River City Handicap Grade III

                                  For Three Year Olds and Upward

                                     Mile and an Eighth Turf

                                        Purse: $100.000

                                      At Churchill Downs

                                  On Saturday November 19, 2011

The eighth running of the River City Handicap kicks off on Saturday with a field of ten. Last years winner came from the barn of Angelos Stable, as the owner sent out Purple Ripple to a length victory in 1:45.82 for the mile and an eighth on the lawn. Lets now give you the run down on who will be running in this years race.

1 Double Ridge

Owned by Mfm Stables

Jockey: J. Graham

Purchased for sixteen thousand from Riggins Racing will look to make his third start for owner Mfm Stables. A winner last time out and four of his last five will be challenged on Saturday when he moves up in class. He does own a victory at the distance of a mile and an eighth and won at a mile and three eighths in his last start at Retama against Allowance Company. Can get distance, but will the competition be too much for him? We shall see on Saturday.

2 Need A Marlboro

Owned by Dynark Stables

Jockey: J. Theriot

The tough luck four year old has finished second in four straight races coming into Saturday. He finished second in a pair of N1X races, as he then was second in the West Point Handicap at Saratoga and in the Mohawk Handicap at Belmont. The N.Y Bred will try Graded Stakes Company for the first time since finishing sixth in the Grade III Fort Marcy. He has one win out of three tries at the distance and will need to be sharp on Saturday to grab a piece.

3 Skip A Line

Owned and Bred by Chain Reaction

Jockey: M. Cruz

Comes in off a pair of fourth place finishes. One in N1X at Belmont at a mile and an eighth and the other in the Grade I Forego. Three starts back he took the Grade I Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga going 6 furlongs. He now is moved back to the sod where he has won two of three starts. Seems to like going short, but his one start at Saturdays distance he was just a length behind. If the distance does not bother him he could be there.

4 Not Ripe Yet

Owned and Bred by TwinTowersRacing

Jockey: M. Mena

Takes his first crack against Graded Stakes Company on Saturday. A third place finish in his last start against oclm for $40.000 and his only win out of nine starts came against Allowance Company at Arlington Park back in July. He is in tough against these runners and will need his best yet to get bye them on Saturday.

5 St Bartholomew

Owned by RNP Stables

Jockey: L Goncalves

Looks to get back to the winners circle since beating Allowance Company back in August. Since that victory he has two off the board finishes and a second place finish in the Grade III Knickerbocker Handicap at Belmont Park. He needs to run back to that race and put up that triple speed number on Saturday.

6 Trading Punches

Owned and Bred by Thinken Stables

Jockey: J. Castanon

The tough luck five year old gelding hopes to catch a break on Saturday. Running his last seven races in triple numbers and only has come away with one win. That one win came back in January in the$300.000 Sunshine Millions at Santa Anita. His only off the board finish came here at Churchill Downs in the Grade II Firecracker Handicap. He will have a big shot after running the way that he has and maybe come Saturday he can break through.

7 Willie Mayes

Owned by Calia Stable

Jockey: E. Prado

Comes in off a fifth place finish in the Grade I Pattison Canadian International behind Bronze Sabre. Two starts back he was third and behind winner Bronze Sabre in the Northern Trader BC Turf. He did win the Breeders Stakes for State Breds at Woodbine. All three were at a mile and an half on the sod. After chasing half of the BC Turf field in his last two he may have found his chance to get to the winners circle.

8 Thunder Alley

Owned and Bred by Pumpkin Racing

Jockey: C. Lanerie

Has finished second and third since winning the Black Tie Affair Handicap at Arlington Park. His mile and a half race also at Arlington Park came in the Grade III Stars and Stripes and was third by three. In his last start at Calder he closed to finish second by a neck. Has two wins to his credit this year with the other in against Allowance Company. Needs to run big on Saturday.

9 Lookin At Ya

Owned by Nj Vets

Jockey: R. Prescott

The veteran of the field at the ripe old age of six will make his way back to Graded Stakes Company since finishing fourth in July 2010 in the Grade III Jaipur. A winner by a neck two starts back against claimers for $40.000 was off the board in his last one against oclm for $75.000. The old boy will need a lights out performance come Saturday.

10 Bottom Line

Owned and Bred by Sir Edward Estates

Jockey: V. Lebron

Has been lightly raced by ownership this year. Since winning the Grade III TAM Stakes at Tampa back in March his other starts came in the $150.000 Dallas Turf Cup where he ran third, and in the Grade I Arlington Million where he was off the board running fifth. He has only run at this distance once and it came in the San Gabriel Handicap where he finished third by a length. Owner carefully picks spots for him and looks to contend on Saturday.

Iwin picks 3-6-2

Tout picks 10-7-6

Until next time this is Iwin signing off!