Churchill Downs Barn Notes: Ramsey Hopes Backyard Heaven Continues to ‘Climb the Mountain’ in Foster

By Darren Rogers —-

RAMSEY HOPES BACKYARD HEAVEN CONTINUES TO ‘CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN’ AS
6-5 MORNING LINE FAVE IN SATURDAY’S GRADE I, $500,000 STEPHEN FOSTER ’CAP

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Thursday, June 14, 2018) – Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Alysheba (Grade II) winner Backyard Heaven was made the 6-5 morning line favorite by odds maker Mike Battaglia when he faces eight rivals in Saturday night’s 37th running of the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap presented by GE Appliances (GI) – the centerpiece of an action-packed, prime-time program at Churchill Downs billed as “Downs After Dark presented by Budweiser”.

“The future is so bright for this horse,” Ken Ramsey said. “We’re awfully excited to see this horse on such a big stage Saturday night at Churchill Downs. This horse had a few minor issues but we trusted in our trainer Chad Brown that this horse would pay us off in the future. He’s certainly heading in the right direction.”

Backyard Heaven, a $160,000 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, will make only his fifth career start in the Stephen Foster following two minor setbacks as a 3-year-old.

“The $160,000 price tag is really the most I pay for yearlings, so you can see how much we thought of him when he was young,” Ramsey said. “We decided to send him to Chad, who I believe is one of the top trainers in the country. He called me after he got him and said, ‘Ken, I think we have a horse that could possibly run in the Kentucky Derby.’ That immediately got me excited but he had to miss some time so we wouldn’t be ready for the Derby. Fine, we can point to the Belmont Stakes. Well, of all things, the horse got a sinus infection So, we had to treat him for that and he wouldn’t be ready for the Belmont.

“After some time away, he was training for a maiden race at Saratoga and, once again, got another sinus infection. Chad told me we should just take it easy and the horse will reward us in the future. I was ready to take him down to Gulfstream Park with us this winter but we ended up keeping him at Aqueduct in New York where he was training phenomenal. He was heavily bet in both his maiden win (Dec. 10) and allowance win in March prior to the Alysheba. I think we made the right call.”

Backyard Heaven battled on the lead for most of the running of the Alysheba to prevail by 4 ½ lengths over fellow Foster competitor Hawaakom.

“If this horse continues to climb the mountain and we hope to follow the same path Gun Runner did in 2017,” Ramsey said. “We’ll run Saturday in the Stephen Foster then point to the $1.2 million Whitney (GI) at Saratoga on August 4. If all goes well, we could possibly look at the $750,000 Woodward (GI) on Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 1) and round out the year in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) right here at Churchill on Nov. 3. Then there’s this little race called the Pegasus World Cup (GI) for $16 million in January that we’ll want to run in.

“I honestly believe he’s the second-most valuable horse I own behind Kitten’s Joy.”

Backyard Heaven will break from post 6 Saturday under Irad Ortiz Jr.

The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster Handicap is the richest of five graded stakes races on Saturday’s special 11-race night racing card that begins at 6 p.m. (all times Eastern). Total purses on the evening are more than $1.4 million, which makes it the most lucrative racing day for horsemen at Churchill Downs outside of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks programs.

Other stakes events scheduled on the night are the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap presented by Budweiser (GII) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles headlined by La Troienne (GI) runner-up and multiple Grade II winner Farrell; the $200,000 Wise Dan (GII) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf led by last year’s champion Turf Male World Approval and two-time Grade I winner Divisidero; the $100,000 Matt Winn (GIII) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles featuring romping Sir Barton winner Ax Man; and a well-matched cast of 13 3-year-old fillies in the $100,000 Regret presented by Cintas (GIII) at 1 1/8 miles on grass.

