Auntie Joy Seeks Redemption in Regret

Sanford Robertson’s Auntie Joy, a close second to Catch a Glimpse in the Edgewood (GIII) on the May 6 Kentucky Oaks undercard, is looking for redemption when she stretches out in Saturday’s $100,000 Regret (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on Matt Winn Turf Course.

Trainer Brendan Walsh believes that the daughter of Uncle Mo will improve off of her last effort.

“She’s doing great, we couldn’t be any happier,” Walsh said. “We had a really good prep with her and if she runs the race she did in the Edgewood, I think we could be the one to beat. We’ll be up against a tough group of fillies and these types of races aren’t easy to win but if she can reproduce that effort on Oaks day, we’ll be tough to beat.”

When running second in the Edgewood, Auntie Joy did so at odds of 31-1. 

“We weren’t surprised at all,” Walsh said “She had some trouble in her race at Keeneland. She was running on real hard at the end and the draw got us. She had a good enough trip at Churchill even though (jockey) Brian (Hernandez Jr.) had to wait with her longer than he had liked. She was up against one of the best 3-year-old fillies in the country (Catch a Glimpse).”

Walsh believes that Auntie Joy will only improve as she matures and continues stretching out in distance.

“As time goes on she’ll get better, I don’t think that we’ve reached the bottom of her yet,” Walsh said.

The $100,000 Regret (GIII) field from the rail out: Gone Away (Florent Geroux, 6-1); Quiet Business (Joe Rocco Jr., 30-1); Crooked Stick (James Graham, 30-1); Family Meeting (Robby Albarado, 6-1); Noble Beauty (Julien Leparoux, 7-2); Try Your Luck (Gary Stevens, 7-2); La Piba (Fernando De La Cruz, 20-1); Dothraki Queen (Corey Lanerie, 10-1); Fuhriously Kissed (Joe Johnson, 50-1); Wessex (Shaun Bridgmohan, 6-1); and Auntie Joy (Brian Hernandez Jr., 3-1).

STEVENS TO RETURN TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AFTER SUNDAY

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who has ridden at Churchill Downs throughout the Spring Meet, will be return to Southern California on Monday to begin preparation for the Del Mar meeting. 

“This will be my last weekend here,” Stevens said. “Kobe’s Back is running in the ($300,000) Triple Bend (GI at Santa Anita) a week from Saturday and Del Mar starts up soon so it didn’t make any sense for me to head home this week, head back closing week here and then turn around and go back again. That would be too much travel.

“My (7-year-old) daughter (Maddie) got out of school Wednesday so I want to spend a little quality time with my family since I’ve been away from home since Derby time.”

Stevens entered Friday with a Spring Meet record of 59-7-8-8—$375,187 record and has ridden for a variety of trainers including Mark Casse, Charlie LoPresti, D. Wayne Lukas, Mike Maker, Kenny McPeek and Dale Romans.

 “It’s been a good stay this summer,” Stevens said. “I’ve enjoyed it. Riding here at Churchill full time for a long time, it’s been enjoyable.”

He rides Effinex, the odds-on favorite for Saturday’s $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI).

“We’ll get through the weekend,” Stevens said. “Hopefully (Effinex) and everybody else performs well this weekend including myself and we’ll end on a good note.”

OTHER FIELDS FOR SATURDAY’S STAKES RACES

The $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (Grade II) field from the rail out (with jockeys, assigned weights and morning line odds): Untapable (Florent Geroux, 120 pounds, 7-5); Engaginglee (Robby Albarado, 116, 6-1); Paid Up Subscriber (Ricardo Santana Jr., 114, 8-1); Ahh Chocolate (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118, 2-1); Big Book (Corey Lanerie, 115, 8-1); and Brooklynsway (Julien Leparoux, 117, 5-1).

The $200,000 Wise Dan (GII) field from the rail out (with jockeys and morning line odds): Thatcher Street (Brian Hernandez Jr., 8-1); The Pizza Man (Florent Geroux, 6-5);Granny’s Kitten (Gary Stevens, 12-1); Flatlined (Miguel Mena, 15-1); Conquest Typhoon (Joe Bravo, 6-1); Potomac River (Juan Vargas, 15-1); R. Great Adventure (Joe Rocco Jr., 15-1); Pleuven (FR) (Channing Hill, 8-1); Za Approval (Julien Leparoux, 12-1); Kasaqui (Arg) (Fernando De La Cruz, 12-1); and Behesht (FR) (Corey Lanerie, 20-1).

The $100,000 Matt Winn (GIII) field from the rail out: Yo Carm (Robby Albarado, 20-1); Gun Runner (Florent Geroux, 3-5); Virtual Machine(Brian Hernandez Jr., 15-1); Cutacorner (Gary Stevens, 12-1); Gray Sky (James Graham, 15-1); Texas Chrome (Ricardo Santana Jr., 5-1); and Unbridled Outlaw (Corey Lanerie, 3-1).

The Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) field from the rail out: International Star (Florent Geroux, 116 pounds, 6-1), Bradester (Joe Bravo, 116, 5-1); Effinex (Gary Stevens, 122, 1-1);Majestic Harbor (Corey Lanerie, 118, 5-1); El Kabeir (Ricardo Santana Jr., 115, 12-1); Are You Kidding Me (Julien Leparoux, 118, 10-1); and Eagle (Brian Hernandez Jr., 117, 6-1).

