Golden Rod

Steve Asmussen has won the last five training titles at Churchill Downs and will wrap up another successful meet at the home of the Kentucky Derby when its fall racing session concludes on Sunday. Entering the final day of the 21-day Fall Meet, Asmussen had saddled 14 winners from 63 starters and trailed Mike Maker by a single victory in his bid to add another “leading trainer” title to his collection.

“We were very fortunate to get a couple of wins at the Breeders’ Cup and we’ve had some really nice 2-year-olds this meet,” Asmussen said via phone Sunday morning. “The meet was everything we could have hoped for.”

Asmussen, the fifth all-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs with 426 wins, saddled two winners at the 2011 Breeders’ Cup World Championships when the event was held beneath the Twin Spires for a record eighth time on Nov. 4-5. The first came on Breeders’ Cup Friday with Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton’s unbeaten My Miss Aurelia in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I). The following day, the Asmussen-trained Regally Ready took the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) for Vinery Stables.

“The highlight of the meet was My Miss Aurelia,” Asmussen said. “She won so impressively and you couldn’t be higher on a horse than we are on her.”

Well-known for his success with young horses, Asmussen saddled six 2-year-old winners aside from My Miss Aurelia to lead all trainers with seven wins in so-called “baby races.” Eddie Kenneally has the second-highest 2-year-old victory total with four.

“We had success with 2-year-olds this meet, with Unbridled’s Note and Hierro looking like the standouts,” Asmussen said. “They physically look like the kind of horses that will appreciate more distance. The plan is to bring them to Santa Anita this winter and get them ready for next year.”

Mike McCarthy’s Unbridled’s Note was a debut winner on the undercard of the Stars of Tomorrow I program on opening day of the Fall Meet on Oct. 30. The 2-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song won by 4 ½ lengths under leading rider Julien Leparoux.

Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Hierro broke his maiden on Nov. 9 in his third career start with an eye-catching 5 ¼-length romp as am odds-on favorite. The chestnut son of Hard Spun was also ridden by Leparoux.

COURT BECOMES 17^TH RIDER TO REACH 400-WIN MILESTONE AT CD – Jockey Jon Court became the latest rider to record a career milestone at Churchill Downs when a Saturday victory aboard Bluegrass Hall LLC’s Red Jack in the sixth race made him just the 17^th rider to record 400 wins under the Louisville track’s venerable Twin Spires.

“It’s nice to get the 400^th win at Churchill Downs,” Court said. “I’ve always loved riding here. It’s been a great meet and I hope I can keep it going. I knew Churchill had that (400-win) sign. I was just hoping they wouldn’t have to use it next spring. At 51-years-old I think I can still ride with the youngest and the best and I’m very thankful to be healthy and have the opportunity to do what I do.”

Court, who has over 3,600 wins in his riding career, has won 14 stakes beneath the Twin Spires, including the 2011 Firecracker Handicap (Grade II) aboard Wise Dan, who captured the 137^th running of the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) on Friday. Other notable winners at Churchill Downs include With Anticipation in the 2001 Louisville Handicap, Belterra in the 2001 Golden Rod (GII) and Softly in the 2002 Churchill Downs Distaff Handicap (GII).

His number of Churchill Downs victories would have certainly been higher had Court not left the Kentucky-circuit in 2004 to ride in Southern California for trainer Doug O’Neill. He returned to his Midwest-roots in 2009.

“A few of the trainers gave me a hard time, saying if I hadn’t gone to California to ride I could have doubled that and beyond, but that’s fine,” Court said. “It’s all in the name of racing and that’s good.”

Court began his riding career in 1980 and recorded his first victory aboard Nevada’s Hope at the now defunct Centennial Park in Colorado. He has won riding titles at Oaklawn, Ellis Park, Hoosier Park, Turfway and Birmingham and has recorded six top-five finishes at Churchill Downs, including a trio of thirds: 1999 Fall Meet, 2001 Fall Meet and 2002 Spring Meet.

The victory aboard Red Jack was Court’s second victory of the day and 13^th of the Fall Meet. He is poised for another top-five finish in the jockey standings as he is currently in fourth behind Julien Leparoux, Corey Lanerie and Calvin Borel.

STARS OF TOMORROW II WINNERS EXIT RACES IN GOOD ORDER – WinStar Farm LLC’s Gemologist exited his 1 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s 85^th running of the Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II) in good order, according to Michael McCarthy, assistant trainer to Todd Pletcher.

“He came out of the race well,” McCarthy said. “He’ll go to WinStar Farm on Monday for a brief freshening and then make his way down to Palm Meadows.”

            A 2-year-old son of Tiznow, Gemologist improved his record to a perfect 3-for-3 and increased his earnings to $145,855 in the Kentucky Jockey Club. There are currently no plans for his next start.

The Kentucky Jockey Club was the co-featured event on Saturday’s Stars of Tomorrow II program with the 68^th running of the Golden Rod (GII), which was won by Anita Cauley’s homebred On Fire Baby. A 2-year-old gray/roan daughter of Smoke Glacken, On Fire Baby won the Golden Rod in gate-to-wire fashion by 6 ¼ lengths.

“It was an excellent performance and she’s doing well this morning,” trainer Gary Hartlage said. “She’ll head to Oaklawn Park on Thursday morning and the goal is to be back here (at Churchill Downs) in the spring (for either the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks).”

On Fire Baby became just the seventh 2-year-old filly to sweep the Pocahontas (GII) and Golden Rod and improved her record to 3-0-0 from four career starts with earnings of $227,329.

Another impressive winner on Saturday’s card was John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock’s Indian Ambush, who won the seventh race by two lengths at the 3-2 favorite for trainer Bill Mott. A 2-year-old son of Indian Charlie, Indian Ambush was doing well Sunday morning will be sent to Florida on Monday. He will be stabled at Mott’s barn at Gulfstream Park or Payson Park.

Other winners Saturday who will be shipped to Gulfstream Park this week include Elm Tree Farm’s Callmenancy, winner of the second race on the Matt Winn Turf Course for trainer Ken McPeek, and McKee Stables Inc.’s King Kid, who took the finale by two lengths for trainer Dale Romans. Both 2-year-olds exited their races in fine order.

