally got a race without somebody falling down,” Stewart said with a chuckle of Seeking the Title, who had run sixth in the Acorn (GI) in her previous start. “She will go to Saratoga and may run in the Coaching Club of American Oaks (GI) on July 24 if it is not too quick. That’s a mile and an eighth and the further the better for her. She needs more ground and almost didn’t have enough last night.” Stewart also said multiple stakes winner Macho Again was on track to return to Saratoga with the Aug. 7 Whitney Handicap (GI) as his objective. …

Trainer Tom Proctor said that debut maiden winner Well Connected will be heading to Saratoga after his 1 ¾-length victory on Saturday after breaking from post position 12 in the five-furlong sprint. “I think I will look for an allowance race for him around seven furlongs because I don’t want to run him short again at this time,” Proctor said. “The mare (Indy Groove) was precocious and she won from five-eighths to a mile and an eighth.” Well Connected is the first starter for Indy Groove, who ran sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) here for Proctor in 2004.

WORK TAB – Northern Dancer (GIII) winner Colizeo worked a half-mile over a fast track in :48.40. … Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) winner General Quarters worked a half-mile in :49. … Dogwood (GIII) runner-up Tap Tap Tapping worked a half-mile in :50.20 and Jefferson Cup (GIII) winner Gleam of Hope worked a half-mile in :52. Eighth-place Kentucky Derby (GI) finisher Stately Victor work five furlongs at the Trackside Training Center in 1:00 over a fast track.

Three graded stakes winners – Brownie Points, Bayou’s Lassie and Meribel – headline a field of 10 entered Thursday for the 27th running of the $150,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (Grade III), a one-mile event on the Matt Winn Turf Course for fillies and mares and the centerpiece of Sunday’s closing day card of the 52-day Spring Meet at Churchill Downs.

The Locust Grove, which will be run at a mile on turf for the first time, will go as the ninth race on Sunday’s 11-race card that begins with a 1:15 p.m. (EDT) first post.

Pin Oak Stable’s Brownie Points will carry high weight of 120 for trainer Donnie Von Hemel. Winner of the Ouija Board Handicap (GIII) at Lone Star Park in her most recent start, will be ridden by Luis Quinonez and break from post position two. The versatile daughter of Forest Wildcat earlier finished second to Zenyatta in the $500,000 Apple Blossom (GI) on the main track at Oaklawn Park. The homebred Brownie Points has won eight of 22 races – with five wins on turf – and has earned $906,309.

Jacks or Better Farm’s Bayou’s Lassie, upset winner of the Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (GIII) on Kentucky Derby Day, is the next high weight at 119 pounds. Trained by Dale Romans, Bayou’s Lassie has won six of 11 turf starts will be ridden by Robby Albarado from post position five. Runnymede Farm’s Meribel, now in the barn of trainer Helen Pitts, will carry 118 pounds and be ridden by Calvin Borel as she breaks from post position six. Meribel accounted for the Grade III Valley View Stakes in 2006 over Keeneland’s Polytrack surface and since has placed in graded stakes races on turf.

Mauralakana won the 2007 Locust Grove under Julien Leparoux, who will bid for back-to-back scores in the race when he rides Godolphin Racing’s Say You Will. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the A.P. Indy filly is graded-stakes placed on synthetic surfaces and has won two of three grass starts. She will break from the outside post.

The field for the Locust Grove, from the hedge out, is as follows: James Barry’s Genuine Devotion (Alan Garcia, 115 pounds); Brownie Points (Luis Quinonez, 120); Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and John Sikura’s New Edition (Shaun Bridgmohan, 115); Richard Shultz’s Lemonlime (Willie Martinez, 117); Bayou’s Lassie (Robby Albarado, 119); Meribel (Calvin Borel, 116); Craig Bernick’s You Go West Girl (Miguel Mena, 114); Briland Farm’s Grace Happens (Brian Hernandez Jr., 112); Peter Bradley III’s Tears I Cry (Jamie Theriot, 117); and, Say You Will (Julien Leparoux, 115).

 

SIX TO LINE UP AGAINST EINSTEIN IN FIRECRACKER – Trainer Helen Pitts’ turf star Einstein will go for his fourth grass victory of 2008 on Friday when he faces six rivals in the 19th running of the $200,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) to be run at one mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            The Firecracker will go as the 10th race on the 11-race holiday card. First post time is 1:15 p.m. (EDT).

Second in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) on dirt to 2007 “Horse of the Year” Curlin on June 14 in his most recent start, Einstein will carry high weight of 124 pounds and concede 7-10 pounds to his Firecracker foes. Robby Albarado, who rode Einstein to victory in the May 3 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs, has the call Friday and will break from post position three.

            Owned by Patricia Cunningham and Melissa Green, Lessee, Einstein also won the Grade I Gulfstream Park Turf this winter and ran second to 2007 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) winner Kip Deville in the Grade I Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland.

