Will Farish of Lane's End introduces George Bush to Secret Status and collects his first Oaks victory

THE CHEERING started even before all the fillies reached the paddock prior to the 126th running of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 5. It rippled through those in the record crowd of 106,156 who pressed closer to Churchill Downs's walking-ring rail and gained intensity, punctuated by clapping. Former President George Bush accepted the welcome warmly, grinning, waving, and shaking hands while accompanied by his longtime friend, Lane's End owner William S. Farish. Edging forward, they made their way to the Number 4 stall in the saddling area, where the rangy chestnut filly Secret Status stood awaiting the attention of trainer Neil Howard.

It is not an everyday occurrence for Presidents, either former or current, to be introduced to racehorses, so shrewd bettors may have noted that Farish thought highly enough of the daughter of A.P. Indy out of the Alydar mare Private Status to point her out to Bush.

Despite an awkward start that forced her to pass all but one of her 13 rivals in the full Oaks field, Secret Status did not disappoint them. Settling early under jockey Pat Day, Secret Status began to pass other fillies one at a time down the backstretch until she had reached eighth by the time the field had gone six furlongs. Ashland Stakes (G1) winner Rings a Chime, dismissed at 20.70-to-1 in the Oaks, had seized the early lead, dispatching stalker Cash Run while setting fractions of :22.76, :46.34, and 1:11.24 for the first six furlongs.

Charging up on the outside of Rings a Chime, who turned into the stretch going easily and flicking her ears, Secret Status suddenly swooped by in a powerful rush. By the time she romped under the wire, 4.90-to-1 Secret Status had pulled away by 6 3/4 lengths. Rings a Chime proved best of the rest, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place Classy Cara. Kumari Continent, the 4.70-to-1 favorite, finished ninth, and 1999 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Cash Run was next to last.

Both Bush and Farish savored the moment. "That was so great," said an enthusiastic Bush, a Republican whose son George W. Bush is seeking the presidency this year, in the winner's circle after posing for photos and gaining more cheers from the crowd. Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Steve Henry, a Democrat, made the trophy presentation, joined by his fiancZe, Miss America Heather Renee French.

For Farish, the victory was a sweet reward for years of breeding Thoroughbreds with a goal of capturing the Oaks, which had proved elusive, although fillies he had bred or owned had run third (Sneaky Quiet in 1995) and second (Tomisue's Delight in 1997).

"There's just no way to describe it," said an emotional Farish, who co-bred and co-owns Secret Status with James Elkins Jr. and Temple Webber Jr. "It's a race we've pointed to for so many years."

Farish said the win was extra special because it occurred at Churchill Downs, where he is chairman of the board of directors, and because Bush was present to share it with him. The pair met about 30 years ago while both were based in Texas, and Farish said he served as the first aide to Bush in the early years of the former President's political career.

Delaying the start

Although Secret Status finished the 1 1/8-mile Oaks in the easiest kind of way, stopping the timer at 1:50.30, the beginning of the race was anything but simple. A series of antics behind and in the starting gate began when Gold for My Gal unseated jockey Willie Martinez but was quickly caught and pushed back in the gate.

Vivid Sunset, a high-strung Mt. Livermore filly, then proved difficult to load while Eden Lodge backed out of the gate, which seemed to cause a chain reaction. Vivid Sunset then reared, momentarily losing jockey Robby Albarado, and then was backed out. Rings a Chime also had to be backed out, followed quickly by Bejoyfulandrejoyce.

Kentucky Oaks (G1)
Churchill Downs, May 5, $610,800, 11/8 miles, fast, 1:50.30
1-SECRET STATUS, f. 3, A.P. Indy-Private Status, by Alydar.
2-Rings a Chime, f. 3, Metfield-Outofthebluebell, by Red Ryder.
3-Classy Cara, f. 3, General Meeting-Anastastia Honey, by Czaravich.

Several minutes passed before the complete field was reloaded, with all jockeys back aboard, and was ready to run.

"My filly stood there the whole time, too good, probably," Day said of Secret Status's reaction to the gate chaos. "She got away a little bad, but she settled in nicely and took the turn well, got into contention at the three-eighths, and it was over at the quarter pole. I put her to the task, and she was just striding out."

Howard admitted to being concerned after Secret Status's slow break and her dawdling in the early stages of the race, when she appeared to be climbing. "You know me; I never expect to win any race," he said jokingly.

"The electrifying move she made was just something we prayed for. It was terrific," Farish added.

Winner of a maiden race at Keeneland last October and third in the Golden Rod Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs as a two-year-old, Secret Status triumphed in two allowance races at Gulfstream Park this winter. She then ran third in Gulfstream's Davona Dale Stakes (G2) before winning the Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on March 19 prior to the $610,800 Kentucky Oaks.