The Stephen Foster Handicap field from the rail out: Honorable Duty (ridden by Corey Lanerie, trained by Brendan Walsh, 118 pounds, 6-1 morning line odds); Patch (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher, 116, 10-1); Hawaakom (Brian Hernandez Jr., Wes Hawley, 117, 12-1); Uncle Mojo (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 114, 10-1); Matrooh (Santo Sanjur, Cipriano Contreras, 115, 20-1); Backyard Heaven (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Brown, 121, 6-5); Lookin At Lee (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen, 115, 12-1); Irish War Cry (Jose Ortiz, Graham Motion, 119, 5-1); and Pavel (Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neill, 117, 5-1).

The Stephen Foster Handicap has been carded as Race 8 at 9:39 p.m. NBCSN will televise the race from 8:30-10 p.m. to launch its 2018 “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In presented by America’s Best Racing” television schedule. Also, Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) will air live coverage on 93.9 The Ville in Louisville and Sirius/XM 93 from 8-10 p.m.

TRIPLE CROWN WINNER JUSTIFY RETURNS TO TRAINING; PARADES SATURDAY AT DOWNS AFTER DARK
– Undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify returned to training Thursday morning at Churchill Downs for the first time following his historic victory in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes (Grade I) where he became the 13th Triple Crown winner.

Accompanied by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s assistant Jimmy Barnes aboard stable pony Sunny, Justify jogged one mile with regular exercise rider Humberto Gomez in the saddle at 6:30 a.m. (all times Eastern).

“It’s special getting him back to Churchill Downs,” Barnes said. “We know there are a lot of his fans here and it’s exciting for all of us involved.”

Justify, who became only the 13th horse to sweep horse racing’s Triple Crown when he led every step in Saturday’s $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (GI), will parade before the crowd at Churchill Downs from approximately 6:45-7:15 p.m. Justify will parade in front of the Clubhouse and Grandstand as he walks over with the horses for the third race, which has a 6:56 p.m. post time (note: Justify will follow the third race entrants). He’ll then visit and circle the saddling paddock and remain there while the third race is being run. After the third race winner’s circle presentation is complete, Justify will visit the Woodford Reserve Winner’s Circle for a special ceremony for his connections – owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing and Head of Plains Partners; Hall of Fame trainer and jockey, Baffert and Smith, respectively; and breeder John Gunther – to receive their engraved Kentucky Derby 144 trophies.

Justify is tentatively scheduled to return to his home base at Santa Anita Park in Southern California on Sunday, June 17

VALADORNA HOPES TO CONTINUE TOP FORM IN SATURDAY’S FLEUR DE LIS ‘CAP – Stonestreet Stables’ homebred Valadorna will attempt to maintain her top form in Saturday’s $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap presented by Budweiser (GII) against eight other fillies and mares over 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs.

“Horses come in and out of the barn all the time but this filly has such a special spot in my heart,” trainer Mark Casse’s Keeneland-based assistant Dave Carroll said. “She’s trained beautifully here. I think there are a couple horses in here that should show some speed so we should hopefully be able to sit a perfect trip from just off the pace.”

Valadorna, listed as the third choice on the morning line at 4-1, was the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) in 2016 and targeted the 2017 Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) but an injury forced her to miss several months of training before returning to Carroll’s care in the late summer.

“She placed in the Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile Fillies) and now won the Doubledogdare so she’s done fairly well for herself,” Carroll said. “Obviously it would be huge if she could get it done Saturday in a Grade II but we know how difficult the race is.”

For the fourth year in a row, the Fleur de Lis is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” stakes event, which means the winner will be guaranteed a berth in the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

The Fleur de Lis – which means “Flower of the Lily” and honors the French symbol that is incorporated into the city of Louisville’s Flag – will be run as Race 7 at 9:09 p.m. (all times Eastern). It will be televised live on NBCSN from 8:30-10 p.m.

