Roger Attfield

MUSKETIER READY FOR TOP EFFORT IN LOUISVILLE HANDICAP – It’s scarce to find a multiple graded stakes-winning, un-gelded horse still competing at age 9, let alone in top company, but Musketier-GER, fresh off back-to-back wins in the Elkhorn (GII) at Keeneland, has been installed as the 122-pound high weight and 9-5 favorite for Saturday’s 74^th running of the $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs.  

The German-bred horse has been competing on the racetrack for seven years. Heck, he’s been around so long that gas prices averaged $1.87 when he made his Aug. 3, 2004 debut at Deauville in France. One might think that such a veteran would have lost a step; however, trainer Roger Attfield believes his horse is in top form.

“I haven’t had a chance to take a long look at the field yet,” said Attfield, who will also start Simmard in the Louisville Handicap. “But I know my horse (Musketier) is healthy and well and he’s been training very nicely for this race.”

Jesus Castanon, who rode Shackleford to a Preakness (GI) victory last week, will be aboard Musketier for the first time Saturday afternoon.

“His rider from last time (John Velazquez) was unavailable and I needed to find another rider,” Attfield said. “I’ve known Dennis Cooper (Castanon’s agent) for a long time and I know Castanon is a good jockey. We’ve had success together before and so I decided to go with him again.”

Castanon, who has ridden four mounts to victory at the meet, is well aware of Musketier’s class and ability.

“I don’t know a whole lot about the horse, but I know he’s really good,” Castanon said.

Castanon’s agent is also looking forward to Saturday’s race as the Louisville Handicap has been on his radar for some time.

“There aren’t too many races (1 ½ miles on turf) for a horse like that and I thought he might run in this one,” Cooper said. “I called Roger (Attfield) a long time ago and asked about getting this mount. He’s a great horse and we’re ready to roll.”

PADDY O’PRADO’S CONNECTIONS LOOK TO REPEAT SUCCESS WITH O’PRADO AGAIN – Just days after celebrating a win in the Dixie (GII) at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard, the connections of Paddy O’Prado were forced to retire their Grade I-winning colt after x-rays revealed a sesamoid injury. Although Paddy O’Prado’s retirement is a major blow to the barn, the duo of Donegal Racing and Dale Romans has been encouraged by the progress of a pair of promising 2-year-old colts.  

One of the colts, O’Prado Again, is named in honor of Paddy O’Prado. The $350,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase descends from the same family as First Samurai, winner of the Champagne Stakes (GI) and Hopeful Stakes (GI) as a 2-year-old in 2005. Romans is excited about O’Prado Again’s abilities and thinks the colt will make his debut before meet’s end.

“He’s a really nice horse,” Romans said. “I like him a lot.”

The son of El Prado, out of the Pulpit mare Leh She Run, might have a liking for the turf much like his namesake, who recorded all five of his wins on the lawn.

“He’s one that I think will be better on the grass,” Romans said.

The other 2-year-old is Dullahan, a half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing purchased the colt at the Keeneland September sale for $250,000.

Romans, who worked Dullahan five furlongs from the gate Wednesday in 1:02.60 on a fast Churchill Downs track, is looking forward to seeing the colt run in the afternoon.

“He’s a good one,” Romans said. “He’s definitely one to watch.”

RETIRED BRASS HAT TO BE HONORED SATURDAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Fred Bradley’s homebred Brass Hat – one of the greatest rags-to-riches stars in the history of Kentucky racing – will get a fond farewell from fans and the people closest to him during a Saturday ceremony at Churchill Downs.

            Churchill Downs’ farewell to Brass Hat is scheduled after Saturday’s fifth race, which is set for a post time of 2:55 p.m. (Eastern).  Brass Hat will make the trip to the Churchill Downs paddock with the horses that will run in the fifth, and the veteran star will remain in the paddock while the race is run.  The ceremony honoring Brass Hat and his connections will be conducted in the winner’s circle following the race.

            Trainer Buff Bradley, the owner/breeder’s son, announced this week that the 10-year-old gelded son of Prized would head into retirement.  The younger Bradley described Brass Hat on Friday as a “blue collar horse” who had become a hero and favorite to many racing fans.  Bradley said Brass Hat had been training well for a campaign at 10, but he decided it was time for Brass Hat to head back to the family’s farm near Frankfort.

