4/25/2023

Less than 2 weeks until the Kentucky Derby set for Saturday, May 6 and this year that will also be opening Day at Emerald Downs. The live racing will be only on Derby Day for opening day and then slide into their Saturday-Sunday only schedule for 2 weeks followed by a 3 day run over Memorial Day weekend of Saturday-Sunday-Monday then back to 1 weekend of Saturday-Sunday and then going to the Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule on the 2nd week of June through August except no racing on Friday, June 30 as they will race Saturday-Sunday and Monday, July 3rd for the annual Fireworks show. In September they will finish with a Saturday-Sunday schedule to closing day on September 17th for a total of 52 race days.

Opening on Kentucky Derby day was important to give the fans that live racing feel with watching and betting on the biggest race in the world and is a great way to launch our the season. The Derby Fabulous Hat contest will also be back as part of the opening day festivities.

The many fan favorite promotions are on the schedule including the Corgi races along with the Bulldogs, Weiner and Weiner Wanna-be’s races, the Indian Relays, Family days and much more. For a complete list and information on how to enter your dogs click here for the direct link to the Emerald Downs Promotions page.

Admission prices to Emerald Downs is $10 for adults and includes a race day program, kids 5-17 is $5 and on Friday nights it’s $5 for all. Parking in the limited preferred parking lot is $10 parking in the general lots is free with regular shuttle service. More information on admission, parking and general reserved seating click on this link.

As far as racing the Stakes schedule has 23 stakes races with all on Sundays with 2 Stakes each day except on Sunday, August 13 the 88th running of the Longacres Mile will have feature 3 other stakes races of the Oaks, Distaff and Derby for the biggest day of the season. The other more than 3 stales day is on closing day September 17th highlighted by the Gottstein Futurity. All Stakes races will be for $50,000 except the Gottstein which is $70,000 and the Longacres Mile at $150,000. For the complete list of Stakes races click on this link.

Meantime, many fans got a taste of the Longacres Mile this past weekend when 2021 Longacres Mile Champion “Background” ran at Keeneland for owners Bob and Molly Rondeau and trainer Mike Puhich. Background started from the 1 hole in a 6 horse field going a mile and 16th with Julien Leparoux riding and went off as the clear 7-5 favorite.

Leparoux and Background went straight to the front but was immediately pressured by 4-1 Order and Law with Tyler Gaffalione. Background and Order and Law were heads apart to at least mid-stretch when Olliemyboy with Corey Lanerie was coming from far back and caught Background about the 16th pole with Bear Oak and Edgar Morales also closing. Olliemyboy won it by 3/4 of a length and Bear Oak nailed Background on the wire for 2nd, Background settled for 3rd and Order and Law just a neck back in 4th.

This was the 2nd race of the weekend for Rondeau’s Giddy-up Stables, Puhich and Leparoux. This trio sent out “Call Me Fast” in the Ben Ali Stakes a grade 3 last Saturday. The public was not sold on Call Me Fast sending him off at nearly 17-1 and the longest shot on the board in the field of 7 in the mile and 3/16ths race. When the gates flung open the 4-year-old by Dialed in and out of Caged Mistress by Ministers Wild Cat nearly fell to his knees but recovered quickly and Leparoux got him settled in 5th place about 4-5 lengths off the early pace.

Leparoux did not panic and held him in that position all the way down the backstretch but allowed Rattle and Roll with Brian Hernandez to sneak up the inside and move into 4th place while Call Me Fast ran a few lanes off the rail. Going into the turn Leparoux and “Fast” were 5th and waiting to see where an opening would develop. Meantime, Rattle and Roll swung to the outside at the top of the stretch and Call Me Fast followed and then swung even further outside into the clear.

Rattle and Roll , the 2nd favorite at nearly 3-1 drew away running past the 3 early leaders and would win by 1 1/4 lengths. Call Me Fast closed strongly as well and ran by them all except the winner to take 2nd by a 1/2 length over Pioneer of Medina. The 2nd place finish earned Call Me Fast $58,500 and his career earnings to 314k and a lifetime record of 3-3-0 from 11 starts. This was his 2nd Graded Stakes start and 1st time hitting the board.

Link to Replay of the Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland

We caught up with Rondeau on his big weekend at Keeneland and of course he wished he had been able to get a picture in the Winner’s Circle but he couldn’t more excited for how both his horses ran on one of the biggest stages in the business. 

Rondeau said Background’s run was a throw back to his old self, “He ran really well yesterday and looked like his old, tough, self.  Pressed on the pace all the way around, still dug in and was running hard at the finish to lose the win by less than a length and the place by a whisker.  We’ve been wanting to try him on the grass and that will be the plan for his next start, likely at Churchill if we can find the right spot. Hoping he can move up a notch on the turf.  Having run through all his conditions, hooked really good ones at Oaklawn and just didn’t quite measure up. Julian Leparoux seems to fit him very nicely and supports the idea of running him on the grass. But again, as you know, flexibility is important in this game so we’ll see.”

As far as Call Fast’s effort Rondeau was exceptionally impressed with effort, “he ran a terrific race, especially with the stumble at the start.  Really like how Julian stayed patient with him after the bad beginning. Distance doesn’t seem to be an issue with him and that was an awfully nice bunch of horses.  Clearly can win on the engine or come from off the pace so we’re very excited about his possibilities going forward.  Considering the Blame at Churchill, even the Pimlico special, for his next start.  Horse is still learning and has shown he can compete at the graded stakes level.  Seems to handle most any surface too.”

We asked Rondeau if either horse may have the Longacres Mile on their radar and Rondeau said “it’s way too early to think about August.” He said, “if I were to guess it’s probably unlikely either would run in the Mile.” But quickly added that’s what they were thinking last year with Background but he came back to defend his Championship. Background ran hard again and finished in a 3-way photo for 3rd and ended up 5th as “Slew’s Tiz Whiz” with Jose Zunino winning the 87th edition. Rondeau said, “I would never say never but things would have to break just right for either to be in the mix this year.”

We asked him 1 more question and that was did he ever see a possibility where both his horses ran against each other and he said a definite “No”. 

Rondeau said as much success as he and his wife are having with their horses there was still nothing better than watching Background win the 86th mile. He says the history and tradition of that race is pretty dang special.

Link to Replay of 2021 Longacres Mile with Background winning

www.elisportsnetwork.com