Spring Waltz Headlines Field of 12 Falls City Handicap

Nov 23, 2008 Gary Yunt

(November 23, 2008) – Stronach Stable’s Spring Waltz will carry top weight of 120 pounds and concede up to nine pounds to 11 rivals in Thursday’s 94^th running of the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (Grade II) at 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs.

The Falls City will be the 11^th race at approximately 4:24 p.m. (all times Eastern). The 12-race Thanksgiving Day card will begin early at 11:30 a.m. with admission gates scheduled to open at 10 a.m.

Trained by Bobby Frankel, Spring Waltz will break from post position eight under Robby Albarado, who will be aboard the 5-year-old daughter of 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm for the first time.

Spring Waltz made her stakes debut one to remember when she romped by 3 ¼ lengths as the even-money favorite in the Grade II Rampart Handicap in March at Gulfstream Park. In her most recent start, Spring Waltz ran second in the Turnback the Alarm Handicap (GIII) at Belmont Park on Oct. 26.

Two other Falls City entrants have graded-stakes victories in 2008. Mark Stanley’s Swift Temper won the Grade III Gardenia at Ellis Park in August and Darley Stable’s Skylighter, also trained by Frankel, won the Grade II Indiana Oaks in her most recent start at Hoosier Park on Oct. 3.

The starting second high weight will be Pin Oak Stable’s Brownie Points, who will be ridden by Luis Quinonez and carry 119 pounds. A Grade III winner on the grass and Grade I stakes placed on the dirt in 2008, Brownie Points has earned $946,442 in her career and would become a millionaire with a Falls City victory.

The field for the Falls City, from the rail out: Brownie Points (Luis Quinonez, 119 pounds), Tiz to Dream (E.T. Baird, 112), Tell it as It Is (Emma Wilson, 115), Miss Isella (Calvin Borel, 111), Swift Temper (Kent Desormeaux, 116), Skylighter (Julien Leparoux, 115), Stop a Train (Perry Compton, 117), Spring Waltz (Robby Albarado, 120), Devil House (Jesus Castanon, 115), Initforthekandy (John McKee, 114), Unforgotten (Miguel Mena, 117) and Copper State (Shaun Bridgmohan, 116).

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