            “He still really has the want-to,” Bradley said.  “If he was ready to run in the Louisville Handicap tomorrow, he’d be in the starting gate.  But he’s not ready and I thought it would just take too much time to get him ready to compete this year.”

            The Bradleys could never be accused of being overly ambitious with Brass Hat, who started his career as a 3-year-old in a race for $15,000 claiming horses on Jan. 29, 2004 at Turfway Park.  He finished second that day at odds of 32-1, but two starts later scored his first career victory in a 38-1 upset in Turfway’s $100,000 Rushaway Stakes.  By the end of his first racing season Brass Hat had also collected victories in the Ohio Derby (GII) and Indiana Derby (GII).

            He rebounded successfully from two major injuries during his career to compile a record of 10-8-5 in 40 races with earnings of $2,173,561.  Other highlights included victories at five in the Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park and the New Orleans Handicap (GII) at Fair Grounds.  Brass Hat also won the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap in 2007 and the 2005 Prairie Bayou at Turfway Park.  He shifted almost exclusively to the grass late in his career and scored emotional victories for the Bradleys in Churchill Downs’ Louisville Handicap (GIII) in 2009 and a major win as a 9-year-old in last year’s Sycamore (GIII) at Keeneland. 

            His numbers would be even more glittering had Brass Hat not been disqualified from a runner-up finish in the 2007 running of the $5 million Dubai World Cup (GI) at Nad Al Sheba.  He was disqualified after that race because of a medication violation on that international journey that the younger Bradley disputes to this day. 

          “It will be an emotional day, but no more emotional than watching him any other day,” Bradley said of his veteran star’s Saturday farewell.  “It has been so special to watch and be around this horse, especially in later years when he won the Louisville Handicap here and won the Sycamore at Keeneland last year at nine.  All my barn crew is going to walk over to the paddock with him, so I’ll get to share the moment with them.”

BARN TALK – Trainer Dale Romans has confirmed that Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image will be entered in Monday’s 8^th running of the Winning Colors (GIII). The 4-year-old daughter of Broken Vow captured the Humana Distaff (GI) here in her last start as part of the Kentucky Derby (GI) undercard. …

            Romans galloped Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford on Friday at 9:30 a.m. and said he’d firm the colt’s travel plans to New York on Friday afternoon. “It looks like he’ll leave here for Belmont on Saturday or Sunday and I need to decide if he’ll go by plane or van.” …

Romans couldn’t help but chuckle when he received a text message from a friend that included a picture of a congratulatory sign outside his alma mater, Butler High School, which is located just 3 ½ miles from Churchill Downs in the south end of Louisville. The sign read: Dale Romans: Preakness Winner, Butler Grad. “For four years, all they did was to try and kick me out,” Romans said. “Now that I’ve won the Preakness with Shackleford, they’ve got open arms and they’re showing me love!” …

Robby Albarado won the ninth race Thursday aboard Attractive Ride for trainer Merrill Scherer. The win was Albarado’s 915^th at Churchill Downs and moved him past Larry Melancon (914) for fourth place in career victories under the Twin Spires behind Pat Day (2,482), Calvin Borel (1,046) and Don Brumfield (925). …

After today, two Friday twilight programs (2:45 p.m. ET) remain during the Spring Meet and both include live music after the races in conjunction with the new five-week Paddock Concert Series: Corey Chisel and the Wandering Sons on June 3 and Wax Fang on June 10. “Downs After Dark” night racing with a 6 p.m. ET first post will return in earnest for the final three Fridays of the meet on June 17, June 24 and July 1. …

Nominations close Saturday for the 35^th running of the $100,000-added Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course. Hot Cha Cha won the 2010 Early Times Mint Julep. … 

MEET LEADERS - Shaun Bridgmohan and Corey Lanerie entered Friday’s program tied atop the jockey standings with 15 wins apiece, and were followed by Calvin Borel (12), Julien Leparoux (12), Miguel Mena (11), Jon Court (10) and Kent Desormeaux (10). …

The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (May 19-26) are Lanerie (9-for-33), Mena (8-for-28) and Borel (7-for-33). …

