11/21/07
Last updated: 11/20/07 6:53 PM
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Magna Graduate will attempt to win his
second Clark in three years
(Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) |
ISTAN (Gone West), an impressive 8 3/4-length winner of the one-mile Ack Ack
H. (G3) under the Twin Spires on November 3, is the top draw for Friday’s
$500,000 Clark H. (G2) at Churchill Downs. Conditioned by Bill Mott, the
five-year-old will make his final career start before heading to stud at owner
Brereton Jones’ Airdrie Stud. Istan, who has recorded runaway stakes wins in three of his
last four starts, all at a mile, will also make his first appearance at nine
furlongs in the Holiday Weekend event. Regular rider Kent Desormeaux will guide
the hot horse.
A strong group of challengers will line up to face Istan. Multiple Grade 2
hero DIAMOND STRIPES (Notebook), winner of the Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup S. (G2)
two starts back, will attempt to make amends for a disappointing eighth in the
sloppy Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The Richard Dutrow charge recorded a
fast-finishing third, beaten only a half-length, in the Stephen Foster H. (G1)
at Churchill in June.
MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor Grades) captured the 2005 Clark. The $2.3 million
earner
finished an excellent second in this year’s Stephen Foster, and he highlights a
formidable three-prong entry from trainer Todd Pletcher. Uncoupled stablemates
FAIRBANKS (Giant’s Causeway) and A. P. ARROW (A.P. Indy) also bring good
credentials into the race. The former captured the Tokyo City H. (G3) earlier
this year and finished second in both the Suburban H. (G1) and Massachusetts H.
this season. Grade 3 hero A. P. Arrow rallied late for third in the 2006 Clark
(G1) and has placed in the Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) and Washington Park H. (G2)
in his last two outings.
Mass Cap winner BRASS HAT (Prized) likes Churchill, setting a new track
record when defeating eventual Pacific Classic (G1) victor Student Council
(Kingmambo) in an allowance/optional claiming event this summer, and merits
serious consideration on Friday for trainer William “Buff” Bradley. Willie
Martinez will ride the venerable gelding. Grade 1 king PURIM (Dynaformer) is
another intriguing entrant. Unplaced in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) last out,
the versatile five-year-old is a graded stakes winner on both dirt and turf.
Trainer Tom Proctor will attempt to send Purim out a winner in the dark bay’s
career finale.
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The complete field, from the rail with riders and weights, is Diamond
Stripes, Cornelio Velasquez, 120; Magna Graduate, John Velazquez, 122; Purim,
Jamie Theriot, 117; A. P. Arrow, Ramon Dominguez, 115; Brass Hat, 118; PLUG ME
IN (Hold for Gold), Brian Hernandez, 114; Fairbanks, Edgar Prado, 116; Istan,
118; and GOING BALLISTIC (Lite the Fuse), Clifton Berry, 115.
COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop Kid), a close second in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) two
starts back and third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last out, heads a field of 10
turf runners entered in the
$200,000
River
City H. (G3), which will take place one race prior to the Clark. After
making his first seven career starts under the direction of Carlos Martin, Cosmonaut was transferred to Patrick
Biancone and made his last outing with Francois Parisel. The
five-year-old gray has been re-united with Martin, who will saddle the
millionaire and 122-pound highweight on Friday. Prado will be in the irons.
Grade 1 winner GUN SALUTE (Military) will enter the race on the upswing for
Mott, easily capturing an allowance race at Keeneland in his last outing. Grade
3 victor ASCERTAIN (Ire) (Intikhab) will bring a three-race winning skein into
the River City, and Bernard Baruch H. (G2) runner-up BIG PRAIRIE (Danzig), who
finished second in the 2005 Jefferson Cup (G3) at Churchill, is another
contender.
The $65,000
Dream Supreme H.
will also be offered on the undercard. Eight distaffers,
including CHANGE UP (Distorted Humor), CANDY JO (Maria’s Mon), RUSSIAN GYPSY
(Unbridled’s Song) and PRETTY JENNY (Pioneering), will square off in the
six-furlong sprint.
