Firecracker Handicap, 8F turf, G2, Churchill Downs, 7/4/11, Race 10, 5:25 pm EDT

[second_glance]

Firecracker H. (Grade II)

Purse $175,000. For Three-Year-Olds And Upward. By subscription of $175 each, which should accompany the nomination. $875 to pass the entry box; $875 additional to start, with $175,000 added. After payment of 1% of the added monies to all owners of horses finishing sixth through last, 62% of the remaining purse shall be paid to the owner of the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Weights to be announced Sunday, June 26. Starters to be named through the entry box at the usual time of closing. Trophy to winning owner. (If this race is taken off the turf it will be downgraded one grade level for this running only in accordance with American Graded Stakes Committee policy). Closed Saturday, June 18, 2011 with 55 nominations. (If deemed inadvisable by management to run this race over the turf course, it will be run on the main track at One mile.). One Mile. (Turf)

1 General Quarters (KY) 5/H L J Theriot 119 T R McCarthy
2 Omniscient (KY) 5/H LA M R Cruz 113 S M Asmussen
3 Mister Marti Gras (KY) 4/G LA S Bridgmohan 115 C M Block
4 El Caballo (KY) 7/H LA C J Lanerie 114 R E Nicks
5 Mystic (KY) 4/C LA J L Castanon 114 W I Mott
6 Joshua Reynolds (KY) 4/C L B J Hernandez, Jr. 114 R E Nicks
7 Baryshnikov (KY) 5/H LA J R Leparoux 117 M J Maker
8 Plutonium (KY) 4/G LA J Lopez 112 D E Pate
9 Strike Impact (KY) 7/G L R Albarado 117 P J Dupuy
10 Wise Dan (KY) 4/G L J K Court 115 C Lopresti
11 Lubash (NY) 4/C LA K J Desormeaux 115 J T Ryerson

[second_glance]

Okay. Apparently, there was a question as to whether Mister Mardi Gras was a late entry or not. Initially he was ruled eligible, after the first draw, so there was a redraw. Now the three stewards have ruled him ineligible to run, but the second draw stands.

All as per Courier-Journal writer Jennie Rees, whose husband trains Strike Impact.

[warhorse]

LUBASH is the key in this race. Use him with General Quarters, El Caballo, and Omniscient.

[ElPrado1]

Ok, I just wrote Lubash off of my ticket.

[Paladin]

I'll go with Omniscient / Wise Dan

[warhorse]

Ok, I just wrote Lubash off of my ticket.

Great. I love redistributing wealth from idiots into my pocket. The Belmont Stakes paid off my car this year with money from people like you.

Notice, no selection from you. World is full of cowards like you.

[second_glance]

Wise Dan wins, at 14-1 (I think).

[ElPrado1]

Go Lubash!

[Jeff]

LUBASH is the key in this race. Use him with General Quarters, El Caballo, and Omniscient.

Fifth, seventh, ninth, tenth (of ten.)

Good work.

I love redistributing wealth from idiots into my pocket.

Don't we all.

[second_glance]

As someone who has followed Baryshnikov his whole career, I find it hard to believe he went off as the favorite here -- was that the Julien factor? -- and is now GS-placed twice.

[Kennedy]

Very nice turf bow for Wise Dan. It's nice to see him find a place to recoup his career a bit after his recent poor run.

[Starine]

From the DRF:

McCarthy appears okay after health scare

Tom McCarthy was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for observation shortly after the 77-year-old owner-trainer sent out General Quarters to a seventh-place finish Monday in the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap. By Tuesday morning, McCarthy was resting comfortably at his Louisville home, according to Jerry Hills, a close friend of McCarthy’s.

Hills said it initially was believed McCarthy may have suffered a minor stroke, but doctors said he might only have been overcome by heat exhaustion. Temperatures reached into the low 90s amid oppressive humidity Monday.

Maybe General Quarters didn't handle the heat well either. I hope McCarthy makes a quick recovery.