There’s a three-way tie atop the trainer standings with seven wins each between Tom Amoss, Steve Asmussen and Romans. They’re followed by Eddie Kenneally (5), Steve Margolis (5), Bob Baffert (4), Jim Baker (4), Greg Foley (4), Tim Glyshaw (4), Wayne Lukas (4), Mike Maker (4), Merrill Scherer (4) and Ian Wilkes (4). … 

Lukas’ clients, Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack, top the owner standings with four winners. They collected win No. 4 in Thursday’s fourth race when Manhattan Man collected his second win of the Spring Meet. The other two-time winning-horses this season are Distorted Love, She’s an Alpha Gam, Shot of Kela and Valid Citizen. …

WORK TAB – Carl R. Moore Management LLC’s Chamberlain Bridge, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) at Churchill Downs in November, worked four furlongs over a good Churchill Downs track on Friday morning in :49.80 for trainer Bret Calhoun. …

            Right Time Racing LLC’s two Kentucky Oaks (GI) starters Bouquet Booth and Street Storm both worked four furlongs over a good track for trainer Steve Margolis in :49.20 after the renovation break. …

            Tom McCarthy’s multiple GI-winner General Quarters went to the track shortly after the renovation break. The 5-year-old gray son of Sky Mesa worked five furlongs in 1:03.20 over a good track.

WEATHER - After a tumultuous week of rain and severe weather, the National Weather Service forecast for Louisville calls for clearing and sunny skies through Memorial Day: Friday, cloudy, 67; Saturday, partly sunny, 83; Sunday, sunny, 90; and Monday, sunny, 91.

Nelson McMakin’s Hot Cha Cha, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (Grade I) at Keeneland on Oct. 17, and Waratah Thoroughbreds’ Miss World, winner of the Garden City (GI) at Belmont Park on Sept. 12, top an overflow field of 17 3-year-old fillies entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 19th running of the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (GII).

The Mrs. Revere, run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the ninth race on Saturday’s 10-race program that has a first post time of 12:40 p.m. (all times EST). Post time for the Mrs. Revere is 4:37 p.m.

Trained by Phil Sims, Hot Cha Cha took the QE II by 4 ½ lengths under James Graham, who will be aboard Saturday and break from post position seven. Prior to the Keeneland victory, Hot Cha Cha won the Grade III Pucker Up at Arlington Park.  Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia installed the daughter of Cactus Ridge was installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite for the Mrs. Revere.

Miss World, trained by Christophe Clement, finished fourth in the QE II in her first start since winning the Garden City. Rajiv Maragh has the return call on Miss World, the 4-1 second choice in the morning line who will break from position three. Both Hot Cha Cha and Miss World will carry 123 pounds and concede 4-6 pounds to their rivals.

Barbara Hunter’s Keertana, the 8-1 co-third choice and winner of the Regret (GIII) here in June, will attempt to become the first filly to win the Regret and Mrs. Revere. Trained by Tom Proctor, Keertana will break from post position 11 under 119 pounds and be ridden by Jesus Castanon.  Among the fillies Keertana defeated in the Regret was Mrs. Revere rival Hot Cha Cha, who ran a close third that day.

Also listed at 8-1 is Three Chimneys Racing, LLC’s Miss Keller (IRE), a daughter of Montjeu who just missed last time out as the runner-up to Eye of Taurus in a division of Keeneland’s Valley View (GIII).  Jockey Eurico Da Silva will return to the saddle aboard Miss Keller, an Irish import who makes her third start in North America for trainer Roger Attfield, a member of Canada’s Racing Hall of Fame.

The field for the Mrs. Revere, from the hedge out (with jockey, weight and morning line odds), is as follows: C.S. Silk (F. Torres, 117 pounds, 10-1), Kiawah Cat (S. Bridgmohan, 117, 15-1), Miss World (R. Maragh, 123, 4-1), Striking Dancer (R. Albarado, 117, 12-1), Mary’s Follies (K. Desormeaux, 117, 10-1), War Kill (J. Court, 117, 20-1), Hot Cha Cha (J. Graham, 123, 3-1), Bluegrass Princess (J. Velazquez, 117, 12-1), Romacaca (E. Baird, 117, 10-1), Miss Keller (Ire) (E. Da Silva, 117, 8-1), Keertana (J. Castanon, 119, 8-1), Redreamit (C. Borel, 117, 20-1), Obsequious (W. Martinez, 117, 30-1) and Single Solution (E. Perez, 117, 30-1). The also eligibles are Aaroness (S. Bridgmohan, 117, 30-1), Alice’s Smart (L. Goncalves, 117, 30-1) and Bum Bum (Fr) (C. Borel, 117, 30-1).

