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Rocket Twentyone brings back memories for Howard The first time Tom Howard attended a Breeders' Cup was at Churchill Downs in 1988. "That was Alysheba's year. I watched it from right back here in the bleachers," Howard said. "That was the best place to watch, because you could see all the horses going over to the paddock." Alysheba was housed in Barn 32 not only for the Breeders' Cup, but the previous year when he won the Kentucky Derby. Fast forward to today, and Howard has Rocket Twentyone walking in the same shedrow. Owned by Frank Fletcher, Rocket Twentyone is undefeated in two starts and coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Lassie on September 10. She shipped to Kentucky on September 28 and was housed at the Trackside Training Center before coming over to Churchill Downs. After the Lassie victory, Howard had mentioned the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland on October 7 as a possible next start leading up to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. "We looked at it (the Alcibiades) and thought we had enough points (to get in the Breeders' Cup) and opted not to run," Howard said. A regular on the Louisiana-Arkansas circuit, Howard has five other horses stabled at Trackside. He gave Rocket Twentyone her first Churchill Downs work last Friday, a half-mile in :51 3/5 over a track labeled muddy. "She worked OK in the slop last week and she probably will work again this Friday depending if her rider (Eddie Razo) can be here," Howard said. One filly who did run in the Alcibiades, Heart of Destiny, may be pre-entered next Monday in both the Juvenile Fillies and the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Owned by Hurstland Farm and James Greene Jr., Heart of Destiny broke her maiden on the grass at Saratoga and then ran second in the Alcibiades. "We'd be foolish not to (look at the Breeders' Cup)," trainer James Baker said. "We'd look at both races, but I think the dirt race may be easier than the turf." Baker plans to give Heart of Destiny two works prior to the Breeders' Cup. Also considering the Juvenile Fillies or the Juvenile Fillies Turf is Northern Passion, an impressive winner of the Grade 3 Natalma at Woodbine in her most recent start. The Mark Casse trainee is scheduled to breeze Tuesday morning shortly after the renovation break at Churchill Downs under regular exercise rider Melanie Giddings. "We are still considering both races," said assistant trainer Norman Casse, Mark's son. "She's going to have to show us enough in her workouts over the track for us to try her on the dirt." Northern Passion, a two-year-old daughter of First Samurai who races under the colors of John Oxley, beat a competitive field in the Natalma, including Stephanie's Kitten, who returned to win the Alcibiades at Keeneland. "It looks like the Natalma has turned into a key race," Casse said. The chestnut Canadian-bred filly recorded two solid workouts at Woodbine following her score in the Natalma and then shipped to Churchill Downs, arriving beneath the Twin Spires last Wednesday. "She's doing great and her last workout (:59 3/5 bullet work at Woodbine on October 9) was the best one of her life," Casse noted. In other Breeders' Cup news: C R K Stable's Switch, third-place finisher in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland on October 8 in her most recent start, is scheduled to arrive from Keeneland for the Filly & Mare Sprint on Tuesday. The remainder of trainer John Sadler's Breeders' Cup continent is scheduled to fly in from California on October 30. Carl R. Moore Management LLC's Chamberlain Bridge, winner of the 2010 edition of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint beneath the Twin Spires, is preparing to defend his title on November 5 and will work at the Louisville track for trainer Bret Calhoun on Tuesday or Wednesday. Shivananda Parbhoo's two Breeders' Cup hopefuls, Giant Ryan (Sprint) and Trinniberg (Juvenile Sprint), are scheduled to work Thursday morning after the renovation break. Giant Ryan has won his past six starts, highlighted by a score in the Grade 1 Vosburgh, and Trinniberg followed up his runner-up effort in the Grade 1 Hopeful with a second-place finish in the G2 Nashua. Activity in the Churchill stable area will begin to pick up next Monday with the scheduled arrival of trainer Todd Pletcher's high-profile duo of Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty. Other expected arrival dates for marquee names include West Coast stars Turbulent Descent (Filly & Mare Sprint) and Weemissfrankie (Juvenile Fillies) on October 30, Union Rags (Juvenile) on October 31 and Gio Ponti (Mile) on November 1. Trainer Bob Baffert's Breeders' Cup contingent is also scheduled to arrive on November 1. Two European charters are slated to arrive on October 29 with a third plane scheduled for October 31 or November 1.
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