American Pharoah send-off possible at Churchill

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill officials would love to host one final send-off for American Pharoah, but nothing has been decided other than “there will be a public ceremony,” said Justin Zayat, whose family owns the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner.

Zayat said Wednesday via Twitter that he and his father, owner and breeder Ahmed Zayat, have not decided when or where the ceremony will take place and that Churchill “may very well be the place.”

Churchill hosted a ceremony for American Pharoah on the night of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster in June, and the logical date for something similar this month would be on the day of the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, Nov. 27, especially since trainer Bob Baffert has said he might run Dortmund in the Clark.

Churchill spokesman Darren Rogers said the track would welcome another ceremony.

Meanwhile, this fall meet is being run without a Downs After Dark card for the first time since permanent lights were installed in 2010. The lone such card last November was run in frigid weather and attracted just 6,346, easily the lowest attendance from 36 night programs ever run here.

“We’ve battled the fall temperatures, and it’s clear to us that Downs After Dark is an outdoor type of event,” said Rogers, adding that three night cards are planned for the spring.

◗ A field of eight fillies and mares led by Gold Medal Dancer and Spelling Again has been entered for the lone stakes here this weekend, the Grade 2, $200,000 Chilukki Stakes on Saturday. From the rail, this is the lineup for the one-mile Chilukki: Birdatthewire, Ahh Chocolate, Serene Melody, Spelling Again, Ambusher, Gold Medal Dancer, Keen Pauline, Shanon Nicole.

◗ After taking a few days off to tend to personal business in New Orleans, Florent Geroux will resume riding here Saturday through Nov. 15, when he will return there for the long winter meet at Fair Grounds. Several other Kentucky regulars also will be leaving early for Fair Grounds, which starts Nov. 19. Churchill runs through Nov. 29.