Booklet Victorious In Return

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Grade I winner Booklet was victorious in his return to the track in a $59,500 allowance race for 3-year-olds and up Tuesday at Churchill Downs. Under jockey Pat Day, the son of Notebook covered the mile distance in 1:34.68, crossing the wire three-quarters of a length in front of Rock Slide, with Dash for Daylight another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Entering the gate as the 4/5 favorite in the field of six, Booklet gained the lead early, setting opening fractions of :22.83 for the quarter and :45.76 for the half-mile where he was headed by Dash for Daylight before regaining the lead under a hand ride. The winner returned $4.60, $3.20, and $2.60.

The allowance race was the first race back for Booklet since finishing next to last in the May 18 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Booklet skipped the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) after disappointing outings in the Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park, where he finished fourth, and was 4 1/2 lengths behind Harlan's Holiday in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland. He began the Triple Crown Trail by winning the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) and the Fountain of Youth (gr. I), both at Gulfstream.

Trainer John T. Ward Jr. conditions Booklet for John and Deby Oxley, who privately purchased the colt as a juvenile after he had posted four wins in five starts for trainer Steve Klesaris.

Ginger Parker, who owns Quicksilver Farm near Waldo, Fla., with her husband Warren, and Charles Baldree Jr. bred Booklet in Florida from the Bob's Dusty mare Crafty Bobbie, who was purchased for $1,000 at the 1997 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's October mixed sale. Crafty Bobbie died of colitis two years after foaling Booklet.

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