BARN TALK – Entering the final day of the 21-day Fall Meet, the race for leading trainer is still wide open with Mike Maker holding a 15-14 lead over Steve Asmussen. Maker, who won only training title at the Louisville track in the 2008 Fall Meet, has two horses entered Sunday: Chyhyryn (Race 1, 3-1 on morning-line) and Twinspired (Race 10, 8-1). Asmussen will be seeking his 11^th training title at Churchill Downs with his previous titles coming in 2001 Fall, 2004 Spring, 2004 Fall, 2007 Spring, 2007 Fall, 2009 Spring, 2009 Fall, 2010 Spring, 2010 Fall and 2011 Spring. He has four horses entered Sunday: Miss Chloe H. (Race 6, 9-2), Eyeseeyou (Race 8, 5-1), Hunterwood Point (Race 8, 6-1) and Joes Blazing Aaron (Race 10, 5-1). …

In the race for leading jockey, Julien Leparoux held a 32-27 advantage over Corey Lanerie heading into Sunday’s closing day program. Leparoux is seeking his ninth Churchill Downs riding title with his previous titles coming in 2006 Spring, 2007 Spring, 2007 Fall, 2008 Fall, 2009 Spring, 2010 Fall and 2011 Spring. Lanerie is seeking his first riding title at the Downs. …

Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the track’s all-time leading owners, wrapped up their record 18^th Churchill Downs title as leading owner and 10^th in the Fall, including five in a row. They enter closing day with a 12-5 lead over Billy, Donna and Justin Hays. The Ramseys’ local titles: 2000 Spring, 2000 Fall, 2001 Spring, 2001 Fall, 2002 Spring, 2002 Fall, 2003 Spring, 2003 Fall, 2004 Spring, 2005 Fall, 2006 Spring, 2007 Fall, 2008 Spring, 2008 Fall, 2009 Spring, 2009 Fall, 2010 Fall and 2011 Fall.

WORKTAB – Barry Butzow and Westrock Stables LLC’s Hamazing Destiny, second in the Sentient Jet Breeders Cup Sprint (GI) in 2010 and fifth in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, breezed four furlongs in :48.60 on a sloppy main track at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Anita Cauley’s homebred On Fire Baby became only the seventh filly to sweep Churchill Downs’ fall stakes for 2-year-old fillies when she broke fastest from the gate and never looked back en route to a 6 1/4-length victory over Goldrush Girl in the 68^th running of the $169,350 Golden Rod (Grade II) on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Joe Johnson and trained by Gary Hartlage, On Fire Baby clipped off fractions of :24.70, :50.01, 1:14.86 and 1:39.49 before stopping the teletimer in 1:45.98 for 1 1/16 miles over a “fast” main track.

“After the past performances for the race came out, I started looking them over,” Johnson said. “I studied them last night and came in this morning and said, ‘Dog (Gary Hartlage), I can’t read this (Daily) Racing Form.’ And he asked why and I said, ‘I can’t see the speed in this race.’ And he said, “What a coincidence because neither can I.” So the plan was to break and go on with her. When we broke, no one was really gunning for it (the lead), so I took advantage of it and when I called on her to run, she responded. She was very professional today.”

On Oct. 30, On Fire Baby scored her first stakes triumph in the $173,400 Pocahontas for 2-year-old fillies at one mile. Others who completed the Pocahontas-Golden Rod double are Weekend Surprise (1982), Flippers (1983), At the Half (1993), French Park (2005), Pure Clan (2006) and Sassy Image (2009).

The victory was worth $99,747 and increased On Fire Baby’s earnings to $227,329 with a record of 3-0-0 in four starts.

“You saw today how good she is and I think she’s got plenty left in her,” Hartlage said. “When she got away with that kind of a half (mile), I didn’t think she would get beat if she was the horse I thought she was and she did her thing. They let us walk like a dog and she’s just that good. I’ve trained a couple of Grade II winners, but she’s the best one I’ve ever had. In my opinion, she’s one of the top three 2-year-old fillies in the country.”

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. She returned $7.40, $4.40 and $3.40 as the slight 5-2 favorite in the field of 10 two-year-old fillies. Goldrush Gal, ridden by Manny Cruz, closed late to finish second at 29-1 and paid $19.60 and $9.20. Back Spin, at 25-1 with Jon Court aboard, was another three-quarters of a length back in third and returned $11.40.

Golden History, Customer Base, Glinda the Good, Karlovy Vary, Jamraa, Spring Eclipse and Spirited Miss completed the order of finish. Annie Russell was a late scratch.

Hartlage plans to send On Fire Baby to Oaklawn Park where she’ll be prepared for lucrative stakes races this winter.

“We’re nominated to the Kentucky Oaks now and we’ll also nominate her to the Kentucky Derby (Triple Crown),” Hartlage said. “I’m telling you, she is that good.”

The two Golden Rod winners that went on to win the Kentucky Oaks are Silverbulletday (1999) and Rachel Alexandra (2009).

Closing day of the 21-day Fall Meet is Sunday and Churchill Downs will offer free general admission to all patrons and a 2012 Churchill Downs Wall Calendar to the first 5,000 in attendance. The first of 11 races is 12:40 p.m. EST.

GOLDEN ROD QUOTES

Gary Hartlage, trainer of On Fire Baby (winner): “You saw today how good she is and I think she’s got plenty left in her. When she got away with that kind of a half (mile), I didn’t think she would get beat if she was the horse I thought she was and she did her thing. They let us walk like a dog and she’s just that good. I’ve trained a couple of Grade II winners, but she’s the best one I’ve ever had. In my opinion, she’s one of the top three 2-year-old fillies in the country.”

Q. Now you’re nominated to the Kentucky Oaks. Will that be the goal next year? “We’re nominated to the Kentucky Oaks now and we’ll also nominate her to the Kentucky Derby (Triple Crown). I’m telling you, she is that good.”

Joe Johnson, jockey on On Fire Baby (winner): “After the past performances for the race came out, I started looking them over. I studied them last night and came in this morning and said, ‘Dog (Gary Hartlage), I can’t read this Racing Form.’ And he asked why and I said, ‘I can’t see the speed in this race.’ And he said, “What a coincidence because neither can I.” So the plan was to break and go on with her. When we broke, no one was really gunning for it (the lead), so I took advantage of it and when I called on her to run, she responded. She was very professional today.”

Ken McPeek, trainer of Goldrush Girl (runner-up): “She’s a nice filly. She’ll run all day long. She’s still real immature. I was real pleased with the way he (jockey Manny Cruz) rode her. That’s the first time we’ve really had a chance to run her on the dirt, so we’re real happy with her.

“I’m happy for Gary (trainer Gary Hartlage). He’s plugged along a long time in this game and he hasn’t had many clients lately. He deserves a good horse and he certainly has a good horse.”

Manny Cruz, rider of Goldrush Girl (runner-up): “She ran a big race. She sat off the pace and we saved some ground. We made on move and she gave it to me.”

“Jinks” Fires, trainer of Back Spin (third): “We ran well. We took the overland route, but we were last and had to circle. She ran super. There was a slow pace and that doesn’t help when you’re back there and trying to catch everybody. If you’ve got somebody to try and entertain the speed, that helps.”

Q: Gary Hartlage’s horse (On Fire Baby) ran huge … “She did. I was tickled to death to see Gary win it if we didn’t.”

Jon Court, rider of Back Spin (third – note: Court collected his 400^th career win at Churchill Downs earlier in the day): “It’s been a real good day. I knew Churchill had that (400-win) sign. I was just hoping they wouldn’t have to use it next spring. The filly ran good today. She broke, but it wasn’t as quick a pace as I was expecting. She was a little on the muscle behind them wanting to go, but I was able to settle in my position and make that one run, and she got up for third. We’re delighted with that.

“She’s just getting better and better and we hope to go to some of the best spots with her.”

