Thursday, October 16, 2008

Keeneland Barn Notes—Wednesday, October 15, 2008

GOLDEN DOC A ASSIGNED TOP WEIGHT FOR LEXUS RAVEN RUN

Ron McCauley’s Grade 1-winning Golden Doc A is the 123-pound highweight for the 10th running of the $300,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2), a seven-furlong race to be run on Saturday. She will break from the six post in the field of 13 three-year-old fillies.

Trained by Greg Fox, Golden Doc A is coming off a sixth-place finish in the Indiana Oaks (G2) on October 3 at Hoosier Park. On Tuesday, the Unusual Heat filly worked a bullet half-mile at Keeneland in :47.


Assigned 119 pounds for the Raven Run is Ride Em Cowgirl, a daughter of Mazel Trick who has won two sprint stakes on the synthetic surfaces at Arlington Park and Presque Isle Downs. Other stakes winners in the field are Absolutely Cindy, Dreaming of Liz, Extra Sexy Psychic, Informed Decision, Rated Fiesty, Spring Awakening and Valentine Fever.

The field for the Lexus Raven Run, from the rail out, is as follows: Rated Fiesty (S. Bridgmohan, 117 pounds), Spring Awakening (M. Mena, 117), Informed Decision (J. Velazquez, 117), Ride Em Cowgirl (E. Razo Jr., 119), Dreaming of Liz (E. Baird, 117), Golden Doc A (J. Castanon, 123), Valentine Fever (J. Leparoux, 117), Extra Sexy Psychic (B. Hernandez, 117), Dubai Majesty (J. Theriot, 117), Secret Gypsy (R. Albarado, 117), Awesome I Am (C. Borel, 117), Absolutely Cindy (J. Court, 117) and Set Play (R. Douglas, 117).


VETERAN TURF RUNNERS MEET IN SYCAMORE

On Saturday, Kim and John Glenney’s homebred Transduction Gold will attempt to win the Sycamore (G3) for the second consecutive year when he starts in the 14th running of the $150,000 race at 1 ½ miles on the turf. Jockey Jon Court will travel from Southern California, where he rode Transduction Gold in his two most recent races, to again be aboard the five-year-old gelding by Formal Gold. Transduction Gold will break from the four post in the 11-horse race.

Trained by John Glenney, Transduction Gold shares the 122-pound highweight assignment with three other horses, including Rumor Has It, who is coming off a longshot win in the Kentucky Cup Turf (G3) on September 13 at Kentucky Downs. Four other horses from that race also will be in the Sycamore: third-place finisher My Happiness (ARG), Silverfoot (fourth), Hapaheart (fifth) and Always First (GB) (eighth).

The field for the Sycamore, from the hedge out, is as follows: Silverfoot (R. Albarado, 122 pounds), Telling (S. Bridgmohan 120), Guadalcanal (C. Borel, 116), Transduction Gold (J. Court, 122), Good Request (J. Leparoux, 120), My Happiness (ARG) (E. Razo Jr., 120), Hapahart (P. Tolentino, 120), Phil the Power (A. Black, 120), Elusive Fort (SAF) (M. Mena, 120), Always First (GB) (R. Douglas, 122) and Rumor Has It (E. Perez, 122)

Note — Friday’s Pin Oak Valley View (G3) will be run at a distance of 1 1/16 miles. It was incorrectly listed as a 1 1/8-mile race in Tuesday’s barn notes.


SCHARBAUER PURCHASES SET TO RACE AT KEENELAND

A trio of two-year-olds that noted Texas horseman Clarence Scharbauer Jr. purchased at the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale are set to race at Keeneland for trainer Bret Calhoun, starting today with Indygo Mountain. The A.P. Indy colt, a $600,000 purchase, will make his career debut in the seventh race at seven furlongs.

