CHURCHILL DOWNS NOTEBOOK
MAY 28, 2009
by Frank Cotolo
Churchill’s own Calvin Borel is having a sterling year. Winning the Kentucky
Derby (G1) with one of his trademark trips along the rail, Cal made another
great decision changing horses mid-Crown, so to speak, to ride filly Rachel
Alexandra (Medagli d’Oro) to a win he clearly predicted before the race.
On Monday, May 25, Cal recorded his second five-win card of the holiday’s
five-program week He also won five races on Saturday. Starting with the last
race Friday, through the ninth race Monday, Cal won 14 of 25 assignments.
Over the five days of racing, weather became a factor. On Monday, there were
87 runners on the program before 21 were scratched. The track was “sloppy and
sealed” for seven races. A pair of turf races switched to the main track. The
preceding four days of the extended week were fast and firm.
Trainer Ken McPeek recorded his 1,000th victory when Old Man Buck (Hold That
Tiger) won an off-the-turf allowance that presented only three starters. Guess
who was up? Right, it was Cal.
Churchill remains dark until racing resumes Friday with a first post of 2:45
p.m. (EDT).
Track stats
The average of favorites winning went from 30 percent to 31 percent at the
end of the five-day racing week. Two of those days were pleasant for
chalk-bettors, with favorites winning five of 11 races on Friday and six of 11
races on Monday.
Speed continues to be a major factor in all events (on May 23 half of the
winners went wire to wire and in the 51 races over the five days being close to
the pace mattered greatly) at all distances on the main track. The turf course
routes are, however, being kinder to horses farther off the pace without
penalizing speed. Turf sprints really seem to favor one particular running style
lately; you haven’t wanted a horse that has to make up a lot of ground in a turf
sprint.
In one of our early notebooks, we mentioned the impressive numbers being
recorded by Bret Calhoun and now his percentages (he has gone from 50- to
52-percent winners) are being matched by his placing. He jumped to second on the
leading-trainers list with 10 wins from only 19 starters. Compare that to Steve
Asmussen, who is first in the standings with a dozen winners from 63 starters
(19 percent).
Coming up
On Saturday, a pair of Grade 3 affairs lines the marquee at Churchill.
Three-year-olds and up will go six panels in the $100,000-added Aristides and
sophomore fillies will travel a mile in the $100,000-added Dogwood.
SEMAPHORE MAN (Formal Gold) could be the horse to beat in the Aristides. BOLD
START (Jump Start), CASSOULET (Distorted Humor), GRAND SENSATION (Grand Slam),
KNIGHTS CROSS (Thunderello) and VICARIAN (Vicar) are among the challengers. Ian
Wilkes, whose stakes-happy students have been lucrative, trains Vicarian, and he
is our choice from post 3.
Headlining the Dogwood is stakes winner AFFIRMED TRUTH (Affirmed), who will
take on the likes of HIGHTAP (Tapit), LADY’S LAUGHTER (Distorted Humor) and
SLIDES CHOICE (Devil His Due).
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (5/21)
2ND — READY’S ROCKET (More Than Ready) had a very tough start and was very
slow getting back into competition, but he rallied nicely to finish second.
4TH — BROADWAY BERTIE (Pleasantly Perfect) stayed with the front speed very
well for an 8-1 shot and wound up just being nabbed by two others very late in
the running.
9TH — PIC A CHIC (Prime Meridian) came out of post 11 and watched the field
early. She gained steadily to make a good showing in a race that was won by a
78-1 shot with two other big outsiders following.
Friday (5/22)
2ND — BURROWING OWL (Northern Spur [Ire]) needed this race over the
Churchill surface after coming from Delaware. Though he had little excuse for
faltering, he may react differently next out here.
3RD — SAPPHIRE LAKE (Private Terms) is an Indiana invader that was
challenged to the half in this 6 1/2-furlong test. She offered a strong showing
at 18-1 and could go wire to wire next time.
9TH — JANOU (Mutakddim) was far back early and expected to stay there at
20-1. Instead, he went four wide on the turn, shifted to the rail and gained
rapidly to finish a good second.
Saturday (5/23)
4TH — MAJOR PLEASURE (Officer) chased the leader in this turf route while
being wide through the duel before he tanked. Watch for him in a turf sprint or
a mile on the green as he may become a stalker with a winning race under his
saddle belt.
5TH — TIZSILK (Tiznow) broke his maiden here at 4-1 so well that he turned
out to be a great claim for Autrey Cody. This one can come right back against
winners and score at a mile or more.
Sunday (5/24)
3RD — CHARLOTTE’S CAT (Storm Boot) is improving and sprinted well here,
dueling with two before tiring. Could be ready to break her maiden status soon.
4TH — WATCHINGIRLSGOBY (Red Ransom) is another Indiana invader with promise.
He was all out at three-quarters on the green but may be better suited to a
sprint next time.
6TH — VELVET ANGEL (Petionville) had no chance here after jumping out of the
gate, but she tried gallantly to get into the thick of things before being
eased. Still, this Indiana shipper was impressive enough before all the trouble
to be claimed and handed over to Joe Woodward. If she came out of that race all
right, she’s a looker.
Monday (5/25)
6TH — THUNDERING JILL (Thunderello) had great early foot to the
three-eighths but must have tired from the slippery slope. A drop in class and a
dry surface could do it for this one.
7TH — CHAPEL BY THE SEA (Chapel Royal) raced four wide trying to get to the
top from post 8. He moved boldly midrace but lost steam and finished fifth.
10TH — VALHALLA (Wagon Limit) had to run three wide, losing precious ground,
and weakened to finish a respectable fourth on the “good” surface.