Churchill Downs Barn Notes: Good Samaritan Hopes for Strong Pace in Friday’s Clark Handicap

By Darren Rogers —-

GOOD SAMARITAN HOPES FOR STRONG PACE IN CLARK HANDICAP

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017) – WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, SF Racing and Head of Plains Partners’ Good Samaritan enters Friday’s $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade I) after being defeated by 5-2 morning line favorite Diversify in the Oct. 7 Jockey Club Gold Cup (Grade I) at Belmont Park, but hopes to improve with a cut-back in distance and stronger pace scenario.
“He’s been a solid horse on turf but ran really well in the (July 29) Jim Dandy,” assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy said. “If you watch his start in the (Aug. 26) Travers, he was really far back early and just couldn’t close enough ground. Obviously we’re definitely hoping for a solid pace up front in the Clark and he may do better cutting back to 1 1/8 miles.”
Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott, Good Samaritan (9-3-2-1—$855,116) started the first six races of his career on the turf. The colt finished off the board only once – a fourth-place effort in the July 8 Belmont Derby (GI).
The 3-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday transitioned to the dirt in the Jim Dandy (GII) where he defeated a field of five by 4 ¾ lengths.
“He’s looked really good since we got him to Churchill,” McCarthy said. “It would be a great year if we could get him a Grade I victory on the dirt to go along with his turf résumé early in his career.”
Jockey Joel Rosario, who has ridden Good Samaritan throughout his nine-race career, has the call once again for the Clark and will break from post 3.
The Clark Handicap field from the rail out (with jockey, weight, and morning line odds): Hoppertunity (Florent Geroux, 123 pounds, 3-1); Seeking the Soul (John Velazquez, 116, 6-1); Good Samaritan (Rosario, 116, 8-1); Destin (Ricardo Santana Jr., 121, 10-1); Goats Town (Chris Landeros, 114, 30-1); Mo Tom (Brian Hernandez Jr., 114, 20-1); The Player (Calvin Borel, 119, 6-1); Honorable Duty (Corey Lanerie, 120, 5-1); and Diversify (Irad Ortiz Jr., 123, 5-2).
The Clark heads a trio of stakes races on the 12-race card on the day after Thanksgiving that is traditionally the most popular racing day Churchill Downs’ Fall Meet. The main event is scheduled as the 11th race on the Friday program that also features the 27th running of the $200,000 Mrs. Revere (GII) for 3-year-old fillies on turf and the 13th running of the $80,000-added Dream Supreme Overnight Stakes for fillies and mares ages 3 and up. Post time for Friday’s first race is 1 p.m. (EST).
Like the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), the Clark Handicap was run for the first time in 1875’s inaugural racing meet at Churchill Downs, which was then known as the Louisville Jockey Club. The Clark, the Derby and the Oaks have been run each year without interruption since their debuts.

