Ken and Sarah Ramsey

FLAT OUT CONFIRMED FOR CLARK HANDICAP – Owner Art Preston and trainer Scooter Dickey met at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning and decided to continue the 2011 campaign of Jockey Club Gold Cup (Grade I) and Suburban Handicap (GII) winner Flat Out in the 137^th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) on Friday, Nov. 25.

Flat Out is coming off a fifth-place finish behind WinStar Farm’s Drosselmeyer in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.

“He’s been doing really well since the Classic,” Dickey said. “Also, it’s a Grade I race worth a $500,000. We’re excited about it.”

Flat Out finished just three lengths behind the victorious Drosselmeyer in the Classic.

“He really didn’t run a bad race,” Dickey said.  “Losing by three lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is nothing to be ashamed of.”

The Clark, a race for 3-year-olds and up run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, could play a major role in the Eclipse Award voting for Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year.  But Dickey said that was not a factor that determined Flat Out’s participation in the race.

“A lot of people have been telling me that if he (Flat Out) wins (the Clark) that he could be champion older male or maybe even Horse of the Year,” Dickey said. “It’d be nice, but we’re not really worried about all of that.”

The Classic was the third start at the Louisville track for Flat Out, who launched his career at two with a sixth-place finish in a maiden race. He also finished sixth in this year’s the Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi (GI) won by Pool Play.

“We don’t really know why the same Flat Out that ran in the Suburban and the Jockey Club didn’t show up in the Stephen Foster and the Classic,” Dickey said. “He handles the track fine, though, and has always trained very well over it.”

Flat Out’s one and only work for the Clark will come this weekend; however, the exact date of the work has yet to be decided.

“We’re going to see what the weather does and how the track looks,” Dickey said. “The earliest he’ll work is Friday morning, but we might push it back a day or two.”

After the Clark, Flat Out will be given some well-deserved time off before being prepared for a 2012 campaign.

“This (the Clark) will be the end of his year and then we’ll give him some time,” Dickey said. “The goal is to come back next year in the Donn Handicap (GI at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 11).”

GOLDEN HOPES FOR GOLDEN HISTORY – It had been 48 hours since Golden History’s five-furlong bullet work at Churchill Downs, but the staff in the barn of trainer Mark Casse continue to beam over that sharp training move on a dreary Wednesday morning beneath the famed Twin Spires.

The barn is now counting the days until Churchill Downs’ Stars of Tomorrow II racing program on Saturday, Nov. 26, when the Kentucky-bred 2-year-old filly is expected to compete in the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII).

Golden History zipped five furlongs on in 1:00.40.  The work under exercise rider Melanie Giddings was the fastest of 24 moves at the distance.

“She worked great and went over the track really well,” assistant trainer Norman Casse said. “We’re still thinking that she’s going to run a big race in what will be just her third start in the Golden Rod. She’s trained well since her last race and she should be right there.”

John Oxley’s Golden History began her career with a 2 ¾-length victory over the synthetic Polytrack course at Woodbine and was entered in the $150,000 Pocahontas (GII) on Stars of Tomorrow I at Churchill Downs off that effort.  Breaking from the gate at odds of 18-1, Golden History finished fifth, beaten three lengths in the one-mile race.

“I think she needed a start over the dirt and she probably didn’t get a whole lot out of her first race,” Casse said. “It was also asking a lot of her to run in the Pocahontas in just her second start. We were hoping to run her in an allowance race here, but the race didn’t go, so our hands were tied and we had to go (in the Pocahontas). The Golden Rod has been the target all along."

The daughter of Medaglia d/Ore was a $450,000 purchase earlier this year Florida’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, and has carried high hopes since the day she came under Casse’s care.  Golden History is out of User History, who is out of User Friendly-GB., a winner of four Group I races in Europe on her way to the Cartier Award for European Horse of the Year in 1992.

She has a great pedigree and she’s a really good mover,” Casse said. “She’s also very intelligent. She has all the characteristics of a good horse.”

Another 2-year-old filly in the Casse barn with lots of potential is Sky High Lady, who will make her fourth career start in Thursday’s fourth race at Churchill Downs. Sky High Lady was pre-entered in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), but Casse opted to run her in a maiden-special at Churchill Downs on Oct. 30 when it seemed unlikely that she would draw into the Breeders’ Cup race from its list of also-eligibles.  After breaking slowly, Sky High Lady raced wide and finished third as the 9-5 favorite.

“She always breaks slow and that is one of the reasons she got beat in the stake (Mazarine at Woodbine),” Casse said. “Hopefully she’ll break better Thursday and I think she’ll really like going two turns. The race over the track should also help her.”

Sky High Lady is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Thursday’s race.

MEET LEADERS AT A GLANCE – Through 11 days of the 21-day Fall Meet, jockey Julien Leparoux, trainers Steve Asmussen and Mike Maker and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey are the leaders in their respective categories at Churchill Downs. Here is a look at the “human race” leaders entering Wednesday’s racing action:

Top Jockeys

1. Julien Leparoux (22-for-83, 27% win-percentage, $1,297,540 in earnings)

2. Corey Lanerie (13-for-68, 19%, $324,673)

3. Brian Hernandez Jr. (9-for-40, 23%, $233,755)

4. Jon Court (6-for-35, 17%, $118,214)

5. Shaun Bridgmohan (5-for-24, 21%, $197,267)

Top Trainers

1. Steve Asmussen (9-for-37, 24%, $1,952,095)

1. Mike Maker (9-for-33, 27%, $1,311,788)

3. Bill Mott (5-for-16, 31%, $3,999,863)

3. Dale Romans (5-for-34, 15%, $1,518,380)

5. Eddie Kenneally (4-for-20, 20%, $201,866)

5. Ken McPeek (4-for-20, 20%, $200,021)

5. Ronny Werner (4-for-11, 36%, $116,665)

Top Owners

1. Ken and Sarah Ramsey (8-for-24, 33%, $689,378)

2. Billy, Donna and Justin Hays (4-for-10, 40%, $53,071)

3. Richard and Karen Papiese’s Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. (3-for-8, 38%, $29,453)

4. Fred Allor (2-for-2, 100%, $51,120)

4. Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein (2-for-8, 25%, $258,500)

4. Robert Lothenbach’s Lothenbach Stables Inc. (2-for-5, 40%, $79,470)

4. Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith (2-for-11, 18%, $2,418,000)

4. Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables LLC (2-for-5, 40%, $67,470)

4. Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm LLC (2-for-4, 50%, $2,728,970)

MILESTONE WATCH – Jon Court, currently fourth in the Churchill Downs jockey standings with six wins, is nearing his 400^th win beneath the Twin Spires. Court recorded his 393^rd career victory at the Louisville track in Sunday’s second race aboard J Isle. …

In Sunday’s fourth race, Quick Praise gave trainer Greg Foley his 336^th career victory at Churchill Downs. The win moved Foley passed Jack Van Berg for seventh all-time in wins at the Louisville track. …

Trainer Paul McGee is nearing the 300-win milestone at Churchill Downs. The 49-year-old native of Louisville has saddled 295 winners in his career at his home track. ...

Trainer Ken McPeek tied Elliot Walden for 15^th all-time in the Churchill Downs trainer standings with his two wins on Sunday’s card. McPeek, who has 288 career wins beneath the Twin Spires, is now one win behind Jinks Fires. …

Trainer Steve Asmussen is nearing the 6,000-win plateau. Entering Wednesday, Asmussen is just five wins shy of the milestone that has been reached by only four other trainers.

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockey over the last five racing days (Nov. 9-13) is Julien Leparoux (12-for-31). Mike Maker (6-for-12) is the hottest trainer over the same period and Ken and Sarah Ramsey (5-for-8) are the hottest owners.

WORKTAB – Cash Refund, a multiple stakes-winning earner of $316,082, breezed five furlongs over a sloppy main track at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning in 1:04.60 for trainer Steve Margolis. The work was the second fastest of three at the distance.

LANERIE WINS 300^TH AT CHURCHILL DOWNS; EYES FIRST RIDING TITLE – Jockey Corey Lanerie  added another highlight to his career when he captured his 300^th win beneath the Twin Spires in Sunday’s ninth race aboard Taptowne.

Lanerie is just the 20^th rider in Churchill Downs history to reach the 300-win plateau.

“It feels good, but I honestly didn’t know I had that many,” Lanerie said. “I’ve had a lot of good mounts and it makes it easy.”

