Team Forster Hopes to Get Big Update for Brushed by a Star

Oct 31, 2012 Travers Manley

Graded stakes-winner Brushed by a Star will be sold at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Nov. 5, but first she will seek another graded stakes victory in Saturday’s $150,000-added Chilukki (Grade II) at Churchill Downs and the connections are hoping to add some more “black type” to her catalogue page.

“She’s doing as good, or better, than she has been doing all year and I expect her to run well Saturday,” trainer Grant Forster said.

Brushed by a Star, winner of the Molly Pitcher (GII) at Monmouth Park in July, will be cutting back to a one-turn mile in the Chilukki after five straight races at 1 1/16 miles or further.

“My best guess is that she’s a little better at two turns and so the distance (of the Chilukk i) concerns me a little,” Forster said. “She competed well in a sprint (second in 6 ½-furlong allowance on May 11) at Churchill and she’s sharp, so hopefully she’ll run well.”

A 4-year-old daughter of Eddington, Brushed by a Star began her career with a record of 2-3-2 from 12 starts. She was given about six months off after finishing sixth in last year’s Falls City Handicap (GII) and has since gone 3-2-0 in her last six tries, including wins in the Molly Pitcher and Iowa Distaff. 

“We gave her the winter off by design and she matured and grew into herself,” Forster said. “She’s exceeded our expectations.”

Brushed by a Star will be offered as a racing and broodmare prospect at the November Sale, but if she happens to return to Forster’s barn then she could come back for another try at the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII) on Nov. 22.

JONES LOOKING FOR CHILUKKI-FALLS CITY DOUBLE WITH JOYFUL VICTORY – Multiple graded stakes-winner Joyful Victory is scheduled to make her next start in Saturday’s Chilukki (GII) at Churchill Downs and a good performance could land her back at the home of the Kentucky Derby for the Falls City Handicap (GII) on Nov. 22.

The Chilukki is scheduled to be run at one mile on the main track and the Falls City will be contested at 1 1/8 miles on the main track.

“If she runs well, we might bring her back in the Falls City,” trainer Larry Jones said. “She can run at two turns just as well as she can run at one turn.”

Fox Hill Farms Inc.’s Joyful Victory made her most recent start in the Zenyatta (GI) at Santa Anita and finished second to Love and Pride. Prior to that effort, Jones considered running her in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (GI).

“We felt like she had to win to get in (to the Ladies Classic),” Jones said. “The horse that beat her, who’s a very good horse, might be 15-1 in the Ladies’ Classic. I’m very impressed with the quality of the field. It’s pretty deep water.”

After the Ladies’ Classic was taken out of consideration, the connections set their sights on the Chilukki. A 4-year-old gray/roan daughter of Tapit, Joyful Victory has recorded two workouts over the Louisville track in prep for her first start at Churchill Downs since finishing fourth in the 2011 Kentucky Oaks (GI). On Monday, she breezed five furlongs in 1:02 on the fast main track.

“She worked really well and finished up nicely,” Jones said. “She’s doing good.”

DOMINUS SWITCHES BACK TO DIRT FOR FRIDAY’S ACK ACK –  Following a sixth-place effort to Wise Dan in the Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) at Keeneland, George Bolton, Stonestreet Stables and Spendthrift Farm’s Dominus will switch back to the dirt for Friday’s $100,000-added Ack Ack Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

A 4-year-old dark bay or brown son of Smart Strike, Dominus returned from a near year-long layoff in a seven-furlong allowance on the dirt at Saratoga and won by more than four lengths. He then made his turf debut in a winning effort in the Bernard Baruch (GII) at Saratoga prior to his off-the-board finish in the Shadwell Turf Mile.

“I don’t think (the surface) matters,” said Michael Dilger, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. “He worked well on the dirt here (at Churchill Downs) on Sunday. He’s just a good horse.”

In the aforementioned workout, Dominus breezed four furlongs on the fast main track in :51.60. The work ranked 59^th of 77 at the distance.

“He’s doing very well and came out of his work well,” Dilger said. “We’re looking forward to running him here on Friday.”

DOWN THE STRETCH – Multiple stakes-winner Good Lord, who is cross-entered in Friday’s Ack Ack (GIII) at Churchill Downs and Saturday’s Mountaineer Mile at Mountaineer, breezed four furlongs in :50.60 on the fast main track at Churchill Downs on Wednesday. Trainer Forrest Kaelin said Good Lord will most likely be scratched from the Ack Ack and run in the Mountaineer Mile. “The race at Mountaineer is an easier spot, so I’ll probably run him there,” Kaelin said …  Highlighting Tuesday’s workouts on the Matt Winn Turf Course was Pin Oak Valley View (GIII) winner Miz Ida, who has won five of her last six starts. The 3-year-old bay daughter of Proud Citizen breezed four furlongs in :52.60 and is being pointed to the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (GII) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 17, according to trainer Steve Margolis … Nominations for the $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (GIII) and the $175,000-added Mrs. Revere (GII) close Wednesday, Oct. 31 (today) … Nominations for the 39^th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course closed Oct. 24 with 25 nominations, led by Grade I winners Daisy Devine and Tapitsfly. Weights for the Cardinal Handicap will be announced Saturday, Nov. 3 … Friday marks the return of Churchill Downs’ popular Friday Happy Hours. Between 3-5 p.m., there will be $2 Budweiser and Bud Light drink specials plus live music by J.D. Shelburne in the new Plaza area adjacent to the saddling paddock and Gate 1.

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