            The main rival to Einstein appears to be Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Inca King, who is undefeated in three starts over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            Trained by Steve Asmussen, Inca King posted a front-running victory in the May 31 Opening Verse Handicap at a mile and a sixteenth in his most recent start and last year won the Grade II Jefferson Cup during the Spring Meet and the Commonwealth Turf in the Fall Meet. Shaun Bridgmohan will ride Inca King who breaks from post position seven under a 118-pound impost.

            The field for the Firecracker, from the hedge out, is as follows: Mrs. S.K. Johnston Jr., Marco Bommarito and the Molly Malone Racing Club’s A.P. Xcellent (Larry Melancon, 116 pounds); Zayat Stables’ Thorn Song (Kent Desormeaux, 118); Einstein (Robby Albarado, 124); Terry Raymond. Jana Wagner and Gus Goldsmith’s Faith’s Magic (Brian Hernandez Jr., 116); Stud TNT’s Portuga (Calvin Borel, 115); Oxbow Racing’s Steve’s Double (Miguel Mena, 115); and, Inca King (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118). 

DREAMING OF ANNA ASSIGNED TOP WEIGHT FOR LOCUST GROVE – Frank Calabrese’s champion filly Dreaming of Anna has been assigned the top weight of 124 pounds for the 27th running of the Locust Grove Handicap (GIII), to be run on closing day, July 6.

Winner of the Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) on June 14, Dreaming of Anna – the champion 2-year-old filly of 2006 – is not expected to compete in the 1 1/8-mile test for fillies and mares ages 3 and up.

Assigned the second high weight of 121 pounds by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman was Ben McElroy’s Roshani. The Todd Pletcher trainee is considered as “possible” for the Locust Grove.

Expected to be the starting high weight in the Locust Grove is Pin Oak Stable’s Brownie Points, who was assigned 120 pounds. Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Brownie Points won the Ouija Board Handicap (GIII) in her most recent start on May 26 at Lone Star Park and arrived at Churchill Downs from the Texas track on Tuesday.

Other expected starters, with weight assignments, are Jacks or Better Farm’s Bayou Lassie (119), Richard Shultz’s Lemonlime (117), Godolphin Racing’s Say You Will (115), James Barry’s Genuine Devotion (115), Peter Bradley’s Tears I Cry (115), Craig Bernick’s You Go West Girl (114) and Briland Farm’s Grace Happens (112).

            Three other mares are considered as “possible”: Runnymede Farm’s Meribel (118), Swettenham Stud’s Paris Winds (118) and Pegasus Horses’ Ballymore Lady (114).   

BOREL SET FOR RETURN, CLOSES ON MILESTONE – Jockey Calvin Borel is expected to be back in the saddle Wednesday afternoon after taking off all mounts Sunday because of a sore knee.

            “He worked five horses Sunday morning, but his knee swelled and he had it drained,” agent Jerry Hissam said of Borel, who suffered a swollen ligament in his knee after coming off a horse during training hours on June 13. “He gave it a couple days rest, but he’ll be back Wednesday.”

 Borel enters Wednesday’s card with 4,492 career victories, which is 34th best all time. He is named to ride six horses Wednesday and six on Thursday. He has 43 victories this meet, good for fifth in the rider standings.

            “He lost two of the eight he needs (to get to 4,500) on Sunday,” Hissam said referring to the mounts Borel took off that won on the card.

            Hissam said after the meet ends on Sunday Borel will head to New York for the July 12 Man o’ War (GI) to ride Marc Keller’s Grand Couturier, whom he rode to victory in last year’s Sword Dancer Invitational (GI) at Saratoga. 

NEXT WORK TO DETERMINE COURSE FOR ACOMA – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Dogwood (GIII) winner Acoma worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Monday morning for trainer David Carroll. It was her third work since winning the May 31 Dogwood.

            “She worked very well,” Carroll said of the 3-year-old daughter of Empire Maker. “She is going to either the Delaware Oaks or the Coaching Club American Oaks and her work next Monday will likely determine which one.”

            The $500,000 Delaware Oaks (GII) is run at a mile and a sixteenth on July 12 at Delaware Park. The $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (GI) is run at a mile and a quarter on July 19 at Belmont Park.

            Also appearing on the work tab for Carroll on Monday was Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s Denis of Cork, the third-place finisher to Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and winner of the Southwest Stakes (GIII).  In his first work since his runner-up finish in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (GI), Denis of Cork worked a half-mile in :50.

            “He went very nice,” Carroll said. “He is on track for the Jim Dandy (GII on July 27 at Saratoga). He is on a Monday work schedule, weather permitting.”