The native of Lafayette, La., who will turn 37 Sunday, rode his first winner at Churchill Downs during the Fall Meet in 2000 and his list of victories at the Louisville track since then includes eight stakes wins.

“The stakes races I’ve won here stand out as highlights, but all of them are important to me,” Lanerie said.

The next goal for Lanerie is to capture a riding title at the home of the Kentucky Derby. He has finished second in the jockey standings in the past two Spring Meets to Calvin Borel in 2010 and Julien Leparoux in 2011.

“It’d be great (to win a riding title),” Lanerie said. “It’s a tough chore, but I’m definitely up to the task.”

Lanerie, who recorded his 3,000^th career victory in February at Fair Grounds, is off to a red-hot start at the 2011 Fall Meet with eights wins from 28 mounts. He is currently second in the jockey standings behind Leparoux, who has 10 wins from 52 mounts.

READY’S ROCKET GOES FOR 11^TH WIN BENEATH THE TWIN SPIRES – Fan-favorite Ready’s Rocket will return to his favorite track and in search of an historic 11^th win at Churchill Downs in Thursday’s sixth race.

Ready’s Rocket, who has recorded more wins beneath the Twin Spires than any horse since 1991, which was the first year detailed information was gathered by Equibase, will enter Thursday’s race off two third-place finishes on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Turfway Park.

“He ran well, but he probably shouldn’t have lost either race,” trainer Tim Glyshaw said. “He did okay this summer (at Ellis Park and Turfway Park), but this is definitely his favorite place.”

Ready’s Rocket will break from post 11 under Calvin Borel in the starter allowance and Glyshaw hopes  the race could set the 8-year-old gelded son of More Than Ready up a run in the upcoming Claiming Crown at Fair Grounds.

"If he runs well-enough tomorrow (Thursday) then I’ll probably run him in the Claiming Crown (Express) on Dec. 3,” Glyshaw said. “If he doesn’t run well then I’ll enter him in another starter allowance here (Churchill Downs) toward the end of the meet.”

Ready’s Rocket will enter the race off a near seven-week layoff due to a foot issue that was discovered shortly after his most recent start at Turfway on Sept. 23.

"He got an abscess on his right-front foot a few days after the race,” Glyshaw said. “It took him about ten days to get over it and that’s why we didn’t bring him to Keeneland. He’s doing fine now.”

Long-term plans for Ready’s Rocket have not been finalized; however, Glyshaw would like to bring him back as a 9-year-old.

“We’ll bring to Fair Grounds with us this winter and hopefully run him every six weeks or so,” Glyshaw said. “I’d love to bring him back for the Spring Meet (at Churchill Downs) next year. He still loves his job and we’ll keep him going, but he’ll tell us when enough is enough.”

Ready’s Rocket has a record of 19-8-11 from 67 career starts and earnings of $235,995.

MEET LEADERS AT A GLANCE – Through six days of the 21-day Fall Meet, jockey Julien Leparoux, trainer Steve Asmussen and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey are the leaders in their respective categories at Churchill Downs. Below is a look at the divisional leaders entering Wednesday’s action:

Top Jockeys

1. Julien Leparoux (10-for-52, 19% win-percentage, $944,313 in earnings)

2. Corey Lanerie (8-for-28, 29%, $209,574)

3. Calvin Borel (4-for-27, 15%, $188,368)

3. Jon Court (4-for-17, 24%, $81,118)

3. Corey Nakatani (4-for-15, 27%, $1,836,830)

 

Top Trainers

1. Steve Asmussen (6-for-26, 23%, $1,876,049)

2. Bill Mott (5-for-11, 45%, $3,988,151)

3. Eddie Kenneally (4-for-9, 44%, $189,463)

4. Jinks Fires (3-for-5, 60%, $65,420)

4. Mike Maker (3-for-21, 14%, $1,207,012)

4. Steve Margolis (3-for-10, 30%, $296,400)

Top Owners

1. Ken and Sarah Ramsey (3-for-16, 19%, $601,423)

2. Fred Allor (2-for-2, 100%, $51,120)

2. Billy, Donna and Justin Hays (2-for-4, 50%, $19,590)

2. Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein (2-for-7, 29%, $256,200)

2. Robert Lothenbach’s Lothenbach Stables Inc. (2-for-3, 67%, $77,754)

2. Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm LLC (2-for-3, 67%, $2,728,905) 

BARN TALK – Monastic, a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Keertana and stakes winner Snow Top Mountain, will make his fourth lifetime start in Wednesday’s second race for trainer Tom Proctor. The 2-year-old gelded son of Rock Hard Ten finished 10^th as the 2-1 favorite in the Bourbon (Grade III) at Keeneland in his most recent start. …

Nominations for four graded stakes to be run at Churchill Downs over Thanksgiving weekend will close today (Wednesday). The races include the 96^th running of the $175,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII) for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the main track on Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving Day), the 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 on Nov. 25, the 85^th running of the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the main track on Nov. 26 and the 68^th running of the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the main track on Nov. 26. …

Ten $1,000 scholarships will be distributed to full-time students from colleges and universities throughout the country when Churchill Downs joins the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association for the annual College Scholarship Day on Friday, Nov. 11. College Scholarship Day will also feature a concert by Grammy-nominated country music artist David Nail. The concert will begin after Friday’s 10^th and final race and Nail is expected to perform from 5:30-7 p.m. EST. The concert is included in the track’s regular $3 admission price, but is complimentary for full-time students with a valid college ID.

WORKTAB – Gold Mark Farm LLC’s Culotte, winner of the Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies Stakes and Opelousas Stakes this year, breezed five furlongs Wednesday morning over a wet fast track beneath the Twin Spires in 1:01.80 for trainer Tom Amoss. …

At the nearby Trackside Training Center, Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s multiple stakes winner Gran Lioness breezed four furlongs on a fast track in :49.80 for trainer Bret Calhoun. The work was the fourth fastest of 15 at the distance. … Alpha Stables, Skychai Racing LLC and Sand Dollar Stable LLC’s Twinspired breezed five furlongs in 1:04.80 for trainer Mike Maker.

The curtain dropped on the Churchill Downs Fall Meet on Sunday, Nov. 28 with a farewell salute to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who is heading home to New Mexico after retiring from his career on the track.  Fittingly, the meet’s last race was run in the glow of the historic track’s new permanent lights after a 21-day meet highlighted by the return of the Breeders’ Cup and its unforgettable under-the-lights Classic showdown between Blame and Zenyatta, a host of spectacular performances by equine and human athletes and the introduction of “Downs After Dark” night racing for the first time during a Fall Meet at the legendary home of the Kentucky Derby.

Co-owners Dr. Leonard Blach and Mark Allen were joined by trainer Chip Woolley and exercise rider Charlie Figueroa, who traveled from New Mexico for a ceremony in the regular winner’s circle following Sunday’s seventh race in which fans provided warm applause and affection for Mine That Bird, the tiny gelding who shocked the sports world when he won Derby 135 under jockey Calvin Borel at odds of 50-1 – the second-biggest upset in the history of America’s greatest race.  Churchill Downs presented Mine That Bird with a special blanket bearing the official event logo of his Kentucky Derby, and track President Kevin Flanery presented the Derby winner a basket filled with apples, peppermints and equine treats and toys for his van ride back to New Mexico and a post-racetrack life in retirement at Allen’s Double Eagle Ranch.

The visit by the Breeders’ Cup World Championships was the record seventh to Churchill Downs, but its first as a two-day affair on Nov. 5 and 6.  The result, in keeping with Breeders’ Cup tradition at Churchill Downs, resulted in record figures for both attendance and wagering for the Championships.  The attendance over the two days was 114,353 – an increase of 18.5% over the previous year’s attendance at Santa Anita.  The Championship Friday program, which included the first Breeders’ Cup races run under lights, attracted a crowd of 41,614 – an increase of nearly 11 percent over 2009.  Saturday’s 11-race card attracted 72,739 fans.  Two-day common-pool wagering on the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs totaled $163,619,784, an increase of 13% over the $144,599,205 wagered in 2009.

Along with the race for the ages in the Classic in which Blame edged  previously unbeaten Zenyatta, the Breeders’ Cup also featured brilliant performance by French superstar Goldikova (IRE), who won her third consecutive running of the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI), and a dominant victory in the Juvenile (GI) by Uncle Mo, who became the likely favorite for Kentucky Derby 137 with that win, and unbeaten Awesome Feather, who became an early contender for the 2011 Kentucky Oaks (GI) with her emphatic victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI).

