Sunday, May 06 2012

SHACKLEFORD OUTDUELS AMAZOMBIE TO WIN THE CHURCHILL DOWNS

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, May 5, 2012) – Michael Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge’s homebred Shackleford outdueled Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade I) winner Amazombie in a dazzling stretch duel to win the 78th running of the $441,600 Churchill Downs Presented by Navistar (GI) by a length on Saturday afternoon.

Ridden by Jesus Castanon and trained by Dale Romans, Shackleford notched his first victory since winning the Preakness last May. In his past two Churchill Downs appearances, Shackleford had finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby (GI) and second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI).

Great Attack Late to Win Twin Spires Turf Sprint

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, May 5, 2012) – Houyhnhnm Stable’s Great Attack surged past favored Bridgetown in deep stretch to win the 18th running of the $150,350 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Presented by GE Appliances (Grade III) by a three-quarters of a length, the first of six stakes on the Kentucky Derby Day card.

Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Joel Rosario, Great Attack had finished fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) here in his lone previous try over the Matt Winn Turf Course.

KENTUCKY OAKS 138 BARN NOTES Saturday, May 5, 2012

BELIEVE YOU CAN – Brereton Jones’ homebred Kentucky Oaks heroine Believe You Can came out of the race in great shape, trainer Larry Jones said while accepting congratulations at his barn early on Kentucky Derby Day.
“Boy, she’s wanting treats and she thinks she deserves some reward!” Jones said as his filly poked her head out of her stall. “She gets all kind of peppermints, carrots, sweet potatoes, you name it. Whatever she wants she’s pretty well going to get.

Friday, May 04 2012

Kentucky Derby 138 Barn Notes (5.3.2012)

ALPHA – Godolphin Stable’s Bernardini colt Alpha, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, went to the track Thursday morning for what is a routine piece of exercise under rider Rob Massey.
“We did the same thing we have been doing, back up to the sixteenth pole and gallop about a mile and three-eighths,” McLaughlin said. “He’s doing great, continues to train well and ate up well. Everything is going great.”

Kentucky Oaks 138 Notes (5.3.2012)

AMIE’S DINI – While she may be a blue-collar $3,000 sales purchase, Oaks contender Amie’s Dini is a bit of a princess. Following today’s 1 ½ mile gallop, the Ron Moquett trainee hit the spa and was bedded down for breakfast.

“She really enjoys the spa,” Moquett said. “Actually, she likes all the finer things, the spa, the respiratory treatments, the massages. She likes all the things a lady likes.”

Thursday, May 03 2012

Kentucky Oaks 138 Barn Noes 5.2.2012)

AMIE’S DINI – Co-owner Mike Walker said the Fantasy Stakes (GII) runner-up Amie’s Dini had an easy jog this morning after the renovation break and will school in the paddock during Thursday’s program at Churchill Downs. The $3,000 sales purchase drew post 13 of 14 for the Oaks.

“We would have loved to have been somewhere four through 10,” Walker said. “But she breaks so good it’s not an issue with a long run into the first turn. I really didn’t want to be in gates one through three and fear being shuffled back to the rear if you don’t break. But she’s out-broken the field in just about every race she’s run in seven starts so far, so don’t be surprised if you hear her name called first.”

Bodemeister, Union Rags Vie for Favoritism in Balanced Field for Saturday’s 138th Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, KY (Wednesday, May 2, 2012) – Zayat Stables LLC and Southern Equine Stables’ Bodemeister, the smashing 9 ½-length winner of the Arkansas Derby (Grade I) in his most recent start, and Chadds Ford Stable’s Union Rags, winner of the Champagne (GI) and two other graded stakes, head an overflow field of 21 entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 138th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).

With 20 starters, the purse for the Kentucky Derby will be $2,219,600 with $1,459,600 going to the winner. The Kentucky Derby will be carried by NBC Sports with a three-hour telecast from 4-7 p.m. (all times Eastern).

Kentucky Derby 138 Undercard Stakes Advance (5.2.2012)

LOUISVILLE, KY (Wednesday, May 2, 2012) – Defending Grade I Derby Day winners from 2011, Get Stormy and Sassy Image, plus the 1-2 finishers from last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI), Musical Romance and Switch, top the list of marquee names that will be featured Saturday in races leading up to the 138th running of the $2 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).

Saturday’s 13-race program begins at 10:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) with the Kentucky Derby going as the 11th race of the day with a 6:24 p.m. post time. Prior to the Kentucky Derby, five graded stakes will be contested.

Wednesday, May 02 2012

KENTUCKY OAKS 138 BARN NOTES Tuesday, May 1, 2012

AMIE’S DINI – The Fantasy Stakes (GII) runner-up Amie’s Dini galloped 1 ½ miles this morning for trainer Ron Moquett, the third trainer who has been part of the filly’s development. She began her career with Bernell Rhone in Oklahoma last fall and was conditioned by Kellyn Gorder in her first Churchill attempt in October.

“I was happy to get her in our barn and she keeps improving,” Moquett said. “All the guys who trained her before me had a hand in her being what she is today. I give them credit, too.”

Mucho Macho Man, Successful Dan, Nates Mineshaft Clash in Alysheba

LOUISVILLE, KY (Tuesday, May 1, 2012) – The return to Churchill Downs of Mucho Macho Man, the third-place finisher in last year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (Grade I) plus the 1-2 finishers in last year’s Kentucky Oaks (GI), Plum Pretty and St. John’s River highlight a spectacular undercard Friday on Kentucky Oaks Day.

The 138th running of the $1 million guaranteed Kentucky Oaks is the centerpiece of Friday’s 12-race program that also features five other stakes, four of them graded. Friday’s program begins at 10:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) with the Oaks going as the 11th race with a 5:45 p.m. post time.

Kentucky Derby 138 Barn Notes (5.1.2012)

ALPHA – Godolphin Stable’s Alpha visited the track at Churchill Downs for the first time this year on Tuesday morning when he galloped approximately 1 3/8 miles under exercise rider Rob Massey.

The Wood Memorial runner-up trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, was one of the later arrivals for the 138th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I). He stayed at McLaughlin’s home base at Belmont Park until Monday afternoon, when he was flown to Louisville. The colt arrived at Churchill Downs at 6:15 p.m.

MARK VALESKI DECLARES FROM DERBY 138

LOUISVILLE, KY (Tuesday, May 1, 2012) – Brereton C. Jones’ homebred Mark Valeski has been withdrawn from consideration for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, opening the door for Bluegrass Hall LLC’s Optimizer to make the field, which is limited to 20 starters.

Trainer Larry Jones said that while Mark Valeski is in fine health, Monday’s five-furlong workout in 1:00.20 did not convince him the Louisiana Derby (Grade II) and Risen Star (Gr. II) runner-up was ready to face this year’s especially talented Kentucky Derby field.