Churchill Downs Notebook

CHURCHILL DOWNS NOTEBOOK

JUNE 11, 2008

by John Mucciolo

There was no stakes action to report of over the past week, but Stephen

Foster Super Saturday is upon us, which means the return of the Horse of the

Year, CURLIN (Smart Strike). Conditioned by Steve Asmussen, the four-year-old,

who was last seen dominating the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), was handed

a 128-pound weight assignment in the $1 million Stephen Foster H. (G1). He'll

spot up to 15 pounds to his rivals.

Also included on the super card are five other graded events, notably the

$300,000 Fleur de Lis H. (G2), for fillies and mares traveling nine furlongs on

the main surface. The other four graded tilts are the $200,000 Regret S. (G3),

$200,000 Jefferson Cup S. (G3), $175,000 Northern Dancer S. (G3) and the

$150,000 Mint Julep H. (G3).

Track Stats

A total of 49 races were held last week at the Louisville venue, with

favorites winning at a 43 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining

for 61 percent of the wins. From 38 races on the famed main oval, six animals

won in wire-to-wire fashion (16 percent), while two of the 11 grassy tests were

won in front-running style (18 percent).

Speed on the main oval was especially good on Thursday, with a trio of

front-running winners coming through on the dirt from nine main-track events.

The average early Pick 4 payout for the week came in at $3,872.40, aided by a

top price of $16,689.40 over the weekend. This prosperous wager is especially

good, considering the fact that these cards are often filled with short fields

in the early portion.

Meet Totals

RACES: 324

DIRT: 262

TURF: 62

FAVORITES: 127 (39 percent)

2ND CHOICES: 69 (21 percent)

TURF WIRE: 15 (24 percent)

DIRT WIRE: 40 (15 percent)

Post Positions (wins):

RAIL: 35 (10 percent)

1-3: 133 (41 percent)

4-6: 143 (44 percent)

7-out: 48 (15 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (6/4)

5TH -- INDEEDINGLY (Street Cry [Ire]) ran as good as you could without

winning for Ken McPeek, falling just short to a well-meant juvenile who had

valuable experience prior to this one. The runner-up was bet like a good thing

and ran to his odds, suggesting he'll be live next out.

7TH -- AWESOME PREACHER (Touch Gold) was another fine second placer in here,

finishing 12 1/2 lengths clear of his nearest foe. The Asmussen trainee a full

second better than the place horse in the 5TH Race.

9TH -- MY BABY BABY (Bernstein) is another in the long line of McPeek winners

at the meet, dusting a field of older competitors for fun on this occasion. The

sophomore miss will be seeing stakes foes in her next outing.

Friday (6/6)

5TH -- The John Ward-trained FOREST COMMAND (Monarchos) dueled on the lead

for the duration of this seven-furlong race and stayed on well in a sharp debut

showing. The three-year-old colt, who hails from a barn that knows how to handle

a good thing, should be a solid favorite to graduate in his subsequent try.

6TH -- SEA THE JOY (Stormy Atlantic) was not shamed by the stakes heroine

Taletobetold (Tale of the Cat) in here and looks like a live entity in her

return. The four-year-old miss showed good gate speed and stubbornness late that

makes her dangerous.

Saturday (6/7)

8TH -- FUJITA (Lion Hearted) put in a smart showing following his third-place

effort in the Derby Trial S. for Todd Pletcher, pulling clear late to win this

allowance by two lengths. The talented sophomore went six furlongs in a

sparkling 1:15 2/5 and seems poised for an eventful summer campaign.

9TH -- Trainer Tom Proctor has been firing bullets of late and this race was

no different, when his favored CLOSEOUT (Repriced) proved much the class in this

heat. The three-year-old miss reeled in a loose on the lead filly in here and

appears to have a very bright future.

10TH -- PERSISTENT PENNY (A.P. Indy) has always looks good on paper and has

now run two good races in succession, but we think that the filly could burn a

lot of money in the near future at short odds. The Kentucky-bred had every

chance to win this race yet never could get over the hump, so we'll try to beat

her next time out.

Sunday (6/8)

3RD -- COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike) will never be a serious horse at 1 1/16

miles, but the Rusty Arnold trainee could have been using this solely as a prep

for an upcoming marathon event. This stayer should not be ignored at big odds in

her next showing.

8TH -- DEMARCATION (Gulch) made a nice late run to gain a clear third in

here, and the Paul McGee charge will be interesting in his next turf venture at

useful odds.