Churchill Downs | Horse Racing Free Tips

Battle Is On Between Hernandez Jr., Gaffalione For Churchill Meet Title

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. entered Sunday's closing day program of the September Meet in pursuit of his second leading rider title at Churchill Downs and held a two-win margin, 14-12, over five-time titlist Tyler Gaffalione.

Hernandez, who recorded his 700th career win beneath the Twin Spires Thursday and winner of the 2018 Spring Meet title, had mounts in Races 8-10 while five-time local leader Gaffalione had calls in Races 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.

Jockey Joe Talamo entered Sunday in third with 10 wins but would have to win with all five of his mounts (Races 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10) to surpass Hernandez.

In the leading trainer standings, Kenny McPeek held an 8-7 win lead over Steve Asmussen. McPeek, a three-time Churchill Downs leading trainer, had four horses entered across three races (7, 8 and 10) while record 24-time leading trainer Asmussen had six runners in four races (6, 7, 9 and 10). Dale Romans, a 14-time Churchill Downs top trainer, was third in the standings with six wins and could tie McPeek with two entries (8 and 10).

The partnership of WinStar Farm (2018 September Meet co-leading owners) and Siena Farm led all owners with three wins but does not have any entries Sunday. Columbine Stable and Lothenbach Stables were both one win behind. Columbine Stable, winner of the 2019 Fall Meet title, had one entry in Race 6 while Lothenbach Stables had runners in Races 3 and 10. Courtlandt Farms could tie WinStar Farm and Siena Farm with entrants in Races 9 and 10.

All presentations for the September Meet champions will take place in the Woodford Reserve Winner's Circle immediately after the final race of the meet.

Racing in Kentucky will transition to Keeneland for their Fall Meet beginning on Oct. 8. The Churchill Downs Fall Meet will begin Sunday, Oct. 31 with “Stars of Tomorrow I” featuring all 2-year-old races. For more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

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Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award Renamed For ‘Doc’ Richardson

In conjunction with the sixth annual Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards presented by Godolphin, this year's Community Award has been renamed the Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson Community Award presented by Churchill Downs.

The announcement was made following the sixth race Saturday at Churchill Downs as the track hosted a Celebration of Life for Richardson, the distinguished Louisville surgeon who was an owner, breeder and widely-respected leader in the horse racing industry. He died Sept. 7 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., from complications due to a breakthrough COVID infection at the age of 76.

The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, which will take place Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. in the Keeneland Entertainment Center, recognize and reward the outstanding talent, diligence and commitment of the farm and racing stable staff who are at the heart of the sport.

The Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson Community Award presented by Churchill Downs recognizes those who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the Thoroughbred industry, and in particular, to the greater good of the sport. This could include those who support the breeding and racing staff or have made an outstanding contribution to the wider Thoroughbred community.

Dr. Richardson chaired the Community Award committee and helped select this year's winner and runner-up by the first panel which met in August: Nicholas Caras of the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy and Diana Pinones of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, respectively. The winner will receive $7,500 and $2,500 to their charity of choice. The runner-up will be awarded with $2,500.

Ideal candidates for the Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson Community Award should work either for or with a charitable organization, or as part of the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred business for which they work. Nominees for this award do not need to be directly employed in the Thoroughbred industry.

Qualities for nominees include

· Commitment, dedication and enthusiasm

· Propensity to work hard

· Evidence of a desire to improve and progress skills and knowledge

· Team spirit approach in the workplace

· Willingness to learn with examples of involvement in industry events and activities

Eligible candidates include, but are not limited to, those employed in Thoroughbred aftercare; backstretch programs; education related initiatives; racetrack or farm chaplaincy; etc.

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Plainsman Out Duels Favored Beau Liam To Take The Ack Ack

Shortleaf Stable's Plainsman rallied from off the pace, grabbed the lead with a furlong to run and out-kicked 1-2 favorite Beau Liam to the wire to win Saturday's 29th renewal of the $300,000 Ack Ack (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs by one length.

Plainsman, a 6-year-old son of Flatter, ran one mile on a fast track in 1:33.85, which was just .07 off Pants On Fire's 2013 stakes record (1:33.78) and .59 off Fruit Ludt's 2014 track record (1:33.26).

