For 150 consecutive years the Kentucky Derby has been run at Churchill Downs. On November 29, the Clark Stakes will be run at Churchill Downs for…you guessed it…the 150th time. Let’s take a look at the entrants of this $600,000 centerpiece of the Fall Meet beneath these historic Twin Spires. The horses will be listed by post position and we’ll provide a thought on each pony.
1 Bolzy- Only two wins in ten career starts but has been in Stakes company last three. Ran a good second in the Hagyard-Fayette at Keeneland last out and has the foxy Frankie Detorri in the saddle.
2 Grand Aspen-Well traveled as ten career starts have been at six different tracks. Son of Dialed In has been in the money in six of them but has only two wins and none in Stakes company.
3 Crupi- Irad Ortiz Jr. rides and Todd Pletcher trains so that means contender. Five wins in eighteen career starts but fourteen finishes in the top three. Knocks on the door a lot but only win this year was in the Suburban Stakes at Saratoga in June.
4 Piroli- Allowance race winner at Keeneland in his last start on October 20 against a solid field means this relocated West Coast runner is headed in the right direction. Should be a price for those choosing this Michael McCarthy trained son of Battle of Midway.
5 Most Wanted- Unbeaten in four career starts, this three-year-old son of Candy Ride will run against older horses for the first time. Won the Oklahoma Derby and Ellis Park Derby but this water is a bit deeper. Trained by Brad Cox with Florent Geroux in the irons.
6 Hit Show- The likely post time favorite and another Brad Cox trained son of Candy Ride. Three Stakes wins in a row and seven lifetime wins with over $1.2 million in earnings means he will justifiably catch a lot of money here.
7 Rattle N Roll- Only start this year was a third place finish in Lukas Classic on September 28. Trained by Kenny McPeek, this son of Connect has three wins one second and three third place finishes in eight career starts at Churchill. Brian Hernandez Jr. rides which means Roll with him on your exotics.
8 Red Route One-Son of Gun Runner has banked over $1.8 million for all-time leading trainer Steve Asmussen. Won the Cornhusker back in July but has not raced since. Closing style means he could be right there at the end if the front end speed duel develops, which is likely.
9 Cooke Creek- Won three of last four with defeat being a neck loss to Hit Show in Lukas Classic. Jockey Luis Saez makes this front running speed horse a player in this one.
10 Uno Mas Bourbon- Might be exactly what you need after dealing with family on Thanksgiving. Trainer Ian Wilkes has poured this son of Macho Uno into the top there five times in six starts this year.