On Thursday, Awesome Fleet, a daughter of Awesome Again who is a half sister to champion and dual-classic winner Afleet Alex and was purchased by Scharbauer for $1.4 million, will make her career debut in the seventh race, also at seven furlongs.

“We pointed to this meet with Indygo Mountain and Awesome Fleet,” Calhoun said. “They’re real distance horses; they’ve got distance pedigrees. I don’t think they’re precocious horses that might win first time out, but it’s a good spot to get started. They could win, but I think the distance is good, the timing is right. We’ve waited until now to get them cranked up, and everything has gone really well with them.”

Calhoun said expectations have been high with Awesome Fleet, “but I don’t think she’s going to be everything she’s going to be until next spring when she gets a little more mature. We’ve taken a lot of time with her. We’re not putting a lot of pressure on ourselves or on her for her first couple of races. We think her future is at two turns as a three-year-old.”

The third member of the Scharbauer-Calhoun group is Silver City, a $700,000 purchase who finished third in his career debut in late June at Churchill Downs. Calhoun said the Unbridled’s Song colt would race sometime during the final week of the Keeneland meeting.



Calhoun has 22 horses at Keeneland, most notably Mr. Nightlinger. The four-year-old son of Indian Charlie, who is on a five-race winning streak, is set to breeze over the Keeneland turf on Thursday. He is scheduled to leave for Santa Anita on October 22 and his next start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Among Calhoun’s other horses is Chamberlain Bridge, who won the Woodford during Keeneland’s opening weekend and is probably headed to an allowance race early in the Churchill Downs meeting. Another is Euroears, who was undefeated in six races, including three stakes at Louisiana Downs, before he was sidelined by a nondisplaced condylar fracture in his right hind leg. Calhoun said the four-year-old Langfuhr colt might return to competition before the Keeneland season ends on October 25.


BREEDERS’ CUP-BOUND FOREVER TOGETHER WORKS FOR SHEPPARD

Augustin Stable’s Forever Together, who won the First Lady (G1) here on October 3, worked Wednesday in preparation for her next start in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1). Ridden by Barry Wiseman, assistant to trainer Jonathan Sheppard, the five-year-old Belong to Me mare was timed in 1:00.80 for five furlongs. (Watch video of Forever Together’s work.)

“It was easy for her,” said Wiseman. “She finished strong. That’s what we wanted, a mini-work.”

Winner of the Diana (G1) at Saratoga on July 26, Forever Together is scheduled to depart Keeneland for Santa Anita on October 22. Sheppard is concerned with how the mare will handle the hot weather in Southern California and perform in the Breeders’ Cup because she does not sweat. Forever Together receives supplements for her condition, and a can of Guinness beer is poured over her evening feed.

“You know your friends that drink a lot of beer tend to perspire heavily?” Sheppard said. “The same thing with horses.”

Sheppard said Julien Leparoux, who has ridden Forever Together in her past three races, would again be aboard the mare in the Breeders’ Cup.


KELLY’S LANDING RETURNS ON FRIDAY

Summerplace Farm’s homebred Kelly’s Landing, a Keeneland stakes winner who won the 2007 Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), will return to the races on Friday after a layoff of nearly five months. The seven-year-old Patton gelding will start in the seventh race, an $80,000 allowance optional claiming event at six furlongs.

“We’ll just take it one race at a time and get him back on track,” said trainer Eddie Kenneally. “Ideally, I wouldn’t mind taking him back to Dubai. He needs to run well (on Friday), and I expect him to.”

At Keeneland on October 12, Kelly’s Landing worked a bullet half-mile in :45, a performance Kenneally attributed to catching a Polytrack surface that was playing especially fast.

After winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen, Kelly’s Landing did not race again until seven months later when he finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in late October. He was off again until May, when he made two starts at Churchill Downs, where he was third in an allowance optional claiming race and then fourth in the Aristides (G3). Both races were won by Indian Chant.

