Almost Famous works for KY Jockey Club;Canaryinacoalmine breezes into Golden Rod

Almost Famous works for KY Jockey Club; Canaryinacoalmine

breezes into Golden Rod

Trainer Pat Byrne took a look at weather forecasts over the next few days and

decided that Thursday was the best shot at good conditions for the final

pre-race work for Almost Famous, a contender for

the 87th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club on November 30 at

Churchill Downs.

Therefore, the two-year-old son of Unbridled's Song headed to the

fast main track at Churchill just after the morning maintenance break and

breezed three furlongs in :36 2/5 under jockey Corey Lanerie.

"The weather looked like it was going to be a little rough

for the weekend and our track was in super shape this morning, so I took

advantage of it," Byrne said. "We had a good morning and we got all we wanted.

He's all set for next Saturday."

Almost Famous will enter the Kentucky Jockey Club off an

impressive six-length victory in a November 9 Churchill allowance race at the

Kentucky Jockey Club distance of 1 1/16 miles. All three of his career races

have come under the Twin Spires and include a maiden victory in September followed

by a disappointing fourth-place run behind Coastline in the Street

Sense overnight stakes on October 27.

Also working toward a possible Kentucky Jockey Club bid on

Thursday was Ichiban Warrior, who sped a half-mile in :47 4/5. The move was the

second fastest of 27 at the distance.

The Todd Pletcher-trained son of First Samurai was runner-up in the Street

Sense in his most recent outing, which followed a 7 1/2-length maiden romp at

Keeneland in early October.

Known probable starters for the Kentucky Jockey Club include Awesome Sky, Dobra Historia and Laddie

Boy. Considered possible are Culprit, Financial Mogul and Sheikinator.

A sharp Thursday morning work by

Canaryinacoalmine has put the two-year-old daughter of Birdstone in the picture

for the 70th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Golden Rod sending juvenile

fillies 1 1/16 miles on the "Stars of Tomorrow II" program, the same day as the

Kentucky Jockey Club.

The Steve Margolis-trained filly, who was a 3 1/2-length

winner in a six-furlong maiden race on the October 27 "Stars of Tomorrow I" program, zipped five furlongs over a fast track in 1:00

4/5. The move ranked as

second-fastest of 15 on the day.

Margolis spoke with Dan Hall of owner Hidden Brook after the work,

and said the Golden Rod is now a possibility for the filly.

"It going to be a tough race, but she is improving and

she's got a pedigree that says she'll run long," Margolis said. "There's also an

allowance the same day and we've got a few days to think about it. But right now

we're leaning towards the Golden Rod."

With the addition of Canaryinacoalmine, known probable

starters for the Golden Rod include Bird Maker, Madly Truly, Naïve Enough, Playful Love, Stonetastic, Streethomealabama and Vexed. Possible

runners include Daddy's Memory, Room

Service and Spangled Banner.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com