The Fleur de Lis field from the rail out: Fuhriously Kissed (ridden by C.J. McMahon, trained by Tony Quartarolo, 115 pounds, 10-1 morning line odds); Mopotism (Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neill, 118, 8-1); Blue Prize (ARG) (Jose Ortiz, Ignacio Correas IV, 118, 7-2); Streamline (Chris Landeros, Brian Williamson, 116, 15-1); Song of Spring (Ricardo Santana Jr., Neil Howard, 118, 6-1); Awestruck (Irad Ortiz Jr., Rusty Arnold II, 115, 8-1); Valadorna (Brian Hernandez Jr., Casse, 118, 4-1); Apologynotaccepted (Julien Leparoux, Brendan Walsh, 117, 12-1); and Farrell (Channing Hill, Wayne Catalano, 119, 3-1).

CHAMPION WORLD APPROVAL MADE 6-5 MORNING LINE WISE DAN FAVORITE – Live Oak Plantation’s 2017 Eclipse Award Champion Turf Male World Approval is the 6-5 morning line favorite in Saturday’s 29th running of the $200,000 Wise Dan (GII) at 1 1/16 miles over Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course.

“He’s trained great here at Churchill Downs,” trainer Mark Casse’s assistant Nick Tomlinson said. “I think it’s a great spot for him and the timing between races should ultimately help him.”

World Approval (26-12-2-4—$3,060,363) dominated the older turf division in 2017 with victories in the Fourstardave Handicap (GI) at Saratoga, Woodbine Mile (GI) and, ultimately, the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) at Del Mar. However, the 6-year-old son of Northern Afleet disappointed in the Frank Kilroe Mile (GI) at Santa Anita on March 10 when he finished fifth, beaten 3 ¾ lengths.

“I think the timing may have been a bit quick for him after he won the Tampa Bay Stakes on Feb. 10,” Tomlinson said. “He got a little rest and is coming into the race in great shape.”

World Approval was originally targeting the May 19 Dixie Stakes (GII) at Pimlico but was scratched due to “soft” conditions of the turf course.

The Wise Dan field, which will go as Race 6 at 8:30 p.m., from the rail out: Divisidero (ridden by Jevian Toledo, trained by Kelly Rubley, 121 pounds, 3-1 morning line odds); Shining Copper (Irad Ortiz Jr., Mike Maker, 123, 6-1); Inspector Lynley (Jose Ortiz, Shug McGaughey III, 121, 10-1); World Approval (Velazquez, Casse, 126, 6-5); Mr. Misunderstood (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 121, 10-1); Mr Cub (Chris Landeros, Ian Wilkes, 121, 10-1); Flatlined (Corey Lanerie, Scooter Dickey, 121, 12-1); and Parlor (Brian Hernandez Jr., Eddie Kenneally, 121, 10-1).

ROMANS WILL ATTEMPT TO UPSET AX MAN WITH IMPROVING KING ZACHORY IN MATT WINN – Churchill Downs’ all-time leading trainer Dale Romans will attempt to upset heavy 4-5 morning line favorite Ax Man with Tom Conway’s Kentucky Derby Day allowance winner King Zachary in Saturday’s $100,000 Matt Winn (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

“For a short field, it certainly came up to be a really tough race,” Romans said. “I think King Zachary is improving at the right time, though. We’ve always thought highly of this horse and it’s a special horse to Mr. Conway. He is one of the top attorney’s in the state and he named this horse after a family he represented more than 20 years ago and still keeps in contact with.

“We tried him in the Wood Memorial and really didn’t take well to the track but showed his potential when he won an allowance race on Derby Day. It will be tough to beat Ax Man but this horse is really doing well.”

King Zachary, a $550,000 purchase at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, will be piloted by Romans’ go-to jockey Robby Albarado and break from post 4 at 10-1 odds on the morning line.

Among the challengers in the Matt Winn is Calumet Farm’s Pat Day Mile (GIII) winner Funny Duck.

“It’s a really tough Grade III,” Rusty Arnold II’s assistant Jack Bohannan said. “We’ll see if he can run as well over the dry track as he did on the wet surface in the Pat Day Mile. He’s trained well over it but we’ll see what Saturday holds against Ax Man.”

Funny Duck will once again be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. and break from post 3 at 5-1 morning line odds.

