FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Zenner
(847) 385-7535
Cell: (847) 371-1670
Barn Notes: Sunday, June 22, 2014
In Today’s Notes:
- One-Two Finishers in Lincoln Heritage Could Meet Again in Modesty Handicap
ONE-TWO FINISHERS IN LINCOLN HERITAGE COULD MEET AGAIN IN MODESTY
Nancy Vanier and Lyda Williamson’s Kepi and Richard Otto’s Alette, the one-two finishers in Satruday’s $83,700 Lincoln Heritage Handicap could meet again in three weeks in the Grade III $200,000 Modesty Handicap on Million Preview Day Saturday, July 12.
The Lincoln Heritage was run at a mile and a sixteenth on the main track after a late-afternoon rainstorm forced the race off the turf following a lengthy delay to let the brunt of the thunderstorm pass. Both horses seemed to handle the nearly 50-minute wait in the paddock before the horses were sent postward.
“There really wasn’t any other place to run her,” said Kepi’s trainer Brian Williamson when asked whether he considered scratching the 6-year-old mare who had made only one prior run on Polytrack. “It would have been tough to get another race for her since she’s out of allowance conditions so I was going to run her regardless.”
Though the Lincoln Heritage was only her second start on Polytrack, Williamson felt she would run well but even he was a little surprised at how easily she took to the synthetic surface. “She was running pretty comfortable and I think when that other horse (eventual runner-up Alette) got closer to her, she took off again,” he said. “She hadn’t run on Polytrack since the first time I started her (in Aug. 2011). Junior Alvarado was working her and we both thought she’d love the Polytrack but she ran (seventh) that day and it’s been all turf since but she always worked well on the Poly.”
If all goes according to plan, the daughter of Strategic Mission will run in the Modesty. “She came book good and ate up. Her legs were good this morning so if everything goes right we plan to run in the Modesty.”
Williamson’s late father-in-law Harvey Vanier won the Modesty in 2000 with Nancy Vanier’s multiple Illinois champion Wade For Me.
It’s possible that Kepi will again face runner-up Alette in the Modesty as trainer Chris Block indicated Sunday morning that the mile and three-sixteenths turf contest could be next for the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid.
“She ran a big race,” Block said of the filly who had hit the board in both of her previous starts on the all-weather track. “She was calm in the paddock despite the delay. She came back out of the race real good so we’ll nominate to the Modesty and take a look at the race.”
-END-
________________________________
This Churchill Downs Incorporated communication (including any attachments) is intended for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or legally protected. Any unauthorized use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail message and delete all copies of the original communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
