Keeneland: Juddmonte Spinster win would put Emollient in rare company

[bc_video_id:306523:]LEXINGTON, Ky. – Emollient will break from post 5 in a field of 11 fillies and mares Sunday in the Grade 1, $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes when she tries to become just the fourth horse in Keeneland history to sweep the Ashland and Spinster.

Emollient was sensational in a nine-length victory in the Ashland six months ago in her only career try over Polytrack, and even as the lone 3-year-old in the field, she figures to be favored in the 1 1/8-mile Spinster with Mike Smith aboard. Bred and owned by the race sponsor, Juddmonte Farms, and trained by Bill Mott, Emollient is also a Grade 1 winner on grass, having captured the American Oaks in July in California.

Emollient arrived here Tuesday after breezing five furlongs Sunday on the Belmont Park turf.

“She’s fresh, happy, moving well,” said Mott assistant Rodolphe Brisset.

From the rail, this is the field for the 58th Spinster, a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff: Open Water, Hard to Resist, Sisterly Love, Closing Range, Emollient, Byrama, Wine Princess, Sisterhood, Summer Applause, Hard Not to Like, and On Fire Baby.

The rare Ashland-Spinster double was previously accomplished by Doubledogdare (1956), Optimistic Gal (1976), and Take Charge Lady (2002), all in their 3-year-old season.

The Spinster goes as the eighth of nine races on Sunday and is directly preceded by another Win and You’re In event, the Grade 3, $150,000 Bourbon Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The winner earns a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. An oversubscribed of 13 was entered, with Bashart and Boji Moon the likely favorites.

Romans can’t root for Wise Dan in Shadwell

Dale Romans counts himself among the biggest fans of Wise Dan, but he still wouldn’t mind seeing the 2012 Horse of the Year go down to defeat Saturday in the Shadwell Mile – at least if it’s to Silver Max.

Romans will saddle the speedy 4-year-old Silver Max in the Shadwell for longtime friends Mark Bacon and Dana Wells. Silver Max, with post 9, will have Robby Albarado aboard when breaking alongside Wise Dan, who got the outside post in the field of 10.

“You don’t want to change the horse’s running style, so I’m sure we’ll be out there early, although I’m sure not going to tell Robby how to ride his race,” Romans said. “I think Wise Dan is a super horse, and those just don’t come along very often. If we get lucky and beat him, that would be awesome. I really think Wise Dan is one of the greatest horses to come along in a while.”

Low-profile trainer busy at entry box

With 12 horses in the entries, Mike Maker had the most scheduled starters for the first two days of the Keeneland meet. But who had second-most? Romans? Steve Asmussen? Ken McPeek?

Wrong, all. It’s Gennadi Dorochenko, the Russian immigrant best known for his stunning victory in the 2011 Louisiana Derby with Hero of Order at 109-1.

Dorochenko, who trains primarily for Russian owners, has nine starters on the first two Keeneland cards, all of them longshots. He is winning at an 8 percent rate this year (25 for 302) and for his career (163 for 2,010), but because he tends to win at a big mutuel, his career return on investment is a decent $1.50 for a $2 wager.

Churchill’s September meet does well

In a rare – and perhaps opportunistic, some might say – reversal of company policy, Churchill Downs Inc. on Wednesday released handle figures for the 12-day September meet that ended last weekend at its flagship track in Louisville.

Churchill reported a per-day all-sources handle of $3,857,898, more than tripling what Turfway Park averaged ($1,283,638) during its 16-day September meet in 2012. It was the first full September meet in the modern era at Churchill.

◗ Racing Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will be the featured guest before the races Saturday in the weekly Q-and-A session in the Keeneland walking ring. The session starts at 12:05 p.m.

◗ Seats are still available for the Texas Hold ’em poker tournament to be attended by numerous well-known jockeys at the Castle Post (the locally famous Versailles Road castle) after the Sunday card at Keeneland. Buy-in is $250 and first prize is $10,000, with proceeds going to the Simunye Project. Furlongs is catering the event, and non-playing guests can attend for $50. For information, call (859) 873-4394.