Thursday, September 02 2010
CHURCHILL DOWNS MOVES FALL OPENER TO AFTERNOON; ‘DOWNS AFTER DARK’ RACING SET FOR FRIDAY, NOV. 1
LOUISVILLE, KY. (Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010) – Churchill Downs will switch its racing program on Sunday, Oct. 31 – the opening day of the track’s 21-day Fall Meet – from a “Downs After Dark” night racing event to an afternoon session, pending approval of the change by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (“KHRC”).
If the change obtains the expected KHRC approval, post time for the opening day racing program would be 12:40 p.m. (all times Eastern). That day will feature the first of the Fall Meet’s pair of popular “Stars of Tomorrow” racing programs devoted exclusively to races for 2-year-old Thoroughbreds – the age group that will be eligible for the 137th renewals of the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks next spring.
Monday, July 05 2010
Churchill Downs Notes (7.5.2010)
LOUISVILLE, KY (Sunday, July 4, 2010) – Memorable renewals of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), won by WinStar Farm’s homebred Super Saver, and the Kentucky Oaks (GIII), won by a nose by Blind Luck: brilliant performances by reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and rising star Blame; and four exciting evenings of “Downs After Dark” night racing were among the most magical moments of the 42-day Spring Meet at Churchill downs that concluded on Sunday, July 4.
The central human figure in many of the meet’s brightest moments moments was jockey Calvin Borel, who not only achieved his 1,000th career victory beneath the Twin Spires during the meet, but also won his first Spring Meet riding title. He piloted Super Saver to victory in the Run for the Roses, an unprecedented third Kentucky Derby victory in four years, and was aboard for Rachel Alexandra’s return to form as the 2009 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner took the Fleur de Lis Handicap (GII) by 10 ½ lengths for her first victory of the year.
Sunday, July 04 2010
Tizdejavu Wins Closing Day Firecracker Handicap at Churchill Downs; Derby Winner Mine That Bird 8th
LOUISVILLE, KY (Sunday, July 4, 2010) – Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu took the lead out of the gate and was never headed to win the 20th running of the $205,625 Firecracker Handicap (Grade II) by 1 ½ lengths over Public Speaker on Sunday to close out the 42-day Spring Meet at Churchill Downs and ruin the return of 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird who finished eighth in his turf debut.
Trained by Greg Fox and ridden by Jesus Castanon, Tizdejavu ran the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:35.98, the fastest time of the meet at the distance. It was Tizdejavu’s fifth victory in six starts over the Matt Winn Turf Course with the only setback coming in a fifth-place finish in last year’s Firecracker.
Churchill Downs Barn Notes (7.4.2010)
BOREL GETS FIRST SPRING MEET RIDING TITLE – Jockey Calvin Borel popped the gate on opening day by winning five races and never looked back in winning his first Spring Meet riding title at Churchill Downs.
“That first day felt good, but it is a long meet and you never know what will happen,” said Borel, who won an outright Fall Meet title in 1999 and shared Fall honors in 2006 and 2009. “But I have ridden here so long, it is like being in my yard and I am happy here.”
Saturday, July 03 2010
Favored Kantharos Romps in Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, July 3, 2010) – Stonestreet Stable’s Kantharos overcame a stumble at the break to cruise to a 9 ½-length victory over Lou Brissie to win the 109th running of the $108,200 Bashford Manor Presented by Fasig-Tipton (Grade III) on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Robby Albarado, Kantharos spotted the field of six a couple of steps at the break as longshots Thewayitusedtobe and Gold for Cash led the field through the first quarter-mile in :21.81.
Danzon Edges Happiness Is to Win Locust Grove Handicap at Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, July 3, 2010) – Alfred Nuckols Jr.’s Danzon got up in the final stride to edge 48-1 longshot Happiness Is by a nose as part of a six-horse photo finish to win the 29th running of the $116,200 Locust Grove Handicap (Grade III) for fillies and mares racing one mile on the turf on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
War Tigress, ridden by Corey Lanerie, and Happiness Is, ridden by Greta Kuntzweiler led the field of 11 through fractions of :24.84, :48.72 and 1:12.94 while Danzon, under Alex Solis, raced near the back of the pack.
Churchill Downs Barn Notes (7.3.2010)
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.
Kiddari Takes Churchill Downs’ Roxelana Before ‘Downs After Dark’ Crowd of 32,481
LOUISVILLE, KY (Friday, July 2, 2010) – Summer Wind Farm’s Kiddari wore down Vertical Vision in the final eighth of a mile to win the $66,500-added Roxelana overnight stakes for fillies and mares by 1 ¾ lengths before a “Downs After Dark” crowd of 32,481 on Friday night at Churchill Downs.
Friday night’s attendance was the highest of the four “Downs After Dark” programs this meet and increased the average to 27,139. Two more “Downs After Dark” programs are scheduled for the Fall Meet: Opening day, Sunday Oct. 31 and Friday, Nov. 19.
CHURCHILL DOWNS BARN NOTES (7.2.2010)
MELANCON TO CLOSE OUT LONG CAREER SUNDAY – Larry Melancon began riding quarter horses when he was nine years old and got his jockey’s license to ride Thoroughbreds at age 16 in 1971.
On Sunday, five weeks shy of his 55th birthday, Melancon will saddle up one last time riding War Clan for longtime client Bill Mott.
“I had no idea that this would last this long,” Melancon said Friday morning. “I got to ride some good horses and those were the ones that kept you going and getting up in the mornings.”
Mine That Bird Returns, Makes Turf Debut in Closing Day Firecracker ‘Cap
LOUISVILLE, KY (Thursday, July 1, 2010) – Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), will race for the first time in 2010 and make his career debut on the grass in Sunday’s 20th running of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) Presented by Thorntons.
Calvin Borel, who guided Mine That Bird to his 50-1 Kentucky Derby shocker last spring, will be aboard Sunday when the 4-year-old gelding makes his turf debut from post position two under high weight of 122 pounds. Mine That Bird faces 13 foes in the 10th race (approximate post time 5:26 p.m., EDT) on the 11-race program. First post time Sunday’s program that wraps up the 42-day Spring Meet is 12:45 p.m.
Thursday, July 01 2010
UNDEFEATED LOU BRISSIE TOPS BASHFORD MANOR; ACOMA, KEERTANA RENEW RIVALRY IN LOCUST GROVE
LOUISVILLE, KY (Wednesday, June 30, 2010) – Dogwood Stable’s Lou Brissie will attempt to become the fifth horse complete a Kentucky Juvenile-Bashford Manor double Saturday when he faces five 2-year-old rivals in the 109th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor (GIII) at Churchill Downs.
Sharing the Saturday spotlight with the juveniles is the 29th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (GIII) at a mile on the Matt Winn Turf Course featuring a rematch of top grass performers Acoma and Keertana, who finished a head apart in the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (GIII) on June 5.
Monday, June 28 2010
Churchill Downs Barn Noets (6.28.2010)
MINE THAT BIRD ZIPS IN WORKOUT, COULD RACE THIS WEEKEND – Mine That Bird, upset winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), turned in a sharp five-furlong work on Monday at Churchill Downs in preparation for a possible return to racing at the historic track this weekend.
Jockey Calvin Borel was in the saddle as Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s 4-year-old Birdstone gelding zipped over a muddy track for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas in a “bullet”:59.80, the fastest work of 26 at the distance.
