Boisterous Ships in for Sunday's Grade III River City Handicap

Nov 23, 2012 Travers Manley

Phipps Stable’s Boisterous completed the Knickerbocker (Grade III)–Red Smith Handicap (GII) double for the second straight year at the beginning of the month, but rather than get a break following the Red Smith like last year, trainer Shug McGaughey shipped the 5-year-old son of Distorted Humor to Louisville from New York on Tuesday for Sunday’s $100,000-added River City Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

“The horse is doing really well and he came out of his last race in great shape,” McGaughey said. “He’s trained well since the race and has been in good shape since he got (to Churchill Downs). We’re looking forward to Sunday.”

McGaughey said the cooler temperatures expected in Louisville Sunday (mid-to-high 40s) played a part in the decision to ship Boisterous, a five-time graded stakes winner, to Churchill Downs.

“He seems to like the cool weather,” said McGaughey, a 30-time stakes winner at Churchill Downs. “That’s one of the reasons I liked this spot and didn’t want to send him to Calder. I wouldn’t have shipped him if it was going to be 80 degrees.”

The River City will be the final race of the year for Boisterous. He will ship to Payson Park in Indiantown, Fla. to be prepared for a 2013 campaign.

JOHA MAKES DIRT DEBUT IN SATURDAY’S KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB – Bluegrass Equine Bloodstock LLC’s Joha, winner of the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI) on the Polytrack at Keeneland prior to finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (GI), will make his dirt debut in Saturday’s Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at Churchill Downs.

Much of the buzz around the Kentucky Jockey Club has revolved around Iroquois (GIII) winner Uncaptured and impressive maiden winner Frac Daddy while Joha, the lone Grade I winner in the field of 13, could be overlooked for his inexperience on dirt.

“He’s trying to do something against a solid field that he’s never done before,” trainer Mike Maker said. “He’s trained well on it, but a lot of them train well on it and then don’t take to it (in a race). Looking to next year, you gotta try it.”

Winner of the Colin at Woodbine and runner-up to Balance the Books in the With Anticipation (GII) on the turf at Saratoga, Joha will break from post 10 and be ridden by Joe Rocco Jr.

PEDIGREE NOTES FOR SATURDAY’S STARS OF TOMORROW II PROGRAM – The Fall Meet at Churchill Downs is known for showcasing 2-year-olds and several horses with flashy pedigrees are set to compete on the “Stars of Tomorrow II” program at Churchill Downs. Below are horses entered to run Saturday with notable bloodlines.

RACE 1

#3 Franks Officer Gal – out of stakes winner Franks Rocket Girl and ½ to stakes winner Kathy’s Rocket

RACE 2

#2 Lady of Luck – out of stakes winner Lunarlady

#3 Storm of Energy – out of stakes winner Perfect Energy

#4 Assets of War – out of Grade III winner Added Asset and ½ to multiple graded stakes placed The Best Day Ever

RACE 3

#5 Stylish d’Oro – ½ to Grade II winner Most Distinguished

#7 Good News Today – out of Grade I winner A. P. Adventure

#8 Praia – out of Grade II winner Quero Quero

#11 Scat San – out of multiple stakes winner Cottage Flower

#12 Rosie Temper – out of multiple stakes winner Shy Lil

AE #13 Oblahah – ½ to Grade III winner Worth Repeating

AE #14 Wild Streak – out of multiple stakes winner Legendary Princess 

AE #15 Miss Brown Sugar – ½ to stakes winner Ha Ha Tonka

RACE 4

#2 General Election – ½ to multiple Grade I placed Ready’s Echo

#3 Ghost Kisser – out of multiple stakes winner For Kisses

#4 Plenty Elusive – out of Grade I winner Plenty of Light

#5 Tiz Now My Choice – ½ to stakes winner Changing Weather

#6 The Candidate – ½ to Grade III winner Texas Fever and stakes winners Bold Angel and Saint Isabelle

#9 Ration – out of stakes winner Quota

#10 Dixiedar – out of stakes winner Aly’s Adita and ½ to Grade I winner Seek Gold

AE #13 Asunder – ½ to multiple Grade I placed Riveting Reason

RACE 5

#1 Hitechnoweenie – out of stakes winner Hi Tech Honeycomb

#4 Adventure At Sea – ½ to multiple stakes winner Excellent Band

#5 Who’s Mary’s Daddy – out of multiple stakes winner Merry Mary

#8 Malibu Lila – ½ to stakes winner Cajun Conquest

#9 Miss Squeal – ½ to stakes winners Katerbug and Raconteur

#10 Sandsarita – out of Grade III winner War Thief and ½ to Grade III winner Boss Lafitte

#11 Lemon Lashes – ½ to stakes winner Plethora

#12 Intelyhente – full to multiple graded stakes winner Bel Air Beauty

MTO #13 Mary Bernice – out of Grade III winner Coronation Cup

AE #17 K to the Croft – out of multiple Grade I placed A to the Croft

RACE 6

#2 Cat’s Destiny – full to Grade I placed Heart of Destiny and ½ to multiple graded stakes placed Brother Bobby