But the heroics in the Breeders’ Cup had to share the Fall Meet spotlight with a memorable running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) on Friday, Nov. 26 in which Morton Fink’s favored Successful Dan finished first by a head, but was disqualified to third as stewards awarded the win to the Virginia Tarra Trust’s Giant Oak.  The roughly run 136th renewal of the Clark, a race that is as old as the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, resulted in three-day suspensions for jockeys Julien Leparoux, who rode Successful Dan, and Kent Desormeaux, who was aboard Demarcation, who was disqualified from fourth to 11th because of another incident in the race.  Third-place finisher Redding Colliery was elevated to the runner-up spot.

Other dazzling equine performances included dominant performances by 2-year-old fillies. John C. Oxley’s unbeaten Dancinginherdreams, trained by Kentucky Derby and Oaks winner John Ward Jr., overcame traffic problems to win the $150,000-added Pocahontas (GII) by 5 ¼ lengths on the meet’s opening day on Oct. 31, and the Ken McPeek-trained Kathmanblu, a troubled third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII), won the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) by a resounding 8 ½ lengths.  Her margin of victory was the largest since Silverbulletday capped a season that earned her an Eclipse Award as 2-year-old filly champion with a 10-length Golden Rod romp in 1998.

Tom Walters’ Santiva emerged as an early contender for the 2011 Kentucky Derby with a gritty victory in the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club as the Eddie Kenneally trainee turned back challenges from Iroquois (GIII) winner Astrology and Major Gain.  The Kentucky Jockey Club was co-featured with the Golden Rod on the “Stars of Tomorrow II” racing program on Saturday, Nov. 27. That day also featured an impressive victory by WinStar Farm’s Brethren, a half-brother WinStar’s 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, in a one-mile allowance race.  Super Saver used a victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club on the “Stars of Tomorrow II” session a year earlier as a springboard to his success at Churchill Downs in this spring’s “Run for the Roses.”

The Fall Meet’s human races saw familiar faces atop the standings as the meet wound to a close on Sunday.

Julien Leparoux won his fourth consecutive Fall Meet riding title, completing the 21-day season with 28 victories. It marked the seventh leading rider title for Leparoux, who now has 450 victories at Churchill Downs, 12th best all time.

Marcelino Pedroza Jr., a 17-year-old native of Panama City, Panama, was the meet’s leading apprentice with nine victories.

Steve Asmussen won his fourth consecutive leading trainer title. Asmussen, fifth all time in victories at Churchill Downs with 394, saddled 16 winners during the meet. It was Asmussen’s fifth Fall Meet title and ninth overall.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey notched their fourth consecutive Fall Meet leading owner title by sending out six winners. The Ramseys, who topped the 300-victory mark all time during the meet, have won 17 leading owner titles (nine Fall, eight Spring) with 16 of them being outright crowns.

Chicago-based trainer Chris Block enjoyed a notable achievement during the meet as he won three stakes races – including a sweep of the Thanksgiving Weekend Clark Handicap with Giant Oak and Falls City Handicap with the 3-year-old filly Dundalk Dust – and each winner was bred in Illinois.  Block also saddled Askbut I Won’ttell to win the Cardinal Handicap (GIII).

Racing throughout the 21-day session was marked by strong competitive fields, with overflow entries for many of the always popular Fall Meet races for 2-year-olds.  Average field size for the meet’s races stood at 9.91 horses-per-race, which was flat when compared with the average from the 2009 Fall Meet.

Night racing at Churchill Downs, a resounding success during the Spring Meet in each of the past two years, made its debut on a chilly Friday evening on Nov. 19 before 15,583 fans – many of whom were clad in outfits in keeping with the evening’s “Mad About Plaid” theme.  Continuing the pattern displayed by sessions of racing under the lights in the spring, attendance at the first Fall Meet “Downs After Dark” racing session reflected a 191 percent increase compared to the 5,363 fans who had been on hand for an afternoon program on the same day a year earlier.

"Our fans had many reasons to smile during our brief 21-day Fall Meet, thanks to memorable performances on the track and memorable moments during the return of Breeders’ Cup, our first look at ‘Downs After Dark’ night racing in the fall and longstanding traditions like our Thanksgiving Day celebration,” said Flanery.  “We were generally pleased with our racing product and solid field sizes during this compact 21-day meet, but we remain very concerned about the prospects for Churchill Downs and Kentucky racing in 2011 and beyond.  We’re facing growing pressure from race purses fed by slot machine revenues at tracks in neighboring states, especially Indiana.  Pennsylvania’s success with slots-fed purses continues to lure Kentucky horses and horsemen, and the anticipated introduction of slot revenues to purses at New York tracks sometime in 2011 looms as a major competitive threat.  So, while we’re pleased that horsemen found attractive races at Churchill Downs during this Fall Meet and that our purses could be increased briefly because of solid business levels, our concerns for the future of our track and Kentucky racing are in no way diminished because of those successes.  The coming year could be one of the most challenging ever for Churchill Downs and Kentucky racing.”

Racing returns to Churchill Downs on Saturday, April 30, 2011, the opening day of the Spring Meet and the week leading up to the 137th of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.  The April 30 session, highlighted by the $200,000-added The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII) – the final prep race for the Kentucky Derby – will be the first conducted under the lights as a “Downs After Dark” event.

Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein’s Early Return was awarded the victory via disqualification of Tend in Sunday’s $54,663 feature for 3-year-olds and up at Churchill Downs.

 Early Return, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, and Tend moved together after Guam Typhoon in the upper stretch when Perry Ouzts, riding Tend, inadvertently struck Early Return with his whip causing Early Return to briefly check.

 Tend went on to finish three-quarters of a length in front of Early Return, but Bridgmohan immediately claimed foul and the claim was upheld by the stewards. Time for the 6 ½ furlongs on a fast main track was 1:16.90.

 Trained by Steve Margolis, Early Return improved his record to 17-5-4-4 and boosted his bankroll to $184,806 with Sunday’s $33,600 check. Early Return is a 5-year-old homebred gelding by Carson City out of the Mystery Storm mare Swept Away.

 Early Return rewarded his backers with mutuels of $9.40, $5.60 and $4. Tend returned $8.40 and $5 with River Bear finishing a half-length back in third under Danush Sukie and paying $9.60 to show.

 In Sunday’s final race, Glory Chaser prevailed under Julien Leparoux to give owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey their 300th victory at Churchill Downs. The Ramseys have won 16 leading owner meet titles in their run to becoming the all-time leading owners in victories at Churchill Downs.

 The second half of the 21-day Fall Meet kicks off Wednesday with a 10-race program that begins at 12:40 p.m. (ET).

- END -

CONNECTIONS OF ESPOIR CITY MAKE BREEDERS’ CUP SCOUTING TRIP – There is no time limit on advance planning, and so it was on Saturday morning, four months before the Breeders’ Cup World Championships return to Churchill Downs, that the trainer and jockey of Japanese star Espoir City (JPN) did a little scouting at the home of the Kentucky Derby.

Trainer Akio Adachi and jockey Tetsuzo Sato, accompanied by International Racing Bureau representative Mikki Tsuge and Takashi Toriumi, president and CEO of horse transporter U.S. Equine who served as interpreters, came to Churchill Downs with two horses from trainer Akiko Gothard’s barn at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington.

Sato, who sported a jacket with the inscription “strongest dart hose in Japan, Espoir City, Japan Cup Dart GI, Kashiwa Kinen jpn.I, Mile Champion Nambu Hai jpn.I, jogged one horse before the break and after the break took the second horse to the starting gate before galloping once around.

“It was good to get a feel for things,” said Sato, 39, who visited the jocks’ room and paddock on Friday in his first trip to Churchill Downs and who has room on the jacket to add more victories for Espoir City. 

Adachi, who with Sato flew in to New York on Tuesday and toured Belmont Park before coming to Louisville, recorded most of the morning activity to take back to Japan so the 5-year-old horse’s connections could have an idea of what to expect in the fall.

Espoir City has won six consecutive races and owns a career mark of 19-11-3-1 for earnings of $5,837,885. His first seven races were on turf with only moderate success.

“Tetsuzo started riding him in the morning and observed he was much better on dirt than on grass so we made the switch,” Adachi said.

Since the switch, Espoir City has compiled a record of 12-10-1-0 and at 1 1/8 miles his record is 5-4-1-0. He has yet to race at the Breeders’ Cup Classic distance of 1 ¼ miles.

Adachi says the distance is not a concern nor is the setup of any races as Espoir City has won from on the lead, stalking the pace or from far back.