COMMENTATOR SETTLES IN FOR CLARK HANDICAP BID - Tracy Farmer's Commentator has answered a lot of questions in his five-year racing career. But the question of how good a horse he could be was answered at Churchill Downs on a cold November day in 2004.

Commentator had won his first four starts, but on Nov. 25 he was trying a flat mile for the first time.

"I remember that race. Pat Day rode him and he had the rail," trainer Nick Zito said. "He won by eight that day and Mr. Farmer and I were both here and after that race I thought, ‘Wow, this is a great horse.' "

Commentator returned to Churchill Downs on Wednesday and was on the track Thursday morning under regular exercise partner Carlos Correa as he began preparations for a run in the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) to be run Friday, Nov. 28.

 Commentator, now seven, has won four of five starts this year, with the victories coming by an average of nearly 12 lengths. In his two starts at the Clark distance of 1 1/8 miles, Commentator has won the Massachusetts Handicap by 14 lengths and the Grade I Whitney by 4 ¾ lengths.

"He has had a great year and in popularity, he is one of the top horses in America," said Zito, a two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer who also won the 2003 Clark with Quest.  Zito's Clark victory came via the disqualification of the recently retired veteran Evening Attire, who was placed second that day as Zito's horse was elevated to the top spot.

Commentator, who has come back twice from cannonbone fracture injuries, has won 13 of 20 starts and earned $1,841,936. The son of Distorted Humor ranks as one of Zito's all-time favorites that he has had in his barn.

"He's gotta be, no question," Zito said. "He's a great horse, one of the best, to do what he has done to come back like he has. It is a tribute to the horse, the owner and the people in the stable."

WEATHER MAKES CALLWOOD DANCER FEEL RIGHT HOME - Rainy, cool weather greeted Three Chimneys LLC's Callwood Dancer when she arrived at Churchill Downs on Wednesday night from her home base at Woodbine in Toronto.

            "It's kind of like home," said Sue Lorimer, who took Callwood Dancer out for a jog over a muddy main track Thursday morning in preparation for Saturday's 36th running of the Cardinal Handicap (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            The 4-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Danehill Dancer has three victories and two runner-up finishes from six starts this year at Woodbine for trainer Roger Attfield, who is expected to be on hand Saturday.

            "She has just really matured this year," said Lorimer, who was Callwood Dancer's regular exercise rider last winter at Payson Park and off and on during the year at Woodbine. "We knew the ability was there and over the winter, she put on weight and really filled out."

            Callwood Dancer owns a victory in this year's Grade II Nassau and in her two most recent starts ran second, finishing ahead of fillies that shone brightly at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita on Oct. 24.

            In the Grade II Canadian, Callwood Dancer finished two lengths in front of Forever Together, who came back to win not only the Grade I First Lady at Keeneland but the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI). In the Grade I E.P. Taylor, Callwood Dancer finished a head in front Sealy Hill, the 2007 Canadian "Horse of the Year" and runner-up to the undefeated Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic.

Callwood Dancer, who will break from post position five in the 10-horse Cardinal field, is the only runner in the race to have placed in a Grade I grass event this year.

DEFENDING WINNER THORN SONG HEADS LIST OF RIVER CITY ‘CAP NOMINEES - Zayat Stables' Thorn Song, winner of the 2007 running of the River City Handicap (GIII), heads a list of 34 nominees to this year's renewal of the race to be run Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            Ninth in his most recent start in the Breeders' Cup Mile (GI) at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, Thorn Song won the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile last month at Keeneland, and this summer won the Grade II Firecracker, upsetting the favored Einstein, here at Churchill Downs.