#4 Ale – out of multiple stakes winner Tappin for Gold

#6 Boundless Heart – ½ to multiple Grade III winner Bizzy Caroline

#7 Cowdray Park – out of multiple Grade I winner and champion Beautiful Pleasure and ½ to Grade I placed Dr. Pleasure

#8 Proud Strike – full to Grade III winner Pleasant Strike

#11 Thunder Quay – out of Grade III winner Chispiski and ½ to stakes winner Chipshot

#12 Liberal Spin – full to stakes winner Politicallycorrect

AE #13 Dyker Beach – ½ to stakes winner Featherbed

AE #14 Mail – out of Grade II winner Tap Dance

RACE 7

#5 Go Jack Go – ½ to stakes winner African Violet and stakes winner Walloon

#7 Platitude – out of multiple stakes winner Ambition Unbridled

#9 Tap and Trade – ½ to Grade III winner Pleasant Hill

RACE 8

#2 Indiana Charlie – ½ to stakes winner Slew City Boy

#11 Summit County – out of multiple stakes winner Socorro County

MTO #12 Stephen A – ½ to multiple stakes winner Gold Like U

RACE 9 – GOLDEN ROD (GII)

#3 Broken Spell – out of stakes winner Rich Find

#4 Silver Strike – out of stakes winner Adam’s Time and half to multiple stakes winner Striking Miss

#6 Street of Gold – out of stakes winner Harriett Lane

#7 Liberated – out of multiple stakes winner Lady Melesi and ½ to stakes winners Roman Emperor and Seruni

RACE 10

#2 Five Iron – ½ to stakes winner Lake Sawyer

#6 Wild Billum – ½ to multiple stakes winner R Loyal Man

#7 Favorite Uncle – ½ to multiple Grade I winner Lady of Shamrock, Grade II winner Smooth Jazz and multiple stakes winner She’s Sensational 

#9 Gulfport – out of Grade I winner Dream Supreme and ½ to Grade I winner Majestic Warrior and stakes winners Crystal Current and Evolutionist

#11 Rei – out of multiple Grade III winner Humoristic

RACE 11 – KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB (GII)

#4 Uncaptured – ½ to multiple stakes winner Dancing Raven

#7 Will Take Charge – out of multiple Grade I winner Take Charge Lady and ½ to Grade I winner Take Charge Indy

#8 Tesseron – out of stakes winner Cute Cognac

#9 Dewey Square – out of multiple stakes winner Somethinaboutbetty

#10 Joha – out of stakes winner Mujado-IRE

#11 Indiano Jones – out of multiple graded stakes winner Sharp Susan

#12 Positively – out of Group I winner Macoumba

RACE 12

#1 Tiz the Kid – ½ to stakes winner Cohiba Miss

#3 Believe in Kitten – full to multiple stakes winner Major Magic

#6 Balance of Power – ½ to Grade I winner Archarcharch and stakes winner Run Sully Run

#7 Wildcard – full to multiple Grade III winner Communique and stakes winner Final Count

#8 Mughaadir – out of Grade I winner Dessert

AE #15 Moon Back More – out of stakes winner Girls Pearls

AE #16 Gunderson – ½ to Grade I winner and champion Hansen

DOWN THE STRETCH – Jockey Calvin Borel’s victory aboard Annaclone in Thursday’s ninth race increased his career win total to 4,997. With three more trips to the winner’s circle, Borel will become the 26^th jockey to reach the 5,000-win milestone. He is scheduled to ride in Races 1 and 9-12 on Friday … Jockey Ivan Cruz scored his first Churchill Downs victory with Ellio in Thursday’s second race … Churchill Downs’ popular “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest will return on Saturday. Horse racing fans can pit their handicapping skills against the best Louisville has to offer, and the winner will receive a $1,500 first prize and a VIP trip to compete in the coveted and lucrative Horse Player World Series, which is scheduled for Feb. 21-23, 2013 in Las Vegas at The Orleans Hotel & Casino. Participation fee to each contest, which requires players to place mythical $2 Win and Place wagers on two different horses in Races 3-8, is $25. Registration will take place on the day of the contest from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside the TSC Elite Gold Room, located on the second floor of the Clubhouse … Santa Claus is coming to town for Sunday’s Family Fun Day Presented by Kroger from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The popular series promises fun for adults and children that includes a “Name That Person” contest and special Junior Jockey Club activities such as a walking tour to the Kentucky Derby Museum garden to visit with Winston, its resident miniature horse. This Sunday’s special finale features a visit from Santa Claus and there also will be story time with the Kentucky Derby Museum and a visit by Churchill Downs’ popular mascot, Churchill Charlie. In addition to Family Fun Days, the Junior Jockey Club, Churchill Downs’ “Kids Zone” located near the Guest Services Booth inside Gate 10, will provide entertainment and holiday crafts for the kiddos on Friday and Saturday. Complementary coloring books, crayons, individual games and reading material are also available. Additionally, Churchill Charlie always makes a special visit between 2-2:30 p.m. and parents are encouraged to bring a camera for pictures. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

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