This Field Makes the Grade

There’s no shortage of Grade I winners in today’s $250,000-added Falls City Handicap, a Grade III being contested for the 86th time, at Churchill Downs in Kentucky.

Six of the seven fillies and mares scheduled to run in the 11/8-mile race have won a Group or Grade I and the Falls City also includes the last two Breeders’ Cup Distaff winners.

Spain, who won the Distaff at nearly 56-1 in 2000 and missed a repeat by a head four weeks ago at Belmont Park, is trying to make up for a narrow loss in this race a year ago.

Owned by Prince Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corp. and trained by Wayne Lukas, the Thunder Gulch filly lost by a nose to Bordelaise while finishing 81/2 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

Besides Spain, the other Grade I winners are Unbridled Elaine, who won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at 12-1; Miss Linda, who took the Spinster at Keeneland at nearly 22-1 before finishing sixth in the Distaff; Caressing, who was the upset winner (47-1) of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; Forest Secrets, who pulled a 50-1 shocker in the Acorn this spring at Belmont Park; and Printemps, who won three Group I races in her native Chile before coming to the United States.

Completing the field is De Bertie, who has won seven of 17 in her career.

At Hollywood Park, Grey Memo will try to defend his title in the $100,000-added On Trust Handicap, a race restricted to California breds at the seldom-used distance of 71/2 furlongs.

Owned by a partnership that includes Ridgeley Farm and trained by Warren Stute, Grey Memo has struggled in recent months and enters the On Trust having lost six in a row. The return to Hollywood Park could perk up the 4-year-old, who has won four of eight over the surface.

Rounding out the field are Golden General, who will be making only his third start on the dirt; Flying Rudolph; Waingarth; Ceeband, the 4-5 morning line favorite, who, like Grey Memo, has won four times at Hollywood Park; Takin It Deep and Stormy Jack.

Race of the day: The $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap, which is being run for the 88th time at Aqueduct, drew a competitive field of 11 with Yonaguska given top weight of 131 pounds.

Like four others in the field, Yonaguska will be making his first start at Aqueduct.

Who’s hot: Paul Atkinson. He won with his first two mounts of the Hollywood Park meet, then lost twice Wednesday.

Who’s not: Juan Serey. The trainer began the week winless at Aqueduct, having lost with his first 17 starters.

Exotically speaking: A place pick-all, singling Six G’s in the first, using Fin Lady and I Saw You First in the second, using Lebontempsroulet and El Curioso in the third, Nor’easter and Natural Style in the fourth, singling Bring Plenty, Secretaryharriet in the sixth, Ceeband in the seventh and using Yolla Bolly, Note Of Integrity and Buffalo in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total:2/20. Money: Previous day/meet total: $10.40/$106.20. Total money bet: $186.