Morning Line : Street Sense

Last Monday in April

cnovak — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:16:00 GMT

11 a.m.
Inspiring Artist

Out by section 115, Maureen O’Donnell Lassiter is working hard with her sketch pad. One look up and then down at her paper, you can see her inspiration: the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs.

The Louisville native loves the Downs. She’s getting an up-close look today, but often times she’ll sketch the landscape from memory.

While not an “artist,” Lassiter has a PhD in microbiology. Right now she’s not doing anything with her degree, but relishing her role as a grandmother.

She may, or may not be, at this year’s Derby, but she does have a pick that is perfect for her artist’s palette.

“It’s a wide open race,” she says, now as a handicapper. “But I like ‘brown’ horse: Big Brown. The reason is a personal one. My son works for UPS and I figure, ‘what can Brown do for me?’” – E.H.

9:09 a.m.
Flying Coach

Richard Migliore bounds through Barn 45 at Churchill Downs at a few minutes past nine. That’s late for a racetracker, but the jet-setting jockey has a valid excuse. He just got into town.

The California-based rider left the Left Coast at 11:30 and took a red-eye flight to Cincinnati, and then had to hop a flight to Louisville. Standiford Field in Louisville is just a few miles from the Twin Spires.

“I got to Cincinnati at 7:30 and I just got here now,” the Mig says. “I booked it so late, I wound up in coach in the middle of two people, but I was able to sleep a little.”

Mig made it town—and left Louisville on an 11:30 flight back to California—to work Bob Black Jack a half-mile over the Churchill Downs strip. It was a successful venture as they got in solid :48 3/5 drill in advance of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Ironically, the pair was ponied to the track by Kim Carroll, the wife of trainer David Carroll. Carroll trains Denis of Cork, who at the moment is 21st on the list by graded earnings and needs a defection to get into the big kahuna. The trainer kids that he instructed his wife to take them to the track…and then right to the outside fence.

That became a moot point by noon, when Behindatthebar was taken out of consideration for the Derby, putting Denis of Cork in at No. 20.

In his first six starts, Bob Black Jack was ridden by David Flores. Migliore was aboard for a runner-up effort in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

“At first, we figured David might ride him, but I told my agent that ‘I feel that we’re going to ride him,’” Mig says. “It was never a question in my mind; I just kind of knew.”

Migliore has had four mounts in the Derby throughout his illustrious career. His first mount, Eternal Prince in 1985, finished 12th. His best finish came in 2000 when he was fifth on Wheelaway. – E.H.

Team Bob Black Jack: Richard Migliore, trainer James Kasparoff, with an assit to Kim Carroll

9 a.m.
A Real Corker

Jockey Calvin Borel is holding court outside David Carroll’s barn. Winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense, Borel has just taken a tour of the Churchill Downs racing strip aboard the Carroll-trained Denis of Cork.

As of now, there is a very good possibility Denis of Cork will not run in the Derby. He’s on the outside looking in in terms of graded earnings, the yardstick when the racing office takes entries for the $2-million race tomorrow. Only the top 20 by graded stakes earnings get a shot at the roses.

“He’s peaking right now,” Borel laments. “This horse is getting better, and better, and better. Maybe we’ll get in.”

Carroll has a little rosier outlook on the situation.

“We got ourselves in this pickle…there’s no one to blame,” the trainer says in his thick Irish accent. “Mr. Williams (owner Warren) is a great man and was trying to do the best by his horse. You can’t point fingers anywhere. It is what it is.

“My best friend’s daughter is in the hospital right now, and that’s putting things into perspective. We hope she makes a full recovery. This is just a horse race. We’d love to be in it, but her recovery is more important at the moment to me. If I don’t run Saturday, the sun’s going to come up Sunday and I’ll have a nice, fresh horse.” –E.H.

7:00 a.m.
Smooth Recovery

Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air takes to the track after a nailbiting weekend - the Benny Stutts Jr. trainee spiked a temp on Friday but is feeling his oats today. He is accompanied on his first circuit of the track by a stout pony who serves as a buffer for his antics as he twists and strikes, ears pinned in playful vice.