DOWNS AFTER DARK ENTERTAINMENT

The theme for Saturday night’s “Downs After Dark Presented by Stella Artois and El Jimador” is the sixth annual “White Party” in which guests are encouraged to wear their best summer whites. …Musical entertainment on the Plaza Stage on Saturday night will be provided by The Bishops (www.thebishopslive.com). … The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (“KMAC”) and Churchill Downs have partnered to bring the only public showing of the 2016 KMAC Couture Collection on Saturday night. KMAC Couture Fashion Shows will be held between races in the Aristides Garden and Plaza Stage to showcase the wearable runway art that features and supports emerging and established regional artists, costumers, designers and milliners. … Bet or No Bet Presented by Thorntons returns Saturday night for Races 6-9. The promotion will give four lucky fans the chance to wager $1,000 to win on the horse of their choice in their respective race or walk away with a $100 Thorntons gift card. … Saturday night’s specialty cocktail served at select locations around the facility is the Blanco Margarita. … General admission to Churchill Downs is $10 on Saturday night. Box seats are $25 and reserved dining packages are $70. They can be purchased online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets.

O’NEILL ON HAND TO ACCEPT ENGRAVED KENTUCKY DERBY TROPHIES: Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill will be on hand Saturday night to accept the engraved Kentucky Derby 142 trophies for Team Nyquist, which includes owners Paul and Zillah Reddam and jockey Mario Gutierrez. The Reddams and Gutierrez are unable to attend because of a stakes engagement at Santa Anita on Saturday. The ceremony in the G.H. MUMM Winner’s Circle, which includes the unveiling of official event logos for the 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Longines Kentucky Oaks, will follow Race 5 at approximately 8:04 p.m.

GET YOUR PHOTO WITH NYQUIST’S KENTUCKY DERBY TROPHIES: Fans in attendance at Churchill Downs on Saturday will be able to take pictures with Nyquist’s engraved Kentucky Derby 142 trophies. The trophies will be on display on the north side of the paddock in the Plaza area from 5-7 p.m. for guests to take their own pictures.

TWO-TIME HORSE OF THE YEAR WISE DAN RETURNS FOR SATURDAY APPEARANCE: Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, who compiled a remarkable lifetime record of 31-23-2-0—$7,7552,920 from 2010-14, will return to Churchill Downs on Saturday night for the stakes race named in his honor. The former Firecracker was renamed the Wise Dan this year to honor Mort Fink’s seven-time Churchill Downs winner that won the Firecracker in 2011 and ’13 for trainer Charlie LoPresti. Wise Dan will parade to the paddock with horses for the race, which goes as Race 7 at 9:05 p.m., and remain there while the race is being run.

DOWN THE STRETCH: Churchill Downs also will pay homage to its longtime morning line odds maker and former track announcer and television analyst Mike Battaglia on Saturday night. Battaglia, who is in the midst of his 42^nd year as Churchill Downs odds maker, stepped down as Turfway Park’s track announcer in March to assume the role as the track’s associate vice president. The longtime northern Kentucky resident called races at Turfway from 1973-2016. Battaglia also described the racing action at Churchill Downs from 1977-97 and served as the simulcast host from 1997-2007.

- Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) will air live coverage of the Churchill Downs stakes action Saturday night from 8-10 p.m. ET. Mike Penna, Jude Feld, Ellis Star and Jennie Rees will anchor the broadcast that will air on Sirius 93, online at www.horseracingradio.net and 93.9 The Ville in Louisville.

- “Inside Churchill Downs,” co-hosted by Churchill Downs Racetrack’s John Asher and Darren Rogers, airs every Saturday from 10-11 a.m. throughout the Spring Meet on ESPN 680/105.7. This week’s show will preview the Stephen Foster Handicap night program and guests include Belmont Stakes-winning trainer Steve Asmussen, Effinex’s owner/breeder Dr. Russell Cohen and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.

- Saturday night’s special post times: Race 1 (6 p.m.), Race 2 (6:28 p.m.), Race 3 (6:56 p.m.), Race 4 (7:26 p.m.), Race 5 (7:57 p.m.), Race 6 (8:30 p.m.), Race 7 (9:05 p.m.), Race 8 (9:39 p.m.), Race 9 (10:11 p.m.), Race 10 (10:42 p.m.) and Race 11 (11:10 p.m.).

- Churchill Downs is offering a special $15 Father’s Day Combo for Sunday, which includes a reserved box seat, official program and a voucher for a domestic draft beer or souvenir soda and a hot dog. They can be purchased online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets or by calling (502) 636-4450. … Sunday is the final “Who’s the Champ? Handicapping Contest” of the Spring Meet. Interested participants can enter for $35 ($30 for TSC Elite members) for a chance to win the $1,000 cash voucher first prize by placing mythical $2 win and place bets on Races 3-8. Second place receives a $500 voucher and third place is worth a $200 voucher. Registration takes place between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on the Clubhouse second floor at the top of the Gate 17 escalators.

Source: Churchill Downs