“He is able to handle all situations and he adjusts to the race,” Adachi said.

Espoir City’s most recent race was the $1,080,000 Kashiwa Kinen on May 5, which he won for the second consecutive year. The tentative plan is for Espoir City to follow the same schedule as last year and run next in the Oct. 10 Mile Champion Nambu Hai and then ship to Churchill Downs the middle of October and have two to three weeks to acclimate before the Breeders’ Cup.

EUROEARS FINDS RIGHT SPOT IN SUNDAY’S FIRECRACKER – Trainer Bret Calhoun hopes to finish the 42-day Spring Meet with a bang this weekend, beginning Saturday with Speed Demon in the Bashford Manor (GIII) Presented by Fasig-Tipton and concluding with Euroears in the Firecracker Handicap (GII) Presented by Thorntons.

Euroears, owned by James and Marilyn Helzer, will be attempting two turns on the turf for the first time in his career in Sunday’s one-mile Firecracker on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

There were no good spots for him,” Calhoun said of the 6-year-old son of Langfuhr. “I was going to run him in Iowa (in the Iowa Sprint Handicap) but that came up too tough for the $125,000 they were running for. The next day was the Arlington Sprint Handicap, but we had Chamberlain Bridge for that, which he won.”
That left the Firecracker, which drew an overflow field of 15 that includes 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) winner Mine That Bird.

"At first, it didn’t look like the race was coming up with a lot of horses, but it filled up fast,” Calhoun said. Euroears will break from post position 11 and carry 115 pounds under Jamie Theriot, who has been aboard for Euroears’ past six starts.

The past two starts have been the first two-turn races of Euroears’ career. He finished second in the Texas Mile (GIII) and third in the Lone Star Park Handicap (GIII) at a mile and a sixteenth.

"I think a mile is about it for him,” Calhoun said. “In the Texas Mile, I feel he could have won with a mile race under his belt and the second time, the Kiaran McLaughlin horse that beat him (Redding Colliery) is a nice horse.”

Euroears has race three times on turf, winning two turf sprints on firm ground at Fair Grounds and finishing eighth on yielding turf at Penn National.

“He handles the turf well,” Calhoun said. “The race in Pennsylvania on the yielding, he couldn’t stand up on it.”

BARN TALK – Ken and Sarah Ramsey, winners of the past five meet-leading owner titles and a record 16 overall (eight Spring and eight Fall), closed the gap on meet leader Maggi Moss when their Grand Stage won Friday’s seventh race. The victory was the sixth of the meet for the Ramseys, who have three horses entered Saturday and six on Sunday.  Moss, who has eight winners at the meet, has an entry in Saturday’s opener for her final starters of the meet. …

Calvin Borel and Steve Asmussen maintained comfortable leads in their bids for leading rider and trainer titles. Borel holds a 47-38 lead over Corey Lanerie after each rider recorded one victory each Friday night. Borel is named on nine mounts Saturday and 10 on Sunday. Lanerie is named on 10 mounts Saturday and eight on Sunday. Asmussen has a 23-18 edge on Dale Romans although Romans trimmed the deficit by one with a double Friday night while Asmussen saddled one winner. Asmussen has two horses entered Saturday and five on Sunday. Romans has three entrants Saturday and seven on Sunday. …

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is traveling a road with Mine That Bird that he did with six years ago with Azeri. The 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) winner is scheduled to make his 2010 debut in Sunday’s Firecracker Handicap Presented by Thorntons (GII) off an eight-month layoff.  “We did the same thing with Azeri. We trained her up to the Apple Blossom (in 2004),” Lukas said of Azeri, who was coming off a little more than a six-month layoff prior to her third Apple Blossom victory, which was her only one under Lukas’ care. “The anticipation level with this horse and Azeri are the same,” Lukas said of having stars make their debuts in his signature white bridles. “You get to work with Grade I quality horses.” …
Robby Albarado rode two winners on Friday night’s card to boost his career total to 885 and into fifth place all time at Churchill Downs, passing Jim McKnight (883). Sitting immediately ahead of Albarado on the all-time victory list is Don Brumfield with 925. …

Shaun Bridgmohan rode two winners Friday night to increase his career Churchill Downs total to 297. Bridgmohan is named on five mounts Saturday and six Sunday in his bid to become the 19th rider to reach 300 victories at Churchill Downs. …

Lewis Lakin’s Pure Clan jogged a mile early Saturday morning in her first appearance at the track since May 6 when she refused to train. The 5-year-old earner of nearly $2 million returned to trainer Bob Holthus’ barn this week after recovering from a bruised left front foot.

WORK TAB – Colonial Turf Cup (GII) winner Paddy O’Prado, third in the Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 before the renovation break over a fast track. After the break, stablemate First Dude, the Preakness (GI) runner-up and third-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes (GI), worked five furlongs in 1:01.60. … Two Eddie Kenneally fillies fired bullets: Eight Belles (GIII) winner Buckleupbuttercup worked a half-mile in :47, best of 45 at the distance, and Inside Information (GII) winner Warbling worked five furlongs in 1:00.20, best of 16 at the distance. …Demarcation, winner of the 2009 Ack Ack Handicap (GIII), worked five furlongs in 1:02.20.

Calvin Borel had twice seen Churchill Downs riding titles slip away by the slimmest of margins to Julien Leparoux, but the two-time Kentucky Derby winner turned the tables in the 2009 Fall Meet as he won four races on the meet’s final day to earn a dramatic 27-27 tie for “leading jockey” with his French-born rival as the historic track concluded the 21-day meet on Saturday.

While Borel and Leparoux shared the spotlight in their division, Steve Asmussen edged Dale Romans to collect his sixth “leading trainer” crown and Ken and Sarah Ramsey earned “leading owner” honors for a record 16th time beneath the Twin Spires.

The Fall Meet drew to a close with its “Stars of Tomorrow II” program of 12 races exclusively to 2-year-old Thoroughbreds.  Conducted under a sunny November sky with temperatures hovering near 70, the meet’s final day continued with a remarkable run of moderate weather during which only two turf races were lost to wet track conditions.

“Churchill Downs was blessed with great weather for most of the Fall Meet, but our track’s team members are most thankful for the support of our fans who enjoyed our racing on-track, at simulcast centers and in their homes, and to the many horsemen who enthusiastically participated in our racing program throughout those 21 days,” said Kevin Flanery, who completed his first meet as president of Churchill Downs.  “These are challenging times for our track and Kentucky’s signature horse industry, but the enthusiasm displayed by on-track patrons and horsemen during the meet proved again that Thoroughbred racing and Churchill Downs are very special parts of life in this region and our industry’s supporters want it to thrive and grow.  We sincerely thank everyone who contributed in any way to the success of our Fall Meet, and we look forward to April 24 and the start of Kentucky Derby Week and our 2010 Spring Meet.”

The 43-year-old Borel entered the meet’s final day facing a 27-23 deficit to Leparoux, who missed the meet’s last two days for a journey to Tokyo to ride in the Japan Cup. The Louisiana-born veteran capped his memorable closing day burst with a front-running, stakes record victory aboard WinStar Farm’s Super Saver in the 83rd running of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes that deadlocked Borel and Leparoux with only one race remaining in the meet.  Borel had a chance to earn the title outright in that final race and briefly led in the stretch aboard longshot Outlaw Man, but finished second and his horse was ultimately disqualified to fourth because of an erratic stretch run.

Leparoux, a 26-year-old native of Senlis, France, earned his third Fall Meet title and sixth overall crown as he completed his second sweep of Spring and Fall Meet championships in a calendar year at Churchill Downs.  The shared title was Borel’s third, following an outright Fall Meet win in 1999 and a tie with Shaun Bridgmohan in 2006.

Bridgmohan finished third in the 2009 jockey race with 17 wins, while Leandro Goncalves compiled 16 victories and Francisco Torres finished with 15.  French-born Freddie Lenclud earned nine wins to earn honors as the meet’s leading apprentice jockey.

Asmussen, the runaway win leader among U.S. trainers in 2009, held off eight-time titlist Dale Romans 17-16 to earn his third Fall Meet “leading trainer” title and his seventh overall.  Like Leparoux, the 44-year-old Asmussen swept Churchill Downs’ 2009 Spring and Fall Meet crowns, a feat he had earlier accomplished in 2004 and 2007

Horses owned by the Ramseys earned nine victories during the meet to give the Nicholasville, Ky. couple a record eighth Fall Meet “leading owner” title and 16th overall, which is also a record.  The Ramseys’ 2009 title allowed them snap a tie with the late John Franks for the most Fall Meet “leading owner” crowns.

