Lanerie will finish as top Churchill rider for fifth time in six meets

Corey Lanerie will finish as the leading rider at Churchill for the fifth time in the last six meets when the 38-day meet ends Sunday.

Lanerie is among a handful of jockeys who will be headed from here to Saratoga, along with Rosie Napravnik, Julien Leparoux, Shaun Bridgmohan, Brian Hernandez Jr., Robby Albarado, Alan Garcia, and Joe Rocco Jr.

Winner’s circle presentations will be made between races Sunday to recognize Lanerie and the leaders in the other human categories. Into Friday, Steve Asmussen led the trainers’ standings with 18 wins, and Maggi Moss led the owners’ standings with seven wins.

Meanwhile, Rocco said Friday he is on a waiting list for a minor operation on a deviated septum and was unsure whether he will have the surgery so as to make the start of the Saratoga meet July 18. He will be represented there by agent Bob Klesaris.

** Keeneland officials reported this week that their main-track conversion from Polytrack to dirt is progressing on schedule.

More than 16,000 tons of Polytrack have been removed, and a new drainage system along both the inside and outside rails is being constructed in tandem with the existing vertical drainage system installed during a major renovation in 2006. The work is scheduled for completion prior to the fall meet in October.

** Two-year-old races at both Keeneland and Churchill this spring regularly failed to fill or drew short fields, but closing day portends better things for the rest of the year. The eighth race, a 2-year-old maiden race, drew an oversubscribed field, replete with outstanding pedigrees.

** Kentucky Downs announced this week that purses will average $1 million per program during its five-day meet in September. The showcase race at the Franklin, Ky., track is the $600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup on Sept. 13.

** Dame Marie, second in the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on the May 3 Kentucky Derby undercard in her last start, has been retired with a minor injury, said trainer Eddie Kenneally. The 5-year-old mare earned $241,291.

** Napravnik and Ken Ramsey were among those collaborating on a $35,000 donation to the Old Friends retirement farm near Lexington, it was announced Friday.