Pocahontas Stakes

Anita Cauley’s homebred On Fire Baby, winner by three-quarters of length in the $150,000-added Pocahontas (Grade II) in the Stars of Tomorrow I program on the opening day of the Fall Meet, is the early favorite to add another graded-stakes win to her growing resumé when she faces 10 rivals in Saturday’s 68^th running of Churchill Downs $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs.

Named for the official flower of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Golden Rod will be the ninth race on Saturday’s 12-race Stars of Tomorrow II program devoted exclusively to races for 2-year-olds and has a scheduled post time of 4:42 p.m. (all times EST).  Post time for Saturday’s first race is 12:40 p.m.

Trained by Churchill Downs veteran Gary Hartlage, On Fire Baby began her career with an impressive four-length victory in a maiden-special weight race at Ellis Park. The gray/roan daughter of Smoke Glacken then finished fifth to eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII) winner Stephanie’s Kitten in Keeneland’s Darley Alcibiades (GI), but rebounded to win the Pocahontas.

On Fire Baby is a half-sister to 2007 Fantasy (GII) winner High Heels, who finished third in the 2006 Golden Rod and returned the following spring to run third to eventual Belmont Stakes (GI) winner Rags to Riches in the Kentucky Oaks (GI).  She will break from post six under Joe Johnson, and oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed Hartlage’s filly as a narrow 3-1 favorite.

On Fire Baby’s main competition in the Golden Rod could the trio Glen Hill Farm’s Customer Base, Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Glinda the Good, and John C. Oxley’s duo Spirited Miss and Golden History.  Each filly possesses experience in stakes races during their brief careers.

Customer Base, a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid trained by Tom Proctor, won her first two starts over synthetic surfaces at Del Mar and Keeneland before she ran 11^th  from an outside post to Stephanie’s Kitten in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII).  Jockey Julien Leparoux will be in the saddle for the third consecutive race aboard Customer Base, who is the 7-2 second choice in Battaglia’s morning line and breaks from post eight in her debut on traditional dirt.

The Steve Asmussen-trained Glinda the Good was runner-up to Grace Hall in the Blue Hen at Delaware Park before that rival finished second to Asmussen’s unbeaten My Miss Aurelia in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.  The 2-year-old daughter of Hard Spun ran third to On Fire Baby in the Pocahontas and will break from post 10 in the Golden Rod under Corey Lanerie.  Asmussen’s filly is the 5-1 third choice in Battaglia’s morning line odds.

Both Spirited Miss and Golden History launched their careers at Canada’s Woodbine for trainer Mark Casse, who has earned three Sovereign Awards as Canada’s top trainer who earned a training title at Churchill Downs early in this career.

Spirited Miss, a homebred daughter of Sky Mesa, will race on traditional dirt for the first time after running on grass and Polytrack at Woodine in her previous three starts.  She won at first asking on grass, then ran fourth on that surface to Northern Passion in the Grade III Natalma – a race in which Stephanie’s Kitten ran third.  Spirited Miss narrowly lost on Polytrack last out in Woodbine’s Mazarine, but is the 6-1 fourth choice in the Golden Rod and Javier Castellano rides from gate three.

Golden History is a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro and an impressive winner in her racing debut on Polytrack at Woodbine in October.   She ran fifth to On Fire Baby in her debut over traditional dirt in the Pocahontas, but finished only three lengths behind the winner. Shaun Bridgmohan will ride Golden History, an 8-1 risk who will break from post nine.

Another possible contender is Alex G. Campbell Jr.’s Karlovy Vary, a daughter of Dynaformer who makes her dirt debut after a pair of starts on grass at Keeneland and Saratoga.  Robby Albarado will ride the Rusty Arnold trainee who comes off an impressive maiden win at 1 1/16 miles on the Keeneland turf.  Karlovy Vary was entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, but did not draw into the race from its list of also-eligible horses.  She will break from the outside post in the 11-horse Golden Rod field and is listed at 8-1 in Battaglia’s morning line odds.

Arnold also trains Annie Russell, a daughter of Ghostzapper who scored her first victory over Keeneland’s Polytrack course after a pair of solid runs on turf at Arlington Park, including a fourth-place run behind Stephanie’s Kitten in her racing debut.  She is listed at 15-1 under Brian Hernandez Jr. for her debut on traditional dirt in the Golden Rod.

The Golden Rod field, from the rail out (with trainer, jockey, morning line odds) is as follows: Back Spin (Jinks Fires, Jon Court, 15-1), Annie Russell (Arnold, Hernandez, 15-1), Spirited Miss (Casse, Castellano, 6-1), Goldrush Girl (Ken McPeek, Manny Cruz, 15-1), Spring Eclipse (David Vance, Edgar Prado, 20-1), On Fire Baby (Hartlage, Johnson, 3-1), Jamraa (Tim Girten, Jesus Castanon, 20-1), Customer Base (Proctor, Leparoux, 7-2), Golden History (Casse, Bridgmohan, 8-1), Glinda the Good (Asmussen, Lanerie, 5-1) and Karlovy Vary (Arnold, Albarado, 8-1).

