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CHURCHILL DOWNS NOTEBOOK APRIL 30, 2008 by John Mucciolo Racing under the famed Twin Spires is upon on once again with the introduction of the spring/summer meet at Churchill Downs. This historic venue, home to the world-famous Kentucky Derby (G1), has tabbed 26 graded events through closing weekend in early July, with the pinnacle coming this Saturday. Trainer Steve Asmussen collected his fourth overall training title last spring, amassing a record 46 wins over the course of the 52-day meet. Among the nation's leaders on an annual basis, the 43-year-old Texas native is loaded again this year and will have top contenders in each of the three biggest events over the weekend. Dale Romans is no stranger to the Churchill winner's circle, and although he was frigid at Keeneland, we also expect good efforts from his trainees at this locale. Bill Mott is ultra consistent in the Bluegrass State and will likely vie for top honors once again. In the jockeys' race, Julien Leparoux will try to bag his third riders' award in succession, a year after booting home 70 winners. The French import would love to duplicate his performance he put forth on June 27 of the previous year, when he was aboard a track-record six winners. The $115,200 Derby Trial highlighted the opening day program. Derby Trial S.: West Point Thoroughbreds' MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) was on his game in here when posting a game win over the impressive Kodiak Kowboy (Posse). The Dallas Stewart charge sprung out of the gate, settled just off the pace while wide, and took over in a powerful stretch run and would not be denied under Julien Leparoux. The gray colt finished off finished off 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:28 2/5. Track Stats A total of 21 races were held over the weekend at the Louisville venue, with favorites winning at a 33 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 48 wins. From 17 races on the famed main oval, only one horse won in wire-to-wire fashion (5 percent), while two of the four grassy tests were won in front-running fashion (50 percent). The lone wire-to-wire winner on the main track occurred on the first day of the meet in Race 1, a 4 1/2-furlong maiden claiming event. Many of the winners were pressing the pace or in midpack, and horses won on the outside and along the rail. This turf course has always been fair to speed types and we saw a sign of that over the weekend. The much the best, odds-on favorite DYNAMALT (Dynaformer) came from slightly off the early tempo, but he could have won from anywhere in here. Meet Totals RACES: 21 Post Positions (wins): RAIL: 2 (10 percent) HORSES TO WATCH Saturday (4/26) 9TH -- FIREROCK BASE (Indian Charlie) rallied in a big way to secure the runner-up spot in here for Bobby Barnett, and the rapidly improving turf performer could be stakes-bound in the near future. The four-year-old never frightened the winner but was four lengths clear of the show spot. 10TH -- FUJITA (Lion Hearted) ran a big one in here for Todd Pletcher, taking a brief lead on the rail late before settling for a third-place finish behind a pair of more seasoned foes. The lightly raced sophomore is probably best suited to one-turn racing, but he's a hard-trying colt and should be watched wherever he may appear next. Sunday (4/27) 6TH -- The aforementioned Dynamalt was yards the best in here and appears to have a nice career ahead of him for Mott. The long-striding three-year-old didn’t smash the teletimer in here, but he didn't have to, and we like him going forward. WEEKEND HORSES TO WATCH Z FORTUNE (Siphon [Brz]) is the less-heralded of the two Asmussen Derby contenders, but the colt has posted triple-digit BRIS Late Pace figures in all but one race and has the perfect running style to grab a piece of the derby pie. The New York-bred has useful tactical speed and almost always delivers a punch turning for home. Asmussen's MERKEL (Forest Wildcat) looked especially good in winning first out and should be used in Thursday's Kentucky S. (G3) for juveniles. The trainer has captured nearly every running of this event since the turn of the century, and he seems poised to add another to his list of winners. If BIG BROWN (Boundary) lives up to his expectations and improves some on his prior races, we could be witness to one of the more special Thoroughbreds to grace the Triple Crown in recent times. The Richard Dutrow charge has dismantled three different fields with the ease of a champion, and if he could overcome his lack of seasoning and win the Derby, he could be a very live contender to sweep the Triple Crown. BSHARPSONATA (Pulpit) is as consistent as they come and should factor from the outset in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Friday. The Timothy Salzman trainee has run well over any surface put before her and could offer a generous price in this ultra-deep field.
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