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CHURCHILL DOWNS NOTEBOOK NOVEMBER 6, 2009 by Frank Cotolo The 21-day Churchill Downs meet that began immediately after Keeneland's fall stay ended on October 31 promises large and quality fields and a great horseman community. Day one opened with two stellar stakes for freshmen and the stakes featured in the meet will close on November 27 with the Clark H. (G2). Familiar names adorn the past-performance lines, including top trainers like Steve Asmussen, Mike Maker and Dale Romans. Romans, a local hero in the Louisville, Kentucky, market, has been the top trainer at Churchill for 10 years. He is known for taking a low profile at the autumn Keeneland meet and revving things up when Churchill opens. This meet runs through November 28 with Mondays and Tuesdays dark. There will be live racing on Tuesday, November 24. Post time is 12:40 p.m. (EST), 11:30 a.m. on the final three days. Starting Stats A single card may not reveal much beginning a 21-program meet but it may also be a hint to certain trends. For instance, trainer Eddie Kenneally, who was doing well with youngsters at the recent Keeneland meet, won a pair of races on November 1. That is as many as defending champ Romans. Though only two dead-on favorites won on November 1, the public's second and third choices won four others on the 11-race card. Five-for-11 of the top-three choice winning could be a sign that Churchill will produce a very smart betting public over the next few weeks. Also intriguing is that of the 11 races on opening day, horses coming from Polytrack at Keeneland won five. Our statistics for this meet will be presented in this Notebook with weekly and meet-long figures. Stakes On Friday, Grade 2 hero JONESBORO (Sefapiano) and multiple Grade 2-placed RILEY TUCKER (Harlan's Holiday) are the favorites in a field of eight older horses comprising the $100,000 Ack Ack H. (G3) going a mile on the main track. Jonesboro won the Texas Mile (G3) in April at Lone Star Park and then took the Cornhusker H. (G2) at Prairie Meadows in June. He is the 5-2 second choice on the morning-line from post 7. The morning-line choice is Riley Tucker, yet to win while battling many of the top sprinters this year. He is the 2-1 favorite on the morning-line from post 2. At 3-1 is GREELEY'S CONQUEST (Mr Greeley) from post 5. LET IT ROCK (Trippi) is another graded winner in the field when in March he won the Razorback H. (G3) at Oaklawn. Here he is listed at 12-1. We like QUE PASO (Cherokee Run), who has been steady and consistent all season and won the $75,000 Unbridled S. this September at Louisiana Downs. He is listed at 10-1 and that may be a gift for this improving six-year-old. HORSES TO WATCH Sunday (11/1) 3RD -- ACTIVITY REPORT (Bernstein) dueled for the lead from the half to three-quarters with courage as an 8-1 shot, finishing a decent third. 4TH -- SPARKLE OF LIGHT (Alke) tried to break maiden at Saratoga and almost got the job done here, racing tough into the stretch. 5TH -- SILVER CRAFT (Value Plus) launched cleanly from post 11 and had great speed even when five wide before tanking. 8TH -- VIVID COLORS (Roman Ruler) had a speedy start and was prominent until headed at the half, battling to maintain the lead. 11TH -- EMMALEE (Smart Strike) was terrific coming from Polytrack and found great speed at 74-1 on the Kentucky dirt, leading the field to three-quarters.
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