ON FIRE BABY EYES NEXT STEP IN GOLDEN ROD – “That was one for the good guys,” Hall of Fame trainer D Wayne Lukas said to Gary Hartlage as Lukas passed the viewing stand just past the six-furlong pole.

It was one of many congratulations Hartlage received Monday after Anita Cauley’s On Fire Baby’s three-quarter length victory in the Grade II Pocahontas on Sunday’s opening-day card of the 21-day Fall Meet.

“Right place at the right time,” Hartlage said. “I’d like to enter her today for the Breeders’ Cup like they did in the old days when they ran the Derby Trial on the Tuesday before the (Kentucky) Derby.”

Instead of the Breeders’ Cup, the next stop for On Fire Baby likely will be the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) to be run Nov. 26.

On Fire Baby is a half-sister to High Heels, who was owned by Cauley and trained by Hartlage. High Heels ran third in the 2006 Golden Rod.  High Heels’ 3-year-old season included a win in Oaklawn Park’s  Fantasy (GII) at Oaklawn Park and ran third to eventual Belmont Stakes (GI) winner Rags to Riches in the 2007 Kentucky Oaks (GI).

The Golden Rod is not in the cards for Helen Groves’ And Why Not, who rallied from far back to get second in Sunday’s race.

“She’s a May 20 foal and she has had four races as a 2-year-old, so she is going to be turned out,” trainer Michael Matz said. “Hopefully, we can come back with her in the spring.”

MOTOR CITY DOING WELL MORNING AFTER IROQUOIS VICTORY – Lantern Hill Farm LLC’s homebred Motor City, last-to-first winner of Sunday’s Grade III Iroquois, returned to the track early Monday morning for a jog.

“He’s good this morning and the next step most likely is the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII),” trainer Ian Wilkes said referring to the race on Nov. 26.

What made Sunday’s victory all the more sweet for Wilkes was the fact that Motor City’s sire is Street Sense, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Derby (GI).

“That was Street Sense’s first graded stakes winner,” said Wilkes, who rode the Street Sense express along with trainer Carl Nafzger, with whom he shares Barn 26.

The victory was the second in the Iroquois for Wilkes, who won the race in 2008 with Capt. Candyman Can.

“It is hard to compare horses, but this horse can rate and Capt. Candyman Can couldn’t,” Wilkes said. “This bodes well for two turns.”

Trainer Al Stall Jr., who owns Iroquois runner-up Seven Lively Sins in partnership with Stewart Madison and Justin Querbes III, said the colt would head to Louisiana for the $1 million Delta Jackpot (GIII) to be run Nov. 19 at Delta Downs.

“Hopefully, this will get him in with the graded stakes earnings (of $21,967 from the Iroquois),” Stall said. “That’s a hard race to get in to as there are only nine spots available.”                                                                             

Anita Cauley’s homebred On Fire Baby held off a late charge from And Why Not to win the 43^rd running of the Grade II, $173,400 Pocahontas for 2-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length to highlight the opening day of the 21-day Fall Meet at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Joe Johnson for trainer Gary Hartlage, On Fire Baby got a ground-saving trip behind a contested scramble for the lead among five horses through a first quarter-mile in :22.54. Aubby K emerged with the lead after a half-mile in :45.50 and took the field through six furlongs in 1:10.58 while under pressure from Bet to Win, Georgie’s Angel and Believe You Can.

At the three-sixteenths pole, Johnson moved On Fire Baby off the rail and to the outside of Aubby K who she passed at the sixteenth pole with enough left to hold off And Why Not, who had closed from the back of the 12-horse field. On Fire Baby ran the mile on a fast main track in 1:37.17.

The victory was worth $99,982 and increased On Fire Baby’s earnings to $127,582 with a record of 2-0-0 in three starts. On Fire Baby is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Smoke Glacken out of the Gilded Time mare Ornate and a half-sister to Grade II stakes winner High Heels.

On Fire Baby returned $20.20, $9.40 and $5.80. And Why Not, ridden by Garrett Gomez, returned $6.60 and $4.40 in finishing 1 ¾ lengths in front of Glinda the Good, who rallied for third under Julien Leparoux and returned $6.60 to show.

It was a neck back to Aubby K in fourth, who was followed in order by Golden History, Believe You Can, Taxi Dancer, Flashy Lassie, Heart of Destiny, Georgie’s Angel, My Due Process and Bet to Win.

Racing resumes Wednesday with a 10-race program with first post time at 12:40 p.m. EDT.

POCAHONTAS STAKES QUOTES

Gary Hartlage, trainer of On Fire Baby (winner) – “This feels good. She’s always showed me she was a good horse from the day she stepped in the barn and that’s why I ran her in a Grade I (Darley Alcibiades) and today a Grade II. I’ve trained a lot of good horses and some graded stakes winners and she’s right up there with them. She’ll be even better next year when she really figures out what’s going on. If we run her one more time this year it would be in the Golden Rod (at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26), but we’ll see how she comes out of this race.”

Joe Johnson, jockey of On Fire Baby (winner) – “We were hoping to lay off the pace, save some ground and hope things opened up. We’ve known she’s been a good one since the day she stepped off the van. It’s nice when you work hard and things come together.”

