Stephen Foster card sets handle record for night program

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 11-race Stephen Foster card drew $10,694,069 in all-sources handle Saturday, establishing a handle record for a Downs After Dark card. The former high mark among the 47 night cards held at Churchill since 2009 was $9,400,176, set last year on Foster night.

Ontrack attendance was 21,053, well off the corresponding 2015 date, when 28,968 turned out to see American Pharoah, the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. The all-time night-card attendance mark is 38,142, set in April 2011.

Handle on the all-stakes pick five (races 5-9) Saturday night was $402,174, with each 50-cent winner returning $14,237.

Entire Baffert string gone

Not only did assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes send Justify back home Sunday to California, but the small string he maintained here for Bob Baffert since late April also has left Churchill.

Baffert had 15 starts at the meet, winning the Kentucky Derby with Justify and an allowance with American Anthem. His stable earnings of $1,563,131 remain tops among all trainers, followed by $1,442,045 for Brad Cox.

Barnes showed uncommon patience and grace with a virtually endless stream of visitors on a daily basis. His calm demeanor during stressful times did not go unnoticed by media, fellow horsemen, and tourists alike.

“It’s been great here in Louisville,” Barnes told Churchill publicity before leaving. “We’re excited to get back home, but hopefully we’ll be back later this year,” prior to the Nov. 2-3 Breeders’ Cup.

4-day week starts Thursday

The last four-day race week of the spring meet starts with a Thursday card highlighted by one allowance (race 7) and the first turf race for 2-year-olds (race 5) in Kentucky this year. Both are part of a Single 6 sequence (races 3-8) that offers a carryover jackpot of $13,982. First post for the eight-race card is 5 p.m. Eastern.

The 5 1/2-furlong turf race for 2-year-old maiden colts and geldings will be followed Friday by the first turf race here this year for 2-year-old fillies.

The highlight of the coming weekend at Churchill is the $75,000 Roxelana, a six-furlong race for fillies and mares Saturday. The meet runs through June 30, with Ellis Park starting a 31-day meet the following day.

Jockeys’ race tightens up

Slowly but surely, perennial leading jockey Corey Lanerie has closed the gap atop the spring-meet standings on Brian Hernandez Jr., who has led from early on. With just seven of 38 programs left, Hernandez holds a 36-35 lead over Lanerie, who has been the top rider at all but two Churchill meets since spring 2012.

Among trainers, Steve Asmussen leads Brad Cox 22-17.

– additional reporting by David Grening