Spring Waltz, winner of the Rampart Handicap (gr. II) for trainer Bobby Frankel earlier this year, carries top weight of 120 pounds in a full field of 12 fillies and mares for the $150,000 Falls City Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs Nov. 27.
The 1 1/8-mile main track event also features graded winners Brownie Points, Swift Temper, and a second Frankel trainee, Skylighter.
The Stronach Stable's homebred Spring Waltz was sensational last fall and winter, clicking off four consecutive wins. The 5-year-old daughter of Silver Charm capped the run March 9 at Gulfstream Park when she drove to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Rampart, also contested at nine furlongs. The Rampart, in which she was even money, was her stakes debut.
Spring Waltz cooled off after the Rampart win, finishing fourth in the July 13 Delaware Handicap (gr. II) as the favorite following a three-month layoff. In Belmont Park's Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) nearly two months later, she was never in contention while running sixth as the 4-5 choice over a sloppy track.
The gray mare bounced back in Belmont's Turnback the Alarm (gr. III) Oct. 26 to finish second, though she was outfought by Altesse in a game effort by a neck after taking the lead in the stretch.
Spring Waltz, breaking from post position 8 under new rider Robby Albarado, has a lifetime mark of six wins and four seconds in 12 starts with earnings of $400,637.
Pin Oak Stable's Brownie Points, who would go over the $1-million mark in lifetime earnings with a victory in the Falls City, won the Ouija Board Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Lone Star Park May 26. Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, the 5-year-old daughter of Forest Wildcat has made her past five starts on the lawn. She is graded stakes placed on the dirt, most recently when second to Zenyatta in Oaklawn Park's Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) in the spring.
Mark Stanley's Swift Temper won the Gardenia Handicap (gr. III) at Ellis Park Aug. 16 and returned Nov. 2 to finish third in Churchill's Chilukki Stakes (gr. II), 1 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Leah's Secret.
Darley Stable’s Skylighter won her stakes debut in the Indiana Oaks (gr. II) in her most recent start at Hoosier Park Oct. 3. The 3-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa has won three in a row.
Robert Adams' Unforgotten has three consecutive graded stakes-placed finishes for trainer Dallas Stewart, most recently as the runner-up in the Chilukki at odds of 21-1.
Richard Lister's Woodbine-based Tell It as It Is won the Maple Leaf by a nose in her most recent try Oct. 19.
The Illinois-bred Stop a Train ships in from Hawthorne with back-to-back stakes wins for trainer Christine Janks.
$150,000 Falls City Handicap (gr. II, Race 11, 4:24 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 1/8 Miles
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Brownie Points (KY), 119, Luis S. Quinonez
2. Tiz to Dream (KY), 112, E. T. Baird
3. Tell It as It Is (KY), 115, Emma-Jayne Wilson
4. Miss Isella (KY), 111, Calvin H. Borel
5. Swift Temper (KY), 116, Kent J. Desormeaux
6. Skylighter (KY), 115, Julien R. Leparoux
7. Stop a Train (IL), 117, Perry Compton
8. Spring Waltz (KY), 120, Robby Albarado
9. Devil House (KY), 115, Jesus L. Castanon
10. Initforthekandy (KY), 114, John McKee
11. Unforgotten (FL), 117, Miguel Mena
12. Copper State (IL), 116, Shaun Bridgmohan
Spring Waltz heads a field of 12 in the Falls City Handicap Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs.
Coglianese Photos