Churchill Downs Notebook

CHURCHILL NOTEBOOK

JULY 8, 2010

by Frank Cotolo

Meet Recap

Although the return of Mine That Bird (Birdstone) did not call for a

fireworks display, the big picture for the 2010 Churchill Downs 42-day meet was

colorful and star-studded during day and night programs.

Most recently, the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner, ridden by regular jock Calvin

Borel and under the tutelage of D. Wayne Lukas, finished eighth in the 20th

running of the $205,625 Firecracker (G2). This was the four-year-old debut of

"Bird," as well as his first outing on the turf. Lukas was happy just to get a

race under the gelding's belt, as he continues the 2010 campaign at Saratoga,

eyeing the Whitney H. (G1) on August 7.

TIZDEJAVU (Tiznow) won the grass stakes wire to wire on a beautiful day in

Louisville over a firm course where he controlled the mile from start to finish.

The inimitable Borel was part of the track's top news

items this meet, beginning with the first week when he won the Kentucky Derby

(G1) aboard SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon) and made the history books by winning his

third of four straight Derby mounts. Borel took the lead in the jockey

standings the first week and kept it to the end, taking his first jockey title for the

spring/summer season.

Borel compiled the most stakes victories with five. His other memorable stakes victory, of course,

came aboard the reigning Horse of the Year, RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro).

The famous femme, who turned in one of the most remarkable performances in

Churchill history when winning the 2009 Kentucky Oaks (G1) by 20 1/4 lengths, resumed her winning ways

following a couple of setbacks with a 10 1/2-length victory with Borel in

the June 12 Fleur de Lis (G2).

On June 4, the 43-year-old Borel became the second jockey with 1,000

victories at Churchill, behind Pat Day (2,482 wins), the all-time Churchill

leader.

Always humble and ever the pro, Borel matched his professional demeanor with

great performances during a memorable season in Louisville.

Super Saver's win in the Derby marked the first training win in the classic

event for Todd Pletcher. He had four runners in the 2010

event and it was not the first time he sent multiple entries. Pletcher, who

saddled his first Derby starter in 2000, missed with his first 24 starters

before breaking through with Super Saver.

The Kentucky Oaks (G1) presented one of the most dramatic finishes since the

phrase "a dramatic finish" became classic in the call of Personal Ensign's

Breeders' Cup Distaff )G1) win. BLIND LUCK (Pollard's Vision) was as close to

Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet) as any horse could be without a dead-heat when

edging her rival in a thrilling renewal of the three-year-old fillies' classic.

Her trainer Jerry Hollendorfer scored his third Oaks victory and rider Rafael

Bejarano was up.

In other major stakes action, GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa) notched his second

Grade 1 victory with a narrow score in the Woodford Reserve Turf

Classic, and BLAME (Arch) continued to establish himself as a top older horse

with a rallying win in the Stephen Foster H. (G1).

Racing under the lights at Churchill this season was always delightful for a

great many crowds getting involved with the terrific racing. Even during the

hottest of spring and summer days, people played and enjoyed the southern

hospitality on track, as well as the racing signal attracted the simulcast

public from coast to coast.

"Downs After Dark," as the Fridays have been called, will offer two night

programs in the fall meet, one on Sunday, October 31, and another on Friday, November

10. Additionally, some of the races at this year's Breeders' Cup will be held under the lights at Churchill Downs.

The richest two days in sports comes back to historic Louisville track on November 5 and

6. It will be the seventh time the Louisville track has hosted the championship

events.

Trainers

Although Steve Asmussen was the leading trainer with 24 wins, the

win-percentage standings for the season show a different order for conditioners

than the one Asmussen topped.

Trainer		Win %
Carl Bowman		32
Albert Stall Jr.		29
Robert O'Connor II		27
Paul McGee		25
Todd Pletcher		24
Len Wiggins		24
William Connolly		23
Steve Margolis		21
Dallas Stewart		21
Greg Foley		20
Steve Asmussen		19
James Baker		19
Forest Kaelin		19
Eddie Kenneally Jr.		19
Michael Maker		17
Tom Amoss		16
Ken McPeek		16
Bill Mott		16
Dale Romans		16

Here is another exclusive list, featuring all the trainers responsible for

sending first-time starters to the winner's circle during the meet.

Trainer		Wins
Dale Romans		3
Steve Asmussen		2
Ken McPeek		2
Bret Calhoun		1
David Carroll		1
William Connelly		1
Alan Crupper		1
Bernard Flint		1
Bill Ford		1
John Glenny		1
Eddie Kenneally		1
Judith Parke		1
Chuck Peery		1
Helen Pitts		1
Tom Proctor		1
Don Smithwick		1
Wesley Ward		1

Surface report

Speed, from the flagfall to the finish or closely stalking pacesetters, was the key to winning races on the main

track all season. The number of horses

able to score coming from mid-pack or worse, sprinting or routing, was small.

There was little to be said about any particular bias, per se, but to see that

the general category of speed prevailed.

The public did well identifying winners but not much better in the end than

the national standard. The public's hit rate was 33 percent, using all of the

races run.

Though there were weeks where favorites won at better than a 41-percent clip,

in the end it was the usual, remarkable figure that pari-mutuel racing has been

spitting out for decades.

HORSES TO WATCH

This meet, our Horses-to-Watch lists produced the following winners:

HIGH KICKING DREAM (Almostashar), $71.20

SCREENPLAY (Stephen Got Even), $16.20

GALIENTOS (More Than Ready), $15.80

SPECTACULAR KID (Mizzen Mast), $13.80

BE RICH (Sarava), $12.40

SMARMY (Parents' Reward), $12.40

KISS MINE (Mineshaft), $11.60

BADGER BARRY (Forrest Wildcat), $11.20

BUILT TO PRECISION (Pure Precision), $11.20

FOUR BEARS (Hennessy), $10.60

EXECUTIVE SWEET (Harlan's Holiday), $7.80

BOLD VICTORY (Vindication), $6.80

OCCAM'S RAZOR (Quiet American), $7.60

QUICK DELIVERY (Distorted Humor), $6.60

PHOSPHORESCENT (Rock Slide), $6.00

SPRIGHTLY STAR (Pioneering), $6.00

SPEAK OF KINGS (Announce), $5.80

ADHSILVER (Adhocracy), $5.40

YOU BETTER BELIEVE (A.P. Indy), $5.40

WICKED RAVNINA (Wild and Wicked) $5.40

CONDITION RED (Red Bullet), $5.00

HATHOR'S LEGACY (Buddha), $4.60

HANDS ON (Friendly Lover), $4.40

SCENE OF THE CRASH (Forest Camp), $4.40

CHANTILLY LADY (Shore Breeze), $4.20

RAJPUR ROAD (Arch), $4.20

ROSE CATHERINE (Speightstown) $3.60

VICTORY READY (More Than Ready), $3.60

HAWAIIAN SKY (Parker's Storm Cat), $3.40

LIL RICK'S GAL (Macabe), $3.40|

GRAY HART'S GIRL (Buddha), $3.20

EMBUR'S SONG (Unbridled's Song), $2.60

Each horse won its first or second time after making our list, not

necessarily at Churchill Downs. Many others on the lists, including some of the

above, finished second or third in their next two races.