Dogwood's Miss Frost, Now in Howard Barn, Aims for Grade II Mrs. Revere
Nov 09, 2014
After finishing eighth in Keeneland’s $150,000 Valley View (Grade III) on Oct. 17, Dogwood Stable moved their 3-year-old filly Miss Frost to the barn of trainer Neil Howard with hopes of entering her in Saturday’s $200,000-added Miss Revere (GII) at Churchill Downs.
“She’s a nice filly,” Howard said. “I haven’t been around her for too long but after talking to her former trainer Tom Albertrani and Dogwood owner Cot Campbell, I think there was a concern with the turf that day at Keeneland, that maybe the give of the ground might not have been in her favor.”
Prior to the Valley View, Miss Frost won three straight races in New York, including the $100,000 Tenski on Aug. 11 and the $100,000 Riskaverse on Aug. 29, both at Saratoga. She is 4-0-2 in 11 starts with earnings of $241,281.
“We’re still pointing her to the Mrs. Revere,” Howard said. “I think the end goal when they gave her to me was to try and win this race. But she’s been training well and doing great since I’ve had her and so hopefully she can bounce back this Saturday.”
Howard also trains an impressive 2-year-old in William Farish’s Eagle, who is exiting a 1 ¾-length allowance victory at Keeneland on Oct. 22. The win was at the distance of 1 1/16 miles, the same distance as the $200,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29, which is anticipated to be Eagle’s next start according to his conditioner.
“That colt is one I’m really excited about,” Howard said. “He came out of the Keeneland race well and we’ve had him on a nice training schedule since then. If all goes well with him, we’re going to point to the Kentucky Jockey Club here at the end of the meet.”
The 2-year-old son of Candy Ride carries a record of 3-2-1-0 with earnings of 59,700.
CENTRE COURT, LA TIA HIGHLIGHT LIST OF 47 NOMS FOR GRADE III CARDINAL HANDICAP ON NOV. 22
G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Centre Court and Hernandez Racing Club’s La Tia highlight a cast of 47 fillies and mares nominated to the 41st running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (Grade III) on Nov. 22. Named for Kentucky’s official state bird, the Cardinal Handicap is contested at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.
Trained by Rusty Arnold, Centre Court is coming off of back-to-back fourth-place efforts in the $250,000 Ballston Spa (GII) on Aug. 23 at Saratoga going 1 1/16 miles and Keeneland’s $400,000 First Lady (GI) over a mile on Oct. 4. She will stretch out to 1 1/8 miles for the first time since the 2013 Diana (GI) at Saratoga where she finished fifth. Carrying a record of 19-7-4-0, the 5-year-old daughter of Smart Strike has captured six graded stakes in her career, highlighted by the 2013 Jenny Wiley (GI) at Keeneland. She is the earner of $961,395.
Illinois-bred La Tia won her last start in gate-to-wire fashion in the $200,000 Athenia (GIII) at Belmont Park on Oct. 12, where she held off Grade I winner Byrama by a neck. The Armando De la cerda trainee also has scored victories in the Jun. 26 Ontario Matron (GIII) at Woodbine and the May 24 Arlington Matron (GIII). The 5-year-old daughter of City Place has earned $803,326 from nine wins in 22 starts.Other Cardinal Handicap nominees include Wayne Catalano-trained I’m Already Sexy, an earner of $509,998 and two-time Grade III winner who also won the $197,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf on Sept. 13; Overheard, a duel graded stakes-winner and earner of $491,340 trained by Malcolm Pierce who was third beaten less than a half-length behind La Tia and Byrama in Belmont’s Athenia last time out; and the Wesley Ward-trained Emotional Kitten, who captured last year’s Mrs. Revere (GII) at Churchill Downs, earned $464,503 and most recently finished second in the Nov. 2 Golikova (GII) at Santa Anita, but was disqualified to fourth after interference in the stretch.
CASSE 2-YEAR-OLDS FINISH 1-2 IN ALLOWANCE EVENT, GRADE II KY JOCKEY CLUB LIKELY ON HORIZON
After John Oxley’s 2-year-old coupled entry of Sky Hero and Flashaway ran first and second in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming event at Churchill Downs on Saturday, trainer Mark Casse’s assistant and son Norman Casse weighed in on their performances and hinted where they may show up next.