 
BARN TALK – Eliah and Lisa Kahn are the only owners of multiple winners at the Spring Meet to be batting a thousand: Four starters; four winners. On Thursday, the streak either will end or extend to six. Trainer Ken McPeek has entered Perfect Motion for the Kahns in the sixth race, a one-mile turf allowance event, and Subscriber in the 10th, a mile and a sixteenth allowance race. Perfect Motion, who has not run since Jan. 9 at Gulfstream Park, finished fourth last November in her lone start over the Matt Winn Turf Course. Subscriber has posted victories here this meet on May 24 and June 8. …  Sunday’s second race produced the 15th dead heat of the meet, but the first for the win. R.J. Thoroughbred Stables’ Ready’s Rocket finished on even terms with Frank Vozel’s Canali, trained by David Vance. The victory was the first of two for Vance on Sunday. TBS Farms’ This Kat Talks won the fifth race to boost Vance’s career total to 2,999 and 296 under the Twin Spires, ninth-best all time at Churchill Downs. Vance’s first chance to become the 22nd member of the 3,000-win club is slated to come Thursday when Doubleband goes to the post in the second race for TBS Farms. … Steve Asmussen, who saddled two winners on Sunday, now has 298 career victories at Churchill Downs. His career total of 4,252 ranks eighth all time and last week he passed Hall of Famer Ron McAnally for sixth all time in earnings at $120,343,848 through June 30. McAnally’s horses have earned $120,123,495. … Another trainer approaching a milestone is Hall of Famer and four-time Kentucky Derby-winner D. Wayne Lukas. Lukas, who has saddled eight winners this meet, has 4,496 for his career through June 30, sixth best all time. The leading trainer all time in money won ($250,703,543), Lukas has two horses entered at Churchill Downs on Wednesday and four on Thursday. 

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) –  Ronald Kirk, John Bates and Michael Riordan’s Run Away and Hide, winner of the May 1 Kentucky Stakes (GIII), worked five furlongs in 1:04.60 over a “fast” track for trainer Ronny Werner on Wednesday. … On Tuesday, Maggi Moss’ Indian Chant tuned up for his engagement in the July 12 Smile Sprint Handicap (GII) at Calder by working a bullet half-mile in :47.40 over a “fast” track for trainer Tom Amoss. … Other Tuesday works of note on the main track were W.S. Farish, Edward Hudson Jr. and Inwood Stable’s Grasshopper, winner of the Mineshaft Handicap (GIII) and fourth in the recent Stephen Foster Handicap (GI), a half-mile in :50.40; Uptown Racing’s Boss Lafitte, winner of Keeneland’s Transylvania Stakes (GIII), a half-mile in :50; and, Briland Farm’s Grace Happens, working toward Sunday’s Locust Grove, a half-mile in :50.40. … In his first work since a runner-up finish in the June 14 Northern Dancer Stakes (GIII), B. Wayne Hughes’ My Pal Charlie worked a half-mile in :52.40 over a “fast” track on Monday. ...  (Turf: FIRM, dogs up) – Heading the roster of Tuesday turf works were several horses that were prepping for closing weekend stakes appearances on the Matt Winn Turf Course.  Zayat Stables’ River City Handicap (GIII) winner Thorn Song breezed a half-mile in :50.60 in advance of his run in Friday’s Firecracker. … Peter Bradley’s Locust Grove contender Tears I Cry breezed a half-mile in :51.20. … Jacks or Better Farm’s Distaff Turf Mile (GIII) winner Bayou’s Lassie breezed a half-mile in :52 for the Locust Grove. … Runnymede Farm’s Locust Grove contender Meribel worked five-eighths in 1:01.40.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

         Through Sunday, June 29

 

Jockeys                          Starts   1-2-3

 

Robby Albarado                  248  64-36-31

Miguel Mena                       321   57-47-46

Julien Leparoux                  284   51-54-49

Jamie Theriot                     254   46-35-34

Calvin Borel                        265  43-39-38

Shaun Bridgmohan             198   41-36-25

Jesus Castanon                   236   26-25-28

Corey Lanerie                    205   18-26-26

Brian Hernandez Jr.            184   15-29-19

John McKee                       142   12-21-20

Trainers

Tom Amoss                       75   30-13-12

Steve Asmussen                128  29-22-18

Ken McPeek                        70    26-12-6

Mike Maker                        61    17-13-9

Dale Romans                    132   15-27-23

Ian Wilkes                          48    14-12-7

Eddie Kenneally                  61   12-10-10

Cody Autrey                       54     9-9-11

Greg Foley                          61     9-9-8

Todd Pletcher                     47      9-5-7

Bret Calhoun                       24     9-2-4

Six (6) trainers tied at eight (8) wins     

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey         61   17-10-13

Maggi Moss                         28     12-6-4

Zayat Stables, LLC                50    8-12-11

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein   36     7-7-7

Heflin & Driver Racing           28     5-5-6

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable       17     5-1-0

    Seven (7) owners tied at four (4) wins