            Trained by Dale Romans, Thorn Song could become the third repeat winner of the River City. Other back-to-back winners of the River City are Same Old Wish (1996 and '97) and Dr. Kashinkow (2001 and '02).

            Other graded stakes winners on the turf nominated to the River City are Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Stream of Gold and Don Benge's Wise River. Stream of Gold, trained by Mike Maker, won the Mac Diarmida (GII) at Gulfstream Park on March 16 and Wise River, trained by Clark Hanna, won the Carey Memorial (GIII) at Hawthorne on Sept. 27.

            Weight assignments for the race will be announced Saturday.

BARN TALK - Trainer Mike Maker added to his meet-leading victory total Wednesday when Proven Quality won the second race and Jumponthebandwagon took the nightcap. Maker has saddled 19 winners as the 26-day meet hit the halfway mark Wednesday.  This weekend, Maker could break the Fall Meet record of 20 set by Dale Romans in 2003. Maker has no entries Thursday, but has one on Friday and three Saturday. Jumponthebandwagon was owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and gave the couple their 14th win of the meet. The Fall Meet record of 15 was set in 1965 by T. Alie Grissom and the Ramseys can break that this weekend with three horses entered on Saturday. ... Julien Leparoux, who rode a Churchill Downs-record seven winners on Tuesday, added two winners Wednesday and hit the halfway mark of the meet with 33 victories. The Fall Meet record is 55, set by Pat Day in 1985. ... While Maker has dominated most of the headlines regarding trainers this meet, Dave Kassen is quietly having a stellar autumn racing session. Quick Notice, owned by Butterfly Stable and Jan Nilsen, won Wednesday's sixth race to give Kassen his third winner from just five starters. "The horse ran real good yesterday," said Kassen, whose 60 percent winning rate leads all trainers with three victories or more. Kassen had two winners from 12 starters here last fall, but did not run here in the spring. "Arlington Park opened around Derby Day, and that kind of leaves Churchill Downs out in the spring," said Kassen, who has 13 horses stabled here. ... The maiden victory in Wednesday's fifth race by Overbrook Farm's 2-year-old Big Surf gave the 11-year-old mare Surfside her second winner of the meet joining full sister High Surf. Surfside, who was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and owned by Overbrook, clinched an Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly in 2000 when she defeated males in the Clark Handicap. Big Surf, the third foal out of Surfside, was making her second career start for trainer Todd Pletcher. High Surf, a 3-year-old also owned by Overbrook and trained by Dallas Stewart, had won a 1 1/8-mile allowance race on Nov. 2 in her grass debut for her second career victory in seven starts. Big Surf and High Surf are daughters of Storm Cat.

INAUGURAL "RIDER CUP" ON SATURDAY - Retired Hall of Fame jockeys Pat Day and Angel Cordero Jr. will captain Team U.S.A. and Team World, respectively, in Saturday's inaugural "Rider Cup" for charity.

The unique event will showcase American-born jockeys versus foreign-born jockeys in a competition for points in Races 4-8.

Before each of the five designated races, the celebrity team captains will choose one jockey to represent their respective team with hope of earning coveted points. Points will be awarded on a 3-2-1 scale for first, second and third place finishes in each race. If neither jockey hits the board, the rider with the best finish will be awarded a half-point.

The team with the most points at the conclusion of Race 8 will be crowned the winner and a $10,000 donation will be made to the charity of the winning team's choice. The charity of the second place team will win a $5,000 donation.

Pre-race selections by the captains will be showcased on-track with Churchill Downs' John Asher serving as host.

Based on Saturday's entries for Races 4-8, Team U.S.A. will be comprised of Robby Albarado (born in Lafayette, La.); E.T. Baird (Chicago, Ill.); Calvin Borel (St. Martin, La.); Kent Desormeaux (Maurice, La.); Julio Garcia (Santurce, Puerto Rico); Tracy Hebert (Erath, La.); John McKee (Cincinnati, Ohio); Brandon Meier (Elk Grove, Ill.); Larry Melancon (Breaux Bridge, La.); Perry Ouzts (Lepanto, Ark.); Hector Rosario Jr. (Fajardo, Puerto Rico); and Bill Troilo (Philadelphia, Pa.).

