Euroears

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(November 19, 2008) – Zayat Stables’ Thorn Song will face 10 rivals Saturday as he shoots for consecutive victories in the $100,000-added River City Handicap (Grade III) to be run at a mile and one-eighth over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

            Trained by Dale Romans, Thorn Song will have to overcome the outside No. 11 post position if he is to join Same Old Wish (1996-97) and Dr. Kashnikow (2001-02) as a repeat winner of the River City. Thorn Song will be ridden by Robby Albarado and carry high weight of 122 pounds, conceding three-to-nine pounds to his rivals.

            Winner of the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland in October as well as the Grade II Firecracker Handicap over the Matt Winn Turf Course in July, Thorn Song enters the River City off a ninth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) at Santa Anita.

            Two other River City starters have stakes victories in 2008, although none is of the graded variety.

            Oxbow Racing’s Steve Double, trained by Ronny Werner, has won the Remington Green at Remington Park and the Unbridled Handicap at Louisiana Downs in his two most recent starts and ran third to Thorn Song in the Firecracker. Steve’s Double will be ridden by Jamie Theriot and carry 117 pounds.

            Amerman Racing Stables’ Demarcation took the Franklin-Simpson at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 15 for trainer Paul McGee. Jesus Castanon will ride Demarcation, who carries 117 pounds.

The field for the 32nd running of the River City (Race 9 at approximately 4:37 p.m. ET), from the hedge out: Yate’s Black Cat (Miguel Mena, 119 pounds), Mr. Sidney (John Velazquez, 113), Star Plus (ARG) (Kent Desormeaux, 116), Pleasant Strike (Chris DeCarlo, 115), Karelian (Calvin Borel, 119), Just As Well (E.T. Baird, 113), Telling (Shaun Bridgmohan, 117), Demarcation (Jesus Castanon, 117), Canela (Julien Leparoux, 115), Steve’s Double (Jamie Theriot, 117) and Thorn Song (Robby Albarado, 122).

Also on Saturday’s card will be the $56,000-added Bet On Sunshine (Race 8 at approximately 4:06 p.m. ET), an overnight handicap at six furlongs on the main track that drew a field of eight sprinters.

High weights Kelly’s Landing (123 pounds under Julien Leparoux) and the undefeated Euroears (120 pounds with Miguel Mena up), will start side by side, breaking from post positions two and three, respectively.

Kelly’s Landing, owned by Summerplace Farm, won the 2005 Aristides (GIII) here and also took the 2007 Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI). He returned to the races on Oct. 17 after a 4 ½-month layoff to win a six-furlong allowance sprint at Keeneland in his most recent start for trainer Eddie Kenneally.

Euroears, owned by Marilyn and James Helzer, has won all six of his career starts for trainer Bret Calhoun. Euroears, who suffered a non-displaced condylar fracture of his right hind leg in late March, has not raced since winning the Duncan Kenner Stakes on March 8 at Fair Grounds.

The field for the Bet On Sunshine, from the rail out: Native Ruler (Jamie Theriot, 116 pounds), Kelly’s Landing (Julien Leparoux, 123), Euroears (Miguel Mena, 120), Godolphin Gray (Aldo Canchano, 110), Success Success (Jesus Castanon, 116), Junior College (Hector Rosario Jr., 117), High Expectations (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118) and Vicarian (Calvin Borel, 116).

First post for Saturday’s 10-race card is 12:40 p.m. ET. The first 5,000 paid and pre-paid admissions will receive a free collectable hurricane glass, courtesy of Kentucky Derby Party, that salutes Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Also, Churchill Downs will offer free general admission Nov. 21-23 to all patrons who donate two non-perishable canned goods at Gates 10 and 17 in conjunction with the Kentucky Harvest Thanksgiving Food Drive, sponsored by Forcht Bank.

Grandstand gates open Saturday at 11 a.m.

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RISE OF ROMANS EMPIRE CONTINUES AT CHURCHILL DOWNS - The victory by Zayat Stables' Melo in Thursday's first race was the 450th triumph beneath the Twin Spires for trainer Dale Romans, moving him past D. Wayne Lukas into second place all time at Churchill Downs.

            Hall of Famer Bill Mott is the all-time wins leader at Churchill Downs with 592.

            "I knew we were getting close to the top few and somebody told me in the spring that I was getting close to Wayne," Romans said. "I've sure got a ways to go to get to Bill."

A 42-year-old native of Louisville, Romans began training in 1986 and saddled his first winner at Churchill Downs on Nov. 12, 1987, with Final Destroyer.

Son of former Churchill Downs trainer Jerry Romans, Dale has won eight training titles (Spring 2000-03, 2005-06 and Fall 2003 and 2005) at Churchill Downs and has 17 stakes wins.

