Jamaica Winner King David Tops Probable Commonwealth Starters

Nov 11, 2012 Travers Manley

Scarlett Stable’s King David, winner of the Jamaica Handicap (Grade I) at Belmont Park, tops the list of probable starters for Saturday’s ninth running of the $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (GIII) for 3-year-olds on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

The Commonwealth Turf, along with the Mrs. Revere (GII), will highlight the “Downs After Dark” racing program at Churchill Downs on Nov. 17.

King David, a dark bay or brown son of Hat Trick-JPN, has won his last five races and five of his seven turf starts overall. Prior to winning the Jamaica at odds of 28-1, King David was claimed for $35,000 on Sept. 13 at Belmont by trainer Mike Maker.

Other stakes winners expected to enter the Commonwealth are Finale, winner of the Summer (GIII), and Remington Green winner Lockout.

Burn the Mortgage, Excaper and Film Shot also are probable starters. Junebugred and Kid Sidney are believed to be possible.

CENTRE COURT AMONG PROBABLE MRS. REVERE STARTERS – G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s homebred Centre Court, winner of the Lake George (GII) at Saratoga and Regret (GIII) at Churchill Downs, heads the list of 10 probable starters for Saturday’s 22^nd running of the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere for 3-year-old fillies on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

After winning the Regret and Lake George, the Rusty Arnold-trained Centre Court ran second behind Stephanie’s Kitten in the Lake Placid (GII) at Saratoga. Following a short layoff, she returned in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland and ran second to Dayatthespa.

A dark bay or brown daughter of Smart Strike, Centre Court has never been worse than second in her seven lifetime starts on turf.

Graded-stakes winners Miz Ida, Leading Astray, Colonial Flag and Somali Lemonade also are expected to enter the Mrs. Revere.

Bert, Elaine and Richard Klein’s Miz Ida has won three races in a row for trainer Steve Margolis. Most recently she took a division of the Valley View (GIII) at Keeneland. 

Team Block’s homebred Leading Astray finished third behind Miz Ida in that division of the Valley View. Prior to that effort, she won the Pucker Up (GIII) at Arlington Park for trainer Chris Block.

Colonial Flag, owned by Skara Glen Stable, Will Farish and ENL Stables LLC, exits the other division of the Valley View. Prior to running fifth behind Angel Terrace in that event, Colonial Flag won the Ontario Colleen (GIII) at Woodbine. Trained by Michael Matz, Colonial Flag’s lone try on the Matt Winn Turf Course came in the Regret, where she was second behind Centre Court.

Caroline Forgason’s Somali Lemonade, who also is trained by Matz, most recently ran fifth in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. She entered that race following a runner-up effort to Samitar-GB in the Garden City (GI) at Belmont Park. As a 2-year-old, Somali Lemonade won the Jessamine (GIII) at Keeneland in her second start.

Other fillies expected to enter the Mrs. Revere include Ann of the Dance, Charged Cotton, Lateegra and Zapper Belle.  

CHURCHILL DOWNS, KTA GIVE AWAY $10,000 IN SCHOLARSHIP MONEY – Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association hosted their annual College Scholarship Day at Churchill Downs on Nov. 11. Ten $1,000 scholarships were awarded to full-time students at the University of Louisville, Jefferson Community and Technical College, Bellarmine University, Western Kentucky University and Ohio State University.

The lucky winners of the scholarships were Tim Shain (U of L), Shelly Nelson (U of L), Michael Creed (JCTC), Amanda Derrington (Bellarmine), Christina Gutowski (Bellarmine), Katie Blodgett (OSU), Erin Reid (JCTC), Erin Jolly (U of L), Daniel Brussell (WKU) and Olivia Nash (U of L).

“I’ve been to Churchill Downs several times, but this was my first scholarship day,” said Daniel Brussell, one of the scholarship recipients. “The $1,000 scholarship will really help me pay for my education. It’s a stress reliever that there is $1,000 of tuition that I don’t have to worry about paying for anymore.”

Congratulations to all of the scholarship winners.  

DOWN THE STRETCH – Calvin Borel’s victory in the Cardinal Handicap (GIII) aboard Daisy Devine was number 4,993 of his career. Borel entrered Sunday just seven wins from becoming the 26^th jockey to reach the 5,000-win milestone … Trainer Pat Byrne said Sunday that Take Charge Indy came out of his bullet work Saturday (three furlongs in :35.60) in good order and is still on schedule to make his next start in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) … Immediately following Sunday’s final race, track announcer Mark Johnson will depart for England to attend a memorial service for his father, who recently passed away. Mike Battaglia will call the races at Churchill Downs on Wednesday and Johnson will return to the announcer’s booth Thursday … The sixth annual Ladies Day at the races benefitting the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs will be held Wednesday. The event, sponsored by CaloSpa Rejuvenation Center, will take place in Millionaires Row 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes lunch, a holiday fashion show and silent and live auctions. For more information, please visit BacksideLearningCenter.org … Jockey Victor Lebron, trainer Mike Maker and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey teamed to win the M2 Technology La Senorita with Kitten’s Dumplings and the El Joven with Admiral Kitten on Saturday night at Retama Park. The connections all have entries on Sunday’s card at Churchill Downs … Noteworthy works at Churchill Downs on the fast main track Sunday morning included breezes by Afleeting Lady (four furlongs in :48), Leading Astray (“bullet” half-mile in :47.20) and Overanalyze (four furlongs in :49).   

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