Stars Dominate Churchill Nomination Lists For Final Stakes

The final days of the Fall 2001 Meet at Churchill Downs will highlight championship caliber racing, with stakes winners dominating each of the remaining four added-money contests.

The 91st running of the Falls City Handicap, a 1 1/8-miles race for older fillies and mares to be run on Thanksgiving Day, has attracted 24 nominations and is expected to provide a rare match-up of three Breeders' Cup champions. The race is expected to provide a rematch between the 1-2 finishers in this year's Distaff (gr. I) -- Roger Devenport's Unbridled Elaine and The Thoroughbred Corp's 2000 Distaff winner Spain -- and also figures to attract Carl Pollard's Caressing, winner of the 2000 Juvenile Fillies (GI) and reigning 2-year-old filly champion.

Grade I winners Include (Pimlico Special), Outofthebox (Super Derby) and Scorpion (Jim Dandy) head a group likely starters among 30 older horses nominated to the 127th running of the 1 1/8-miles Clark Handicap on Friday, Nov. 23. Other horses considered definite for the Clark include Fayette (gr. III) winner Connected, 1999 Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) winner Da Devil, Storm Day and Tahkodha Hills.

Walmac Alcibiades (gr. I) winner Take Charge Lady, Pocahontas winner Lotta Rhythm and unbeaten Belterra top the list of prospective starters for the 1 1/16-miles Golden Rod, a race for 2-year-old fillies set for Nov. 24. Arlington-Washington Lassie (gr. III) winner Joanies Bella is also among the 21 Golden Rod nominees.

Trainer Ken McPeek's powerful 1-2 punch of Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) runner-up Repent and Iroquois (GIII) winner Harlan's Holiday head a group of 25 2-year-olds nominated to the 1 1/16-miles Kentucky Jockey Club. Ellis Park Juvenile winner and Iroquois runner-up Request For Parole is also nominated.