DADDYS LIL DARLING MADE 7-5 MORNING LINE FAVORITE IN MRS. REVERE – Normandy Farm’s homebred Daddys Lil Darling was made the 7-5 morning line favorite by Churchill Downs’ morning line odds maker Mike Battaglia for Friday’s 27th running of the Grade II, $200,000 Mrs. Revere.
“We’ll hope for some pace in there,” assistant trainer Jeff Hiles said. “She’s run some really nice races in her last two starts and should be sitting on a good effort Friday. I thought Robby (Albarado) rode a great race in her last start at Keeneland and she just missed. She’ll ship to our Churchill string Thursday for the race.”
Daddys Lil Darling (13-3-5-0—$939,405) was beaten just 1 ¼ lengths in the Kentucky Oaks for trainer Kenny McPeek after she rallied from 14 lengths off the early pace under jockey Julien Leparoux.
Following the Kentucky Oaks, Daddys Lil Darling shipped to England to contest the June 2 Epsom Oaks (GI) but was scratched after jockey Olivier Peslier lost an iron and ultimately came out of the saddle when she was startled by a bolt of lightning and ran off.
The 3-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy returned to the United States and finished fourth in the July 8 Belmont Oaks (GI), defeated 2 ½ lengths by the Chad Brown-trainee New Money Honey. A subsequent fifth-place effort on the dirt in the Coaching Club American Oaks (GI) at Saratoga on July 23 followed the Belmont Oaks effort.
The pace in the Mrs. Revere could come from Three Diamonds Farm’s I’m Betty G. Trained by Mike Maker, I’m Betty G (8-2-1-2—4128,915) led wire-to-wire in the July 15 Pearl Nickel Stakes at Laurel Park. The Maryland-bred filly pressed the pace in the Indiana Grand Stakes but faded late to be beaten 2 ½ lengths by Lovely Bernadette.
“She’ll probably close to the pace early,” Maker said. “She’s been doing well at Trackside so hopefully we can get lucky with not a lot of other pace up front.”
I’m Betty G breaks from post 10 with Joel Rosario aboard.
The complete Mrs. Revere field from the rail out (with jockey and morning line odds): Fault (Brian Hernandez Jr. 6-1); Marina’s Legacy (Jon Court 50-1); Westit (GB) (John Velazquez, 10-1); Lovely Bernadette (Florent Geroux, 4-1); Oh So Terrible (Channing Hill, 50-1); Proud Reunion (Corey Lanerie, 15-1); Tamit (IRE) (Leparoux, 12-1); Journey Home (Irad Ortiz Jr., 5-1); Daddys Lil Darling (Albarado, 7-5); I’m Betty G (Rosario, 10-1); and Sensitive (Ricardo Santana Jr., 20-1).
The Mrs. Revere – the penultimate North American graded stakes race of the year for 3-year-old fillies on grass – attracted 11 entrants to be run 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. The race is the precursor to the track’s traditional “Black Friday” feature, the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI). The 13th running of the $80,000-added Dream Supreme, an overnight stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs, also will be run on the 12-race Clark undercard.
Friday’s first race is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the Mrs. Revere set as Race 9 at 4:27 p.m., the Dream Supreme as Race 10 at 5:27 p.m. and the Clark as Race 11 at 5:56 p.m. The final race of the day is scheduled for 6:24 p.m.

CHEF DANIELSON AND TEAM READY FOR THANKSGIVING DAY TRADITION AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – With more than 3,000 pounds of turkey ready to be carved, alongside all of the fixings, Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs has been a Louisville, Ky. tradition for more than 45 years.
“It’s probably our busiest day of the year outside of Derby week,” said Levy Restaurants’ David Danielson, the Executive Chef at Churchill Downs. “We start preparing the meal months in advance to ensure we have enough food to serve everyone attending. Since we have to order so much food, especially turkeys, we have to start planning our shipments months ahead of time.”
Danielson, alongside a team of several hundred chefs, will begin cooking the Thanksgiving meal early Thursday around 1 a.m. The menu, according to Danielson, consists of preparing nearly 3,000 pounds of turkey, 1,756 pounds of spiral ham, 16,000 dinner rolls, 1,200 pounds of corn, 3,000 pounds of mashed potatoes, and 1,920 pounds of green beans.
“By Wednesday most of the items are prepped and ready to cook,” Danielson said. “This is one of my favorite times of the year at the track because of how many families come out to enjoy Thanksgiving together.”
The first year that Churchill Downs raced on Thanksgiving Day was 1969. Around 8,000 turkey dinners will be served with all the trimmings, making it the largest number anywhere in the region.
Dining packages are $70 ($27 for children age 2-12) which includes admission, a racing program, reserved seat and a scrumptious Thanksgiving feast. Menu items (served from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.) are highlighted by Herb Roasted Turkey, Sorghum Glazed Ham, Cornbread Stuffing, Sweet Potatoes, Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Roasted Fall Harvest Vegetables, Butternut Squash and Corn Salad, Fall Pear Salad, and seasonal desserts and pies.
Thursday’s first race begins early at 11:30 a.m. EST. The 12-race card includes the $200,000 Falls City Handicap (Grade II) and $200,000 River City Handicap (Grade III), and wraps up at 4:50 p.m.