The Matt Winn field from the rail out: Navy Armed Guard (ridden by Alex Canchari, trained by Joan Scott, 118 pounds); Home Base (Joe Rocco Jr., Mike Tomlinson, 118); Funny Duck (Hernandez, Arnold, 120); King Zachary (Albarado, Romans, 118); Combatant (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen, 118); Tiz Mischief (Corey Lanerie, Romans, 118); and Ax Man (Mike Smith, Bob Baffert, 120).
The Matt Winn goes as Race 5 with a post time of approximately 7:57 p.m. (all times Eastern).

HEAVENLY LOVE MADE LUKE-WARM 5-1 MORNING LINE CHOICE IN 13-HORSE REGRET – Debby Oxley’s Grade I winner Heavenly Love is the 5-1 morning line favorite as she faces 12 rivals in the wide-open $100,000 Regret Stakes presented by Cintas (GIII) Saturday night at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Mark Casse, Heavenly Love won the Alcibiades (GI) in 2017 as a 2-year-old at Keeneland. Following three-straight disappointing efforts on the dirt in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), Silverbulletday Stakes and Rachel Alexandra (GII), Casse opted to run on the turf in the April 8 Appalachian Stakes (GII) where she finished sixth, beaten four lengths.

“I think it will be good keeping her on the turf,” assistant trainer Dave Carroll said. “She’s trained great here at Keeneland into this start after a little bit of rest following the Appalachian. We decided to skip the (May 4) Edgewood to give her a bit more time between races. She and (Fleur de Lis entrant) Valadorna usually breeze together so she’s going around there in pretty good company. It’s not the best drawing the rail but there is a long run into the first turn to get into position.”

The Regret, for 3-year-old fillies run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, is carded as Race 9 at 10:11 p.m.

The Regret field from the rail out: Heavenly Love (ridden by Julien Leparoux, trained by Casse, 5-1 morning line odds); Consolida (GB) (John Velazquez, Paddy Gallagher, 10-1); She’s Pretty Lucky (Corey Lanerie, Eddie Kenneally, 10-1); Finess Bere (FR) (Ricardo Santana Jr., Bob Baffert, 8-1); Lemon Princess (Alex Canchari, Joan Scott, 50-1); Cash Out (Adam Beschizza, Rusty Arnold II, 12-1); Go Google Yourself (Brian Hernandez Jr., Paul McGee, 10-1); Beyond Blame (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 6-1); Secret Message (Irad Ortiz Jr., Graham Motion, 12-1); Kabella (Shaun Bridgmohan, Dan Peitz, 6-1); Romantic Moment (Jose Ortiz, Shug McGaughey III, 8-1); Go Noni Go (Mike Smith, Mike Maker, 6-1); and Stave (Gabriel Saez, Larry Jones, 8-1).
All fillies will carry 118 pounds.