Secret Status probably will be pointed toward the July 1 Mother Goose Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park and the August 19 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, Farish and Howard said. She now has a career record of 5-0-3 in nine starts and $561,163 in earnings after taking home the first prize of $378,696 in the Oaks.

Kissing a winner

When jockey Shane Sellers arrived in the paddock for the $255,250 Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) on the Oaks undercard, he walked over to his mount, Heritage of Gold, and planted a good-luck kiss on the five-year-old bay mare's nose. That was all the luck Heritage of Gold needed as she remained undefeated in three starts this year and moved to the head of the older filly and mare division.

Sent off as the 2.20-to-1 second choice behind 9-to-10 Silverbulletday, who was the 1999 Oaks winner and champion three-year-old filly, Heritage of Gold was fifth early behind pacesetters Bella Chiarra and Silent Eskimo. Silverbulletday, who had arrived in the paddock looking somewhat listless and stood dully in the starting gate with her ears back, ran fourth in the six-horse field for much of the race. Sellers stalked Silverbulletday and jockey Jerry Bailey in the early going before motoring past them with ease on the backstretch.

By Gold Legend, Heritage of Gold was in third after a half-mile, was second after six furlongs, and seized the lead in the stretch. She hit the wire 1 1/4 lengths in front of Roza Robata, who prevailed by a nose over Bella Chiarra. Silverbulletday, previously undefeated at Churchill Downs, finished fourth, followed by 1998 Oaks winner Keeper Hill and Silent Eskimo.

"My mare just ran on by (on the backstretch) and (Silverbulletday) offered no resistance. That surprised me," Sellers said. "Then she just demolished the rest of the field."

Louisville Breeders' Cup H. (G2)
Churchill Downs, May 5, $255,250, 11/16 miles, fast, 1:42.99
1-HERITAGE OF GOLD, m. 5, Gold Legend-Lyphard Gal, by Lyphard.
2-Roza Robata, m. 5, Fire Maker-May Day Ninety, by Alydar.
3-Bella Chiarra, m. 5, Phone Trick-Bannockburn, by Count Brook.

After earlier victories in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) and Oaklawn Breeders' Cup Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park, Heritage of Gold should now be considered at the top of the older filly and mare division, said trainer Tom Amoss and owner Jack Garey, a retired lawyer who owns three ranches in central Texas.

Meanwhile, trainer Bob Baffert offered no excuses for the performance of Silverbulletday, who was making her second start of 2000 after beating Roza Robata by a neck in the Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland Race Course on April 19. "She never picked it up. She was never into it," Baffert said. Heritage of Gold now has a career record of 13-1-3 in 21 starts and earnings of $1,520,135.

King of Turf

Returning to the track from a six-month break, Centennial Farms' King Cugat unleashed a powerful rally to easily capture the $118,100 Crown Royal American Turf Stakes (G3) for three-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on Oaks day.

"As a two-year-old, he was a little green. He would take two steps forward and one sideways, but he was so professional today," jockey Bailey said of the bay son of Kingmambo out of Tricky Game, by Majestic Light.

Donald Little, who oversees the Centennial partnerships, said he and trainer Bill Mott decided to give King Cugat a rest after a tough juvenile campaign that featured a victory in the Prized Stakes at Gulfstream on November 5 and a second in the Pilgrim Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park on October 24.

Crown Royal American Turf (G3)
Churchill Downs, May 5, $118,100, 11/16 miles, turf, firm, 1:41.25
1-KING CUGAT, c. 3, Kingmambo-Tricky Game, by Majestic Light.
2-Lendell Ray, c. 3, Regal Affair-Angel Puss, by Wolf Power (SAf).
3-Go Lib Go, c. 3, Septieme Ciel-Liberia, by Miswaki.

"He was fabulous," a jubilant Little said in the winner's circle. "He was next to last at the first turn, and then he ate them up."

King Cugat, the 2.10-to-1 favorite, finished 2 3/4 lengths in front of Lendell Ray, with Go Lib Go third. King Cugat now has three victories in five career starts and earnings of $269,862.

OAK LEAVES-William Landes III's Roxelana uncorked one of the most impressive performances of Kentucky Derby (G1) week while winning the seven-furlong La Troienne Stakes (G3) for three-year-old fillies by 11 3/4 lengths on May 4 and setting a stakes record of 1:21.97 for the seven furlongs. The daughter of Boundary "outran a game bunch," said trainer W. G. "Blackie" Huffman, who plans to keep Roxelana at sprinting distances for the near future. ... The Churchill Downs turf course was lightning fast during Derby week. Jeffrey Amling's Steal a Heart, coming off a course-record performance in the Stravinsky Stakes at Keeneland about two weeks earlier, won the five-furlong $111,000 Mamzelle Stakes on May 4 for trainer Alice Cohn and jockey Albarado. Steal a Heart's time of :56.11 was just two-hundredths of a second off the Churchill turf course record set by Danjur in 1996. ... Juddmonte Farms' Bold Fact and jockey Richard Migliore took the early lead and never looked back while winning the five-furlong $121,500 Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes on May 5. The five-year-old son of Known Fact, trained by John Kimmel, hit the wire in :56.37.