WinStar Farm, L.T.B., Inc., Heiligbrodt Racing and Brereton C. Jones each collected five wins and finished in a tie for the runner-up spot.

The meet’s most memorable race might have been Friday’s 135th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap (GII) in which Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame held off Misremembered, defending champion Einstein and Giant Oak in a blanket finish in which the four horses were separated by less than a length.  Jockey Jamie Theriot and trainer Al Stall, Jr. secured their first victories in the race that is as old as the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and Kentucky Oaks (GI).

Other Fall Meet equine stars included Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image, who swept the Golden Rod (GII) and Pocahontas (GIII), the track’s top fall races for 2-year-old fillies,  and Kathy and Bob Zollars and Mark Wagner’s Thiskyhasnolimit, the Asmussen-trained winner of the Iroquois (GIII).  The 4-year-old Acoma scored her fourth stakes victory at Churchill Downs when she rallied to win the Cardinal (GIII) on turf, Mary’s Follies won the Mrs. Revere (GII) for 3-year-old fillies on grass and Robert Courtney’s Rahystrada scored the upset of the meet with a 56-1 shocker in River City Handicap (GIII).

John and Glen Sikrura’s Canadian invader Seranading won the 94th running of the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap and give trainer Josie Carroll her first stakes victory at Churchill Downs.  Get Stormy scored a narrow victory in the Commonwealth Turf (GIII) for 3-year-olds, while Malibu Prayer notched an upset win in the Grade II Chilukki and Amerman Racing’s Demarcation surprised in the Ack Ack (GIII).

NO PLANS YET FOR EINSTEIN AFTER CLARK – Trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi reported that Stronach Stable’s Einstein (Brz) came out of Friday’s third-place effort behind 3-year-olds Blame and Misremembered in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II) in good order.

“He’s real good this morning. He ran great yesterday,” Pitts-Blasi said of Einstein, who overcame an outside post in the field of 14 3-year-olds and up to fall only two necks short of grabbing his third graded stakes victory of the year.

The 7-year-old son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck added $41,914 to his bankroll Friday to boost his career earnings to $2,945,238 and improved his 2009 record to 2-1-3 in eight races.

Whether the Clark was Einstein’s farewell, Pitts-Blasi could not say.

“I haven’t talked with Mr. (Frank) Stronach,” Pitts-Blasi said. “I have no clue what they are going to do with him.”
    The strong Clark showing could bolster Einstein’s chances for an Eclipse Award in the wide-open division of champion older male.

“It is a tough question,” Pitts-Blasi said. “He certainly deserves to be in the running, because other than the Breeders’ Cup he showed up whenever he ran.”

Einstein won the Santa Anita Handicap (GI) on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface and took the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) for a second consecutive year on grass at Churchill Downs.  Pitts-Blasi’s veteran star was also second by a neck on synthetic Polytrack in the Pacific Classic (GI) at Del Mar and also ran third in his other two traditional dirt races, the Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park and the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) at Churchill Downs.

KARELIAN’S RIVER CITY RUN REMAINS A MYSTERY – Any chance that Green Lantern Stable’s Karelian would become a repeat winner of Friday’s River City Handicap (GIII) went out the window on the backstretch when the 7-year-old gelding headed toward the outside rail under Rajiv Maragh.

Even though Maragh got Karelian straightened out and back in contention, the best Karelian could do was finish eighth in the field of 10 as the 8-5 favorite.  The loss by Karelian was the first for the 7-year-old Bertrando gelding in four races on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course.

“I don’t know why he did it,” said Jack Bohannan, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold. “He seems OK this morning. There is nothing wrong with him physically and the equipment was fine. We went over him after the race and again this morning and he’s fine.

“He had done it in the morning before a couple of times in the three or four years Rusty has had him, but he never had done it in a race. It was very odd. I never have seen anything like it. I thought he had pulled up and then here he comes again.”

Bohannan said that Karelian, owned by Green Lantern Stables, would probably be turned out for a while and then join the barn in Florida.

Arnold’s other River City entrant, Ashbrook Farm’s Wicked Style, finished fourth behind 56-1 longshot Rahystrada.

“We were a little disappointed in him,” Bohannan said. “He had trained so well, but he just didn’t finish.”    
    
WIGGINS CLOSES CAREER IN GRAND STYLE – “What a way to finish,” trainer Hal Wiggins said Saturday morning.

No kidding.

With his final starter as a trainer, Wiggins watched as Robert V. Hovelson’s High Spirit closed from far back to win Friday’s 10th race by a nose and pay $55.60 to win under Terry Thompson.

“I didn’t bet a dollar on him,” Wiggins said. “I had a hundred dollar bill in my pocket and I was planning to break it and bet $5 across on him, but I got to talking with a lot of people and never did it.”

What made the win all the more unreal for the 34-year training veteran were the circumstances surrounding the race.

“If it hadn’t been the end of the meet, we probably wouldn’t have run,” Wiggins said. “I had to change riders because Calvin (Borel) was riding for his brother in the race. He was shortening up (from a mile to seven furlongs) and jumping up in class. He was a legit 26-1 shot.

“When I put the saddle on him, I started to think about it being the last one a bit and I spent a little extra time in the stall.”

More than 12 lengths back after a half-mile, Thompson swung High Spirit wide at the head of the lane and began to mow down the field. At the eighth pole, racing in the middle of track, High Spirit was still four lengths off the lead and still managed to win.

“After I took the saddle off, Calvin was waiting for me by the scale and he gave me a big hug,” Wiggins said. “He had won a race for me on Lady Durlyn on Thursday. We go a long way back together. I found an old picture the other day from 1983 at Delta Downs with the two of us the first year he rode.”

So Friday capped a Hollywood ending for Wiggins, almost.

“If Hollywood had written the script, I would still have Rachel,” said Wiggins, who turns 67 on Monday.

Rachel, of course, is Rachel Alexandra, the brilliant 3-year-old filly who Wiggins saddled for owner-breeder Dolphus Morrison and partner Mike Lauffer for a record-smashing 20 ¼-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks (GI) this spring.

Wiggins said that Friday’s victory and Rachel Alexandra’s Oaks triumph would rank high in the top five moments in his career. The day Rachel Alexandra was sold would be at the opposite end of the spectrum.

“It was a low point, no question,” Wiggins said of the morning Rachel Alexandra left his barn for the short journey to new trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn in early May. “But I don’t blame the owner for selling. To hit a home run like that with the size of operation that I have, that doesn’t come around often.

“I sure didn’t foresee a year like this. I thought we would have traveled around the country with her and eventually maybe tried the males once.”

Wiggins, who will stay at Churchill Downs until Tuesday to oversee a couple of works before turning the barn over to his son Lon, retires with a total of 872 victories in a career that began in 1976 and produced its first winner at Evangeline Downs on July 2, 1977. His horses earned a total of $20,218,625 in purses.

“It’s been a great ride and I’ve met a lot of great people,” said Wiggins, who will join his wife Renee in Houston. “I am still going to go to sales and still be involved in it. I love the game so much, I don’t want to quit cold turkey.”

BARN TALK – The day after Amerman Racing Stable’s Demarcation ran eighth in the Clark Handicap instead of going for a repeat bid in the River City Handicap, trainer Paul McGee was asked if he had any regrets about the choice of race. After a long pause, McGee said, “Yeah. A 50-1 shot wins … you just never know.” McGee ran David Holloway’s Dubious Miss in the Clark and he finished sixth. “Both of them are good this morning and they will go to the Fair Grounds for the winter.” …

Also headed to New Orleans was West Point Thoroughbreds’ Clark favorite Macho Again, the winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap who finished ninth. Trainer Dallas Stewart left for the Fair Grounds early Saturday with Macho Again scheduled to follow later in the day. …

Calvin Borel was blanked on nine mounts Friday and remains four victories behind Julien Leparoux (27-23) in the race for leading rider. Borel has 12 mounts on today’s card that Leparoux will not ride because he is in Japan. Shaun Bridgmohan is third in the standings with 17 victories, but his meet is over as he is riding Kodiak Kowboy for trainer Steve Asmussen in the Cigar Mile (GI) at Aqueduct today.…

Dale Romans picked up his 14th winner of the meet Friday to narrow the gap on Asmussen to three in the race for leading trainer. Romans has 10 horses entered today; Asmussen seven. …

Ken and Sarah Ramsey have wrapped up their record 16th leading owner title. The Ramseys have had nine winners this meet and have an unsurmountable advantage over Brereton Jones and the Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, which have five victories each. The title was the fourth consecutive for the Ramseys, who own eight Spring and eight Fall titles, both seasonal records.

