Macho Again, Blame drill half-miles for Foster

Macho Again’s last win came in the Foster under the Twin Spires (EquiSport Photos)

Preparation time for the 29th running of Churchill Downs’ $600,000
Stephen Foster H. (G1) is dwindling and two of the major players in the
1 1/8-mile race tuned up for the June 12 test with Saturday works.

West Point Thoroughbreds’ defending Foster winner MACHO AGAIN (Macho
Uno) logged a half-mile in :50 2/5 over a muddy track at Churchill
Downs. The work by trainer Dallas Stewart’s five-year-old ranked 32nd of
46 at the distance. Macho Again finished seventh in the Alysheba S. (G3)
on Kentucky Oaks Day in his only start of 2010.

Meanwhile, Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s homebred BLAME
(Arch), winner of the Clark H. (G2) last fall under the Twin Spires,
breezed four furlongs over Keeneland’s Polytrack in :49 2/5. Blame
worked in company with stablemate Apart (Flatter), who was clocked in an
identical time. Their moves tied as the 14th fastest of 24 at the
distance over the all-weather track.

Blame is no stranger to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs (EquiSport Photos)

“Actually, I couldn’t be happier,” Stall said. “Pimlico’s a deep racetrack
and I think he really got a lot out of the race — more than he would have if he
went over kind of a tight Derby week track at Churchill Downs. Garrett said he
had to use him for about an eighth of a mile to get the hole and that was just
what he needed. He got a little heavy that last 40 yards, so I think
everything’s been really good — knock on wood.”

Stall has long held high hopes for Blame, who has compiled an impressive
career record of 6-1-2 in nine races with earnings of $676,747. He’s pleased
with what the lightly raced colt has accomplished so far, but is anxious to see
how Blame continues to develop. At this point, Stall is not sure just how good
Blame could turn out to be.

“It’s hard to say,” he explained. “At this point he’s done everything like a
top horse. He sure looks it and he’s a great pedigree — his (granddam is) a
half-sister to Nureyev and Arch’s pedigree is not getting in his way. We just
think he’s the whole package. We’re definitely shooting for the moon, so
hopefully he can take us there.”

A big run by Blame in the Stephen Foster will continue an enjoyable stretch
for Stall, who recently reached a milestone when he notched his 1,000th career
victory with Claiborne Farm and Dilschneider’s Toll (Giant’s Causeway) in a May
23 maiden race at Arlington Park. Stall had no idea that he was even close to
that four-digit win total.