Later, back at the barn, Stutts and Mount Joy owner Brian Burns confer in front of the colt's stall. Even after getting some energy out on the track, Smooth Air is on edge. His hotwalker takes a snug hold on the lip chain when she brings him out of the stall.

"Now that's the horse I knew in South Florida," Stutts says. "The vet has been drawing blood every day and you could see the blood cells drop and spike back up after we put him on the antibiotics. He's 100% back to his old self; he's made a smooth recovery."

And as if to accentuate the point, Smooth Air pauses in his circuit of the shedrow to let out a healthy kick.Smooth recovery, indeed. -C.N.

6:15 a.m.
Hangin’ With Mr. McGinness

The sentinel posted at Gate 10 this morning is an imposing character. Lee McGinness has been a security guard at Churchill Downs for nine years, but this is his first time at this post. In his years on the post, he hasn’t had any major trouble. One look at him and you see why. Not many would mess with Mr. McGinness.

During a series of corporate cutbacks, Churchill Downs let McGinness go, but has hired him back for the season. He’ll have a full plate this week.

In the pre-dawn of Monday morning, cars roll through past his guardhouse and he checks for horseman’s tags to allow entry onto the backstretch. His mantra this morning? “Show your tags, show your tags,” he shouts.

Someone without a tag offers weakly that he’s looking for someone with the Salvation Army. McGinness sends him away for another parking lot.
While he doesn’t wager, he does have a Derby horse.

“Big Brown,” he says. “That’s my mother’s maiden name.”

As good an angle as any. –E.H.

5:30 a.m.

Rookie Rewards

At the Circle K gas station on Third Avenue, horsemen fill their tanks and grab some fuel for themselves as well. A trainer, buying a water and a can of Red Bull, plunks a few power bars down on the counter. He is discussing the schedule of his filly, who will school in the paddock later in the morning, with a buddy who is clearly a rookie when it comes to backside affairs.

"This is great," the rookie remarks. "I'm going to learn about training and betting, all in one week."

The clerk attempts to ring up the power bars. No shot.

"Sir, I'm sorry," she says. "I can't sell these to you, they won't register."

The rookie is holding the same bar. "Try mine," he says.

"$1.49" flashes across the register. Bingo.

"Look at that," the trainer says. "Go figure, you grab the right bar. Must be beginner's luck starting already."

Following the rookie's first selections at the racetrack looks like a good hunch bet to us. -C.N.

5:50 a.m.

Scuttlebutt

Ron Soellner and Wanda Pate are cheery volunteers at Churchill this morning. Wanda drives the media shuttle from the Longfield Avenue parking lot to the backside press center; Ron rides shotgun. They've both been volunteering as shuttle drivers for about five or six years. Pate's husband drives a shuttle as well. Their time is compensated by donations to their associated charities - Pate volunteers through the Salvation Army, while Soellner is with Kiwanas.

"The best part of this job is meeting nice people such as yourself," says Soellner, who donated as many as 98 hours in a two-week span one year. "We're allowed to watch the Derby from the backside, which I like to do. We usually get a few people riding in here who give us the scuttlebutt."

Really? What's the scuttlebutt this year, Ron?

"Everyone's been pretty quiet so far, but it's the beginning of the week. Right now I like that Colonel horse."

"Colonel John," Pate puts in.

"Yeah, him," says Soellner. "I don't consider myself to be a horse person, but at this point I'd say there's about three to five horses that could legitimately win."

The shuttle pulls up to the press center. Soellner opens the door.

"You have a nice morning, now!" he says.

We will, Ron. We're off to find some scuttlebutt. - C.N.

Twice on Sunday

ehammonds — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:30:00 GMT

Noon
Street Party

Between the paddock and the Paddock Pavilion, there’s a “Street” party going. Signing copies of the book “Kentucky Derby” are jockey Calvin Borel, trainer Carl Nafzger, and breeder/owner James Tafel. The team won last year’s Kentucky Derby with Street Sense.

Also with them is Churchill Downs’ John Asher.