Jimmy Baker, trainer of Heart of Destiny (ninth as 3-1 favorite) – “No more dirt. She ran OK on the dirt at Saratoga, but that was a maiden race. A maiden race and a Grade II are night and day. We might run her on the turf here later in the meet or we might freshen her up for next year. She’s a nice horse and we have a lot of options with her.”

Edgar Prado, jockey of Heart of Destiny (ninth as 3-1 favorite) – “She ran OK, but I think she’s better on the turf and synthetic.”

John Oxley’s heavily favored Dancinginherdreams remained perfect in two starts by racing to a 5 1/4-length victory over Eden Star in the 42nd running of the $165,450 Pocahontas (GII) for 2-year-old fillies on Sunday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, who won Pocahontas for a second time, Dancinginherdreams is trained by John Ward, who also won divisions of the race in 1977 and 1978. Ward and Oxley also teamed up to win the 1995 Kentucky Oaks (GI) with Gal In A Ruckus and the 2001 Kentucky Derby (GI) with Monarchos.

Leparoux was content to let Dancinginherdreams, the even-money favorite, race in midpack as Honey Chile under Michael Baze led the field of seven through fractions of :22.75 and :46.79 down the backstretch straightaway. Leaving the far turn, Dancinginherdreams had to wait behind Honey Chile, who was joined on the lead by Switching Gears and Gran Lioness.

At the head of the stretch, Dancinginherdreams slipped between Gran Lioness and Honey Chile and ducked down to the rail where she spurted clear past the three-sixteenths pole and cruised to the wire geared down by Leparoux.

Dancinginherdreams covered the mile on a fast main track in 1:38.59. The victory was worth $100,529 and increased the daughter of Tapit’s earnings to $124,529.

Dancinginherdreams returned $4, $2.80 and $2.40. Eden Star rallied for second under Kent Desormeaux and returned $9.20 and $5.40. Missyoulikecrazy, ridden by Corey Lanerie, finished another half-length back in third and paid $5.20 to show. It was another 3 ½ lengths back to Gran Lioness, who was followed in order by Days Like This, Switching Gears and Honey Chile.

Racing at the 21-day fall meet resumes Wednesday with a 10-race card that begins at 12:40 p.m. (ET).

POST-RACE QUOTES

Julien Leparoux (jockey, Dancinginherdreams, winner): “She ran good. I was in tight and she had a great pull; she does everything good. Today she broke a little bit better.”

John Ward (trainer, Dancinginherdreams, second): “That’s the way she trains in the morning, so to see it come back and do it in the afternoon is pretty good. I thought the racetrack was very difficult today, but she obviously overcomes what’s in front of her. I wouldn’t call it easy but she handled everything well. We will see her again in Florida and she needs to put some meat on her bones. But that’s what you’re looking for and I think she will run as far you want her to go.”

ERIC REED (trainer, Eden Star, runner-up): "She ran a little better than I thought she would.  I really like her a lot.  She’s just ultra-game.  That other filly (winner Dancinginherdreams) can really run.”
Q: What will you do with Eden Star now?

“We’re going to break her maiden.  Then we’ll take her to Florida and bring her back here in the spring.”

KENT DESORMEAUX (jockey, Eden Star, runner-up): "That was a great stretch drive for her – she was in the horse race.  The 3 (Dancinginherdreams) was long gone, but she was in the horse race for second place and she won.”

EDDIE KENNEALLY (trainer, Missyoulikecrazy, third): The winner is an exceptional filly and might be the leader of the division.  Being third in our first stake appearance – we’re happy with that.  We were third in a Grade II in the Pocahontas and that adds a little feather to our cap with this filly.”
Q: Will you look at the Golden Rod at the end of meet for her?
“We’ll look the Golden Rod.  We’ll definitely look at it.”

Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image, the stylish two-length winner of the Pocahontas (Grade III) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1, heads a field of seven 2-year-old fillies entered for Saturday’s 66th running of the $150,000 Golden Rod Stakes (GII) at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

The Golden Rod, which serves as the co-feature on the closing-day “Stars of Tomorrow II” card exclusively for 2-year-olds, will go as the ninth race on the 12-race card with an approximate post time of 3:28 p.m. (all times ET). First post time Saturday is 11:30 a.m.

Trained by Dale Romans, Sassy Image broke her maiden in her second start this summer at Churchill Downs. She finished second in the Adirondack (GII) and fourth in the Spinaway (GI) at Saratoga before an eighth-place finish over the Polytrack at Keeneland in the Grade I Darley Alcibiades.  She returned to form with her impressive victory in the one-mile Pocahontas in her return to traditional dirt.

Robby Albarado has the call Saturday in the Golden Rod aboard Sassy Image, who is the 2-1 favorite in oddsmaker Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds for the race.  The rivals for Sassy Image include three of the fillies that finished right behind in the Pocahontas in Decelerator, All Due Respect and Vivid Colors.

But it is a newcomer – Stone Farm, John Adger, Oak Crest Farm and Michael Stidham’s Upperline – who is the 5-2 second choice in the Golden Rod morning line.  The Stidham-trained daughter of Maria’s Mon ran second to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) winner She Be Wild in the $50,000 Top Flight at Arlington Park and edged Golden Rod rival Vivid Colors by a head in her next start in a Keeneland allowance race.