“There were a few question marks with both of them,” Casse said. “We weren’t exactly sure how far Sky Hero wanted to go. We knew he was fast but he definitely proved he could go and handle that distance. On the other hand, we were really high on Skyway but sometimes it takes a race for these 2-year-olds to get used to the dirt after running on Polytrack.
'We were really happy with the way they both ran and think they can both move forward significantly after that race. I think they will both probably be pointed to the Kentucky Jockey Club.”
Also run at 1 1/16 miles, the $200,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) is the co-featured event with the $200,000-added Golden Rod (GII) for 2-year-old fillies on Stars of Tomorrow II day (Nov. 29).
The Casses teamed up with Oxley to take the 2013 edition of the Kentucky Jockey Club with Uncaptured.
NOMINATION REMINDER – Horsemen have until Wednesday to nominate horses to the four lucrative stakes scheduled for closing weekend (Nov. 27-30): the Grade II, $200,000-added Falls City Handicap (fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles); Grade I, $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles); Grade II, $200,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club (2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles); and Grade II, $200,000-added Golden Rod (2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles).
MILESTONE WATCH – Robby Albarado, who was awarded his 1,000th Churchill Downs winner when Kentucky Horse Racing Commission stewards uploaded a ruling Saturday on their web site (http://khrc.ky.gov/Rulings/14-0081.pdf), is waiting to celebrate that significant milestone with a winning ride. He had five scheduled mounts. The only other jockeys to win 1,000 races at Churchill Downs are Pat Day (2,482) and Calvin Borel (1,170). … Corey Lanerie began Sunday with 599 wins, one away from becoming only the 11th jockey in track history to win 600 races at Churchill Downs.
EVENTS THIS WEEK AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Downs After Dark Presented by Stella Artois and Old Forester returns to Churchill Downs on Friday, Nov. 14 with the special theme being “Shaken, Not Stirred.” – a nod to James Bond films. Martinis, silhouette dancers, movie villains, live music and more await in an ambiance that exudes class and understated cool at Downs After Dark: Shaken, Not Stirred. Gentlemen are encouraged to don tuxedos with bow ties or tailored suits for an understated cool. For the ladies, a cocktail or evening dress will help steal the spotlight from your international man of mystery. Live music will be featured by the Endless Summer Band. Tickets remain available for the 21-and-over VIP Sky Terrace at ChurchillDowns.com/tickets. … Pigskins and Ponies returns in the Plaza for the final three Saturdays of the Fall Meet with the weekend’s biggest college football matchups featured on the Plaza video board. Drink specials ($2 Bud/Bud Light, $3 Stella Artois and $1 Pepsi products and bottled water) and tailgate-style food will be offered from the Plaza Grill. Churchill Downs will offer free admission to college students every Saturday with a current student I.D. … Next Sunday marks the return of the “Who’s the Champ? Betting Challenge” in the ITW area on the second floor of the Grandstand. The entry fee is $35 ($30 for TSC Elite members). Registration is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Churchill Downs Lounge. $2 Win/Place mythical wagers on Races 3-8. First prize: Fully paid spot in the Horse Player World Series in Las Vegas (includes a four-night stay in the Orleans Casino plus a $250 travel voucher). Second prize: $500 cash voucher. Third prize: $250 cash voucher.
ON THE WORKTAB – Commonwealth Turf nominees De Facto (4F in :49), Heart to Heart (4F in :50.20) and Sky Flight (5F in 1:01) were notable workers Sunday in addition to Mrs. Revere nominees Lady Lara-Ire (4F in :49.20), Secret Someone (4F in :49.20), Tempers Flair (4F in :48.60) and VV Goodnight (5F in 1:02.40). Also on Sunday’s worktab was multiple graded stakes winner Neck ‘n Neck, who went five furlongs in 1:00.40 for trainer Ian Wilkes and Cardinal Handicap nominee Flashy Gal, who breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Wayne Catalano.
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