Chavez wins for Baffert; timing is everything for Ruby Surprise on Derby undercard

By Tom Law

ORIGINALLY PURCHASED to run in a series of lucrative turf events for three-year-olds, Manndar (Ire) might just be the horse to get young trainer Christopher "Beau" Greely back and officially into the Breeders' Cup.

Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (G1)
Churchill Downs, May 6, $350,500, 11/8 miles, turf, firm, 1:47.91
1-MANNDAR (IRE), c. 4, =Doyoun (Ire)-Madiriya (Ire), by Diesis (GB).
2-Falcon Flight (Fr), c. 4, =Persian Bold (Ire)-=Flying Circus (GB), by Gay Mecene.
3-Yagli, h. 7, Jade Hunter-Nijinsky's Best, by Nijinsky II.

Approximately six months after the talented sprinter Five Star Day was shut out of the field for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), Greely may have found another contender for racing's championship day after sending out Columbine Stable, Tom Nichols, and Jay Jones Jr.'s Manndar to a victory in the $350,500 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (G1) on May 6 at Churchill Downs. Ridden by Corey Nakatani,

Manndar split horses on the final turn before going on to post a 1 1/2-length victory over Falcon Flight (Fr) in the Woodford Reserve (formerly the Early Times Turf Classic), the main event on the supporting card for the Kentucky Derby (G1). Sent off by the crowd of 153,204 as the 5.10-to-1 fourth choice, Manndar ran the 1 1/8 miles over the firm turf in 1:47.91.

While the Breeders' Cup was not specifically mentioned by the 28-year-old Greely, a Southern California-based conditioner who has trained for about 2 1/2 years, some prestigious events could be on the itinerary for the four-year-old son of Doyoun. Greely said potential targets are the $2-million Arlington Million Stakes (G1) on August 19 at Arlington International Racecourse and the Charles Whittingham Handicap (G1) on May 29 at Hollywood Park. Manndar had been winless since capturing the listed Fairway Stakes at Newmarket in June.

Taking a shot at those events seems justified after Manndar dispatched a Woodford Reserve field that featured five group or graded stakes winners. Among those in the beaten field were Allen Paulson's multiple Grade 1 winner Yagli, who finished third, and Rhythm Band, who won the $2-million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G3) last time out for the Godolphin Racing operation.

"Personally I thought he was the horse to beat," Greely said. "I knew Ben Cecil's horse (Falcon Flight) was tough, and I thought we'd finish one-two but also hoping we'd be on top."

The top two finishers were both coming out of the El Rincon Handicap (G2) on April 8 at Santa Anita Park, where Falcon Flight won and Manndar finished fourth. Shortly after that effort, Greely tightened the screws on Manndar, getting in three of "the best works of his life," including a sharp half-mile breeze over the Churchill turf course three days before the race.

Marquette and jockey Jorge Chavez took the early initiative, taking the field through an opening quarter-mile in :24.57 before clicking off a half in :48.75. Dawson's Legacy gave chase down the backstretch as Nakatani continued to bide his time and let Manndar settle into stride.

"He's the kind of horse that you just let him do his running and go about his business," Nakatani said. "Beau told me ÔJust go out there and ride your race.' He was a little tight into the first turn but got into his stride about the half-mile pole."

Through six furlongs in 1:12.53 and with Dawson's Legacy starting to retreat, Nakatani started to make his move. Manndar split rivals on the turn, sprinted to a clear lead, and braced for the oncoming challenge from the late runners. The trio of Falcon Flight, Yagli, and Rhythm Band never mounted a serious challenge to Manndar, who was three lengths in front past the eighth pole.

Falcon Flight finished a length in front of Yagli, who held the same margin on Rhythm Band under the wire.

Manndar began his career in Europe under trainer Luca Cumani before he was purchased privately by his current owners last fall. Manndar is 3-3-3 from 12 starts for earnings of $418,835.

"We don't want to run him a whole ton this year," Greely said. "I'm thinking about five quality races for the rest of the year, and we'll go back to California now to figure that out."

Searching for Chop Chop

Trainer Bob Baffert issued a challenge to Jorge Chavez, who has acquired the nickname "Chop Chop" for his aggressive riding and sometimes gratuitous use of the whip, when the Eclipse Award-winning jockey arrived in the paddock before the $169,200 Winnercomm Handicap (G2).