Team World will be Shaun Bridgmohan (Kingston, Jamaica); Aldo Canchano (Huancayo, Peru); Jesus Castanon (Mexico City, Mexico); Ramon Dominguez (Caracas, Venezuela); Inez Karlsson (Goteberg, Sweden); Julien Leparoux (Senlis, France); Miguel Mena (Lima, Peru); and Diego Rodriguez (Guanajuato City, Mexico).

DAY, CORDERO AUTOGRAPH SESSION ON SATURDAY - Before the start of Saturday's inaugural "Rider Cup" for charity, Hall of Fame jockeys Pat Day and Angel Cordero Jr. will take part in a free autograph session with area horse racing fans from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second floor of the clubhouse near the PEB jockey and trainer murals.

HORSES AND HOPE ON SUNDAY - "Horses and Hope," a new initiative created by Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear with the Kentucky Cancer Program, will be held Sunday. The event, centered on the women who work in the barn areas at Kentucky racetracks, is designed to provide breast cancer awareness, education, screening and treatment referral.

            In conjunction with the event, the color of pink will be scattered throughout Churchill Downs on Sunday, including the saddle towels for the featured fifth race that will honor "Horses and Hope." Pink will also be featured on jockey's arm bands, groom's vests, outriders, flags, bunting and trophies for winning horse owners. There also will be a special pink cosmopolitan drink on sale with proceeds going to "Horses and Hope."

            More than 900 cancer survivors are expected to attend the races in Millionaire's Row Four and Skye Terrance Five on Sunday. After the fifth race, there will be a group picture near the Aristides statue in the paddock garden.

ROBBY ALBARADO GLASS GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY - The week's promotional calendar is highlighted by the second of three collectable hurricane glass giveaways that salute popular Cajun jockeys who ride at Churchill Downs. A Robby Albarado glass, sponsored by GE, will be given away to the first 5,000 paid and pre-paid admissions on Saturday, Nov. 15.

            Fans who receive the glass can come back to Churchill Downs on Sunday, Nov. 16 for an autograph session with Albarado on the second floor of the clubhouse (time to be announced).

            A glass depicting Calvin Borel, sponsored by Thorntons, was given away Nov. 8. The Kent Desormeaux glass, presented by Kentucky Derby Party, will be given away on Nov. 22.

FRIDAY HAPPY HOURS - New Orleans-themed "Friday Happy Hours" - featuring $2 Budweiser Select, $2 hurricanes, $2 Fischer's hot dogs and live jazz music by Hambone - will be held Friday from 3-5 p.m. in the upper Jockey Club's paddock balcony area.   

(November 12, 2008) – Three Chimneys LLC’s Callwood Dancer (IRE) will carry high weight of 122 pounds and break from post position five under Eurico Da Silva in Saturday’s 36th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

            Callwood Dancer will concede from three to 11 pounds to her rivals in the Cardinal, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles over the Matt Winn Turf Course and go as the ninth race on Saturday’s 10-race card that has a first post time of 12:40 p.m. ET.

            Trained by Roger Attfield, Callwood Dancer is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Thursday from her home base at Woodbine in Toronto and then head to Florida for the winter with Attfield, who will be seeking his second Churchill Downs stakes victory. Attfield saddled Alydeed to win the 1992 Derby Trial.

            Callwood Dancer enters the Cardinal off a second-place finish in the Oct. 4 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine, which served as her Grade I debut. In that race she defeated Sealy Hill, who went on to run second in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI), and prior to that finished ahead of Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) winner Forever Together in the Grade II Canadian.

            The starting second high weight will be Earle Mack’s Lady Digby, who will carry 119 pounds and be ridden by Ramon Dominguez for trainer Graham Motion. Lady Digby will break from post position eight.

            The field for the Cardinal, from the hedge out: Sousaphone (Shaun Bridgmohan, 114 pounds), Meribel (Robby Albarado, 116), Long Approach (Julien Leparoux, 113), Queendom (Calvin Borel, 111), Callwood Dancer (Da Silva, 122), Ciao (Inez Karlsson, 116), Ballymore Lady (Jesus Castanon, 116), Lady Digby (Dominguez, 119), Kiss With a Twist (Miguel Mena, 115) and Indescribable (Kent Desormeaux, 116).