BAFFERT SHIPPER FAITHFULLY SEEKS FIRST STAKES WIN IN FALLS CITY HANDICAP – Windsor Boys Racing, Bruce Lunsford, and J.G. Sikura’s Faithfully arrived at Churchill Downs on Tuesday from her Santa Anita base and galloped beneath the Twin Spires on Wednesday morning in preparation for a start in Thursday’s $200,000 Falls City Handicap (Grade II).
Faithfully, a 4-year-old filly by Smart Strike, galloped 1 ½ miles at 7 a.m. Wednesday. The $700,000 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase was previously the runner-up in the Sept. 30 Zenyatta Stakes (GI)
Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert, Faithfully was made the even-money favorite on Churchill Downs odds maker Mike Battaglia’s morning line.
The complete field for the 102nd running of the $200,000 Falls City Handicap (GII) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles from the rail out (with jockey, assigned weight and morning line odds): Money’soncharlotte (Corey Lanerie, 120 pounds, 3-1); Rachel’s Temper (Ricardo Santana Jr., 115, 15-1); Weep No More (Brian Hernandez Jr., 115, 20-1); Faithfully (Robby Albarado, 120, 1-1); Blue Prize (Arg) (James Graham, 118, 6-1); Motown Lady (Joe Rocco Jr., 118, 5-1); Tiger Moth (Florent Geroux, 117, 10-1).

THATCHER STREET ATTEMPTS REPEAT IN RIVER CITY HANDICAP – Randall Bloch, Phil Milner, John Seiler, and Amtietam, LLC’s Thatcher Street will attempt a repeat in Thursday’s $100,000 River City Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs but will have to overcome drawing post 14.
“He ran his heart out at Kentucky Downs (in the Sept. 7 Old Friends Stakes),” jockey Chris Landeros said. “He tried really hard but just missed in the last jump at the wire.”
Thatcher Street’s last victory was an upset victory in the 2016 River City but boasts a local record of 9-4-2-2—$219,921. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Thatcher Street was most recently third in an allowance race at Keeneland on Oct. 26.
The complete field for the 40th running of the $100,000 River City Handicap (GIII) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the turf from the rail out (with jockey, assigned weight and morning line odds): Turf Titan (Brian Hernandez Jr., 113 pounds, 50-1); Team Colors (Jose Lezcano, 114, 30-1); Zulu Alpha (Jon Court, 113, 50-1); Christian C (Channing Hill, 114, 30-1); Shining Copper (Corey Lanerie, 119, 3-1); Revved Up (Robby Albarado, 117, 9-2); Vettori Kin (Brz) (Florent Geroux, 116, 30-1); Applicator (Calvin Borel, 116, 12-1); Coco Mon (Joe Rocco Jr., 118, 5-1); Some In Tieme (Brz) (Manny Cruz, 116, 15-1) Kasaqui (Arg) (Ricardo Santana Jr., 117, 5-1); War Correspondent (Julien Leparoux, 118, 4-1); Shotgun Kowboy (James Graham, 115, 30-1); Thatcher Street (Landeros, 116, 15-1).

MISS KENTUCKY SEEKS FIRST STAKES VICTORY IN $80,000-ADDED DREAM SUPREME – Preston Madden’s Miss Kentucky hopes to record her first stakes victory in Friday’s 13th running of the $80,000-added Dream Supreme Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.
“She’s really been training well in the recent weeks,” assistant trainer Jack Bohannon said. “She really proved herself in the allowance race in her last start and this is a perfect spot to try her against stakes-caliber horses.”
Trained by George “Rusty” Arnold II, Miss Kentucky recorded an emphatic 4 ¼-length victory on Oct. 26 at Keeneland in a six-furlong allowance race.
Miss Kentucky will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and break from post 2.
The Dream Supreme is carded as Race 10 with a scheduled post time of 5:27 p.m. (all times Eastern) First post for Friday’s 12-race program is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The field from the rail out (with jockey and morning line odds): Southern Ring (Julien Leparoux, 8-1); Miss Kentucky (Ortiz, 12-1); Kathballu (Robby Albarado, 4-1); Fiesta (Channing Hill, 30-1); Athena (Joe Rocco Jr., 10-1); Ivy Bell (Brian Hernandez Jr., 3-1); Put Da Blame On Me (Joel Rosario, 6-1); Mayla (Corey Lanerie, 4-1); Auntjenn (Florent Geroux, 8-1); and Hailstorm Slew (Jon Court, 10-1).

KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER OPENS THURSDAY – The first of Churchill Downs’ four 2018 Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools kicks off its four-day run on Thanksgiving Day with a familiar wagering favorite in “All Others” (#24, 7-5 on the morning line), but a strong roster of potential Derby stars are among its individual wagering interests headed by Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I) winner Good Magic (#10, 8-1), the impressive Bolt d’Oro (#2, 10-1) and the Bob Baffert-trained Solomini (#19, 15-1).
This week’s Derby Futures pool, which coincides with the lone Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, is the first of four that will be conducted in the months leading up to the 2018 running of the famed “Run for the Roses.” Winning mutuel payouts on the $2 minimum bet will be determined by the odds that are in place at the conclusion of Pool 2 wagering on Sunday at 6 p.m. (EST). The wager will be available at Churchill Downs and other racetracks and satellite wagering centers across North America and will be offered online by TwinSpires.com, the official online wagering platform of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs, and other online wagering platforms. It will run concurrently with Churchill Downs’ four-day Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager.
Offspring sired by Curlin – led by Good Magic and Solomini – are 8-1 odds on the morning line for the third annual Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, which provides bettors with a unique opportunity to wager on select breeding stars and their entire crop of juveniles with the hope of winning next year’s $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) on Saturday, May 5, 2018.
The Kentucky Derby Future Wager and Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager also offer $2 exacta wagering, which requires the bettor to accurately select the 1-2 finishers in the Kentucky Derby. The Derby Futures exacta is also available in $1 increments for boxes and part-wheels, with a minimum total bet of $2.

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Past Performances:

http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/Derby18Future1.pdf

Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager Past Performances:

http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/Derby18SirePPs.pdf
Wagering on both pools is available on track as well as TwinSpires.com and other simulcast outlets throughout the country. For more information visit: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wager/future-wager

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND STAKES – The fields for Churchill Downs stakes races on Thanksgiving weekend have been drawn. Below are the fields:

Thursday Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving Day)
• The complete field for the 102nd running of the $200,000 Falls City Handicap (GII) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles from the rail out (with jockey, assigned weight and morning line odds: Money’soncharlotte (Corey Lanerie, 120 pounds, 3-1); Rachel’s Temper (Ricardo Santana Jr., 115, 15-1); Weep No More (Brian Hernandez Jr., 115, 20-1); Faithfully (Robby Albarado, 120, 1-1); Blue Prize (Arg) (James Graham, 118, 6-1); Motown Lady (Joe Rocco Jr., 118, 5-1); Tiger Moth (Florent Geroux, 117, 10-1).
• The complete field for the 40th running of the $100,000 River City Handicap (GIII) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the turf from the rail out (with jockey, assigned weight and morning line odds): Turf Titan (Brian Hernandez Jr., 113 pounds, 50-1); Team Colors (Jose Lezcano, 114, 30-1); Zulu Alpha (Jon Court, 113, 50-1); Christian C (Channing Hill, 114, 30-1); Shining Copper (Corey Lanerie, 119, 3-1); Revved Up (Robby Albarado, 117, 9-2); Vettori Kin (Brz) (Florent Geroux, 116, 30-1); Applicator (Calvin Borel, 116, 12-1); Coco Mon (Joe Rocco Jr., 118, 5-1); Some In Tieme (Brz) (Manny Cruz, 116, 15-1) Kasaqui (Arg) (Ricardo Santana Jr., 117, 5-1); War Correspondent (Julien Leparoux, 118, 4-1); Shotgun Kowboy (James Graham, 115, 30-1); Thatcher Street (Chris Landeros, 116, 15-1).

