Churchill Downs Notebook

CHURCHILL DOWNS NOTEBOOK

MAY 7, 2008

by John Mucciolo

More than 157,000 were in attendance on Saturday, the second-largest crowd

ever to witness the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs,

and the stars were out both on and off the track in Louisville over the weekend.

The biggest question surrounding the Run for the Roses was if favorite BIG BROWN

(Boundary) would be able to overcome a lack of seasoning and the wicked 20 post

position, in hopes of delivering an historic win and cement himself as a

more-than-viable Triple Crown contender. All we could come up with is, Wow!

Kentucky Derby (G1): IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa's Big Brown put in a

sublime performance in here as the clear favorite for Richard Dutrow, driving

home an effortless winner under Kent Desormeaux. The unbeaten, and untested,

colt traveled widest of all for the majority of this storied race and never left

doubt when he made his move approaching the final turn, eventually reaching the

line in 2:01 4/5 for 10 furlongs. The Preakness S. (G1) awaits the superstar.

Kentucky Oaks (G1): Brereton Jones' homebred PROUD SPELL (Proud

Citizen) broke alertly, rated patiently under a confident Gabriel Saez, and

rolled to an impressive score in here as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite. The

ultra-consistent filly five lengths clear at the wire for conditioner Larry

Jones, finishing off the nine-furlong feature in 1:50 over the sloppy, sealed

oval.

Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1): Midnight Cry Stable's EINSTEIN

(Brz) (Spend A Buck) made up for his disappointing finish a year ago with a game

score in this edition for trainer Helen Pitts. The three-time Grade 1 winner

went nine grassy panels over good turf in 1:50 1/5 under Robby Albarado.

Humana Distaff S. (G1): Grether Farms' INTANGAROO (Orientate) was the

beneficiary of a four-horse duel on the early lead, rallying from well back to

upset this group at 14-1 in her dirt debut. The Gary Sherlock charge was next to

last after the opening half-mile before putting in her run widest of all,

reaching the line in 1:22 for seven-eighths beneath Alonso Quinonez.

Churchill Downs S. (G2): Tom Walters' ELITE SQUADRON (Officer) got his

much deserved graded stakes win for conditioner James Baker, dueling through

sharp slits prior to drawing off by 4 1/2 lengths under John Velazquez. The

four-year-old speedster negotiated seven-eighths in a brisk 1:21 2/5.

Louisville S. (G2): Stronach's homebred champion GINGER PUNCH (Awesome

Again) returned to her winning ways with a facile, 3 3/4-length score in here

for Bobby Frankel. The phenomenal five-year-old left little doubt in here while

leading at virtually every call, getting 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 as the 1-2 choice.

La Troienne S. (G3): Zabeel Racing's GAME FACE (Menifee) made a

determined run along the rail to get up by a neck in this contest for Todd

Pletcher. The talented sophomore filly, who was piloted by Velazquez, drilled 7

1/2 panels in 1:28 2/5 to add a second black-type score to her resume.

Turf Distaff Mile S. (G3): Jacks or Better Farms' homebred BAYOU'S

LASSIE (Outflanker) gained an early advantage over 7-5 choice Dreaming of Anna (Rahy),

and would never let that one by in posting a front-running upset for Dale

Romans. The sharp five-year-old, who carried six pounds fewer than the

runner-up, went one mile on the good lawn in 1:37 3/5 under the guidance of

Edgar Prado.

Aegon Turf Sprint S. (G3): MR. NIGHTLINER (Indian Charlie) proved that

his win in the Shakertown S. (G3) was no fluke with a strong front-running tally

in here beneath Jamie Theriot. The rapidly-improving four-year-old drilled

five-eighths on the firm sod in a sharp :56, bagging his second consecutive

graded win for Bret Calhoun.