SURGING CUSTOM FOR CARLOS FOLLOWS IN SWIFT HOOFPRINTS FOR KENNEALLY – A month after Kelly’s Landing was winding down his stellar career, a possible replacement debuted for trainer Eddie Kenneally at Gulfstream Park in Custom for Carlos.

Racing for Homewrecker Racing and Avalon Farms, Custom for Carlos closed out his 3-year-old campaign with a 3 ¾-length victory over Churchill Downs Stakes (GII) winner Accredit in Saturday’s Bet On Sunshine overnight stakes. Custom for Carlos covered the six furlongs in 1:09.71 and improved his record at the distance to 3-1-0 in four races with the lone loss coming by a nose in the Gallant Bob Handicap at Philadelphia Park on Oct. 10.

“He’s a nice horse and we’ll look at the Mr. Prospector to start next year,” Kenneally said of the six-furlong Grade III test at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 16.

Kelly’s Landing had run twice as a 3-year-old for trainer Tom Burgin before beginning his racing career with Kenneally at age 4. Under Kenneally’s care, Kelly’s Landing won 8 of 25 starts with the biggest victory coming in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) as a 6-year-old.

“There are a lot of similarities between the two at this stage of their careers,” Kenneally said. “Custom for Carlos could become a top sprinter.”

Custom for Carlos is 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs at six furlongs, the same distance as the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) that will be contested beneath the Twin Spires on Nov. 6, 2010.

HANFORD, OLDEST KENTUCKY DERBY WINNING JOCKEY, DIES AT 91 -- Ira “Babe” Hanford, who won the 1936 Kentucky Derby aboard Bold Venture, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 21 in Ocala, Fla. after a lengthy illness. He was 91.

Hanford was the oldest living Kentucky Derby-winning jockey and was the first apprentice to win the “Run for the Roses.”

Tne of 10 children, Hanford grew up in Fairbury, Neb., and followed his two brothers to the East Coast to become a jockey. His oldest brother “Buddy” died after sustaining a head injury in a race at Pimlico Race Course in 1933. His brother Carl, now 93, is the Hall of Fame trainer best known for training five-time Horse of the Year Kelso.

Ira Hanford was at Churchill Downs for the 2006 Kentucky Derby.

“Babe and I enjoyed celebrating the 70th anniversary of his winning ride by attending the 2006 Kentucky Derby,” said Virginia “Ginny” Hanford, his wife of 67 years.

In addition to his wife and brother, Hanford is survived by his two sons Glenn and Gary and numerous nieces and nephews, including trainer Gail Hanford.

A private funeral is scheduled for Saturday. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that a donation be made to the Kentucky Derby Museum to help its recovery from August flood damage.

RAMSEY-OWNED TURF STAKES WINNERS TOP GRAND CANYON, CARESSING  NOMINEES – Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Dean’s Kitten and Kera’s Kitten, both stakes winners on the grass, top a list of 24 nominations for Saturday’s $60,000-added Grand Canyon, an overnight stakes race for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

Mike Maker trains both sons of Kitten’s Joy. Dean’s Kitten, winner of the Vision Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 25, is the only Grand Canyon nominee to have run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 7 at Santa Anita. He finished sixth in the field of 12, beaten only 2 ¾ lengths by Pounced.

Kera’s Kitten is undefeated in two career starts, both on the grass. He broke his maiden going six furlongs at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 21 and then won the one-mile El Joven Stakes at Retama Park on Oct. 24.

Trainer Dale Romans has nominated the only two colts among the nominees to have won grass races at Churchill Downs during the current meet. Lost Aptitude, owned by Michael Bruder and Frank Jones, won a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on Nov. 8. Romans Reward, owned by Jones, broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 1.

The Ramsey-Maker tandem also has one of two turf stakes winning fillies nominated to Saturday’s $60,000-added Caressing at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course. A total of 37 2-year-old fillies were nominated to the Caressing.

Lisa’s Kitten won the La Senorita on Oct. 24 at Retama Park before finishing 10th, beaten only 6 ¾ lengths, in the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.

Rich Pearl, owned and trained by Jerry Todd, is undefeated in two grass starts and won the Donnie Wilhite Memorial going a mile at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 15.

Entries for both overnight stakes will be taken Wednesday for the final day “Stars of Tomorrow II” card that will feature 12 races exclusively for 2-year-olds.

SWIFT TEMPER COULD START BIG WEEKEND FOR ROMANS – Dale Romans has been the trainer of Swift Temper for her past 14 races and during the 17-month span the millionaire mare never had thrown in two clunkers in a row … until her past two starts.

So it is that Swift Temper, owned by Mark Stanley, enters Thursday’s 94th running of the Falls City Handicap (GII) at 1 1/8 miles with plenty of questions surrounding her after a 10th-place finish in the Spinster (GI) at Keeneland on Oct. 11 and a sixth-place showing in the Chilukki (GII) here on Nov. 7.
“I hope she wakes up,” Romans said. “She didn’t care for the Polytrack (at Keeneland) and she didn’t have the best of trips in the Chilukki.”

Under Romans’ care, Swift Temper has compiled a record of 14-4-2-3. In the Falls City, Swift Temper will be reunited with jockey Alan Garcia.

“She seems to run really well for him,” Romans said of Garcia who has guided Swift Temper to two victories and two runner-up finishes the four times he has been aboard.

While Romans may be bidding Swift Temper farewell after the Falls City, Saturday’s “Stars of Tomorrow II” card for 2-year-olds could portend a big 2010 for the trainer.

Romans, who already has Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Tapitsfly in his barn, will be active in Saturday’s two graded stakes on the main track as well as the overnight Grand Canyon on the turf.
“(Pocahontas winner) Sassy Image is doing great and I may also put a maiden, Quiet Temper, in the Golden Rod,” Romans said. “Mr. Saturdaynight shipped in a couple of weeks ago from California for the Kentucky Jockey Club and the two grass horses, Lost Aptitude and Romans Reward, are going to run Saturday.

“Quite a few of them look like they can mature into nice horses.”

BOREL WILL STAY ON THE MOVE AFTER MEET CONCLUDES – Calvin Borel, on his way to a possible third Churchill Downs riding title, will be a man on the move when the Fall Meet ends Saturday.

Borel and Garrett Gomez will represent the United States in the World Super Jockey Series at Hanshin racecourse in Japan on Dec. 5 and 6. The top seven flat riders in Japan will take on an overseas continent of eight riders in the event that is in its 23rd year.

When Borel returns from Japan, he will be the grand marshal for the Christmas parade in his hometown of Catahoula, La., according to his agent Jerry Hissam. Following the parade, the town will unveil two signs to be placed at city entrances that will proclaim Catahoula to be “The birthplace of two-time Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel”.

At the start of 2010, Borel may ride New Year’s Day at Delta Downs and then head to Hot Springs, Ark., on Jan. 11 for the Jan. 15 opening of the Oaklawn Park meet.

Borel, who had a 21-18 lead on Julien Leparoux heading into the final five days of the meet, previously won Churchill Downs riding titles during the 1999 Fall Meet and shared the 2006 Fall title with Shaun Bridgmohan.
    
BARN TALK – Superstar filly Rachel Alexandra has jogged lightly once around the track at the end of training hours with regular exercise rider Dominic Terry up accompanied by assistant trainer Scott Blasi on a pony. Undefeated in eight starts in 2009 including three victories over males and a 20 ¼-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks (GI), Rachel Alexandra has not run since winning the Woodward (GI) at Saratoga on Sept. 5. Rachel Alexandra began walking under tack in trainer Steve Asmussen’s shedrow last week and Monday’s appearance on the track was her first since arriving here Oct. 7. …

Julien Leparoux rode two winners Sunday to move into 15th place all time at Churchill Downs with 397 victories. He moved past Rafael Bejarano (396). Sitting immediately ahead of Leparoux is Earlie Fires with 403 victories beneath the Twin Spires.

