Clark J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES
PREVIEWS

ISTAN (Gone West) lit up the track in Louisville, Kentucky, when capturing
the Ack Ack H. (G3) by 8 3/4 lengths last time out, and the five-year-old is the
one to beat in Friday’s $500,000 Clark H. (G2). We could make a case against
him, pointing out that the five-year-old has never been 1 1/8 miles, racing
mostly in one-turn events for Bill Mott, but we’re on the bandwagon. The
five-year-old will make his final career start before heading to stud, and we
expect him to leave a winner.

With BRIS Speed ratings of 108 and 110 in his last two dirt starts, Istan is
clearly hot right now. He didn’t race a lot earlier in his career, but the bay
horse has finally realized his potential this season, making 11 starts over the
past 12 months, with wins in three of his last four outings. Istan owns an
explosive turn of foot and displayed an affinity for Churchill last time. We
expect him to be close to the pace with Kent Desormeaux before seizing command.

FAIRBANKS (Giant’s Causeway) looks dangerous on the front end. Winner of the
nine-furlong Tokyo City Cup H. (G3) by a widening 6 3/4 lengths in late March, the
four-year-old colt returned from a lengthy freshening to post a commendable
second in the Suburban H. (G1) in late June. Fairbanks exits another respectable
effort, a runner-up finish to BRASS HAT (Prized) in the Massachusetts H., and
he’ll pick up the services of Edgar Prado on Friday. The Todd Pletcher charge
also owns tremendous Speed figures, registering 109, 107 and 106 numbers this
year, and quality speed is always dangerous. We won’t be surprised to see
Fairbanks lead all the way.

MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor Grades) will seek his second Clark score in the last
three years, and the uncoupled Pletcher runner logged an encouraging runner-up
effort in his last start, the Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup S. (G2). That
performance followed a couple of dreadful showings, so perhaps the five-year-old
will keep moving forward here, and the $2.3 million earner definitely owns the
class and Speed ratings to challenge for it all when at his best. John Velazquez
will ride, and we’ll use Magna Graduate in the top three.

PURIM (Dynaformer) is eligible to grab a minor award. Winner of the Shadwell
Turf Mile (G1) two starts back, the versatile five-year-old is also a graded
winner on dirt. The Tom Proctor charge shows a couple of nice five-furlong works
at Churchill in preparation for his final career start, and we’ll look for Purim
to offer a solid rally from off the pace on Friday.

Brass Hat could outperform our expectations, but we’ll just watch to see how
the classy six-year-old gelding fares here. He exits a dull eighth in the Fayette S.
(G3) on Keeneland’s Polytrack, but Brass Hat did prove to be a game winner of
the Mass Cap two starts back. The Buff Bradley pupil hasn’t earned the strongest
Speed ratings this season, but we can’t completely dismiss his chances.

A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy), one of three uncoupled runners from the Pletcher
stable, is a one-dimensional late runner who rarely is a serious factor. This
company is probably a little stiff for him, but it won’t shock us to see the
plodder come charging late once again for a small share.

DIAMOND STRIPES (Notebook) exits a well-beaten eighth in the Breeders’ Cup
Classic (G1), finishing 37 lengths back of Curlin (Smart Strike) in the slop at
Monmouth Park, and we have to question how he’ll bounce back after that effort.
Trainer Richard Dutrow will wheel the gray gelding back in a difficult spot and
even though Diamond Stripes owns a pair of stakes wins at nine furlongs at the
Meadowlands, he might prefer a little less ground. The four-year-old isn’t sharp
enough presently for us to recommend his chances.

GOING BALLISTIC (Lite the Fuse) will bring a two-race win skein into his
debut versus elders, but he’ll be seriously tested for class in this spot. We’ll
give him a race at this level. PLUG ME IN (Hold for Gold) will likely show
speed, but the California shipper doesn’t figure to be around in the latter
stages.