- END -

CALLWOOD DANCER ASSIGNED HIGH WEIGHT FOR CARDINAL - Three Chimneys Racing's Callwood Dancer (IRE) was assigned top weight of 122 pounds by racing secretary Ben Huffman for the 36th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (Grade II) next Saturday at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

            Trained by Roger Attfield, Callwood Dancer is expected to face as many as eight rivals in the Cardinal. Callwood Dancer ran second in the E.P. Taylor (GI) in her most recent start on Oct. 4 at Woodbine.

            Pin Oak Stable's Brownie Points and Earle Mack's Lady Digby were assigned 119 pounds and are considered as "probable" for the Cardinal.

            Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Brownie Points ran second in this summer's Locust Grove (GIII) over the Matt Winn Turf Course. In her lone Grade I appearance this year, Brownie Points ran second to the undefeated Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom Handicap (GI) at Oaklawn Park.

            Graham Motion trains Lady Digby, who has been idle since running fifth in the Diana Handicap (GI) at Saratoga behind Forever Together, who went on to win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI). Lady Digby has won two stakes in 2008, highlighted by the All Along Breeders' Cup (GIII) at Colonial Downs.

            Other runners considered as probable or possible for the Cardinal are Ballymore Lady (116 pounds), Ciao (116), Meribel (116), Kiss With a Twist (115), Sousaphone (114) and Long Approach (113).

COMMENTATOR COMING TO TOWN ON WEDNESDAY - Trainer Nick Zito said Saturday morning that Tracy Farmer's Commentator was scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Wednesday for an anticipated run in the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII).

            "He's in New York right now," Zito said of the 7-year-old gelding who won the Massachusetts Handicap by 14 lengths in his most recent start on Sept. 20.

            Commentator, a two-time winner of Saratoga's Whitney (GI), has won 13 of 20 career starts with earnings of $1,841,936.

            Also joining the Zito barn at Churchill Downs next week will be Anak Nakal, winner of last fall's Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII). Anak Nakal ran seventh in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), third in the Belmont Stakes (GI) and won the Pennsylvania Derby (GII).

            Already in Zito's barn here is Cool Coal Man, who ran 15th in this year's Kentucky Derby.

MAKER CONTINUES TO WIN AT RECORD RATE - The record for number of victories by a trainer at a Churchill Downs fall meet is 20, established by Dale Romans in 2003 over 27 racing days.

            At the rate Mike Maker is going, that mark will be left in the dust of the dirt track beneath the Twin Spires.

            Thundering Jill in Friday's second and He's Long Gone in the 10th gave Maker his 13th and 14th victories in the first nine days of the 26-day meet. Maker has opened a seven-victory lead over his nearest pursuer in the trainer's race, Ken McPeek, with Romans next with six wins.

            The 39-year-old native of Garden City, Mich., has two horses entered Saturday, two on Sunday highlighted by Cherokee Triangle in the Commonwealth Turf (GIII), and three more on Tuesday's Veterans Day card.

SPECIAL VETERANS DAY RACING ON TUESDAY - Churchill Downs will host a special live racing program on Tuesday, Nov. 11 in honor of Veterans Day. The first of 10 live races will be 12:40 p.m. ET.

BYRNE RECALLS "ROCK HARD" DAYS AT DOWNS - The 2004 Kentucky Derby will forever be remembered as the Smarty Party featuring the undefeated Smarty Jones.

            But jockey John Byrne played a role in one of the many subplots surrounding the 130th Run for the Roses serving as the exercise rider of Rock Hard Ten.

            "Hard to believe it has almost been five years," Byrne said Friday afternoon before riding in the seventh race in one of his rare forays to Churchill Downs.

            Rock Hard Ten came to Churchill Downs after being disqualified from second to third in the Santa Anita Derby (GI) for interference. The decrease in purse money left Rock Hard Ten with insufficient graded earnings to make the Derby field.

            But Rock Hard Ten was ready to run as Byrne took the Jason Orman-trained colt to the track shortly after 6 a.m. daily for his morning regimen that began with the colt rearing up almost immediately after leaving the barn.

            "He knew the cameras were going to be there and he gave them a show," Byrne said. "He was just immature at that time. We knew he had a lot of talent and would be much better as a four-year-old. He did everything so easy."