 "Final Destroyer. Man, that goes a long way back," Romans said Friday morning while watching his horses train from the viewing stand by the half-mile pole.

Trainer Ken McPeek was in the stand at the same time.

"Final Destroyer? He was my maiden winner at River Downs in 1985 (Oct. 27)," McPeek said. "My dad and I bought him for $3,000 and your dad bought him off us at Latonia."

Final Destroyer won for a $10,000 maiden tag for McPeek and won one other time in 11 total starts before going to the Romans barn in February 1986. For Dale and Jerry Romans, Final Destroyer ran 30 times with three victories, the last delivering Dale's initial Churchill Downs win.

"What I'd like to do is match Bill's stakes wins here (74)," Romans said, "and Wayne's (Kentucky) Derby wins (four)."

 For good measure in Melo's victory, Romans also saddled the runner-up, Charco for the Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, to complete a $107 exacta.

EUROEARS POINTED TO NOV. 22 BET ON SUNSHINE - Marilyn and James Helzer's Euroears was all set and ready to return to the races two weeks ago from an injury, but it was not to be.

            "He just tied up a couple days before the race," said Dennis "Peaches" Geier, assistant to trainer Bret Calhoun. "He's doing fine and he'll probably run in the Bet On Sunshine next week."

            A 4-year-old son of Langfuhr, Euroears has won all six of his career starts. But soon after taking the Duncan F. Kenner at Fair Grounds in March, Euroears suffered a non-displaced condylar fracture of his right hind leg and was on the shelf for six months.

            Euroears resumed working at Churchill Downs in September and had four works at Keeneland in preparation for the Oct. 30 race. Since scratching out of that race Euroears worked a half-mile in :48 here on Nov. 8.

            Nominations for the six-furlong Bet On Sunshine close Saturday for the Nov. 22 race and in addition to Euroears, it could draw Summerplace Farm's Kelly's Landing.

            "I'm not sure yet," trainer Eddie Kenneally said of Kelly's Landing's participation in the Bet On Sunshine.

            Kelly's Landing, winner of the 2005 Aristides (GIII) here, came back from a 4 ½-month layoff to win a six-furlong sprint on Oct. 17 at Keeneland.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE FOR FIVE STAKES ON SATURDAY- Saturday is closing day for nominations for five stakes, including four Grade II events slated for Thanksgiving Weekend.

            The richest of the stakes is the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) to be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track on Friday, Nov. 28. On Thanksgiving Day, the fillies and mares will get their chance at the same distance in the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII).

            Highlighting the closing-day "Stars of Tomorrow II" card that features all 2-year-olds are the Golden Rod (GII) for the fillies and the open Kentucky Jockey Club (GII). Both races are 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

            Also closing Saturday is the Bet On Sunshine, a $61,000 overnight handicap for sprinters 3-years-old and up going six furlongs on the main track on Saturday, Nov. 22.

BARN TALK - Julien Leparoux rode two winners Thursday to hike his total for the meet to 35. Leparoux is averaging 2.5 wins a day through the first 14 days of the 26-day meet and is on pace for 65, which would shatter the Fall Meet record of 55 set by Pat Day in 1985. ... Stonestreet Stable cut loose a promising runner Thursday when Misty Lady (ARG) won the eighth race by five lengths under Shaun Bridgmohan. Breaking from the rail in the six-furlong allowance optional claiming sprint, Misty Lady broke last in the field of six, quickly moved to challenge pace-setting Be Golden while under a snug hold and cruised home in 1:11.87 over a track rated as "good." "I'm not sure what's next for her," said Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. "She has been in the barn for about four or five months since we bought her in Argentina." Fourth in her U.S. debut last month at Keeneland, Misty Lady now has won five of nine career starts that include Group I and II wins last year in Argentina. ... The smile on jockey John McKee's face was a bit broader Friday morning after the rider snapped an 0-for-49 run to start the Fall Meet with two victories on Thursday. "I was hoping it would be sooner than later," McKee said of the wins aboard Not Me But U ($57.80) in the third and Nafass ($33) in the fifth. "I guess everybody goes through streaks like that." McKee, who was the leading rider of the 2004 Fall Meet with 27 victories, plans to ride this winter at Turfway Park.

WORK TAB - Oxbow Racing's Steve's Double, a four-time stakes winner, worked five furlongs over a fast track in 1:01 for trainer Ronny Werner. Mushka, winner of the 2007 Demoiselle (GII), worked a half-mile in :52.

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. No jockey can be chosen more than twice in the series. 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.

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.

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 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 Terrace Five on Sunday. After the fifth race, there will be a group picture near the Aristides statue in the paddock garden.