Talk of the Nation

The fall meeting at Churchill Downs gets underway Sunday in what has become its traditional way, with juvenile races comprising the entire 11-race program. When the Triple Crown trail begins in earnest following the turn of the calendar, it will likely feature a handful of horses that raced on the day en route to bigger and better things, and the $200,000 GIII Street Sense S. has the feel of a key race going forward. The form of the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity is very much on display, and while that...

Off as the 6-5 chalk in Saturday's $1-million Listed Gun Runner S. at Kentucky Downs, Joe Allen and CHC's TALK OF THE NATION (c, 3, Quality Road--She's Not Here, by Street Cry {Ire}) took command in upper stretch and staved off a stinging late rally from Wadsworth to lead home a 1-2 finish for their in-form stallion. Away in good order, Talk of the Nation took up a stalking position from second early on as Smokey Mandate (Strong Mandate) made the running down the hill and towards the side of...

Talk of the Nation blew away local optional claiming foes last out Feb. 4, and did the same to stakes company here. Off as the chalk breaking from the far outside, the dark bay hopped a bit at the start but was pushed along by Samy Camacho to track from fourth while hung a bit wide. Scrubbed on to assert three deep entering the lane, he seemed to be stuck in neutral for a few strides while figuring out his leads, but as soon as he found his footing he...

6th-Aqueduct, $73,950, Msw, 11-11, 2yo, 6f, 1:13.47, gd, 4 1/2 lengths. TALK OF THE NATION (c, 2, Quality Road--She's Not Here {MGSW, $450,453}, by Street Cry {Ire}) failed to meet his reserve on a final bid of $470,000 after breezing in :10.1 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale earlier this spring. Given the 4-5 nod in this scratched-down field of just three, Talk of the Nation took his time getting into stride after bumping with Nieuwendyk (Nyquist) shortly after the break. Third of the trio, he kept outside in the clear...