CHURCHILL DOWNS NOTEBOOK
NOVEMBER 6, 2009
by Frank Cotolo
The 21-day Churchill Downs meet that began immediately after Keeneland’s fall
stay ended on October 31 promises large and quality fields and a great horseman
community.
Day one opened with two stellar stakes for freshmen and the stakes featured
in the meet will close on November 27 with the Clark H. (G2).
Familiar names adorn the past-performance lines, including top trainers like
Steve Asmussen, Mike Maker and Dale Romans. Romans, a local hero in the
Louisville, Kentucky, market, has been the top trainer at Churchill for 10
years. He is known for taking a low profile at the autumn Keeneland meet and
revving things up when Churchill opens.
This meet runs through November 28 with Mondays and Tuesdays dark. There will
be live racing on Tuesday, November 24. Post time is 12:40 p.m. (EST), 11:30
a.m. on the final three days.
Starting Stats
A single card may not reveal much beginning a 21-program meet but it may also
be a hint to certain trends. For instance, trainer Eddie Kenneally, who was
doing well with youngsters at the recent Keeneland meet, won a pair of races on
November 1. That is as many as defending champ Romans.
Though only two dead-on favorites won on November 1, the public’s second and
third choices won four others on the 11-race card. Five-for-11 of the top-three
choice winning could be a sign that Churchill will produce a very smart betting
public over the next few weeks. Also intriguing is that of the 11 races on
opening day, horses coming from Polytrack at Keeneland won five.
Our statistics for this meet will be presented in this Notebook with weekly
and meet-long figures.
Stakes
On Friday, Grade 2 hero JONESBORO (Sefapiano) and multiple Grade 2-placed
RILEY TUCKER (Harlan’s Holiday) are the favorites in a field of eight older
horses comprising the $100,000 Ack Ack H. (G3) going a mile on the main track.
Jonesboro won the Texas Mile (G3) in April at Lone Star Park and then took
the Cornhusker H. (G2) at Prairie Meadows in June. He is the 5-2 second choice
on the morning-line from post 7. The morning-line choice is Riley Tucker, yet to
win while battling many of the top sprinters this year. He is the 2-1 favorite
on the morning-line from post 2.
At 3-1 is GREELEY’S CONQUEST (Mr Greeley) from post 5. LET IT ROCK (Trippi)
is another graded winner in the field when in March he won the Razorback H. (G3)
at Oaklawn. Here he is listed at 12-1.
We like QUE PASO (Cherokee Run), who has been steady and consistent all
season and won the $75,000 Unbridled S. this September at Louisiana Downs. He is
listed at 10-1 and that may be a gift for this improving six-year-old.
HORSES TO WATCH
Sunday (11/1)
3RD — ACTIVITY REPORT (Bernstein) dueled for the lead from the half to
three-quarters with courage as an 8-1 shot, finishing a decent third.
4TH — SPARKLE OF LIGHT (Alke) tried to break maiden at Saratoga and almost
got the job done here, racing tough into the stretch.
5TH — SILVER CRAFT (Value Plus) launched cleanly from post 11 and had great
speed even when five wide before tanking.
8TH — VIVID COLORS (Roman Ruler) had a speedy start and was prominent until
headed at the half, battling to maintain the lead.
11TH — EMMALEE (Smart Strike) was terrific coming from Polytrack and found
great speed at 74-1 on the Kentucky dirt, leading the field to three-quarters.