CHURCHILL BARN NOTES: FOLEY AIMS STABLE STARS MAJOR FED, SCONSIN TO KEENELAND FALL MEET

By Kevin Kerstein —-

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020) – It was a memorable Kentucky Derby Week for trainer Greg Foley and his owners Lloyd Madison Farm as the group teamed to win the $300,000 Eight Belles presented by TwinSpires.com (Grade I) with Sconsin and had their first runner in the Kentucky Derby with Major Fed. The 3-year-old tandem returned to the Churchill Downs work tab on Sunday and will aim to make their next starts at the upcoming Keeneland Fall Meet.

“It was a really awesome week for our family and owners,” Foley said. “Both horses came out of the races in good shape and we’re looking at more options this fall to continue their campaign.”

Major Fed, who finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby after chasing the early pace of Authentic, is eligible for a first-level allowance condition. The son of Ghostzapper worked an easy half-mile in :49 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.20.

“It was a disappointing trip in the Derby,” Foley said. “We know this horse is talented and we will regroup. It was a pretty uncomfortable spot early into the Derby being boxed in between horses into the first turn.”

Sconsin, the 7-1 upset winner of the Eight Belles, cruised a half-mile Sunday in :46.40 with exercise rider Lindsey Hebert aboard. Sconsin recorded the fastest half-mile time of 67 horses at the distance on the Sunday tab. Options for the homebred filly include the $200,000 Raven Run (GII) on Oct. 17 and the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) on Nov. 7.

“She ran a really big race in the Eight Belles and showed how talented she is,” Foley said. “She’s a homebred for Lloyd Madison Farm so that made things even more special about that win.”

PESSIN POINTING DERBY CITY DISTAFF WINNER BELL’S THE ONE TO BREEDERS’ CUP – Lothenbach Stables’ classy sprinter Bell’s the One, the narrow victor of the $500,000 Derby City Distaff presented by Derby City Gaming (Grade I), will search for Breeders’ Cup glory in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) on Nov. 7, according to trainer Neil Pessin.

Bell’s the One, ridden by Corey Lanerie, stormed from off the pace to defeat 2019 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Serengeti Empress by a scant nose on the wire of the Derby City Distaff. The victory vaulted the Majesticperfection filly to one of the top contenders for the season-ending championship event at Keeneland.

“This filly amazes us every time because how hard she tries,” Pessin said. “It was an unbelievable stretch drive in the (Derby City Distaff) with a very classy filly in Serengeti Empress. It was a great horse race.”

Pessin reported Bell’s the One is likely to bypass Keeneland’s local prep for the Filly & Mare Sprint, the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (GII) on Oct. 3, and will train up to the Breeders’ Cup.

ACK ACK STAKES PROBABLES – Saturday’s $100,000 Ack Ack (Grade III) field continues to take shape. The race could serve as a prep for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (GI) on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

Here are the current probable entries, according to Churchill Downs assistant racing and stakes coordinator Dan Bork: Bourbon Calling (trainer Ian Wilkes); Dinar (Cherie DeVaux); Ebben (Steve Margolis); Mocito Rojo (Shane Wilson); Mr. Money (Bret Calhoun); Proverb (Richard Baltas); Sagaponack (D. Wayne Lukas); and Warrior’s Charge (Brad Cox).

Entries for Saturday’s card will be taken on Wednesday.

TV SCHEDULE – The final six days of the September Meet will air daily on the Fox Sports family of networks. Here’s the day-by-day schedule:

• Sunday, Sept. 20: FS1 (12:30-4 p.m.), FS2 (4-5:30 p.m.)

• Wednesday, Sept. 23: FS2 (12:30-5 p.m.)

• Thursday, Sept. 24: FS2 (12:30-5:30 p.m.)

• Friday, Sept. 25: FS2 (12:30-5:30 p.m.)

• Saturday, Sept. 26: FS1 (12:30-1:30 p.m.), FS2 (1:30-8:30 p.m.)

• Sunday, Sept. 27: FS2 (12:30-6 p.m.), FS1 (6-7 p.m.), FS2 (7-8 p.m.)

MILESTONE WATCH – Trainers Bernie Flint (498 wins) and Tom Amoss (497 wins) are approaching 500-career victories at Churchill Downs. Amoss had one horse entered on Sunday.

DOWN THE STRETCH – First post for Sunday’s 10-race program at Churchill Downs was 12:45 p.m. The 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot stood at $11,078 and spanned Races 5-10. … The final five days of the September Meet will span Wednesday-Sunday with first posts of 12:45 p.m. For the latest handicapping information for the September Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com/handicapping.