            Rock Hard Ten ran second in the Preakness and then fifth in the Belmont.

            "I remember they brought P Val (Patrick Valenzuela) in to work him before the Belmont and he wouldn't train," Byrne said. "He was just that way then."

            Rock Hard Ten went on to win all three starts as a 4-year-old before a foot injury prior to the 2005 Breeders' Cup led to his retirement. Rock Hard Ten won seven of 11 starts and closed his career with earnings of $1,870,380. His first crop will be 2-year-olds in 2009.

            The road for the 33-year-old Irishman, who won his first race in the United States in 2003 at Turf Paradise, has been ‘rock hard' since then. While the horse was starting a stud career, Byrne suffered a broken collarbone in a spill at Thistledown.

            A broken hip suffered in late April this year sidelined Byrne for two months.

            "I came back in July to ride a couple for John Good at Mountaineer Park," said Byrne, who rode Smiley's Cool Cat to a sixth-place finish for Good. "I am riding one here Saturday and a couple Tuesday and then head to the Fair Grounds."

BARN TALK - Trainer Angel Montano won with his first starter of the meet Friday when Family Fun LLC's Montalvo scored in the seventh race. For Montano, who began training in 1968, it marked his 316th victory at Churchill Downs, which is the sixth-best total in track history. ... Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey added to their victory total Friday with the scores by Thundering Jill and He's Long Gone. The Ramseys have 10 wins for the meet, seven more than Scarlet Stable, which has sent out three winners from three starters. Julien Leparoux rode both winners for the Ramseys and became the first rider to reach the 20-win mark during the meet. Leparoux has 21 victories and owns a seven-win lead over closest pursuer Robby Albarado.

WORK TAB - Livin the Dream Racing's Dream Empress, runner-up in the Oct. 24 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) in her most recent start, worked a half-mile in company after the renovation break under Peter Hutton in :49.60. Trainer Ken McPeek was happy with the filly's work, her first at Churchill Downs, and said she would have two more works before a run in the Nov. 29 Golden Rod (GII). ...  W.S. Farish and Mrs. W.S. Kilroy's Mambo in Seattle worked five furlongs before the renovation break in 1:03.80 with a six-furlong out time of 1:17.80 in his second work since a seventh-place finish in the Fayette (GIII) for trainer Neil Howard. Runner-up in the Travers (GI), Mambo in Seattle remains under consideration for the Clark. Grasshopper, who ran second in the 2007 Travers for Howard, is "being freshened up at Keeneland and being tack-walked," according to Howard. ... West Point Thoroughbreds' Macho Again worked a half-mile in :53.60 for trainer Dallas Stewart. Winner of the Derby Trial and Jim Dandy (GII) and runner-up in the Preakness (GI) and Super Derby (GII), Macho Again's next major goal is the Sunshine Millions in January at Gulfstream Park. ... Koolmen Racing Stable's multi-graded stakes-placed A to the Croft worked five furlongs in 1:03 for McPeek.
 

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE DOWNS - Sunday Brunch at Churchill Downs returns this Sunday. For $41.50 ($25 for children 12 and under), customers can dine and watch the Nov. 9 races from a reserved seat Millionaires' Row Six, the luxurious 9,000 square-foot room with a four-tier balcony that overlooks the finish line. The brunch, accompanied by live jazz music, is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a wide selection of food, including stuffed French toast, eggs, maple smoked bacon, homemade biscuits and gravy, carved roast turkey, fresh salads and plenty of sides. Appetizers and a bountiful desert tray will be available until 5 p.m. Brunch and an official program is included in the admission price. Another Sunday Brunch is scheduled for Nov. 23. The reserve a spot, call (502) 636-4400.
 

HANDICAPPING CONTEST WEDNESDAYS, SUNDAYS - Racing fans can pit their handicapping skills against the best Louisville has to offer every Wednesday and Sunday in the popular twice-weekly "Who's the Champ?" Handicapping Contest. For a $30 entry fee ($25 for Twin Spires Club members), participants will compete for weekly cash prizes and an invitation to the Nov. 23 final where the top two finishers will win coveted berths in the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship X slated for Jan. 23-24, 2009 in Las Vegas.