  All of Upperline’s previous three starts have come on synthetic Polytrack surfaces.  She will be ridden from post three by jockey E.T. Baird.

The field for the Golden Rod, from the rail out, is as follows: Sassy Image (R. Albarado, 119 pounds), All Due Respect (B. Hernandez Jr., 119), Upperline (E. Baird, 119), Vivid Colors (C. Borel, 119), Decelerator (T. Thompson, 119), Canadian Storm (J. Castanon, 119), Quiet Temper (F. Torres, 119).

Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 winner of the Kentucky Oaks (GI) and a contender for “Horse of the Year” honors, won the 2008 Golden Rod for owner-breeder Dolphus Morrison, trainer Hal Wiggins and jockey Calvin Borel.

The Caressing, a $60,000-added overnight stake at a mile on the grass, will be run immediately after the Golden Rod with a field of 12 juvenile fillies. Approximate post time is 3:58 p.m.

Heading the field is Koolman Racing Stable’s Orchestrator, the 5-2 morning line favorite, and Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Lisa Kitten, the 7-2 second choice.

The former is a daughter of Bernstein who seeks her third consecutive win for trainer Ken McPeek following a victory over soft turf in a one-mile Keeneland allowance race on Oct. 29.  Robby Albarado will ride Orchestrator, who carries 118 pounds and will break from the inside post.  

Lisa’s Kitten, a homebred daughter of Kitten’s Joy, won the La Senorita at Retama Park on Oct. 24 and most recently finished 10th to Tapitsfly in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. Trained by Mike Maker, Lisa’s Kitten will be ridden by Miguel Mena and break from post position 10.

The field for the Caressing, from the hedge out, is as follows: Orchestrator (R. Albarado, 116 pounds, 5-2), Rich Pearl (F. Torres, 122, 20-1), Tidal Pool (T. Thompson, 116, 10-1), Greeley’s Rocket (J. Theriot, 116, 8-1), Sheer Beauty (C. Borel, 116, 10-1), Zippy Larry (J. McKee, 116, 30-1), Martita Sangrita (J. Castanon, 116, 12-1), Jody Slew (J. Court, 116, 15-1), Check the Label (G. Saez, 116, 5-1), Lisa’s Kitten (M. Mena, 122, 7-2), Cactus Cadillac (L. Goncalves, 116, 15-1) and Sparky’s Dream (F. Arguello Jr., 116, 15-1).

Westrock Stables’ Decelerator, winner of the Debutante (Grade III) here in June, bids for a second graded stakes victory on Sunday as she takes on a dozen 2-year-old fillies in the 41st running of the $100,000-added Pocahontas (Grade III) at a mile on the main track at Churchill Downs.

The Pocahontas shares the marquee with $100,000-added Iroquois (GIII), a mile race for 2-year-old colts and geldings, on the “Stars of Tomorrow I” program that opens Churchill Downs’ 21-day Fall Meet, which will run through Saturday Nov. 28. First post time for Sunday’s 11-race card, of the first of two programs during the meet devoted exclusively to races for juvenile runners, is 12:40 p.m. (all times EST).  The Pocahontas is scheduled as the eighth race with a 4:05 p.m. post time.

The second “Stars of Tomorrow” program is set for the meet’s closing day.

Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who has won the Pocahontas three times, Decelerator is 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs but enters the Pocahontas off a seventh-place finish in the two-turn Darley Alcibiades (GI) over the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland on Oct. 9. Despite that perfect local record and her status as the only graded stakes winner in the Pocahontas, Decelerator is a 10-1 risk in oddsmaker Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds for the race. New York-based Rajiv Maragh has the mount on Decelerator, who will break from post position eight and carry top weight of 123 pounds.

Louisville-born trainer Dale Romans, who edged past the Hall of Famer Lukas in the Spring Meet and now ranks second in all-time wins at Churchill Downs, will bid for his second consecutive Pocahontas victory when he sends Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image into Sunday’s race. Romans saddled Sara Louise, who is scheduled to run in next Friday’s Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, to defeat Rachel Alexandra in the 2008 Pocahontas.  Rachel Alexanadra has not lost a race since.

A maiden winner at Churchill Downs in June and runner-up in the Grade II Adirondack at Saratoga in August, Sassy Image comes into the Pocahontas off an eighth-place finish in the Alcibiades, 1 ¼ lengths behind Decelerator. Robby Albarado has the mount on Sassy Image, who is the 9-2 morning line favorite for the Pocahontas and will carry 117 pounds when she breaks from post position three.

Other stakes winners in the field include Robert DeWitt and Catherine Kenneally’s All About Anna (15-1), who took the Bassinet at River Downs; Summerplace Farm’s Running Bride (6-1), an undefeated Indiana-bred who won the restricted City of Anderson and Miss Indiana stakes at Hoosier Park; and Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Vertical Vision (6-1), winner of two stakes races at Iowa’s Prairie Meadows this summer.

