Horses

Clark Stakes, plus Derby and Oaks preps bring big names to closing weekend at Churchill

Herald-Leader Staff Report

Churchill Downs is serving stakes on its post-Thanksgiving Day menu this weekend.

Friday’s 12-race card at the Louisville racetrack features the 149th running of the $600,000, Grade 2 Clark Stakes.

Saturday’s 12 races include early qualifying points races for next year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

Racing concludes for the Fall Meet on Sunday.

Here’s what to watch:

Friday

The 1 1/8-mile Clark goes to post at 5:48 p.m. and will be broadcast on FanDuel TV.

First Mission, trained by Louisville’s Brad Cox, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in a field of 10 older horses.

“The Clark is a solid race each year,” said Cox, who will attempt to win his second-career Clark with First Mission. “He’s a horse we always thought highly of and I’m thankful for Godolphin for allowing us to be patient to let him develop.”

A lightly race 3-year-old son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, First Mission has made only four starts but owns a gutsy victory in this year’s Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. He was the early favorite for the Preakness but was scratched because of an ankle injury.

Fifty-seven 3-year-olds have won the Clark but none since Gun Runner in 2016.

Top challengers Friday include Il Miracolo (4-1), Gasoline (5-1), Film Star (5-1), Trademark (6-1) and Straight Arrow (8-1).

▪ Friday’s card also includes the $300,000, Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes for 3-year-old fillies (5:18 p.m., FanDuel TV). Heavenly Sunday, also trained by Cox, is the 7-2 morning-line favorite in a field of 12 going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

First Mission, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Luis Saez, won the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland in April but did not have enough qualifying points to make it into the Kentucky Derby. He then missed the Preakness with an injury and did not race again until winning an allowance optional claiming race at Keeneland in October. First Mission is the morning-line favorite for Friday’s Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs.
First Mission, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Luis Saez, won the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland in April but did not have enough qualifying points to make it into the Kentucky Derby. He then missed the Preakness with an injury and did not race again until winning an allowance optional claiming race at Keeneland in October. First Mission is the morning-line favorite for Friday’s Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs. Keeneland Photo

Saturday

The $400,000, Grade 2, Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes offers a Kentucky Derby qualifying points scale of 10-5-3-2-1 as does the $400,000, Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes for the Kentucky Oaks.

Post time for the Golden Rod is 5:18 p.m. with the Kentucky Jockey Club to follow at 5:48 p.m. Both races will be televised by FanDuel TV. Both will be run at 1 1/16 miles.

Steve Asmussen’s Risk It is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line for the Derby prep with Dale Romans’ Stretch Ride (3-1) and Cox’s Awesome Road (7-2) close behind. Lexington’s Kenny McPeek has Real Men Violin at 5-1.

McPeek has the 8-5 favorite in the Golden Rod in Thorpedo Anna, who is unbeaten in two starts. Also perfect after two outings as a 2-year-old is Cox’s 2-1 second choice, West Sunset.

Sunday

Racing concludes for the year at Churchill Downs with 12 more races Sunday, including the featured $300,000, Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf Stakes for 3-year-olds (5:48 p.m., FanDuel TV).

Northern Invader (3-1) and Runaway Storm (7-2) are the top choices in a full field of 12 going 1 1/16 miles.

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