WORK TAB – Iroquois (GIII) winner Thiskyhasnolimit worked a half-mile in :50.60 over a “fast” track for trainer Steve Asmussen on Tuesday as a prelude to Saturday’s Kentucky Jockey Club (GII). Also working for the Kentucky Jockey Club was Activity Report, who covered three furlongs in :35.80 for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Another who worked three-eighths for Lukas was Debutante (GIII) winner and Pocahontas probable Decelerator (:37). Rich Pearl worked a half-mile around the “dogs” on a “firm” turf course in :49.80 for owner-trainer Jerry Todd in advance of Saturday’s Caressing. … On the Monday tab, Denis of Cork worked a half-mile over a “fast” track in :49.80 as he continues his comeback from a couple of injuries. Trained by David Carroll, Denis of Cork ran third in the 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and second in the Belmont Stakes (GI).   

ARIZONA-BRED UH OH BANGO STEPS UP IN IROQUOIS – Three weeks ago, trainer Kory Owens ran his first starter at Keeneland and did all right for himself in picking up a $25,000 check to take back to Remington Park.

His Ez Dreamer, who races for Triple AAA Ranch, ran third in the Phoenix (Grade III), beaten less than a length by Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) pre-entrants Fatal Bullet and Capt. Candyman Can.

Owens loaded up the van again this week and returned to Kentucky, bringing Ez Dreamer’s half-brother, Uh Oh Bango, to Churchill Downs for Sunday’s 28th running of the Iroquois (GIII) at a mile on the main track.

“They are quite a bit alike and at this stage of their careers both were able to rate,” said Owens, who is well-versed on the pedigree of both horses.
“I trained the dam (French Debutante), the granddam (To the Post) and the great-granddam (Steady Gate). Rocky Bar is a son of To the Post and he is the sire of Carlsbad (who ran second in the TCA at Keeneland).”

Uh Oh Bango, an Arizona-bred son of Top Hit, debuted at Prairie Meadows in spectacular fashion by winning a five-furlong sprint by eight lengths. He followed that up with a runner-up effort to Grand Slam Andre in the Clever Trevor at Remington Park and then won the Prairie Meadows Freshman by 10 ½ lengths at six furlongs.

“I was wanting to try a mile with him and I looked around this area and the only other option was Delta Downs,” said Owens, who splits his time between Remington Park and Turf Paradise.

Glenn Corbett, who has ridden Uh Oh Bango is all of his starts, has the call Sunday. Uh Oh Bango, who will break from post position seven, is the co-second choice at 5-1 in a field of 12 on the morning line.
Corbett will be making his first trip back to Churchill Downs since riding Lusty Latin in the 2002 Kentucky Derby.

HOBBY HOPES TIZ MIZ SUE FOLLOWS RACHEL ALEXANDRA’S PATH – Before trainer Steve Hobby heads west on Monday with Telling for the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI), he hopes to pick up a little shipping money in Sunday’s 41st running of the Pocahontas (GIII) with Cresran LLC’s Tiz Miz Sue.

“That’s the plan,” said Hobby, who has 10 horses stabled here for the fall meet that begins Sunday.
    But, first things first, Hobby is focused on the Pocahontas.

Tiz Miz Sue, a homebred daughter of Tiznow, enters the Pocahontas off a runner-up finish in the Arlington-Washington Lassie (GIII) on Sept. 5 at Arlington Park. Listed as the co-second choice at 5-1 in a field of 13 2-year-old fillies, Tiz Miz Sue will break from post position four under Jesus Castanon.

“She had heatstroke after the race at Arlington and we backed off her,” Hobby said.

Tiz Miz Sue has a record of 3-1-2-0 with all races coming at Arlington Park. Going the one-turn Pocahontas distance of a mile in her most recent start, Tiz Miz Sue finished second to She Be Wild, who is headed to the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI).

“It looks like she will have a shot in the Breeders’ Cup,” Hobby said of She Be Wild. “Her last race at Keeneland (a runner-up finish in the Grade I Darley Alcibiades) was solid.”

A good showing in the Pocahontas could propel Tiz Miz Sue on to the closing-day Golden Rod (GII) at 1 1/16 miles.

“I hope we go on to the Golden Rod,” Hobby said. “We want to follow the path that Rachel Alexandra paved last year.”

Rachel Alexandra ran second in the Pocahontas and then came back to win the Golden Rod, the first of nine consecutive victories for the filly who is now the frontrunner for “Horse of the Year” honors.
    
GLOBAL HUNTER, MIDSHIPMAN TOP-WEIGHTED FOR ACK ACK – Global Hunter-ARG, winner of this summer’s Eddie Read (GI) at Del Mar, and Midshipman, champion 2-year-old of 2008, were assigned the top weight of 121 pounds by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman for Friday’s 17th running of the Ack Ack (GIII).

Sharing the next high weight of 119 pounds were Girolamo, a Godolphin Racing stablemate of Midshipman, and the 7-year-old Jonesboro, winner of the Cornhusker Handicap (GII) and Texas Mile (GIII) this year. Trained by Randy Morse, Jonesboro is considered a “probable” starter by track racing officials.

Weighted next at 118 pounds were 3-year-olds Kensei and Regal Ransom along with B. Wayne Hughes’ My Pal Charlie, whose retirement from racing was announced Friday. My Pal Charlie will stand at stud in 2010 at Elite Thoroughbreds near Folsom, La.

Probable starters as of Saturday and their weight assignments are Greeley’s Conquest (117), Riley Tucker (115), Que Paso (114) and Spotsgone (114).

Entries for the Ack Ack will be taken Tuesday.

BARN TALK – When Sunday’s 11-race “Stars of Tomorrow I” card kicks off the 21-day Fall Meet, the luminaries from the 2008 autumn season will be back in action.

Julian Leparoux, who posted a Fall Meet-record 63 victories in 2008, is named on seven mounts on the card including rides in both stakes. Leparoux, who has won five riding titles total beneath the Twin Spires, will ride Raging Wit for trainer Bill Mott in the Iroquois (GIII) and the undefeated Running Bride for trainer Eddie Kenneally in the Pocahontas (GIII). Leparoux won four stakes last fall, including the Iroquois on Capt. Candyman Can.

Mike Maker, who claimed his first leading trainer title in 2008 with a Fall Meet-record 31 victories, will have one starter on Sunday’s card. Maker’s entrant is Stately Victor in the third race.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who have dominated the owner standings this decade, will send out one runner Sunday: Sparkle of Light in the fourth. Winners of the past four meet leading owner titles, the Ramseys own a track-record 15 leading owner titles: Eight in the Spring and seven in the Fall, including the past two. The seven Fall Meet titles share the track record with the late John Franks.  

2010 CHURCHILL DOWNS WALL CALENDAR GIVEAWAY ON SUNDAY’S OPENING DAY – The first 5,000 fans in attendance on Sunday, Nov. 1 – opening day of the 2009 Fall Meet – will receive a free 2010 Churchill Downs Wall Calendar, sponsored by Humana. The colorful calendar features major event listings and vivid and memorable images from the Kentucky Derby and around the historic racetrack.
Opening day of the anticipated 21-day stand doubles as “Stars of Tomorrow I” with 11 live races entirely devoted to rising 2-year-old stars who have aspirations of trail-blazing their way to next year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (GI). The featured events are the open Iroquois and the fillies’ Pocahontas, a pair of Grade III, $100,000-added events run at one mile on the main track.

The day will also will feature the debut a new free Sunday morning public workout program from 8-10 a.m. entitled “Daybreak at the Downs” and a special 2-year-old handicapping seminar and breakfast in the Paddock Pavilion from 9-11:30 a.m.

Admission gates for the day’s racing card will open at 11:30 a.m. and first post is 12:40 p.m. ET.
Churchill Downs 120th Fall Meet, featuring world-class horse racing, will continue for a four-week stand through Saturday, Nov. 28.

General admission is $3, but only $1 for senior citizens and members of the track’s free-to-join Twin Spires Club. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Parking is free in the Longfield Avenue lot (Gates 10 & 12) and $3 in all other lots. Valet parking is $5.

For more information or to reserve seats, call (502) 636-4400 or visit www.ChurchillDowns.com.

SPECIAL 2-YEAR-OLD HANDICAPPING SEMINAR SET ON OPENING DAY FROM 9-11:30 A.M. – Churchill Downs will host its annual “Stars of Tomorrow” 2-Year-Old Handicapping Seminar on Sunday, Nov. 1 in the Paddock Pavilion from 9-11:30 a.m.

Churchill Downs racing analyst Jill Byrne will host this year’s seminar with jockey Jon Court, trainer Ian Wilkes and workout clocker John Nichols. The quartet will provide insight on how to improve handicapping skills for 2-year-old racing and in-depth analysis of the entire “Stars of Tomorrow I” racing program with a question and answer session.

