Woodard Tries to Stay Hot

For the year, trainer Joe Woodard is winning at about a 23% clip. He has been doing considerably better than that in the last few weeks at Churchill Downs.

Woodard has saddled a record nine consecutive winners at the Louisville track, breaking the record of eight set by Pat Byrne in 1997. The North American record for victories in a row is 14 set by trainer Frank Passero Jr. nine years ago at Gulfstream Park.

Seeking to extend his record, Woodard will send out two runners on today’s card at Churchill Downs. He will be represented by Buba’s Caper in the fourth and Peace And Joy in the sixth.

An 8-year-old Discover mare, Buba’s Caper will be making her first start for Woodard after running third for trainer Robert Mosco on May 23 at Delaware Park. Jesus Castanon will ride the Illinois bred in the $8,000 claimer at one mile.

Castanon also will be aboard Peace And Joy. Fourth against $30,000 claimers in his last start at Mountaineer Park on March 21, Peace And Joy, a 6-year-old gelding, will be facing $5,000 claimers in the 5 1/2-furlong race.

Race of the day: Spirited, who has won two of five on the Hollywood Park turf course, is the likely favorite against five others in today’s seventh in Inglewood. Tyler Baze will ride the 4-year-old West By West filly for Doug O’Neill, who trains the California bred for a partnership, in the $49,000 allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs.

One for the road: Lethal Weapon is bumped two levels in class for his first start of the year by high-percentage trainer Mike Hushion in today’s seventh at Belmont Park. Richard Migliore will ride the 7-year-old Southern Halo horse, who was last seen winning against $16,000 claimers Dec. 29 at Aqueduct, in the $25,000 claimer at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A place pick all using Awesome Jared and Lertxundi in the first, Gassan Pine and T Town Fame in the second, Caught Heart in the third, Tiz Afire and Rush Country in the fourth, Royal Moro and Traffic Update in the fifth, Swiss Ladybug in the sixth, Spirited in the seventh and On The Route and Miss Lola La Dare in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/76. Money: Previous day/meet total: $9/$381.60. Total money bet: $502.