Q: How special was that career milestone to you? “It means a lot. I tried not to think of it too much on the approach, but once I got to it and over it, it seemed to have a bigger impact, and a lot more gratification and appreciation of being at Churchill. A few of the trainers gave me a hard time, saying if I hadn’t gone to California to ride I could have doubled that and beyond, but that’s fine. It’s all in the name of racing and that’s good.”

WINSTAR’S UNBEATEN GEMOLOGIST HOPES TO FOLLOW SUPER SAVER’S FOOTSTEPS IN JOCKEY CLUB – WinStar Farm LLC and trainer Todd Pletcher teamed up to win the 2009 running of the Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II) with Super Saver, and returned to Churchill Downs with the colt the following spring to capture the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).

Those connections hope for similar good fortune with Gemologist, their latest juvenile star who puts an unbeaten record on the line in Saturday’s 85^th running of the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the main track beneath the Twin Spires.

“Certainly we’ve had luck in this race before and have had horses run well and then go on to bigger and better things as 3-year-olds,” assistant trainer Michael McCarthy said. “I’m sure we’ll start thinking about it (the Kentucky Derby) after the race Saturday. But you’re always thinking about it – especially in this operation.”

A big, handsome son of Tiznow, Gemologist still has plenty of upside and McCarthy believes he could be able to follow in Super Saver’s footsteps and develop into a 3-year-old of Derby and Triple Crown quality.

“He’s a lot of horse and a fantastic looking animal,” McCarthy said. “I think he’ll get better with racing and I see no reason why he won’t develop into a nice 3-year-old. He’s still got a lot of maturing to do; not so much physically, but mentally.”

Gemologist, purchased as a weanling for $310,000 at the 2009 Keeneland November Sale, cruised to a five-length victory in his career debut over Turfway Park’s Polytrack surface.  He followed that with a two-length allowance victory at the Kentucky Jockey Club distance on Churchill Downs’ Stars of Tomorrow I card.

"He’s two-for-two and has a little bit of a buzz around him,” McCarthy said. “Anytime a horse has won going a distance of ground at this stage of their career it’s good, and to have a win over the racetrack is a feather in your cap.”

Gemologist will break from post nine under Javier Castellano when he faces 10 rivals in the Kentucky Jockey Club. His main competition could come from Augustin Stable’s Ever So Lucky, a flashy 3 ¼-length maiden winner for steeplechase training legend Jonathan Sheppard at Churchill Downs on Nov. 11.  Ever So Lucky, a bay son of Indian Charlie, was supplemented to the Kentucky Jockey Club for a fee of $7,500.

"There are a lot of horses in the race that look like they have a lot of upside,” McCarthy said. “Certainly Jonathan Sheppard’s horse is one of them. He did nothing wrong in his debut and anytime you see Sheppard do something like bring a horse back on short rest, then you definitely need to pay attention.”

Ever So Lucky will break from the rail and is expected to challenge for the early lead, a development McCarthy would welcome.

“I think Gemologist will be fairly forwardly placed,” McCarthy said. “It’d be nice if someone would go to the lead and we could sit off him and have Gemologist learn a little something.”

Named in honor of the holding company that operated Churchill Downs at the time of the race’s inaugural running in 1920, the Kentucky Jockey Club is the co-featured event with the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for 2-year-old fillies on the Stars of Tomorrow II program,.  It will be run as race 11 with a scheduled post time 5:42 p.m. (all times EST).  Post time for the day’s first race is 12:40 p.m.

FLASHY DEBUT WINNER EVER SO LUCKY RETURNS IN KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB – Those who watched the impressive 3 ¼-length debut victory by Augustin Stable’s Ever So Lucky at Churchill Downs on Nov. 11 might have been surprised to learn the Indian Charlie colt is trained by Jonathan Sheppard.

Sheppard, who last year became the first trainer to saddle 1,000 steeplechase winners in the United States, is not known for having precocious juveniles in his barn, but finds himself with one of the Fall Meet’s most-discussed horses the colt owned by George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable. The $600,000 sales topper at Fasig-Tipton’s Mid-Atlantic Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Maryland’s Timonium, Ever So Lucky was installed by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Jockey Club.

“I was absolutely delighted with his first race,” Sheppard said. “He broke a step slowly and (jockey Julien) Leparoux asked him to move up and it seemed like he took the lead in just a few jumps. He was under pressure on the lead and when Julien asked him to run, he responded and won with a lot left. He ran like an old pro.”

Ever So Lucky’s flashy debut so impressed his connections that they paid $7,500 to make him a supplemental nominee to the Kentucky Jockey Club.

“It was a mutual decision between myself and Mr. Strawbridge,” Sheppard said. “We were trying to decide what to do with him and we decided to give him a second race at the track he was at and seems to like. This also gives him a race going two turns and sets him up nicely to get a breather and then get him ready for the big 3-year-old races next spring.”

One of those “big 3-year-old races” Sheppard was referring to is the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI). Sheppard, who will turn 71 on Dec. 2, has never saddled a starter in the Run for the Roses.

“I’m not going to push them and make them do something they’re not ready for,” Sheppard said. “We usually stick to the theory that you can have a good young horse or a good older horse, but you can’t have both. However, I think he (Ever So Lucky) has the disposition to be a good horse next year. He has a very good mind and is a really nice horse. I don’t want to jinx myself though because you really never know.”

Ever So Lucky will break from the rail post in the Kentucky Jockey Club. Some would be nervous about a 2-year-old breaking the inside gate, but Sheppard does not see the post as an issue for Ever So Lucky.

“The rail is not a bad spot if you have a horse with some speed,” Sheppard said. “I think Leparoux will be able to get him out of there fine.”

KENTUCKY OAKS TRAIL FOR CUSTOMER BASE BEGINS WITH THE GOLDEN ROD – Glen Hill Farm’s Customer Base is unbeaten on synthetic surfaces in her young career, but she moves to traditional dirt for Saturday’s 68^th running of the $150,000-added Golden Rod (Grade II) at Churchill Downs in hope that the race will be a first step on a trail to next spring’s $1 million Kentucky Oaks (GI).

“If she can get lucky and win Saturday then she’ll be nominated to the Kentucky Oaks, which is what I want because if she runs well then we’ll definitely point that way with her,” trainer Tom Proctor said.

Customer Base was a winner on debut over synthetic Polytrack footing at Del Mar and improved her record to a perfect two-for-two with a 1 ½-length victory over Keeneland’s Polytrack surface. The only poor effort in her career came Customer Base drew post 13 in a bid for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII) on Nov. 4.  She finished 11^th of 14 fillies that day behind the victorious Stephanie’s Kitten.

“She ran so well over the Polytrack that I decided to put her in the Juvenile Fillies Turf,” Proctor said. “I wasn’t sure if she’d like the turf or not, but honestly I still don’t know because she lost all chance with a bad trip. Her pedigree says she can run on the turf or the dirt.”

A 2-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, Customer Base was installed as the 7-2 second choice for the Golden Rod by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

“If she likes the dirt then she’ll be tough in there,” Proctor said. “I don’t know why she wouldn’t. She’s trained well over it and is doing really good.”