Business is pretty brisk. A steady stream of fans go through the line getting autographs. Some have books, some just have the day’s program. It’s no big deal.

On offer today is a special, “gold” limited edition of 250 that are going for $60 a pop. After today, it’ll be $125 according to marketer Leonard Lusky.

Behind the table sit Gus Tafel and Wanda Nafzger, wives to the stars.

“Did I think he’d be this famous? No.” Gus says with a laugh. It’s gotten her something, though. An autographed copy of the book. –E.H.

9:45 a.m.
Thunder Over Louisville

Jockey agent Ron Anderson looks out over the backstretch and takes in the vista that is the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs. He was a longtime agent for Gary Stevens throughout the ‘90s and was with Jerry Bailey through his great run at the turn of the century. On Saturday, he’ll be represented by Garrett Gomez, who’ll be aboard Court Vision for trainer Bill Mott.

Anderson won’t be on hand for the Derby. “I’ve been on the road since last October and I need to get back home,” he says.

As an agent, Anderson has won three Kentucky Derbys. Two with Stevens (1995 with Thunder Gulch and ’97 with Silver Charm) and one with the late Chris Antley (Charimatic, ’99).

A favorite?

“Either Silver Charm or Charismatic,” Anderson says diplomatically.

What about Thunder Gulch?

“We were in Hong Kong when we picked that one up,” he says. “We had won the Santa Anita Derby with Larry the Legend and two days later he got hurt. (Trainer D.) Wayne (Lukas) called me. I was with Gary and I said, ‘We’re going to ride Thunder Gulch.’ And he said, ‘I’m not going to ride him.’ He had ridden him in the Remsen when Wayne first got Thunder Gulch from John Kimmel. He lugged in so bad the last part of it, he couldn’t ride him.

“Gary had kind of lost touch because he was riding over in Hong Kong,” Anderson continues. “I knew the horse was OK. I didn’t tell Wayne we wouldn’t ride the horse, I told him we would. Gary never refused to ride a horse while I worked with him, but this was the only one. I went back to L.A. and I got Mike Smith, who had been riding him, to call Gary and tell him it was OK.”

And…it was…more than OK on that day. – E.H.

9: 30 a.m.
Geaux Tigers

Mike Barnes is a big LSU fan. He can’t help but hide it. The exercise rider’s helmet has the distinctive “LSU” logo that adorns the Tiger’s football helmets.

“I bleed purple and gold,” the Louisiana native says. “I’ve been a fan since birth.”

The 31-year-old is an “all-around fan. Baseball, football, basketball, track.

“I did get to go to the LSU/Kentucky game this year,” he says with a sheepish grin. In an upset, Kentucky defeated the then No. 1 LSU Tigers at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington in three overtimes. “It was a long ride out of Lexington.”

LSU did bounce back to win the national championship. If you don’t believe, Barnes has a copy of the game on a DVD in his room above trainer Bob Holthus’ barn. Barnes hasn’t been with Holthus since birth, just the last six years. – E.H.

8:40 a.m.
Yellow Fever

The old saying goes, “if you don’t like the weather in Kentucky…wait 15 minutes.” With a forecast that is less than promising for Monday, Derby and Oaks hopefuls galore hit the track Sunday morning under ideal conditions: cool, sunny, and dry.

Before the renovation break, Court Vision was vision, working five furlongs in a minute and change. After the renovation break, the yellow saddle towels representing Derby runners were everywhere. Visionaire, Colonel John, Adriano, Bob Black Jack, and Tomcito all saunter through the gap by the chute to take to the Churchill Downs oval to stretch their legs.

Perhaps most telling was the towel worn by Proud Spell during her :58 2/5 drill. She was wearing the traditional pink one reserved for starters in the Kentucky Oaks. Moments later, breeder/owner Brereton Jones announces she’ll not go in the Derby, but in the Oaks instead.

Her stablemate in Larry Jones barn, Eight Belles, does work with a yellow Derby saddle towel. And work she does, going five furlongs in :58 1/5. –E.H.