POTENTIAL $250,000 MANDATORY PICK 6 PAYOUT SATURDAY NIGHT – Churchill Downs will make it a special night for bettors at Saturday’s “Downs After Dark” as the track offers a mandatory $250,000 partial Pick 6 payout on Races 4-9 if no one hits the Single 6 Jackpot on Thursday or Friday.
The Single 6 Jackpot carryover was up to a massive $450,841 for Thursday’s eight-race program. The Single 6 Jackpot sequence for Thursday covers Races 3-8 starting at 5:58 p.m. (all times Eastern).
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission granted Churchill Downs approval to payout $250,000 from the jackpot for Saturday’s 11-race card if there was a carryover heading into that night’s racing program. The remaining jackpot funds would seed the Single 6 Jackpot pool for Sunday, but all funds would be paid Saturday if there is only one winning combination that night.
Saturday’s potential $250,000 payout coincides with “Downs After Dark Presented by Budweiser.” Admission gates will open Saturday at 5 p.m. and the first of 11 races is 6 p.m.
Saturday night’s Single 6 Jackpot will span Races 4-9 starting at 7:26 p.m. and includes five graded stakes races: Race 4, maiden special weight for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up on the Matt Winn Turf Course, field of 10; Race 5, $100,000 Matt Winn (GIII) for 3-year-olds, field of 7; Race 6, $200,000 Wise Dan (GII) for 3-year-olds and up on the Matt Winn Turf Course, field of 8; Race 7, $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, field of 9; Race 8, $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) for 3-year-olds and up, field of 9; and Race 9, $100,000 Regret (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies on the Matt Winn Turf Course, field of 13.
The Single 6 Jackpot, which debuted at Churchill Downs during the 2015 Fall Meet, is a minimum 20-cent wager with a low 15-percent takeout, one of the lowest multi-race wager takeout rates in American racing. The Single 6 Jackpot is paid only if there is a single winning wager with six winners placed at the required minimum bet value. If there are multiple winning wagers with six winners in the six-race sequence, 90 percent of the net money wagering into the pool is paid out, and the remaining 10 percent is carried to the Single 6 Jackpot. If there are no tickets will all six winners, 100 percent of the pool is carried to the Single 6 Jackpot.
Saturday’s card also showcases an all-stakes Pick 5 on Races 5-9 starting at 7:57 p.m. There also will be an all-stakes Pick 4 on Races 6-9 starting at 8:30 p.m.
All told, there will be three Pick 5s (Races 2-6, Races 5-9 and Races 7-11) and three Pick 4s (Races 1-4, Races 6-9 and Races 8-11) on the night.
Both the Pick 4 and Pick 5 are 50-cent minimum bets.
The $1 Super Hi-5 will be staged on Race 9 – the Regret – and not on the final race of the night.

BREEDERS’ CUP BETTING CHALLENGE QUALIFIER ON STEPHEN FOSTER ’CAP NIGHT – Some of the nation’s elite horseplayers will descend upon Churchill Downs on Saturday night and attempt to secure seats at the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge as they pit their handicapping skills against the best Louisville has to offer.
Churchill Downs’ Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge Live Bankroll Qualifier is a “real money” handicapping tournament with a $1,500 buy-in, of which $1,000 will be used by participants to wager on Saturday night’s 11-race Stephen Foster Handicap card with the other $500 going toward the entry fee and prize pool. Wager types permitted are Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta and Daily Double only.
The top two finishers in the satellite tournament will receive $10,000 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge seats for the Nov. 2-3 event at Churchill Downs plus a $1,000 travel voucher. The third-place finisher will receive a $2,500 voucher.
Saturday’s prize pool is based on 50 entries. All entry fees will be paid back to prize pool should more than 50 entries participate. Horseplayers can register by emailing Gary Palmisano at Gary.Palmisano@KyDerby.com.

DOWNS AFTER DARK THEME IS ‘ART OF THE HORSE’ – One of Louisville’s biggest summer parties returns in earnest to Churchill Downs on Saturday as the home of the Kentucky Derby welcomes back its wildly-popular “Downs After Dark Presented by Budweiser” nighttime racing program for Stephen Foster Handicap night. The evening’s theme is “Art of the Horse” and guests are encouraged to dress in pastels and bright colors to fit the art theme and summer weather.
General admission to Churchill Downs is $10 on Saturday with a first post of 6 p.m. and gates at 5 p.m. Box seats are $25 and reserved dining packages are $73. All ticket options can be purchased online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets.
The evening’s entertainment includes music on the Plaza Stage courtesy of Free Soul Effect and Mojo Flo.
Additionally, there will be a Breeders’ Cup Artwork Exhibit. Churchill Downs, Breeders’ Cup Ltd. and Louisville Visual Art have partnered to create an opportunity for one local artist to be showcased as the Official Artist of the 2018 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2-3. Five finalists will have their artwork on display in the Plaza on Saturday night and guests may vote for their favorite.

FREE JUSTIFY PRINT TO FIRST 5,000 FANS ON SATURDAY – The first 5,000 fans in attendance Saturday night at Churchill Downs will receive a free commemorative print of Justify that celebrates his Triple Crown achievement.