While the Kentucky Oaks is the primary long-term goal for Customer Base, Proctor has a backup plan for his filly if things don’t go as planned Saturday.

“If she doesn’t run well then I’ll take her to Tampa Bay and get her ready for the Florida Oaks (at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Feb.4),” Proctor said.

Customer Base will break from post eight in the field of 11 under leading-rider Julien Leparoux. Post time for the Golden Rod, the co-featured event on the Stars of Tomorrow II program, is 4:42 p.m.

WHO’S HOT – The hottest jockeys over the last five racing days (Nov. 17-23) are Corey Lanerie (8-for-44) and Julien Leparoux (7-for-29). Nick Zito (3-for-4), Eddie Kenneally (3-for-6), Ken McPeek (3-for-9) and Mike Maker (3-for-13) are the hottest trainers over the same period. Carolyn Wilson (2-for-2) and Ken and Sarah Ramsey (2-for-8) are the hottest owners.

BARN TALK – Arena Elvira, winner of Thursday’s Falls City Handicap (GII) at Churchill Downs, exited the race in good order, according to assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy. The 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper will be given some time off before she begins a 5-year-old campaign. …

The second and third-place finishers in the Falls City, Afleeting Lady and It’s Tea Time, also came out of the race well.  No firm plans are in place for either filly, but both are expected to run next year. …

A reminder that a memorial service for the late trainer Robert Holthus will be held Saturday, Nov. 26 at 10:30 a.m. (EST) at Christ Chapel on the Churchill Downs backside. 

Churchill Downs will host a “Stache Bash” on Saturday during the races to honor and celebrate all of the Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who participated in Movember. Churchill Downs will donate $1 per attendee who is sporting a mustache to the Movember Foundation with a minimum guaranteed pledge of $5,000 given through the Churchill Downs Foundation. The day’s festivities will include between-race live music by popular Cincinnati-based My Sister Sarah in the paddock area and Happy Hour drink specials from 3-5 p.m. …

Churchill Downs will offer free admission to all fans on Sunday, Nov. 27, the closing-day of the 2011 Fall Meet. Also, be sure to bring the kids out to see Santa Claus, who will be in the Paddock Pavilion on Sunday.

WORKTAB – Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Tapizar, winner of the Sham (GIII) in January and fifth to Caleb’s Posse in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) in his most recent start, breezed five furlongs on the fast main track at Churchill Downs on Friday morning in 1:03.20 for trainer Steve Asmussen. The work was the 11^th fastest of 17 at the distance. …

Also working for Asmussen on Friday morning was Thiskyhasnolimit, winner of the Texas Mile (GIII) in April. Owned by Mark Wagner and Bob and Cathy Zollars, the 4-year-old son of Sky Mesa breezed five furlongs in 1:05.40.

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).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB WINNER SANTIVA FLORIDA-BOUND MONDAY – Things were quiet at the Eddie Kenneally barn on Sunday morning and assistant Brendan Walsh reported all was well with Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) winner Santiva.

“He is doing well this morning and he will leave for Florida tomorrow,” Walsh said of the son of Giant’s Causeway, who is owned by Tom Walters. “That was a nice way to end the meet.”

Santiva broke his maiden with Saturday’s victory and in his first start for Kenneally.

“We got him in about mid-October after he had run in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland,” Walsh said. “He’s a nice colt.”

Also heading to Florida on Monday will be Linda Shanhan’s Missyoulikecrazy, who finished second for Kenneally in the Golden Rod (GII).

“She ran a nice race,” Walsh said of the Missyoulikecrazy, who had run third in the opening-day Pocahontas (GIII) and prior to the Breeders’ Cup had served as a workmate for Filly & Mare Sprint runner My Jen. “They are both nice fillies and we have a lot to look forward to next year.”

Also heading to South Florida this week will be third-place Kentucky Jockey Club finisher Major Gain, who came out of the race in good order according to Lisa Sloan, assistant to trainer Wayne Catalano. Gary and Mary West’s son of More Than Ready made his dirt track debut Saturday.

KATHMANBLU EXITS GOLDEN ROD ROMP IN GOOD ORDER – Apparently the 8 ½-length romp in Saturday’s Golden Rod Stakes (GII) did not take much out of the victorious Kathmanblu.

“She got back to the barn and dove right in to her feed tub,” said Philip Bauer, Churchill Downs assistant to trainer Ken McPeek. “She is doing great this morning and will head to Florida on Wednesday.

The margin of victory was the largest since Silverbulletday, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) and 2-year-old filly champion, won the 1998 Golden Rod by 10 lengths.

Owned by Five D Thoroughbreds and Wind River Stables, Kathmanblu was making her second start on dirt after compiling a record of 2-1-1 in four starts on the grass that included a victory in the Jessamine at Keeneland and a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GII).

“The first time she ran, it was at 4 ½ furlongs and that was too short for her,” Bauer said. “The only reason Kenny put her on the grass was to get two turns for her.”

Bauer does not envision a return to the grass any time soon for Kathmanblu.

“It is nice to have the versatility,” Bauer said. “This way you can prep for bigger things on either surface."

Kathmanblu is one of three McPeek-trained 2-year-olds that competed in Breeders’ Cup races three weeks ago at Churchill Downs.  Rogue Romance ran third in the Juvenile (GI) and the Harlan’s Ruby finished eighth in the Juvenile Fillies (GI).

They are both turned out and getting some time off,” Bauer said. “They will probably rejoin the barn in Florida in mid-December.”

LOPRESTI LOOKS FORWARD WITH SUCCESSFUL DAN AFTER CLARK ‘CAP DISAPPOINTMENT – The hours following Friday’s $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade I) were a swirl of emotions for trainer Charles Lopresti, who was overjoyed when it appeared that his Successful Dan had scored his first Grade I victory, but his happiness turned to dismay when the stewards demoted the 4-year-old colt to third for interference with a rival.

But Successful Dan was fine on the day after the rough and tumble 136th running of the Clark, a mile and an eighth race for older horses that – like the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and the Kentucky Oaks (GI), dates to Churchill Downs’ very first race meet in May of 1875.

“He came out good,” Lopresti said when he returned to Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon.  “He doesn’t know that he got beat.  He thinks he won – I mean, he did win.”

The stewards awarded the Virginia Tarra Trust’s Giant Oak the top spot in the Clark and dropped Morton Fink’s stable star to third for interfering with Redding Colliery, the original third-place finisher, for interference when the horses collided in upper stretch. Redding Colliery was elevated to the runner-up spot after Successful Dan and jockey Julien Leparoux veered to their right in traffic and slammed into that rival.  Just to their inside, Demarcation and Dubious Miss, both trained by Paul McGee, became entangled and Dubious Miss faded after that mishap to finish last in the field of 11.  But the stewards disqualified Demcarcation from his original fourth-place finish and dropped him all the way to last because of that incident.

Leparoux and fellow rider Kent Desormeaux, who was aboard Demarcation, received three-day suspensions from the stewards on Saturday for their roles in the Clark’s chaotic stretch run.

