Guam Typhoon Takes Vodika Collins Purse, Vance Saddles 300th CD Winner and Borel Passes Brumfield for 2nd All Time

Jun 13, 2009 Gary Yunt

Elaine Jones’ Guam Typhoon took the lead at the head of the stretch and held off Map of the World by 1 ¼ lengths to win Friday’s featured Vodika Collins Purse, named for the first winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap.

Also on Friday’s card, trainer David Vance and jockey Calvin Borel achieved Churchill Downs milestones with Vance saddling his 300^th winner at the track and Borel posting his 926^th win, second-most all time beneath the Twin Spires.

Trained by Ian Wilkes and ridden by Julien Leparoux, Guam Typhoon covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:22.61 in defeating nine other 3-year-olds.

The victory from the purse of $49,485 was worth $30,580 and increased Guam Typhoon’s earnings to $62,105 with two victories in four starts.

A half-brother to graded stakes winner Miss Isella and Sir Cherokee, Guam Typhoon returned $17.80, $8.60 and $5. Map of the World, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., paid $8 and $6.60 in finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Blame and Garrett Gomez, who paid $6.40 to show.

Earlier on the card in the seventh race, Vance became the 11^th trainer to record 300 victories at Churchill Downs when Citizen John won under Corey Lanerie. Vance, a 68-year-old native of Logansport, Ind., is one of only 22 North American trainers with more than 3,000 victories with Citizen John being his 3,012^th.

“It’s my home, so it means a lot,” Vance said. “It’s hard to win one race, let alone 300 at one track. It’s a good feeling.”

In the nightcap, Borel guided Smoke Trail to victory pass Hall of Famer Don Brumfield on the list of all-time leading riders at Churchill Downs. Another Hall of Famer, Pat Day, is the all-time Churchill Downs leader with 2,482 wins.

“I didn’t really know what was going on, to tell you the truth,” Borel said. “Jerry (agent Jerry Hissam) just told me what it was.  It’s just been unbelievable.  The last eight, nine, 10 years have just been unbelievable – all my life, really.  I’ve worked hard to get here and have been lucky to accomplish these things and succeed.  I wish Mom and Dad were here to see me, but I know they’re watching.  It’s pretty good; I can’t complain.”

Racing resumes Saturday with the 11-race Reunion Day Featuring the Stephen Foster Handicap card. First post time is 12:45 p.m. EDT for the card that also features four other graded stakes races.

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