Saturday's CD Stakes Stars Emerge Well

Photo: Candice Chavez / Eclipse Sportswire

After campaigning the first and second place finishers in Saturday’s $115,500 Iroquois (Grade III), trainer Steve Asmussen said that both Lucky Player and Bold Conquest came out of the race in good order.
 
“I’m very happy with how both colts came out of the Iroquois,” Asmussen told Daily Racing Form. “We’ll keep the two from the Iroquois separated and most likely run one of them at Keeneland.”
 
Jerry Durant’s Lucky Player earned 10 points on the Road to the 2015 Kentucky Derby with Saturday’s victory in addition to an all-expenses paid trip to the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) at Santa Anita Park.
 
Asmussen also told Daily Racing Form that debut winner Holy Boss, who took Saturday’s seventh race by a 10 ¼-length margin, came out fine and would be pointed to an allowance race for his next start.
 
After a victory in the $107,300 Ack Ack Handicap (GIII), trainer Eddie Kenneally said that Joseph Sutton’s Bradester returned in good shape and will be pointed to the Sept. 27 Kelso Handicap (GII) at Belmont Park.
 
Phil Sims and Jerry Namy’s Don’t Tell Sophia, winner of Saturday’s $108,200 Locust Grove, came out of her race in fine order and will be pointed to the Oct. 5 Spinster (GI) at Keeneland according to Sims, who also is the mare’s conditioner.
 
VUITTON LIKELY SEEKING OPEN MIND REPEAT, THIS TIME FOR KENNEALLY
 
Saturday’s featured race, the $100,000-added Open Mind for fillies and mares going six furlongs, attracted 20 nominees and an early look at possible starters includes last year’s winner Vuitton, Aireofdistinction, Flower Spell, Interest Free, Janis’s Joy and Rusticana.
 
Vuitton captured the 2013 Open Mind for trainer Steve Asmussen, and followed that with a runner-up effort in the Dream Supreme at Churchill last November.
 
The 5-year-old daughter of Smart Strike made her first start of 2014 for new trainer Eddie Kenneally and new owner John P. Ryan. Her best effort under Kenneally was a second-place effort in an optional claiming race at Churchill on May 9. Overall, she has won six of 20 starts and earned $358,110. She has never finished worse than third in seven starts under the Twin Spires.
 
Kenneally is shooting for his second Open Mind victory, having won the event in 2007 with Taletobetold.
 
Asmussen will be going for back-to-back Open Mind victories with Gillian Campbell’s Aireofdistinction, who finished third in her last effort beaten four lengths in the West Virginia Secretary of State. Campbell was one of the co-owners of Vuitton at the time of last year’s Open Mind, so she too will be seeking consecutive victories in the race named for the first filly to sweep the Breeders’ Cup Juvenille Fillies (Grade I) and Kentucky Oaks (GI) back in 1988-89.
 
FIFTYSHADESOFGOLD, SOUTHERN HONEY TOP LIST OF 30 DOGWOOD NOMS
 
A trio of graded stakes winners at Churchill Downs: Fiftyshadesofgold, Southern Honey and Vexed head a cast of 30 3-year-old fillies nominated to 39th running of the $100,000-added Dogwood (Grade III) at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Sept. 20.
 
Douglas Scharbauer’s Fiftyshadesofgold won the Eight Belles (GIII) on Kentucky Oaks Day and followed that with back-to-back fourth-place efforts in Grade I events in New York. In her last start she was beaten only a length in the Test (GI) at Saratoga. She has a perfect two-for-two record at Churchill Downs, also having won last year’s Debutante for trainer Bret Calhoun.
 
Ashbrook Farm’s Southern Honey looked very impressive in her last Churchill start, defeating older mares in the Winning Colors (GIII) on May 26. She followed that effort with a ninth-place finish in the Test and a third-place finish in the Prioress (GII) at Saratoga on Aug. 30. She has tallied three wins in seven starts for trainer Rusty Arnold and earned $182,017.
 
Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Vexed would be making her 3-year-old debut should her connections decide to go in the Dogwood. She has not raced since taking the Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill last November for trainer Al Stall Jr.
 
Also on the list of nominees is Joseph Sutton’s Milam, who was runner-up to Fiftyshadesofgold in the Eight Belles and most recently finished third in the Victory Ride (GIII) at Belmont. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, she has won three of eight starts and $175,676.
 
The winner of the featured race on Friday’s opening night card Brown Eyed Mary is another notable nomination. Owned by Karabulut Muzeyyen and trained by Murat Sancal the daughter of Pulpit took Friday night’s allowance race by 3 ¾ lengths going seven furlongs.
 