The field for the Pocahontas, from the rail out (with jockey, assigned weight and morning line odds), is as follows: Biorra (I. Ocampo, 117 pounds, 30-1), All Due Respect (B. Hernandez Jr., 117, 20-1), Sassy Image, Tiz Miz Sue (J. Castanon, 117, 5-1), Happy Week (E. Prado, 117, 6-1), Running Bride (J. Leparoux, 121), Jody Slew (L. Goncalves, 119, 30-1), Decelerator, Snap Happy (C. Borel, 119, 20-1), Vertical Vision (S. Bridgmohan, 121), Vivid Colors (K. Desormeaux, 117, 5-1), All About Anna (C. Lanerie, 121) and Tidal Pool (J. Theriot, 119, 12-1).  

WILKES NOTCHES ‘FIRST' CHURCHILL STAKES VICTORY WITH ‘CANDYMAN' IN IROQUOIS - Trainer Ian Wilkes has made many visits to the Churchill Downs winner's circle since he first arrived at Churchill Downs from Australia nearly 20 years ago - including a couple of stops in the exclusive Kentucky Derby winner's circle with mentor Carl Nafzger.  But Saturday's "Stars of Tomorrow I" victory by Capt. Candyman Can in the $100,000-added Iroquois (Grade III) marked a first for Wilkes since he went out on his own a couple of years back.

            The three-length victory by the gelded son of Candy Ride was Wilkes' first stakes triumph as a trainer at his home track.  It was a nice milestone for the 43-year-old Aussie, but the performance his horse turned in under jockey Julien Leparoux meant much more.

            "One of the reasons Carl turned some of his horses over to me was to give me recognition," said Wilkes.  "I guess that's a very satisfying aspect of it."

            Wilkes said Capt. Candyman Can came out of the race in good shape and would be pointed toward the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 29.  That race will mark Capt. Candyman's debut at a two-turn distance after his flashy performance on Saturday over Churchill Downs' demanding one-turn mile. 

            A strong effort at two turns would allow Wilkes to start thinking about next spring's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) on May 2.  Capt. Candyman Can will have to prove that two-turn races are within his grasp, but Wilkes says his "gut feeling" on that is positive. 

            Wilkes also believes that Capt. Candyman Can could improve significantly off of his Iroquois win and in his training leading up to the Kentucky Jockey Club.

            "He was fit to run - he was ready to run and needed to run," Wilkes said.  "But was he 110 percent?  No, I didn't feel he was.  I felt he had some more improvement in him.  I think he's maturing a little more than you might hope - he's put on some weight and almost done too good.  So I was coming into this race and hoping to move forward, and I'd love to win the next race."

            Capt. Candyman Can was a colt when he came into Wilkes' care, but the decision to geld him was made early in the year.  That move often has an immediate impact on the physical and mental outlook of young horses, and that was the case with Wilkes' star.

            "He had a lot of little issues," he said.  "Gelding got the weight off of him and it really helped him.  I doubt that I would have been in this situation if I didn't geld him."

            The Iroquois marked the second victory in three career starts for Capt. Candyman Can, with the other being a dazzling 7 ½-length romp in his career debut at Saratoga.  In between he finished a close sixth over Polytrack in Arlington Park's Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII).  His earnings now stand at $105,517.

POCAHONTAS ROMP BY SARA LOUISE NO SURPRISE TO ROMANS- Saturday's first "Stars of Tomorrow" program of the Churchill Downs Fall Meet saw plenty of strong performances by promising horses on the card devoted exclusively to 2-year-olds, but the most impressive of the day could have been the romp by Eldon Farm Equine's Sara Louise in the $100,000-added Pocahontas (GIII).

            The Dale Romans-trained daughter of Malibu Moon rallied from just off the pace and quickly drew off under Robby Albarado to defeat favored Rachel Alexandra by 3 ¾ lengths.  The quality of that dazzling effort was underscored by her stakes record winning time of 1:34.57.  It was the first sub-1:35 clocking since the Pocahontas was extended from seven furlongs to a mile in 1981 and the time was nearly three-fifths of a second faster than the winning time turned in by the gelding Capt. Candyman Can against colts in the Iroquois fewer than 30 minutes later.

            Romans said all was well on Sunday with a horse that he called "a very special filly."  He said she "came out of the race great," and that her dominating effort was no surprise to his stable.

            "She had trained that way, and I've thought she was special since the first time I got to breeze her," said Romans.  "She's been just the total package.  She had the speed when you called on her and she'd relax when you wanted her to, and that's a good horse."

            Sara Louise was beaten in her career debut at Saratoga when she broke last in a field of 10.  She rallied from 14 lengths back to finish fourth, beaten only 3 ¾ lengths, by the well-regarded Be Smart.  She scored a three-quarter length victory at Belmont Park in her next start that was easier than the winning margin would indicate, as the race chart notes that she won under "hand urging" from jockey Edgar Prado.

            Romans said a run back in the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) at 1 1/16-miles on Nov. 29 is possible for Sara Louise.  A decision on her next target will come after a discussion with Eldon Farm Equine owner John Luke.

            "We'll look at it real hard," he said.  "I don't like to make those decisions after the emotion of a big win like that.  In about a week or so we'll have a conference call with Mr. Luke and all of his people and decide what to do."