In the emotional moments after the race, Lopresti had branded the stewards’ decision to disqualify Successful Dan from what would have been the biggest victory of his budding star’s career as a “bad call.”  But after a few hours of consideration, a little sleep and several looks at video replays of the race, Lopresti confessed to a change of heart regarding the stewards’ Clark call.

“He (Successful Dan) did come out on that horse (Redding Colliery) – there’s no doubt that he bumped him,” Lopresti said.  “I don’t think that horse was going to win the race.  I don’t think it was going to change the outcome of the race.”

While he better understood the stewards’ decision, Lopresti was remained puzzled as to why the stewards did not take a closer look at some contact deeper in the stretch run between his horse and Giant Oak.

“The horse they put up for first was all over us down the lane, then they didn’t take him down,” he said.  “Why did we go to third?  That’s what I don’t understand.”

Most important to Lopresti was the performance of Successful Dan, who was coming off a win in the Fayette (GII) over the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland and turned in a winning performance in the Clark, although the official results will show that he finished third.  Last year, a Clark victory by Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame stamped him as horse to watch and the colt followed that victory with stellar 2010 campaign that reached its climax in a narrow victory over previously unbeaten Zenyatta in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs.

Lopresti believes the Clark run by the 4-year-old son of Successful Appeal has positioned his star for big things in 2011, a year in which the Breeders’ Cup will return to Churchill Downs.

“He was tons the best,” Lopresti said of the colt’s Clark performance.  “He could have been in one of the Breeders’ Cup races.  He really could, and he would have been competitive in one of those races.  I don’t know which one of ‘em, but he would have been competitive.

“I know we’ve got a really good horse.  I think we’ll just give him the winter off and be ready for the spring races.  We might go to Florida with him.  We’ll see how he comes out.”

Successful Dan is not the only reason for Lopresti’s optimism.  On Thanksgiving Day he watched Fink’s 3-year-old Wise Dan, winner of Keeneland’s Phoenix (GIII), rebound from a sixth-place finish behind Big Drama in the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) to win a one-mile allowance race over a sloppy Churchill Downs track.

“I think he’ll go further – that’s been my deal (with Wise Dan) all along,” Lopresti said.  “I put him in the Breeders’ Cup because he won the Phoenix. We took a shot at the Phoenix because he was training so good over that track and I knew he was going to be fresh, and he won that race.  But my ideal thinking was to run in that and then stretch him out.  But we got tossed into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and he didn’t run that bad – he only got beat two lengths, a neck and a nose for all of it.”

And then there’s Brandon and Marianne Chase’s Here Comes Ben, who provided Lopresti with his first career Grade I win in Saratoga’s Forego.  He finished 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) after a rugged start that left the son of Street Cry with some cuts, but no significant injury.  Lopresti expects that Here Comes Ben will remain in his shedrow for a 2011 campaign as a 5-year-old.

In fact, all of Lopresti’s horses were doing considerably better on Saturday than their trainer.   Lopresti walked with a noticeable limp, the result of a injury suffered in the paddock as he wheeled to head to the track after watching Successful Dan’s Clark run on the large tote board video screen.

“I came out of there and something popped, I guess it was a ligament or something,” Lopresti said.  “But I’m OK.”

BARN TALK – Julien Leparoux increased his meet-leading victory total to 26 with a victory Saturday in the Golden Rod on Kathmanblu and will take a three-win advantage into today’s final day of the 21-day Fall Meet. Robby Albarado was blanked Saturday, but Shaun Bridgmohan had his second consecutive three-win day to move into a tie for second with 23 victories. Leparoux has nine mounts today, Albarado eight and Bridgmohan six. Leparoux has won or shared the leading rider title for the past three Fall Meets and also won three Spring Meet titles. Bridgmohan shared the 2006 Fall Meet title with Calvin Borel for his only riding crown here. Albarado, who won the 2008 Spring Meet title, never has won a Fall Meet title. …

The victory by Tapizar in Saturday’s final race gave trainer Steve Asmussen his 14th winner of the meet and secured leading trainer honors at the meet. The title is the ninth overall for Asmussen – five in the fall and four in the spring. …

WinStar Farm’s Brethren, the half-brother to 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) winner Super Saver, ran his record to two-for-two on Saturday with a 1 ¾-length victory in the 10th race going a mile. Horacio De Paz, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, said the colt came out of the race fine and would head to South Florida on Tuesday with the rest of the Pletcher horses at Churchill Downs. Brethren had one work here prior to his Saturday’s win and his regular morning partner was exercise rider Kevin Willey, who served in the same capacity this spring with Super Saver.

Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image pulled away from Decelerator in mid-stretch and went on to a 3 3/4-length victory in the 66th running of the $163,200 Golden Rod Stakes (Grade II) for 2-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Robby Albarado and trained by Dale Romans, Sassy Image ran the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:44.51. The victory was worth $100,172 and raised Sassy Image’s career earnings to $247,689.

Vivid Colors, ridden by Calvin Borel, led the field of six through fractions of :23.30, :47.29 and 1:12.66 with Decelerator in closest pursuit and Sassy Image running fourth but within striking distance. Midway through the far turn, Terry Thompson sent Decelerator after Vivid Colors with Sassy Image on the move just to their outside.

Decelerator hit the top of the stretch with a narrow advantage, but was soon joined by Sassy Image. The two raced on even terms to the eighth pole when Sassy Image began to draw away for her third win in seven starts.

Sassy Image returned $4.60, $2.80 and $2.20 as the favorite. Decelerator paid $4.20 and $2.80 with Upperline finishing another 7 ¼ lengths back in third under E.T. Baird and paying $2.80 to show. Completing the field in order were Vivid Colors, All Due Respect and Canadian Storm.

Sassy Image, who also won the opening-day Pocahontas (GIII) here, is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Broken Vow.

L.T.B. Inc. and Miles Childers’ Sheer Beauty led all the way to win the $61,968 Caressing for 2-year-old fillies by two lengths over Check the Label.

Ridden by Borel for trainer Bernie Flint, Sheer Beauty completed the mile over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:37.01 in defeating 11 rivals to pick up her second win in three starts. Sheer Beauty increased her earnings to $56,020 with the $37,220 winner’s check.

Sheer Beauty paid $18.20, $8.60 and $6. Check the Label, ridden by Gabriel Saez, returned $5 and $3.60 with Jody Slew finishing a half-length back in third under Jon Court and paying $24.60 to show.

POST-RACE QUOTES – THE GOLDEN ROD

JERRY ROMANS, owner of SASSY IMAGE, winner: “This is so exciting to win the two top graded stakes races for 2-year-old fillies. We grew up here at Churchill Downs so it’s really exciting. We’ll take it one race at a time but, of course, the Kentucky Oaks would be the master plan if she keeps moving forward, stays healthy and keeps doing what she’s doing. She’ll probably get a little time off, go to Florida and shoot for the big spring races.”