One of the most attractive aspects of the seminar is a special trip to the saddling paddock for an up-close inspection of a 2-year-old and its confirmation, behavior and equipment.

The cost to attend is $25 and includes breakfast buffet, official program, Brisnet.com past performances, and a reserved seat in Skye Terrace 5. There also will be a raffle for door prizes, including a VIP day at the races, two rounds of golf at Belterra Casino Resort & Spa, signed framed photographs of past Kentucky Derby winners and a chance to watch a race from the Churchill Downs announcer’s booth with track commentator Mark Johnson.

Access to the “Stars of Tomorrow” handicapping seminar is available through either Gate 1, off Central Avenue., or Gate 10, off Longfield Avenue.
Call (502) 636-4400 for reservations.

“WHO’S THE CHAMP?” HANDICAPPING TOURNAMENT RETURNS SUNDAYS & WEDNESDAYS – Churchill Downs’ popular “Who’s the Champ” Handicapping Tournament will return for the 2009 Fall Meet with contests every Sunday and Wednesday through Nov. 22.

Horse racing fans can pit their handicapping skills against the best Louisville has to offer for twice-weekly cash prizes and an invitation to the Sunday, Nov. 22 final. The top two finishers in the final will win coveted berths in the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping Championship XI scheduled for Jan. 29-30 at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas.

Prize money for each contest, which requires participants to place mythical $2 Win and Place wagers in Races 3-9, totals $4,000, including a $1,400 first prize.

The top 25 unique participants in each contest through Wednesday, Nov. 18 will be invited to the Nov. 22 final.

The participation fee for each contest is $30 and includes complimentary lunch. It’s discounted to $25 for Twin Spires Club members. Registration will take place in the Champions Club Lounge on the second floor of the clubhouse from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on contest days. Additional contest seating will be available in the Churchill Downs Lounge when necessary.

NEW “DAYBREAK AT THE DOWNS” FREE EVERY SUNDAY FROM 8-10 A.M. – “Daybreak at the Downs” – patterned after Kentucky Derby week’s well-attended “Dawn at the Downs” – will make its debut on opening day, Sunday, Nov. 1, and take place every Sunday from 8-10 a.m. throughout the 2009 Fall Meet.
Churchill Downs’ racing analyst Jill Byrne will host the program with select special guests and she’ll describe the on-track action and provide insightful commentary as hundreds of horses prepare for their upcoming races in morning workouts.

“Daybreak at the Downs” is free each Sunday, and complimentary coffee, donuts and milk will be served to attendees.

Interested patrons should park in the Longfield Lot and enter through Gate 10. The “Daybreak at the Downs” will be presented in Sections 116-117 of the clubhouse. Visitors are welcome to stay for a day at the races free of charge.

The 135th Spring Meet at Churchill Downs came to a close Sunday afternoon with the lasting images of a longshot winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), the coronation of racing royalty in the Kentucky Oaks (GI) and a dazzling start for racing under the stars with the debut of “Downs After Dark” night racing beneath the Twin Spires.

    It was a meet in which the winners of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra, became household names both inside and out of the racing world, and nights under the lights at Churchill Downs became the place both to be and be seen.

    Around midnight on April 21, trainer Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr. – who never had started a Thoroughbred in a Grade I race – much less the biggest race of them all – pulled into Churchill Downs’ Gate 5 hauling behind his Ford F-450 Lariat a trailer containing a small gelding named Mine That Bird. Expectations for Mine That Bird in the Derby were not high after a fourth-place finish in the Sunland Park Derby.

    In the late afternoon of May 2, things changed in the blink of an eye in front of a crowd of 153,563, the seventh-largest crowd in Kentucky Derby history.

    Ridden by Calvin Borel, who had only picked up the mount the week before, Mime That Bird trailed 18 horses after three-quarters of a mile. Riding next to the rail as he had done in the 2007 Kentucky Derby with Street Sense, Borel and Mine That Bird began passing horses in a blur.

    At the top of the stretch, Mine That Bird moved around Atomic Rain and darted back to the rail. At the eighth pole, Mine That Bird squeezed through a narrow opening between the rail and Join in the Dance and drew off a 6 ¾-length victory over Pioneerof the Nile. Mine That Bird covered the 1 ¼ miles in 2:02.66 over a track rated as “sloppy.”

    Sent off as the third-longest price in the field of 19, Mine That Bird paid $103.20 to win, the second-largest payoff in Kentucky Derby history. The 6 ¾-length margin of victory was the largest in the Derby since 1946 when Assault won by eight lengths.

    Despite the near-historic victory margin posted by Mine that Bird, it paled in comparison to what had transpired in the Kentucky Oaks the day before.

    L and M Partners’ (Dolphus Morrison and Michael Lauffer) Rachel Alexandra dazzled a crowd of 104,867 by winning the 135th running of the Kentucky Oaks by 20 ¼ lengths. Borel sat motionless on the filly’s back as she effortlessly expanded her advantage in completing the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.87 over a fast track.

    Borel became the first jockey since 1993 and seventh in history to sweep the Oaks and the Derby in the same year.

    The 135th running of the Kentucky Oaks marked the first year of a fundraising partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure©, the world’s largest breast cancer fundraising and outreach organization.  The crowd was encouraged to “Think Pink” and wear Komen’s signature color as 104,867 witnessed the race, which was televised for the first time on the cable network Bravo.  The 2009 Kentucky Oaks marked the 11th time in 12 years that attendance had topped the 100,000 mark.

    As part of that fundraising partnership, Churchill Downs presented Susan G. Komen for the Cure with a donation of $100,000 for breast cancer research, and another $30,000 was presented to “Horses and Hope,” a breast cancer outreach initiative launched by Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear that is focused on providing breast cancer education and screening to workers in Kentucky’s horse industry.  

   History of another kind was made during the Spring Meet on Friday, June 19, when Churchill Downs conducted its first night racing program. The 11-race program began with a first post of 6 p.m. (EDT) and attracted a crowd of 28,011. Two other “Downs After Dark” programs were offered with the June 26 card drawing 27,623 to Churchill Downs and the Thursday, July 2 program drawing 34,481 for a three-night total of 89,115 under the temporary lights at the historic home of the Kentucky Derby.

    In addition to Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra, other Grade I winners at the meet were Augustin Stable’s Informed Decision in the Humana Distaff, Midnight Cry Stable’s Einstein (BRZ) in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again in the Stephen Foster.

    Julien Leparoux, who won his third Spring Meet riding title with 62 victories, was aboard Informed Decision and Einstein and Robby Albarado won his third consecutive Stephen Foster when he rallied Macho Again from last to deny Einstein’s bid to become the first horse to win three consecutive Grade I races on different surfaces (dirt, turf and synthetic).

    Leparoux edged Borel by a single victory as the latter rode three winners on the meet’s final day but fell just short of catching the absent Leparoux.  It marked the second time in three years that Leparoux edged Borel by a single win for the Spring Meet title.

    Borel and Albarado reached riding milestones during the meet.

    On May 14, Borel became the fourth rider to reach 900 victories at Churchill Downs with his win aboard War Eagle Lady. On June 12, Borel got Churchill Downs victory No. 926 aboard Smoke Trail to move him past Don Brumfield into second place all time behind Pat Day’s record 2,482.

    Albarado became the sixth rider to reach 800 victories at Churchill Downs when he won aboard La Mousse (ARG) on April 30. A month later, his victory aboard Keertana was the 4,000th of his career making him the 57th North American-based rider to reach that plateau.

    Steve Asmussen won his sixth leading trainer title with 29 victories. Asmussen’s title was his third in the spring to go with 2004 and 2007. He also won fall titles in 2001, 2004 and 2007.  Mike Maker, the leading trainer of the 2008 Fall Meet finished second with 18 wins, one more than Greg Foley and two more than 2008 Spring Meet training champion Tom Amoss.

    Four trainers achieved their 300th career victories at Churchill Downs to boost the number to 12 at that plateau in track history.

    McGlamery Road gave Tom Amoss his 300th on May 14, Action Seeker accounted for No. 300 for Lynn Whiting on May 29, Citizen John on June 12 was Dave Vance’s 300th winner and Izzy Ali’s triumph on June 25 was No. 300 for Greg Foley.

    Ken and Sarah Ramsey won their record 15th leading owner title and fourth in a row as their stable posted 18 victories. The Ramseys have won eight spring titles and seven in the fall. 

   The Churchill Downs Fall Meet begins Sunday, Nov. 1 and runs through Saturday, Nov. 28.