            Sara Louise is the only horse Romans currently trains for Luke.  He has had a handful over the years, with Spin Master, winner of the $100,000 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs in 2007, being the best of those before Sara Louise walked into Romans' barn.

            The Pocahontas victory boosted the career earnings for Sara Louise to $101,381.

EINSTEIN BREEZES, POSSIBLE FOR CLARK ‘CAP - Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) winner Einstein is moving closer to his first race since a disappointing run in the Arlington Million (GI), and that race could be a return to the dirt in the 135th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28.

            Midnight Cry Stable's 6-year-old son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend A Buck breezed an easy half-mile over a "fast" track in :52 on Sunday at Churchill Downs.  It was the first breeze for Einstein since he finished fifth, beaten only two lengths, by front-running longshot Spirit One in the Million on Aug. 9 at Arlington Park. 

            Einstein stumbled badly at the start of that race.  The veteran turf star was found to have pulled muscles in his back end following his troubled run in the Million.

            "He probably did it when he left the gate," said Pitts.  "I sent him for a bone scan and you could see where it was just black where he had pulled all those muscles in his back end."

            Pitts said Einstein bounced back from the injury well, and his strong recovery has Pitts thinking over a bid for the 1 1/8-mile Clark.  Although Einstein's major victories have come on turf, he has run very well over the main track at Churchill Downs.  He finished second to reigning "Horse of the Year" Curlin in June in the $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) and notched his first career victory under the Twin Spires in November 2005.   

            A bid for the Clark Handicap could involve a run against two-time Whitney (GI) winner Commentator, who could be pointed to that race by trainer Nick Zito.  A Clark bid has not been completely ruled out for Curlin, who is back on the grounds following a fourth-place finish over the synthetic Cushion Track surface in the Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) at Santa Anita. 

            Pitts said Einstein is far from a sure thing to run in the Clark, but it is an attractive option.

            "I'm going to kind of let him tell me, but the Clark is in the back of my mind," said Pitts.  "I know Commentator is contemplating it, but if I can run second to Curlin I guess I can attempt to beat him.  I don't know what Curlin's doing, but I'm kind of going to let him tell me."

            "If everything goes well it gives him four works and he didn't lose a whole lot," said Pitts.  "He seemed good.  He went just nice and easy today and we'll go from there.  It's not a necessary thing that he has to run, but if it happens that he's doing good then and it comes up a light spot, then I probably would run in the Clark and then sit on him until Florida."

            Pitts said current plans call for Einstein to campaign next year as a 7-year-old, and says the Brazilian-bred is actually younger than that official listing because he was foaled in the Southern Hemisphere.

            "He just turned six two months ago," said Pitts.  "He's only been six for two months.  Everybody thinks he's been six this entire year when he's not." 

            The ultimate goal for Einstein would be a bid to repeat this year's win in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day.

            "If we could get a couple of more good races into him next year I'd like to point him toward the Woodford Reserve again," said Pitts.  "Then we'll just kind of go from there.  There's no reason not to."

            Einstein has a record of 3-3-0 in eight races this year and his career slate stands at 8-3-1 in 21 races with earnings of $1,366,431.

MAMBO IN SEATTLE BREEZES, STILL POSSIBLE FOR CLARK - Travers (GI) runner-up Mambo in Seattle turned in an easy half-mile breeze on Sunday at Churchill Downs that kept the 3-year-old in the picture for the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII).

            Mambo in Seattle, who is owned by William S. Farish and Mrs. William Kilroy, breezed four furlongs over a "fast" track under exercise rider Dane Noel in :50.40.  The work was the first for the 3-year-old son of Kingmambo since his disappointing seventh-place finish behind Ball Four in the $150,000 Fayette (GIII) at Keeneland on Oct. 25. 

Trainer Neil Howard believes that Mambo in Seattle failed to handle the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland in that race and he was pleased with what he saw in the colt's return to dirt at Churchill Downs.  He caught Mambo in Seattle going a little faster than Churchill Downs clockers, as Howard had the colt going in ":49 and two, or :49 and three" on his stopwatch.

            "It was exactly what I was looking for," said Howard.  "I was just looking for a little maintenance half-mile in his first work since he ran, and he breezed very nice."

            Howard said he and Farish had discussed the prospect of a bid for the Clark, but said there is no rush to make that call.

            "We're here, so we figure we can just train along," said Howard.  "He's had good year and he's had some tough races, so we're just going to play it by ear just a little bit.  We are looking at the race, but we're not making any commitments yet."

            Mambo in Seattle's career record stands at 4-3-0 in 10 races with earnings of $400,741.   