8:15 a.m.
A Little Light Lifting

Inside Barn 43, trainer Larry Jones is getting ready to work his two fillies, Proud Spell and Eight Belles, for either the Kentucky Oaks or the Kentucky Derby. He works with a leather punch to adjust the stirrup length on a new saddle for jockey Gabriel Saez.

Then, he gets on his pony and take a lap or two around the shedrow. Jones’ daughter, Amanda, watches while holding her daughter Haven Shenski.

“You ready?” Larry asks Amanda as he makes another lap. He stops and lifts his 5-year-old granddaughter up and puts her in the saddle with him. They take two more laps of the shed several steps ahead of Proud Spell.

“That was fun,” Haven says after dismounting back into the arms of her mother.

Following Proud Spell’s work, breeder/owner, and former Kentucky Governor, Brereton Jones weighs in on his filly and his trainer.

“She’s right at the right stage of her development for this race and I could not not ask for her to be doing any better,” he says. He’s talking about the Oaks for Proud Spell.

“Larry Jones, and his wife, are two of the most fabulous people and their whole staff is fabulous. It’s a great team that they have. They deserve to win the Derby and they deserve to win the Oaks. If they’re both in the same race, they can’t do that. Let’s try to win both of them for them. That would be the ultimate…and to do it with two fillies, you’d have to say, ‘Ben Jones, move over.’”

It sure would make Haven proud of her Papaw. – E.H.

7:25 a.m.
Stall Tactics

Trainer Al Stall Jr. watches as one of his horses, County Clerk, stands on the track in the chute.

“Fix that, that figure 8…slide it down a little,” he says to the exercise rider, who adjusts the equipment.

He then exchanges the latest battles with the new security crew at Churchill Downs with fellow trainer Tony Reinstedler. When they arrive, usually around 5:15 a.m., they enter Gate 10. Gate 10 was closed this morning.

Stall then switches gears to talk about this year’s Kentucky Derby.

“I think Colonel John looks like a standout,” the trainer says in his New Orleans drawl. “He looks really comfortable here. When’s his work? Today? If he turns in a ‘Barbaro’ type work, or even a ‘semi-Barbaro’ type work, I’ll be all in. He just looks really good to me. He’s got dirt all over him top and bottom. He just looks like a Derby horse to me. He’s big, long, and stretchy, and just has a smooth way of going…I like (trainer) Eoin Harty’s spot.” -E.H.

Last Week
Field Tripping

Living in the heart of the Bluegrass, it’s easy to catch Derby fever. For the sake of the Thoroughbred industry, let’s hope it’s contagious. Few things on this earth help to spread the spring ailment better than a trip to Keeneland – even on a dark day.

On Tuesday morning, Classroom VI from Providence Montessori School in Lexington was led on a field trip to the local track. The Keeneland Association does a great job of putting their best foot forward with groups, and Howard McKenzie has to be one of their better showmen. He leads the way down to the apron as a few horses continue to gallop out on the track in the bright sunshine.

“No, you can’t ride one the horses,” McKenzie patiently tells one of the children.

The kids tour the winner’s circle. They take turns getting on the jockey’s scales – they all make weight.

As a bonus to the morning’s field trip, one of the parents has arranged for a quick overview of one of the trainer’s barns. The kids—first, second, and third graders--troop out of the track through the paddock and down the path to Barn 35, home of the Steve Asmussen stable.

“No, you can’t ride one of the horses,” assistant Scott Blasi patiently tells one of the children.

Even though it is shipping day, Blasi takes the time to chat with the kids. He discusses the Derby and their chances with Pyro. The children hang in there for the most part, but some lose focus when Blasi starts to describe to them the joys of being a horseman: the hours, the travel, the hard work.

While they can’t ride one of the horses, they are introduced to the colt in stall No. 2. It is the No. 1 horse on the planet: Curlin. He’s getting done up in his travel bandages for his journey to Churchill Downs that afternoon. Curlin nibbles at his hay rack while Blasi describes last fall’s exploits and their recent trip to Dubai.

The next generation of racing fans, or better yet, owners and breeders, peer up at the Horse of the World. You can feel his aura.

I feel better about the future already. -E.H.

Scott Blasi addresses the next generation