Winnercomm H. (G2)
Churchill Downs, May 6, $169,200, 7 furlongs, fast, 1:21.53
1-STRAIGHT MAN, c. 4, Saint Ballado-Brilliant Melody, by Cornish Prince.
2-Mula Gula, c. 4, Lil E. Tee-Night Tan, by Ascot Knight.
3-Patience Game, c. 4, Woodman-Starboard Tack, by Seattle Slew.

"This is the first time I've used Chop Chop," Baffert said. "His agent kept bugging me and Chop Chop kept bugging me, looking to get him on one of my horses. When I saw (Straight Man) was in light, I said okay and told him ÔWhen you turn for home, go into your Chop Chop mode. If you're as good as they say you are, go out and prove it.' "

Chavez did exactly that, guiding Robert and Beverly Lewis's Straight Man to a wire-to-wire victory in the Winnercomm, a race previously run as the Churchill Downs Handicap (G2). It was his first career stakes victory.

Hustled to the lead right from the start, the four-year-old son of Saint Ballado set blistering fractions and hung on gamely in the deep stretch to win by a head over longshot Mula Gula. Patience Game finished third, winning a tight photo over 2.70-to-1 favorite Kimberlite Pipe, Run Johnny, and Son of a Pistol. Final time for the seven furlongs was 1:21.53. Straight Man has won 4-of-12 career starts and $298,164.

Perfect timing in Humana

The old saying "timing is everything" ran true to form in the $166,050 Humana Distaff Handicap (G2) when Joe Judice gave James Hine Jr.'s Ruby Surprise a perfectly timed ride and rolled to a 2 1/4-length upset victory over heavily favored Honest Lady.

Humana Distaff H. (G2)
Churchill Downs, May 6, $166,050, 7 furlongs, fast, 1:21.25
1-RUBY SURPRISE, m. 5, Farma Way-Santa Rosalia, by Bold Bidder.
2-Honest Lady, f. 4, Seattle Slew-Toussaud, by El Gran Senor.
3-Cassidy, m. 5, Jolie's Halo-Hop a Jet, by Riva Ridge.

Fourth down the backstretch, Ruby Surprise seized the lead after a three-wide move and spurted away in the stretch. By the time 7-to-10 favorite Honest Lady could uncork her late rally, Ruby Surprise was out of reach. Sent off at 16.60-to-1, the five-year-old daughter of Farma Way won the seven-furlong event in 1:21.25.

"When she fires, she fires," Judice said. "I knew Honest Lady would be coming. I just wanted to get the job done."

The loss was the first of the season for Honest Lady, who came in with victories in the Santa Monica Handicap (G1) at Santa Anita and the Distaff Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct. More than 15 lengths behind at one point on the backstretch, the four-year-old Seattle Slew filly never was a serious threat to the winner, making her belated rally in the middle of the racetrack under Brice Blanc.

Ruby Surprise has won 10-of-24 career starts and $530,107.

Turf Mile a family affair

The Scherer family is keeping things in the family on Derby day, specifically an undercard event on turf for fillies and mares.

Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile S. (G3)
Churchill Downs, May 6, $115,400, 1 mile, turf, firm, 1:34.78
1-DON'T BE SILLY, m. 5, Lord At War (Arg)-Oh Silly Me, by Quack.
2-Really Polish, m. 5, Polish Numbers-Good Ôn Smart, by Smarten.
3-Pricearose, f. 4, Repriced-Manila Rose, by Manila.

One year after Richard Scherer saddled Shires Ende for a victory in the Ashland Mile Stakes (G3), father Merrill Scherer pulled off a similar upset win when Don't Be Silly won the $115,400 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G3). Sent off at 29.40-to-1, Don't Be Silly won by 1 3/4 lengths over Really Polish and Pricearose, getting the mile in 1:34.78.

Chavez rode the five-year-old Lord At War (Arg) mare, who was coming off a disappointing sixth-place finish in a Keeneland allowance event on April 15.

The victory nearly came at the expense of Shires Ende, who won last year at odds of more than 39-to-1 but was scratched, and Merrill Scherer's son, who was married earlier in the day. "Last year my son won this race, but we're running out of family," Merrill Scherer said. "That was the end of us."

The victory improved Don't Be Silly's record to 8-8-8 from 34 career starts and increased her earnings to $319,501.

UNDER THE SPIRES-Popular freshman sire Unbridled's Song had his first stakes winner when the Lewises' Unbridled Time rolled to an impressive victory in the $121,200 WHAS-11 Stakes. Ridden by Pat Day and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Unbridled Time ran his record to 2-for-2 with a 2 3/4-length victory over Daring Pegasus and Cyane's Thunder. Final time was :57.73, just off Western Dreamer's track record of :57.60.