On Friday, Julien Leparoux will ride Kelly’s Landing, who will break from the outside post in the field of seven, which includes Grade 2 winner Santana Strings and Adore the Gold and stakes winners City Number and Natural Speed.


UPCOMING FALL MEET SPECIAL EVENTS

Friday, October 17 — Celebrate UK’s Homecoming At See Blue Day — Keeneland will be a sea of blue when it hosts See Blue Day, the official kick-off for the University of Kentucky Wildcats' homecoming weekend. Kentucky plays Arkansas the following night at 7 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium

The See Blue Day schedule of events includes:

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Inaugural Tops In Lex Cornhole Tournament at the Keeneland Entertainment Center. Winner will receive a Keeneland VIP prize package.

11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Free UK Pep Rally at the Keeneland Entertainment Center with the UK pep band, cheerleaders, mascot and more. Those in attendance will be treated to free tailgate food and be eligible for prize giveaways. Attendees also will receive free general admission to the races and access to the reserved seating in the UK section of the Grandstand.

1:10 p.m.: First post at Keeneland. Show a UK student, faculty or alumni ID and receive free general admission to the races. Don't forget to wear your UK blue!

2 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Next to the paddock, members of UK's 1998 Outback Bowl team, including Tim Couch and Craig Yeast, will be on hand to sign commemorative UK/Keeneland hats. Each hat costs $15, and proceeds from hat sales will benefit UK's DanceBlue, a student-led dance marathon that provides emotional support and research for children and families treated at the UK Pediatric Oncology Clinic.

Friday, October 17 – Play the $200,000-guaranteed Pick 4 on races 7-10. Presented by TVG. .

Saturday, October 18 – Breakfast With the Works – Bring the family out for Breakfast With the Works, from 7 – 8:30 a.m. Enjoy a Southern-style breakfast and free children’s activities. This Saturday, Universal Reins, an equine adoption organization from Versailles, Kentucky, will give a demonstration in the paddock at 8:45 a.m.

Sunday, October 19 – Military Day at the Races – Families of military personnel are invited to spend the day at Keeneland, where they will be treated to breakfast and be able to communicate with their loved ones serving in Iraq and Afghanistan through private video conferences.


2008 KEENELAND FALL MEET LEADERS

(Stats Through Sunday, October 12)

Current Meet Leading Jockeys
Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Purses
Robby Albarado 65 13 12 13 $1,418,004
Julien Leparoux 63 8 10 4 $680,585
Kent Desormeaux 35 6 3 4 $689,804
Jamie Theriot 54 4 6 5 $409,605
Calvin Borel 42 4 6 2 $275,062
Rene Douglas 52 4 4 6 $246,296
Rafael Bejarano 12 4 3 4 $710,052
John Velazquez 11 4 0 1 $475,646
Miguel Mena 61 3 12 4 $226,077
Jesus Castanon 37 3 4 2 $107,535
Corey Lanerie 41 3 3 2 $108,749
Alan Garcia 14 3 1 1 $135,032
Edgar Prado 13 2 1 2 $148,821
E.T. Baird 5 2 1 0 $ 67,962
Shaun Bridgmohan 38 2 0 5 $ 79,172
Otto Thorwarth 9 2 0 1 $ 31,860


Current Meet Leading Trainers

Name Sts 1st 2nd 3rd Purses
Ken McPeek 28 5 3 4 $464,018
Bill Mott 16 4 2 2 $278,977
Michael Maker 16 4 2 1 $102,220
Kiaran McLaughlin 12 4 2 0 $580,042
Albert Stall Jr. 11 3 4 1 $204,044
Ian Wilkes 9 3 1 0 $ 91,733
Dale Romans 16 2 1 1 $454,450
Hugh Robertson 5 2 1 1 $ 55,224
Tom Proctor 12 2 1 0 $118,444
Todd Pletcher 24 2 0 2 $234,771
Shug McGaughey 4 2 0 1 $349,425

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