 BARN TALK - Jockey Julien Leparoux and trainer Mike Maker continued to sustain their sizzling pace on Saturday in the battles for top honors in their respective categories in the Fall Meet. Leparoux won four races for the second time in three days to push his meet-leading victory total to 15.  Robby Albarado, who won three races on Saturday, is a clear second in that category with nine wins.  Maker saddled one winner on Saturday and has scored at least one win on each of the first five days of the 26-day meet.  His victory total stands at nine, with Ken McPeek (six wins) and Dale Romans (five) giving closest chase. ... Brant Laue's Gun Salute, winner of the 2005 Secretariat (GI) at Arlington Park, is entered in the 9th race on Thursday, Nov. 9 at Churchill Downs.  The son of Military is part of a full field in a 1 1/8-mile allowance optional claiming race on the Matt Winn Turf Course.  Gun Salute ran third to Thorn Song in last fall's River City (GIII) at Churchill Downs for trainer Bill Mott, then ran twice earlier this year in Saudi Arabia.  He returned to the U.S. to run second in an Ellis Park allowance race in his only effort for new trainer Cody Autrey.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) - Commonwealth Turf (GIII) candidate Amazing Results breezed a sharp five furlongs in :59.  The move by Team Block's son of Grand Slam was the fastest of 33 at the distance.  ... Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road, runner-up in the 2007 Kentucky Jockey Club, breezed five furlongs for trainer David Carroll in 1:02.40. ...Isabull, winner of the 2006 WinStar Derby, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 for trainer Tom Amoss.

CURLIN SET TO RETURN TO CHURCHILL DOWNS ON MONDAY - Reigning "Horse of the Year" Curlin, fourth to Raven's Pass in the Breeders' Cup Classic (Grade I) on Saturday at Santa Anita, is scheduled to return to trainer Steve Asmussen's barn at Churchill Downs on Monday, Oct. 27.[asset|height=12|width=100]

A flight carrying the 4-year-old son of Smart Strike from southern California is scheduled to touch down around 11 a.m. (EDT) at Louisville International Airport.

Curlin grabbed the lead in the stretch, but did not display his normal closing punch in the final yards as he finished worse than third for the first time in his career. 

The Steve Asmussen-trained champion, whose Churchill Downs races include a win in this year's $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) and a third-place finish behind Street Sense in the 2007 running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), earned $255,000 for his fourth place finish to push his North American record for career earnings to $10,501,800. 

His career racing record now stands at 11-2-2 in 16 races. 

 

RACHEL ALEXANDRA BACK, PREPS FOR POCAHONTAS - Veteran trainer Hal Wiggins has trained for owner Dolphus Morrison for 26 years and their partnership has produced some wonderful moments, with many highlights focused on the versatile stakes-winning sprinter Morris Code.

But Wiggins and Morrision are hoping for even bigger thrills with a 2-year-old filly in their care.  Her name is Rachel Alexandra, and she's being pointed toward next week's $100,000-added Pocahontas Stakes (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies.  The one-mile race will be co-featured with the $100,000-added Iroquois (GIII) on the first of Churchill Downs' two "Stars of Tomorrow" programs on Nov. 1.  The second of those special racing cards devoted exclusively to 2-year-olds is set for Nov. 29, the meet's closing day.

Rachel Alexandra displayed great promise in the Spring Meet when she scored a 1 ½-length victory in a strong maiden race on June 13.  She returned with a troubled runner-up finish to Garden District in the $100,000 Debutante (GIII) at Churchill Downs that had Wiggins dreaming of a big summer for his new star.

But summer plans for the filly soon went on hold when she suffered a minor injury that sent her to renowned equine surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage for a round of surgery.  But she returned to racing on Oct. 17 with three-length allowance victory over Polytrack at Keeneland, and that effort put the homebred daughter of Medaglia d'Oro on course for a return to stakes competition in the Pocahontas.

"She had a little small chip in the left ankle, and Dr. Bramlage took it out and we gave her some time," said Wiggins.  "I was very pleased with her race at Keeneland.  You always have a question when they're going back after a two-to-three month layoff, and off of surgery also.  She had been training like she'd run like that, but you never know until you put ‘em in the gate.  But I was very pleased, and I was pleased with the way she came out of it."

Rachel Alexandra tuned up for Saturday's race with a three-furlong work in :37 over a "fast" track on Sunday at Churchill Downs.  Jockey Brian Hernandez, who has ridden the filly in all four of her career starts, was in the saddle for the work, which was the fastest of 10 moves at the distance on the cool October morning.

Wiggins trained Rachel Alexandra's dam, Lotta Kim, who finished second to Be Gentle in the 2003 Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs.  He believes his current star has the potential to be special.

"I haven't had a lot of really good horses, but she's probably as good a horse as I've ever trained," he said.  "She does everything right.  She's got a good head on her and, right now, she really seems sound.  So we have high hopes, but in this business you just keep your fingers crossed and take one step at a time."

Wiggins said he would likely start another Morrison homebred, Abbot Hall, along with Rachel Alexandra in the Pocahontas.  The daughter of El Corredor ran second on dirt in her debut at Ellis Park before she scored back-to-back wins on turf in an Ellis Park maiden race and the $150,000 Happy Ticket Stakes at Louisiana Downs. She finished fourth to Laragh in her most recent start in Keeneland's Jessamine on turf.

"She ran a nice race first time out at Ellis Park on the dirt, and there's really no other spot for her," said Wiggins.  "She's ready to do something, so I think we're going to ahead and run her in there also."

She completed her preparations for the Pocahontas was a four-furlong breeze on Sunday in :49, which ranked 17th out of 108 works at the distance

Abbott Hall has earned $113,236 in her four races, while Rachel Alexandra has earned $79,814 in her four starts.