ROBBY ALBARADO, jockey of SASSY IMAGE, winner: “The filly (Sassy Image) is great. (Trainer) Dale (Romans) gave me some instruction to keep her a little bit closer today, so I jumped on her out of the gate. We got to settle back on the inside and save some ground. I knew when we got to the top of the stretch she was going to stay the distance. She is a long striding filly that will really improve with the longer races. This is just the type you look for next year in the big races. Dale did such a great job getting this one ready. You have to give him all the credit for this one.”

DALE ROMANS, trainer of SASSY IMAGE, winner: “I think she just improves. The further they go, the better she’s going to get. We always thought that and she’s proven it the last two races. That was a good stretch drive but she put her (Decelerator) away at the end. It was what we were wanting. I was very impressed with her and very happy with her.”
    Q: Did her experience help? “Definitely. When you go in these types of races and it gets down to the nitty gritty, the experience pays off. She’s been a very sound horse, she hasn’t missed a dance and she’s done everything we’ve asked of her. I think it really helps.”
    Q: Does this get you dreaming of the Kentucky Oaks? “Yeah. We just talked about it, (jockey) Robby (Albarado) and I. That’s got to be our big goal.”
    Q: Where does Sassy Image go from here? “We’ll probably go to Gulfstream. I don’t know where yet or what we’ll do with her. She’s had a lot of races so we may give her a little break and give her December and January off. I’ll sit down next week and figure it out.”

D. WAYNE LUKAS, trainer of DECELERATOR, second: “She ran hard and she tries every time.  I was pleased with her and thought she ran a really good race.  I think if we weren’t pressured we would have been closer, but whether we’d have beat her (Sassy Image) I don’t know.  She beat us in the Iroquois the same way.”
Q: She’ll go to Oaklawn with you? “We’ll go there with her. That’s where those people (Westrock Stables) are located, in Little Rock. Until she proves us wrong we’ll keep treating her like an Oaks filly. We’ll certainly nominate her and she’ll go through that series there, then we’ll come back here and see.  But that’s a long way off and there’s time for a lot of things to happen.”

TERRY THOMPSON, rider of DECELERATOR, second: “She gave me everything she had. I was able to sit to the top of the stretch and when I called on her, she gave me a heck of a punch.  But we just got outrun down the lane.  Everything went our way – we just got out-footed late and a nice filly beat us.”

MIKE STIDHAM, trainer of UPPERLINE, third: “Our big concern was whether she was going to handle the dirt and E.T. (Baird) said when he kind of had to set her down for the run, it was breaking away from her.  So, we’re happy that she’s Grade II-placed, but I think probably grass and synthetics are going to be more what she needs.”

E.T. BAIRD, rider of UPPERLINE, third: “She was running real comfortable and I was sitting in behind the 1-horse (Sassy Image). She looked like a tough horse and I was just more or less tracking her.  But when it came time to set her down, it (the ground) was just kind of breaking from her underneath a little bit.  She was real comfortable and when you had her in hand, but you can only go so far doing that.  So you had to drop her over and it just kind of broke from her.

EINSTEIN WORKS FOR CLARK; MARAGH PICKS UP MOUNT – Trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi was talking to a passer-by about her stable star Einstein (Brz) when fellow trainer Dallas Stewart rode past on his pony.

“Tell it like it is, Helen,” Stewart said with a laugh. “Tell him how you’re gonna kick Macho Again’s rear end.”

“Hey, Macho’s already got me once this year,” Pitts-Blasi said referring to Macho Again’s victory over Einstein in June’s Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I).

The rematch comes Friday when Einstein and Macho Again are expected to be the starting high weights in the 135th running of the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII).

Owned by the Stronach Stable, Einstein worked a half-mile in :48.60 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 early Sunday morning under Kelly Likes. It was Einstein’s first work since finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) on Nov. 7, the worst showing of his 29-race career.

“I have no answer,” Pitts-Blasi said of the Breeders’ Cup. “We couldn’t find anything. He went very well this morning and I was pleased."

Pitts-Blasi has worked Einstein in the past, but opted for Likes on Sunday for the work over a fast track.

“I wanted to take some weight off him and Kelly is lighter than I am and I could watch him,” Pitts-Blasi said.

Regular rider Julien Leparoux will miss the final two days of the meet to ride in the Japan Cup and Pitts-Blasi has enlisted New York-based Rajiv Maragh to ride Einstein in the Clark.

CARROLL CELEBRATES ACOMA’S “BIGGEST WIN” IN CARDINAL – Trainer David Carroll was still beaming Sunday morning after Acoma’s hard-charging head victory over You Go West Girl in Saturday’s Cardinal Handicap (GIII).

“Absolutely it was her biggest win,” Carroll said of Acoma, who rebounded from a last-place showing in the Grade I First Lady at Keeneland on Oct. 10. “I walked into the paddock and she was 12-1 and I was surprised. My wife Kim gets on her every day and said she was as good as she has ever been. She gets better in the fall.

“She got nothing out of the Keeneland race. We took her to Dr. (Larry) Bramlage to check her out to make sure we didn’t miss anything and she got a clean bill of health.”

A regally bred daughter of Empire Maker out of the Danzig mare Aurora, Acoma is 5-for-5 in her career at Churchill Downs for her owners Helen Alexander and Helen Groves.  Three of those wins – including the 2008 Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) and last fall’s Mrs. Revere (GII) – have been on turf and all in stakes competition.  She also won the Grade III Dogwood on dirt in 2008.

“They are great people to train for,” Carroll said. “They breed to race and this filly … even if she couldn’t run, I could look at her all day. She is so gorgeous, a great combination of talent and looks.”

Carroll said Acoma came out of the Cardinal in good shape and likely was looking at some down time.

“We will probably have the same plan as last year and send her to Payson Park for some R & R and then join us at the Fair Grounds,” Carroll said. “We got her a little early this year for the Azeri at Oaklawn and then she bounced in the Apple Blossom. I don’t foresee doing that again, but it is up to Miss Helen (Alexander).”
    
FIELDS TAKING SHAPE FOR KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB, GOLDEN ROD – Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has won the Golden Rod (GII) a record five times and the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) a record four times, is expected to have a shot at building on those marks when both races are renewed on Saturday.

Lukas is expected to send Westrock Stables’ Decelerator into the 66th running of the Golden Rod and Activity Report in the 83rd running of the Kentucky Jockey Club. Both races are at 1 1/16 miles on the main track and serve as centerpieces of the closing-day “Stars of Tomorrow II” card that features 12 races exclusively for 2-year-olds.

As of Sunday, Churchill Downs racing officials had five fillies considered as probable to line up against Decelerator, the winner of this summer’s Debutante (GIII) who ran second in the opening-day Pocahontas (GIII) behind Sassy Image.

In addition to Sassy Image, other Pocahontas runners expected to come back in the Golden Rod are third-place finisher All Due Respect, fourth-place finisher Vivid Colors and sixth-place finisher Vertical Vision. Also expected to run is Canadian Storm, a maiden winner at Philadelphia Park.

