Allamerican Bertie Tunes Up for Falls City

Delaware Oaks (gr. III) winner and Alabama (gr. I) runner-up Allamerican Bertie tuned-up for a run in next weeks' Falls City Handicap (gr. II) with a sharp five furlong work on Wednesday at Churchill Downs.

Richard, Elaine and Bert Klein's 3-year-old daughter of Quiet American breezed five furlongs in :59.40, the swiftest move of 40 at the distance. Trainer Steve Flint had been taking a long look at a run on the turf in Saturday's $150,000-added Cardinal (gr. III), but the filly's sharp move helped convince him that the $250,000-added Falls City at 1 1/8 mile on Thanksgiving Day was the spot for Allamerican Bertie.

"That might have been a little quicker than I wanted," said Flint. "But it probably balances out. She's pretty fresh right now and probably needed a work like that."

Another reason he had considered the Cardinal was concern about the amount of weight that Racing Secretary Doug Bredar might assign to his filly for the Falls City, but Flint said he has decided that race on the main track is where his filly needs to be. The field for the Falls City is not expected to be large, but it will provide showdown with Take Charge Lady, the Ken McPeek trained winner of the Ashland and Spinster (both gr. I).

"I've got plenty of faith in our racing secretary and I believe he's going to do a very good job on these weights," said Flint. "I've just got a feeling that it sets up well for her. I know Kenny's filly (Take Charge Lady) is doing good and I wouldn't want it to be any other way. I'm looking forward to running against her."