Friday Nov. 24 (Black Friday)
• $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles (with jockeys, assigned weight and morning line odds): Hoppertunity (Florent Geroux, 123 pounds, 3-1); Seeking the Soul (John Velazquez, 116, 6-1); Good Samaritan (Joel Rosario, 116, 8-1); Destin (Ricardo Santana Jr., 121, 10-1); Goats Town (Chris Landeros, 114, 30-1); Mo Tom (Brian Hernandez Jr., 114, 20-1); The Player (Calvin Borel, 119, 6-1); Honorable Duty (Corey Lanerie, 120, 5-1); and Diversify (Irad Ortiz Jr., 123, 5-2).
• $200,000 Mrs. Revere (GII) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf (with jockey and morning line odds): Fault (Brian Hernandez Jr. 6-1); Marina’s Legacy (Jon Court 50-1); Westit (GB) (John Velazquez, 10-1); Lovely Bernadette (Florent Geroux, 4-1); Oh So Terrible (Channing Hill, 50-1); Proud Reunion (Corey Lanerie, 15-1); Tamit (IRE) (Julien Leparoux, 12-1); Journey Home (Irad Ortiz Jr., 5-1); Daddys Lil Darling (Robby Albarado, 7-5); I’m Betty G (Joel Rosario, 10-1); and Sensitive (Ricardo Santana Jr., 20-1).
• $80,000-added Dream Supreme Overnight Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs (with jockeys and morning line odds): Southern Ring (Julien Leparoux, 8-1); Miss Kentucky (Irad Ortiz Jr., 12-1); Kathballu (Robby Albarado, 4-1); Fiesta (Channing Hill, 30-1); Athena (Joe Rocco Jr., 10-1); Ivy Bell (Brian Hernandez Jr., 3-1); Put Da Blame On Me (Joel Rosario, 6-1); Mayla (Corey Lanerie, 4-1); Auntjenn (Florent Geroux, 8-1); and Hailstorm Slew (Jon Court, 10-1).

Saturday, Nov. 25 (Stars of Tomorrow II)
• $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles (with jockeys): Gotta Go (Chris Landeros); Diamond King (Frankie Pennington); John Tippmann (Rayan Gazader); Arrival (Julien Leparoux); Givemeaminit (Brian Hernandez Jr.); Enticed (Junior Alvarado); Promises Fulfilled (Alex Canchari); High North (Corey Lanerie); Reride (Ricardo Santana Jr.); Bravazo (Jon Court); Quip (Florent Geroux); Tiz Mischief (Robby Albarado); Lone Sailor (Channing Hill); and Peppered (Joe Rocco Jr.).
• $200,000 Golden Rod (GII) for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles (with jockeys): Caroline the Great (Calvin Borel); Undivided (Alex Canchari); Dessert Honeys (Channing Hill); Sultry (Corey Lanerie); Road to Victory (Julien Leparoux); Monomoy Girl (Florent Geroux); Cash Out (Junior Alvarado); Stronger Than Ever (Robby Albarado); Deadline (Brian Hernandez Jr.); Kelly’s Humor (Ricardo Santana Jr.); Foxtrot Sally (Joe Rocco Jr.); and Ipanema Beach (Chris Landeros).

MEET LEADERS – Perennial leading rider Corey Lanerie holds a commanding 28-14 win lead over Julien Leparoux in the Fall Meet jockey standings through racing Sunday. Ricardo Santana Jr. is in third with 13 wins followed by Brian Hernandez Jr. and Miguel Mena who are tied for fourth with nine wins. … Louisville-native Brad Cox holds a slender 9-8 win lead over Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen in the trainer standings. Eddie Kenneally is in third with seven victories. … Stoneway Farm leads the owner standings with three wins through 11 starters. There is a 15-way tie for second with two victories.

MILESTONE WATCH – Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. began Wednesday two wins away from 500 victories at Churchill Downs while Ricardo Santana Jr. was six wins away from 200. … Trainer Greg Foley (399) was one win away from 400 career victories beneath the historic Twin Spires while trainer Ian Wilkes was targeting 200 career victories at Churchill Downs (197 wins). … Trainer Mike Maker was five wins away from 2,000 career victories.

FREE ONLINE BRISNET PAST PERFORMANCES FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS; NEW BRISNET BETTING GUIDE DEBUTS ON-TRACK – Throughout Churchill Downs’ Fall Meet, Brisnet.com is offering horseplayers complimentary past performances for each day’s races at the Louisville, Ky. racetrack. To download the free Churchill Downs past performances online, guests can visit: https://www.brisnet.com/product/past-performances/FPP.
Additionally, Brisnet.com has introduced an excellent new product for on-track guests at Churchill Downs. The Brisnet.com Betting Guide features informative Brisnet.com Premium Plus Past Performances for four-to-eight different racetracks around the country in a bound book with high-quality paper. The book will retail for only $5, which means the new product will be significantly cheaper for Churchill Downs’ guests compared to previously-offered past performance products. It also will have better quality and more targeted content for horseplayers.
The new Brisnet.com Betting Guide is available at program stands and other distribution locations throughout Churchill Downs.