GET YOUR PHOTO WITH THE KENTUCKY DERBY TROPHIES – Fans in attendance at Churchill Downs on Saturday will be able to take pictures with Justify’s engraved Kentucky Derby 144 trophies from 5-7 p.m. The exact location for guests to take their own pictures with the trophies will be announced this week.

FOSTER, FLEUR DE LIS PART OF BREEDERS’ CUP ‘WIN AND YOU’RE IN’ SERIES – Both the 37th running of $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I) and 43rd running of the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (GII) are part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. The winners of the Foster and Fleur de Lis will be assured berths in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) and $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff starting gates, respectively, this November at Churchill Downs. The Foster is the first U.S. “Win and You’re In” for the 1 ¼-mile Classic. Winning also means Breeders’ Cup pre-entry and entry fees will be covered and the connections will receive a travel award up to $10,000.

MEET LEADERS – Through 27 days of the 38-day Spring Meet at Churchill Downs, Brian Hernandez Jr. holds a 35-30 win lead over 15-time leading rider Corey Lanerie in the jockey standings. Florent Geroux is in third with 22 victories followed Ricardo Santana Jr. and Julien Leparoux who are tied for fourth with 18 wins. … Steve Asmussen continues to distance himself in the trainer standings with a five-win lead, 19-14, over Kenny McPeek in the trainer standings. Brad Cox and Eddie Kenneally are tied for third with 13 victories while Ian Wilkes rounds out the top 5 with 12 wins. … Ken and Sarah Ramsey will attempt to add a 31st leading owner title as they hold a 6-4 win lead over Whitham Thoroughbreds and Gary and Mary West.

CHURCHILL DOWNS UNVEILS KENTUCKY DERBY 145 LOGO – Churchill Downs Racetrack today unveiled the official Kentucky Derby 145 logo. Featuring racing Thoroughbreds, the logo brings to life the thrill of the most exciting two minutes in sports. The 145th running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve will take place on May 4, 2019.
The logo was developed by SME, a strategic branding agency that specializes in identity development and has designed the Kentucky Derby and Oaks logos for the past 13 years. For this year’s logo, SME worked to design a logo unlike any other Kentucky Derby mark in the event’s history. This year’s logo pays homage to the Kentucky Derby’s excitement and grandeur, placing viewers directly in the action by illustrating two Thoroughbreds racing under Churchill Downs’ historic Twin Spires.
The logo will be used on a wide variety of Kentucky Derby merchandise, including the famous collectible Derby glassware, apparel for the whole family, jewelry, coozies, key chains and other collectibles and gift items. Official merchandise will be available online, at Churchill Downs Racetrack, the Louisville International Airport, the Kentucky Derby Museum Gift Shop and other retail outlets starting this summer.

DOWN THE STRETCH – The week ahead at Churchill Downs features a Thursday-Sunday racing week that kicks off with Twilight Thursday. The abbreviated eight-race program starts at 5 p.m. and is highlighted by $1 beers, live music on the Plaza stage by local band Aaron Bibelhauser and RELIC, food trucks and lawn games in The Plaza There also is a massive $450,841 jackpot carryover for the 20-cent minimum Single-6 Jackpot on Races 3-8. … Friday’s nine-race program begins with a first post of 12:45 p.m. Saturday’s Downs After Dark presented by Budweiser has a first post of 6 p.m. and gates open at 5 p.m. Sunday’s Father’s Day program at Churchill Downs will get underway at 12:45 p.m. Ticket packages are available to treat Dad to a day at the races at ChurchillDowns.com/tickets. … The hosts of “Inside Churchill Downs” – Churchill Downs Racetrack’s John Asher, Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein – will preview Saturday’s five graded stakes races at Churchill and relive Justify’s historic Triple Crown victory with special guests on their 6-7 p.m. show that airs every Friday on ESPN 680/105.7. Those outside the Louisville area can listen live online at http://www.espnlouisville.com/ or download a podcast of the show after its completion. … Congratulations to trainer Tony Quartarolo for winning Barn of the Week honors. Quartarolo and his staff will be honored with a Winner’s Circle recognition and pizza party.