The seven-furlong Dogwood is named for the hardy, blooming tree that adds so much beauty to Kentucky’s landscape.
 
CASTANON REFLECTS ON HIS 300TH CHURCHILL DOWNS WIN
 
Jockey Jesus Castanon captured his 300th Churchill Downs win Friday night when he rode favored In Tall Cotton to a 1 ½-length victory in the third race. The 41-year-old veteran is just the 25th jockey to reach the 300-win mark. Retired Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day holds the record for overall wins under the Twin Spires with 2,482.
 
“I really didn’t think anything about it at first,” Castanon said. “I was just focused on getting the win. When I came back to the winner’s circle and saw the big sign, I realized that I did something good. It was pretty exciting, especially being here at Churchill.”
 
Castanon said his most memorable local win was aboard Shackleford for trainer Dale Romans in the 2012 Clark Handicap.
 
“I’d say winning the Clark with Shackleford was definitely my most memorable win here,” Castanon said. “Another one was when I won the Firecracker in 2010 with Tizdejavu.”
 
Castanon noted a Breeders’ Cup win was definitely on his wish list before he retires.
 
“I have accomplished quite a few things in my riding career,” Castanon said. “My goal is just to keep riding and hopefully win a Breeders’ Cup race; it’s tough to get but you never know. The Kentucky Derby and Belmont would obviously mean a lot too. But I think I have plenty of good years ahead so we’ll see.”
 
ODDS AND ENDS
 
Congratulations to trainer Rusty Arnold II, who survived an inquiry in Saturday’s third race with San Antone ($6) to collect his 300th Churchill Downs win. The 59-year-old native of Paris, Ky. is the 16th trainer to amass 300 wins beneath the Twin Spires. … Trainers Steve Asmussen and Dale Romans each saddled two winners Saturday. Jockeys Corey Lanerie, Miguel Mena and Ricardo Santana Jr. had riding doubles. … Favorites won 11 of the first 21 races (52.4%) through the first two days of the meet. …Trainer Steve Margolis will celebrate his 51st birthday on Monday …  Francisco Torres has the mount aboard the Mike Maker-trained Joha on Sunday in the $200,000 Presque Isle Mile in Erie, Pa.
 
NEXT WEEKEND AT CHURCHILL DOWNS
 
Churchill Downs Friday Happy Hour
Friday, Sept. 12, 4-7 p.m.
Enjoy live racing and one of Louisville’s best Friday Happy Hours on Sept. 12 from 4-7 p.m. Country music artist Pamela K. Ward will perform live on the Plaza Stage and Churchill Downs is serving up cold domestic draft beers for $2, Stella Artois for $3 and specially priced specials from the Plaza grill. General admission is $3 and reserved box seats are $10.
 
Football Watch Party / $100,000 Open Mind
Saturday, Sept. 13, 12:30 p.m. Kick Off
Gather with a multitude of other U of L fans to watch the Cardinals take to the gridiron against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first ACC match-up between the two schools, while simultaneously enjoying the thrills of live racing at Churchill Downs. Bleacher seating will be added to the Plaza with the U of L game shown uninterrupted on the giant 16’ x 20’ Plaza video screen. During the game, Churchill Downs will be serving cold Bud and Bud Light for $2, Stella Artois for $3, and a selection of traditional tailgate foods from the Plaza grill. Gates open at 11:30 a.m., the Louisville game starts at 12:30 p.m. and the first race is 12:45 p.m. The featured racing event is the $100,000-added Open Mind, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. Admission is free to college students with a current student ID. Paid general admission is $3 and reserved box seats are $10.
       
Family Adventure Day presented by Kroger
Sunday, Sept 14, 11:30 a.m. Gates Open
In recognition of the Belle of Louisville’s 100th birthday, Churchill Downs is hosting the Belle Centennial Bash Celebration on Sunday, Sept. 14, as part of its Family Adventure Day presented by Kroger series. While adults can enjoy an exciting day of live horse racing, their children will enjoy more than a dozen inflatables, activities and games throughout the day. Participation in the Family Adventure Day activities requires the purchase of a Family Pavilion Ticket which is $10 for adults or $5 per child and includes gate admission and access to family seating on the Grandstand Terrace. Adults can save $5 by buying wristbands in advance online at www.ChurchillDowns.com. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. and the first race is at 12:45 p.m. General admission is $3 and reserved box seats are $10.
 
Friday, Sept. 12 – Happy Hour
 
Saturday, Sept. 13 – Football Watch Party/$100,000 Open Mind
 
Sunday, Sept. 14 – Family Adventure Day presented by Kroger

Source: Churchill Downs

 

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