The Golden Rod was won last year by Rachel Alexandra, the first of nine consecutive victories for the filly.
The Kentucky Jockey Club lineup is expected to feature the 1-4 finishers from the opening-day Iroquois (GIII) in Thiskyhasnolimit and Gleam of Hope. Also considered as probable for the race is William’s Kitten, who ran eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) in his most recent start.

Other probables are Call Shot, Callide Valley, Mr. Saturdaynight and Super Saver.

Entries for both races will be taken Wednesday.

BARN TALK – Four Roses Thoroughbreds’ Anak Nakal, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Jockey Club, is scheduled to arrive Monday for an expected run in the Clark Handicap. Winner of the Grade II Pennsylvania Derby last year, Anak Nakal finished third in the Meadowlands Cup (GII) behind Clark probables Etched and Kiss the Kid in his most recent start. Jill Baffert and George Jacobs’ Misremembered, winner of the Indiana Derby (GII) in his most recent start, is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday from his Southern California base. …

Apprentice Oriana Rossi posted her first victory at Churchill Downs in Saturday’s fifth race with a rail-skimming ride aboard Ship’s Cabin ($17.40). It was Rossi’s 16th career win with the other victories coming at Ellis Park and Turfway Park. She recorded her first victory on Aug. 16 at Ellis Park. …

Trainer Steve Asmussen saddled two winners here Saturday to boost his career total at Churchill Downs to 350, fifth all time at the track. Lone Cypress ($5.60) won the third race and Jackpot Joanie ($5) took the seventh to give Asmussen 14 winners for the meet and a four-victory advantage over Dale Romans in the race for leading trainer.  The latter is a half-sister to Summerly, who provided Asmussen with a victory in the 2005 Kentucky Oaks.  Asmussen has won six training titles here – three spring and three fall – and was the leading trainer during the 2009 Spring Meet. …

Even though A. Stevens Miles Jr.’s Warrior’s Reward ran second in the Saturday nightcap, trainer Ian Wilkes was pleased with the effort in the six-furlong sprint, a runner-up finish in which he just failed to catch Flavor after being six lengths back at the eighth pole. “I expected him to run a good race and I thought he ran tremendous,” Wilkes said of the 3-year-old who was vanned off the track at Keeneland five weeks previous after finishing fifth in the Perryville (GIII). “He made up a lot of ground the last eighth. I am going to give him a little break and yesterday I wanted to give him a good experience before the break.”       

BREEDERS’ CUP PARTICIPANTS RETURN HOME – Lewis Lakin’s Pure Clan was back in her stall in Barn 32 on Sunday afternoon after her runner-up finish in Friday’s Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Grade I) at Santa Anita.

She will be here a week or so and then go to the farm,” trainer Bob Holthus said. “We will pick her up the first of the year and take her to Oaklawn Park.”

Pure Clan had run 10th in a field of 10 last year in the same race over the same course at Santa Anita.

“I think she was more mature this year,” Holthus said of the improved showing. “I never have figured it out why she ran the way she did last year. It is the only bad race she has ever run.”

Trainer Ian Wilkes said that Capt. Candyman Can, eighth in Saturday’s Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI), was back at the Skylight Training Center.

“He is done for the year and I have no plans for him at the moment,” Wilkes said. “He just wasn’t good enough that day. Maybe the Polytrack had something to do with it. I thought he ran well (beaten only 3 ½ lengths), but he just didn’t finish with his usual kick.”

Trainer Steve Hobby said that Telling was headed to the farm and was done for the year after running last in the field of seven, beaten 10 ¼ lengths, in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI). “He came back OK, but he bled in the race,” Hobby said.

Returning from California on Tuesday was King Ledley, who finished 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in his first U.S. start and first outing for trainer Darrin Miller.

“He will probably go to Florida this winter and we will look at the series of 3-year-old grass races,” Miller said of King Ledley, who raced close to the pace before fading late to lose by six lengths. “I thought he ran a good race. I was not disappointed in the effort, just the result.”

Also returning Tuesday afternoon was Stronach Stable’s Einstein (Brz), who finished 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). The result was the worst in the 29-race career for the 7-year-old Einstein that covers five years.

“I wish I had an answer for how he ran, but I don’t,” trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi said. “He came out of the race fine.”

GET STORMY STORMS BACK TO KENTUCKY – Kentucky money was so appealing to trainer Tom Bush that he did not wait long to try for a second chuck of change when he sent Get Stormy to Churchill Downs for Sunday’s sixth running of the $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (GIII).

“We are getting the frequent flier miles,” said Bush, whose first trip to run a horse at Keeneland resulted in a $75,000 payday when Get Stormy won the Bryan Station (GIII) on Oct. 18. “We were able to ship out the morning after the Bryan Station and he has been doing fabulous since that race.”

Owned by Sullimar Stables, Get Stormy has won his past three starts, all at a mile. The Commonwealth Turf is 1 1/16 miles, a distance at which Get Stormy has had no success. Get Stormy’s career record is 11-4-2-1 with the off-the-board finishes coming at 1 1/16 miles with the most recent being June 6.

“He is a little more mature now and I am not worried about the distance,” Bush said. “It is well within his scope. He has recovered nicely from his last race and had one work before coming here.”

That work by Get Stormy was a “bullet” five-furlong move in 1:00.10 on Nov.6 over the main track at Belmont Park.    

NOMINATIONS CLOSE TODAY FOR CLOSING WEEKEND’S GRADED STAKES – Today is the deadline for nominations for the final five graded stakes of the Fall Meet to be run Thanksgiving Weekend.

The 94th running of the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII) for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the main track kicks off the holiday weekend on Thanksgiving Day, the first of three 12-race programs to conclude the meet. Miss Isella won the 2008 Falls City.

Scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27 is the 135th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) and the 32nd running of the $100,000-added River City Handicap (GIII).

The Clark, won last year by Einstein (Brz), is 1 1/8 miles on the main track, while the River City is at the same distance on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Karelian and Demarcation dead-heated in last year’s River City.

Two-year-olds will take center stage on closing day, Saturday, Nov. 28, with the Stars of Tomorrow II card filled with races exclusively for the juveniles. Headlining the day will be the 83rd running of the $150,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) and that 66th running of the $150,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for fillies.

Four winners of the Kentucky Jockey Club have returned to Churchill Downs the following spring to win the Kentucky Derby with the most recent being Cannonade in 1973-74. Beethoven won last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club.

Rachel Alexandra began her current nine-race win streak in last year’s Golden Rod, a streak that includes a 20 ¼-length triumph in this year’s Kentucky Oaks (GI).

WORK TAB – Denis of Cork, unraced because of injuries since finishing second in the 2008 Belmont Stakes, made his return to the work tab Monday breezing three furlongs in :38 for trainer David Carroll. Also working Monday for Carroll was possible Cardinal Handicap (GIII) entrant Acoma, who covered a half-mile in :48.80. … Giant Oak, runner-up in last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club to Beethoven, worked five furlongs in 1:02 in preparation for the Clark Handicap for trainer Chris Block. … Putting in half-mile grass works on Tuesday for Saturday’s Mrs. Revere (GII) were C.S. Silk (:48.20) for trainer Dale Romans and Keertana (:50) for trainer Tom Proctor.

