Thursday, April 30, 2009

MARYLANDERS INVADING LOUISVILLE FOR DERBY WEEK

BALTIMORE, 04-29-09---Maryland trainers have targeted two graded stakes during Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs.

Co-owner and trainer John Salzman, Jr. is sending his exciting 2-year-old filly Gator Prowl up against four colts and four fillies in the $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes (GIII). The five furlong test goes as race nine on Thursday. Gator Prowl won her debut by 11-1/2 lengths at Laurel Park on April 9 under Jonathan Joyce, breaking a 45-year-old track record for the 4-1/2 furlong distance. Joyce will be back at the controls.


“She was very professional when she broke her maiden and she has a terrific attitude. When you have a race like this where everyone has just run one time you kind of have to play it off the break and go from there. What I like is that she has already broken from the outside and won,” said Joyce, who will be riding at Churchill for the first time. “It is going to be exciting with the Derby just days away.”

Then on Friday, John Campbell runner-up and Harrison Johnson winner Bullsbay takes on nine older runners, including 2008 Preakness runner-up Macho Again, in the $150,000 Alysheba Stakes (GIII). The Graham Motion trained son of Tiznow will be ridden by Jeremy Rose, who will also have the mount aboard Smart Enough, one of the favorites in the $100,000 Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes (GIII).

There are no Maryland-based runners on the Derby day card.

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