Edgewood S. (G3): Zayat Stable's ZEE ZEE (Exchange Rate) was

especially impressive in here for trainer Bill Mott, bounding to the front early

and never looking back in a 1 3/4-length score under Kent Desormeaux. The

three-year-old miss stopped the teletimer in 1:44 3/5 for the 1 1/16-mile

affair.

Alysheba S. (G3): Stronach Stables' homebred GIANT GIZMO (Giant's

Causeway) made a smooth transition from synthetic racing to the slop, with a

closing, 3 3/4-length romp beneath Rafael Bejarano. The Bobby Frankel pupil got

1 1/16 miles in 1:43 4/5 to record his initial graded win.

Track Stats

A total of 53 races were held last week at the Louisville venue, with

favorites winning at a 47 rate and the top two betting choices combining for 62

percent of the wins. From 43 races on the famed main oval, six animals won in

wire-to-wire fashion (14 percent), while five of the 10 grassy tests were won in

front-running fashion (50 percent).

The top two betting choices combined for nine of the 10 wins on Tuesday's

card. Wednesday yielded nine winners from 10 races breaking from the inside

three post positions, but that was not due to a bias as many winners came on the

outside for their scores.

The turf course is heavily biased, as we mentioned previously, and it is more

so when there is moisture on the lawn. Over the weekend, four of the five races

on the green were won in wire-to-wire fashion, with a pair at big prices. We

find that to be a telling sign, and any horse making up ground from off the pace

bears watching in their subsequent efforts.

Meet Totals

RACES: 74

DIRT: 60

TURF: 14

FAVORITES: 32 (43 percent)

2ND CHOICES: 11 (15 percent)

TURF WIRE: 7 (50 percent)

DIRT WIRE: 7 (12 percent)

Post Positions (wins):

RAIL: 9 (12 percent)

1-3: 30 (40 percent)

4-6: 33 (45 percent)

7-out: 11 (15 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (5/1)

8TH -- DREAM OF KAYLEE (Cactus Ridge) put in a monster debut effort for

Robert Hess Jr., finishing a solid third in the Grade 3 race under Desormeaux.

The juvenile colt should be a daylight maiden winner with anything resembling

this showing.

10TH -- BALOOBAS (Kafwain) was nearly seven lengths clear in second behind a

front-running winner and appears to be sitting on a tally for David Carroll. The

sophomore miss displayed a nice rating ability and good closing kick en route to

her runner-up placing.

Friday (5/2)

4TH -- ROYAL PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) was a most impressive, first-time winner

for Cecil Borel, showing speed early and plenty of kick late in drilling a deep

field in 1:09 3/5 for three-quarters of a mile. The gelding is bred to run

longer and to hand le the grass, so he could be any kind with improvement.

8TH -- Giant Gizmo had the breakout performance many were waiting for in here

and is destined for big things for Frankel. The four-year-old drew off with

relative ease in here and established himself as a triple-surface threat against

top company.

Saturday (5/3)

1ST -- BIKER BOY (Came Home) ran off his second consecutive impressive score

for Nick Zito, rolling home under Bejarano to defeat his older counterparts. The

three-year-old, who was privately acquired following his strong maiden romp, is

surely graded-stakes bound after this one.

8TH -- BARONESS THATCHER (Johannesburg) has been agonizingly close to a pair

of Grade 1 wins, and it would seem right for her to break through soon for

trainer Bill Mott. The four-year-old enjoyed a dream trip turning for home and

missed by the smallest of margins in here: we're rooting for her this campaign.

9TH -- ARTISTE ROYAL (Ire) (Danehill) tried to close on a surface that is

very kind to front runners, and the Neil Drysdale charge finished very well to

be a clear third. The seven-year-old has run a trio of good races against top

competition this year and will surely get a win before long.

10TH -- We hated the fact that DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday) was taken

back to last early in the Derby, but the talented sophomore ran admirably to

finish a clear third in here for Carroll. With any improvement and a more

aggressive early ride, the Kentucky-bred will likely be a big factor in the

Belmont S. (G1) next month.