 

NOMINATIONS UNVEILED FOR POCAHONTAS, IROQUOIS, CHILUKKI - Churchill Downs racing has released its rosters of nominees for three Fall Meet stakes races to be run under the Twin Spires next weekend.  They include the Nov. 1 renewals of the $100,000-added Pocahontas (GIII) for 2-year-old fillies and the $100,000 Iroquois (GIII) for 2-year-olds, and the 24th running of the $150,000-added Chilukee (GII) for fillies and mares ages 3 & up on Sunday, Nov. 2. 

            The Dolphus Morrison owned homebreds Rachel Alexandra, runner-up in the Debutante (GIII), and Happy Ticket Stakes winner Abbott Hall head the list of 29 2-year-old fillies nominated to one-mile Pocahontas.  Others include Tom Walters' Pretty Prolific, third in the Adirondack at Saratoga; Helen Alexander and Helen Groves' Selva, the runner-up in the Sorority at Monmouth Park; Silverton Hill's Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies winner Corlett; Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Complicity; L.T.B. Inc.'s More of the Best, runner-up in the Bassinet at River Downs; and Livin Lovin, runner-up in Woodbine's Mazarine (GIII).

            The 31 2-year-olds nominated for the 28th running of the one-mile Iroquois include Winchell Thoroughbreds' Kentucky Cup Juvenile (GIII) runner-up Retap; Courtlandt Farm's Gresham, third in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile; and Puglisi Racing's Forty Thieves, the unbeaten winner of the NATC Futurity at Monmouth Park.

            Other Iroquois nominees include Zayat Stables' Star of David, third in the Summer (GIII) on turf at Woodbine; Advice, third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (GIII); Darley Stable's Majestic Blue, fourth in the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (GI) at Keeneland; and Phosphorescent, fourth in the Sanford (GII) at Saratoga.    

            Millennium Farms' defending winner Rolling Sea heads a collection of 31 older fillies and mares nominated to the one-mile Chilukki.  The Steve Asmussen-trained daughter of Sefapiano is winless in five races this year, but finished second to Hystericalady in the Molly Pitcher (GII) at Monmouth Park.

            Other notable fillies and mares nominated to the Chilukki include Baroness Thatcher, a narrow loser to Intangaroo in the Humana Distaff (GI) at the Chilukki distance on Kentucky Derby Day; Chicago Breeders' Cup (GIII) winner Leah's Secret, fourth to Cocoa Beach in the Beldame (GI) last time out; Rampart (GII) winner Spring Waltz; Sweet Goodbye, whose victory in the Maryland Million Oaks at Laurel was her fourth consecutive win; Swift Temper, winner of the Gardenia (GIII) at Ellis Park; and Unforgotten, runner-up to Bear Now in the Kentucky Cup Distaff (GIII).

BARN TALK - Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, the all-time leader in victories and stakes wins by a trainer at Churchill Downs, enters the Fall Meet within reach of a significant milestone.  Mott is closing in on 600 career victories under the Twin Spires.  He opens the 26-day racing session with 592 victories.

 

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) - Gardenia (GIII) winner Swift Temper breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Dale Romans, the second-fastest move of 44 at the distance ... Taletobetold breezed four furlongs in :52.60 for trainer Eddie Kenneally ... U.D. Ghetto breezed four furlongs in :50.60 ... Unforgotten, runner-up in the Kentucky Cup Distaff (GIII), breezed four furlongs in :48 - the third-fastest work of 108 at the distance ... Capt. Bullet Bob, a recent maiden winner at Hawthorne and a nominee to the Iroquois, breezed five furlongs in 1:01, the day's fastest move at the distance.

 

2008 SPRING MEET LEADERS

           Through Sunday, July 6 Jockeys                          Starts   1-2-3

Robby Albarado                  288  73-44-41

Miguel Mena                       365   65-49-52

Julien Leparoux                306   56-56-51

Calvin Borel                        302  52-42-39

Jamie Theriot                     293   48-38-41

Shaun Bridgmohan             232   44-44-32

Jesus Castanon                   274   30-28-31

Corey Lanerie                    236   22-34-30

Brian Hernandez Jr.            211   18-30-23

John McKee                       152   14-22-20

Trainers

Tom Amoss                       87   35-15-13

Steve Asmussen                145   30-27-21

Ken McPeek                      87    26-14-11

Mike Maker                        73    21-14-12

Dale Romans                    150   20-27-25

Ian Wilkes                          56    15-13-7

Eddie Kenneally                  65   12-10-11

Paul J. McGee                     54    12-8-7

Steve Margolis                    52    11-7-11

Greg Foley                         70   10-11-9

Cody Autrey                       58    10-9-11

Robert O'Connor II              24    10-3-5

D. Wayne Lukas                  66    10-2-6

Bret Calhoun                       26    10-2-5      

Owners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey         76   20-11-17

Maggi Moss                         34     15-7-5

Richard, Elaine & Bert Klein   41    10-7-7

Zayat Stables, LLC                56    9-12-11

Jay Em Ess Stable                 23     6-4-2

Heflin & Driver Racing           29     5-5-6

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable       17     5-1-0

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