Joel Rosario rode the winner for trainer Brad Cox, who swept the Saturday stakes at Churchill Downs. Two races earlier, Knicks Go won the G3 Lukas Classic.

For Rosario it was his fifth win on the day, which marked the 72nd time a jockey has accomplished that feat and the first since Florent Geroux won five races from nine mounts on Sept. 4, 2020. Rosario's nine mounts earned a hefty $603,170 on the day.

Atoka, with Mr Dumas in tow, led the field of nine older horses down the backstretch in the one-turn mile through fractions of :22.65, :45.21 and 1:09.15 with Plainsman sitting off the pace and in clear.

Leaving the turn after a three-wide move, Plainsman was in fifth behind the leaders and ducked inside to split Mr Dumas on the rail and Atoka on his outside. He grabbed the lead with an eighth of a mile to run and turned back favored Beau Liam, who made his stakes debut after winning his first three starts.

“I was able to sit a good trip for most of the race,” Rosario said. “I knew turning for home I'd have a decision to make whether to keep him inside or go out. I knew I had a lot of horse underneath me and the race developed well for him.”

The first prize was $178,800 and hiked Plainsman's bankroll to $729,207 with a record of 8-6-3 from 25 starts. It was his fourth career stakes win. Previously he won the 2018 G3 Discovery at age three and prevailed in the $50,000 Jim Rasmussen at Prairie Meadows and $85,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial at Indiana Grand earlier this year.

“This horse has been in great form this year,” Cox said. “I think two turns is probably his best distance, but today he was able to sit a good trip from off the pace at the one-turn mile. He showed a lot of adversity today and ran a good effort.”

Six of the last eight Ack Ack winners – Pants On Fire (2013), Tapiture (2015), Tom's Ready (2016), Awesome Slew (2017), Seeking the Soul (2018) and Mr. Money (2020) – used the race as a springboard to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, which is scheduled for Nov. 6 at Del Mar with a $1 million purse. Cox non-comital to Plainsman's next start.

Plainsman paid $13.60, $3.80 and $3.20 at odds of 5-1. Beau Liam, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., paid $2.60 and $2.40. Atoka was another 2 ¾ lengths back in third under Rafael Bejarano and paid $8 to show.

Rushie, South Bend, Mr Dumas, Guest Suite, Exculpatory and Mo Mosa completed the order of finish. Ebben and Aloha West were scratched.

Plainsman, out of the Street Sense mare S S Pinafore, was bred in Kentucky by Joseph Minor.

The race is named in honor of Cain Hoy Stable's 1971 Horse of the Year Ack Ack, who is enshrined in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In his only Churchill Downs appearance, Ack Ack won the 1969 Derby Trial in 1:34.40 which was a track record for one mile that has since been eclipsed.

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Asmussen First Trainer To Win 800 Races At Churchill Downs

In the midst of a milestone-filled 2021, Steve Asmussen became the first trainer in Churchill Downs history to saddle 800 winners beneath the Twin Spires when promising 2-year-old Dr. Perry won Saturday's sixth race at the Louisville, Ky., track.

Asmussen, who scored his record-breaking 9,446th career win on Aug. 6, is the all-time leading trainer in races won at Churchill Downs.

The record 24-time training champion at Churchill Downs, won his first race at the Louisville oval on May 16, 1993, with Snake Eyes. He won his 100th local race in June 2003; 200th in June 2006; 300th in July 2008; 400th in May 2011; and 500th in May 2014; 600th in May 2017; and 700th in June 2019.

Among Asmussen's 800 Churchill Downs wins are 83 local stakes triumphs, including two victories in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1): Summerly in 2005 and Untapable in 2014. He also won 2008 Stephen Foster (G1) with Curlin and the 2016 Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) and 2017 Stephen Foster (G1 with Gun Runner.

His longtime Churchill Downs assistant is Scott Blasi.

Overall, Asmussen, 55, has won 9,503 races and his horses have amassed $368.2 million from 46,252 starts during a 35-year training career that began at New Mexico's Ruidoso Downs in 1986. The two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer (2008-09) was enshrined in horse racing's Hall of Fame in 2016.

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