SUNDAY’S STAKES WINNERS TARGET CLOSING-DAY STARS OF TOMORROW II CARD – Jerry Romans’ Sassy Image and Cathy and Bob Zollars and Mark Wagner’s Thiskyhasnolimit, winners of the Pocahontas (GIII) and Iroquois (GIII) respectively on Sunday, figure to make return trips in stakes company on Churchill Downs’ closing-day “Stars of Tomorrow II” card.

That Nov. 28 racing card, like Sunday’s meet opener, will be made up exclusively of races for 2-year-olds.    “Everything is good here and I am looking forward to running her closing day in the Golden Rod (GII at 1 1/16 miles),” trainer Dale Romans said of Sassy Image, who scored by two lengths over Decelerator.

Sassy Image will be attempting to become the sixth filly to sweep the Poncahontas and Golden Rod, a feat most recently accomplished by Pure Clan in 2007. Others to do it are French Park (2005), At The Half (1993), Flippers (1983) and Weekend Surprise (1982). The latter two won divisions of the Pocahontas.

   Romans, who leaves Wednesday for Santa Anita to saddle Frank Jones Jr.’s Tapitsfly in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, has another Jones runner aimed for closing day in Romans Reward, who broke his maiden in Sunday’s sixth race at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Grand Canyon, an overnight stake at the same distance on the Matt Winn Turf Course is the next objective for Romans Reward.

Steve Asmussen, trainer of Thiskyhasnolimit, said after Sunday’s victory that the Sky Mesa colt would be pointed to the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Four juveniles have swept the Iroquois and the Kentucky Jockey Club with the Asmussen-trained Tiz Wonderful being the most recent in 2006. Others to do it are The Cliff’s Edge (2003), Exploit (1998) and Ide (1995).

WHITING COULD HAVE RUNNER TO WATCH IN DRYFLY – One of the grittier efforts on Sunday’s “Stars of Tomorrow I” card was turned in by Charles Cella’s Dryfly, an allowance winner going seven furlongs under Calvin Borel.

Dryfly assumed early command but was collared at the head of the stretch by the undefeated Great Attack, who put a head in front at the eighth pole. Dryfly dug back in and had enough to hold off Flatter Than Me, runner-up in this summer’s Bashford Manor (GIII) by 1 ½ lengths and complete the distance in 1:23.55.
“He broke a little flat-footed and I was surprised to see him on the lead. I thought he would be laying third,” said trainer Lynn Whiting, who saddled Lil E. Tee to win the 1992 Kentucky Derby (GI). “That horse that came to him of Merrill Scherer’s (Flatter Than Me) can run a little bit and I thought he had the momentum, but I think my horse will keep on running.”

Dryfly, a son of Jump Start, raced as a first-time gelding on Sunday. Whiting said Dryfly was gelded after his second race because of an undescended testicle.

A winner of two of three starts, Dryfly is done for the year according to Whiting.

“He needs a little break and I am going to keep him in light training, jogging and maybe galloping every third day,” Whiting said. “I am looking at the Smarty Jones on Jan. 18 at Oaklawn Park for him. They have a good series for 3-year-olds there with the Smarty Jones, the Southwest, the Rebel and the Arkansas Derby.

“If you want to make a run at the marbles, you’ve got to have the horse.”

TOUCH FOR A SHOCK JOLTS RIVALS IN ELECTRIFYING DEBUT – “He’s a good colt and he can run a little bit,” trainer Cecil Borel was saying about Touch for a Shock, one of two first-time starters to win on Sunday’s “Stars of Tomorrow I” card exclusively for 2-year-olds.

You think?

Ridden by his brother Calvin, Touch for a Shock exploded out of the 11 hole and quickly made his way to the rail. Turning for home, Calvin Borel was looking over his shoulder for competition and then began gearing down at the sixteenth pole as Touch for a Shock won by five lengths in 1:10.93 for six furlongs.

Three other six-furlong sprints were held Sunday for maidens and the fastest time among those races was 1:11.71.

He won a little easier than I thought he should,” Cecil Borel said of the homebred son of Touch Gold who is owned by Clifford Grum. “There were a lot of others in there who thought their horses were pretty good and I was starting to get scared.

“What I would really like to know is what I beat. A lot of times people will tell you a horse can run, but they can’t.”

Borel plans to bring Touch for a Shock back on closing day, Nov. 28 for a shot at allowance competition and then give the colt a break before heading most likely to Oaklawn Park for the winter.

COMMONWEALTH TURF ATTRACTS 21 NOMINATIONS – Darley Stable’s Florentino (JPN), winner of the Jefferson Cup (Grade II) here in June, heads a list of 21 nominations for the sixth running of the $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (GIII) to be run on Nov. 15.

The 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds, won last year by Nistle’s Crunch, will be run over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Three other graded stakes winners on the turf this year are among the nominees topped by William Stiritz’s Proceed Bee. Winner of the Hawthorne Derby (GIII) in his most recent start, Proceed Bee won the Grand Canyon Handicap here at the Commonwealth Turf distance on the closing day of the 2008 Fall Meet.

Other colts coming out of graded stakes victories on the turf are Sullimar Stables’ Get Stormy, who took the Bryan Station (GIII) on Oct. 18 at Keeneland, and Lewis Schaffel’s Sal the Barber, winner of the Calder Derby (GIII) at Calder on Oct. 17.

BARN TALK – Trainer Scooter Dickey said that Oxbow Racing’s Flat Out is about a week away from rejoining his barn. Winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes in January at Oaklawn Park, Flat Out was knocked off the Kentucky Derby trail in late April by a stress fracture in a shoulder.

Fred Bradley’s Brass Hat will be among a group of 22 horses trainer Buff Bradley will send to Gulfstream Park this winter. Winner of the Louisville Handicap (GIII) here this spring and an earner of more than $2 million, the 8-year-old Brass Hat has not run since finishing second in the Stars and Stripes Handicap (GIII) at Arlington Park on Sept. 5. “He is on the farm now,” Buff Bradley said. “He got an injury to the outside of his cannon bone from being knocked around in the race at Arlington.”

WORK TAB – On Monday, three-time Churchill Downs graded-stakes winner Acoma worked a half-mile in :50.40 over a “fast” track for trainer David Carroll in advance of a possible run in the Nov. 21 Cardinal Handicap (GIII). … Also working a half-mile were two possible runners for Saturday’s Chilukki (GII): Copper State (:49.60) for trainer Steve Asmussen and Be Fair (:50.60) for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. On Tuesday, Lukas’ other possible Chilukki starter, Color Me Up worked three furlongs in :36.40 over a “fast” track. Another Chilukki nominee, Keep the Peace worked the same distance in a bullet :34.80 for trainer Eddie Kenneally. Working on “firm” turf around the dogs was Regret (GIII) winner Keertana, who covered a half-mile in :49.60 for trainer Tom Proctor. Keertana in nominated to the Grade II Mrs. Revere to be run Saturday, Nov. 14.