Churchill notes: Ride On Curlin to West Virginia Derby

Ride On Curlin, the Preakness runner-up who was eased in the June 7 Belmont Stakes, is being pointed to the Aug. 2 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer, trainer Billy Gowan said this week at Churchill.

“The Triple Crown took a lot out of him, so I was real easy on him for a couple weeks there, just jogging him,” said Gowan. “We might’ve gone to the well one too many times, but he’s finally bounced back and is wanting to whip all our asses again. He’s back to galloping real strong, so I’ll probably breeze him an easy half-mile this weekend and get him thinking about being back in the game.”

The Grade 2, $750,000 West Virginia Derby, run at 1 1/8 miles, also is expected to draw Tapiture, the winner of the June 14 Matt Winn in his only start since the Kentucky Derby.

Lanerie notches another title

Trophy presentations were made following the fifth race on the closing-day card Sunday at Churchill to Corey Lanerie, Steve Asmussen, and Maggi Moss, who led their respective categories in wins at the 38-day meet.

Lanerie, with 57 wins, was the leading jockey for the fifth time in the last six meets. Asmussen (21 wins) was the leading trainer for a record 14th time, and Moss (seven wins), who was not present for the brief ceremony, led all owners for the third time.

Meanwhile, although Churchill tracks do not release business figures, the website playersboycott.org has reported that all-sources handle was $368.8 million, down $49 million, or almost 12 percent, from 2013 levels. Excluding Kentucky Oaks and Derby Day handles from both years, the decrease was almost 26 percent.

Official figures were scheduled for release this week by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

◗ Carve, the winner of the Grade 3 Cornhusker last weekend at Prairie Meadows, could make his next start at Saratoga, “although we could also ship around somewhere,” said trainer Brad Cox. The 4-year-old gelding earned a second straight 95 Beyer Speed Figure with his neck victory over another Churchill-based horse, Right to Vote.

Carve is a younger full brother to Apropos, the 5-year-old mare who had to be euthanized Saturday after a tragic paddock accident at Arlington Park. Both horses were bred by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider.

◗ Jockeys Robby Albarado and Joe Rocco Jr. will head to Saratoga with momentum after ending the Churchill meet on good notes.Albarado swept the late pick three Saturday, starting with Silver Max in the Firecracker, while Rocco swept the late double on the closing-day card Sunday with back-to-back 19-1 shots.

◗ Larry Collmus left Louisville early Tuesday for what qualifies as his permanent home on the Jersey Shore. Collmus completed his first full meet as the regular Churchill race caller Sunday. “All I’ve got on my agenda for the next two months is calling the Haskell for NBC and taking it easy,” said Collmus.