Clark Handicap (Grade 1)- $500.000 Purse
CD- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
November 27, 2020
There is more to do on Friday then going out to shop, as we can all sit back and watch the 17th running of the Clark Handicap, a Grade 1 race that attracts some quality horses year after year. They all might not currently be riding hot streaks, but they have accomplished impressive things in the past. We will have a field of six for this race, and the weights of the horses will range from 117 to 121 pounds. The winner last year was Eclipse My Knowledge, for Nakamura Stables, becoming the second time that the trainer had won this race. That horse is continuing to race at the graded level, but in smaller such races.
#1- Combat Wombat (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by M Tunon)- Regardless of what happens for the rest of his career, Combat Wombat will go down as being one of the good ones. 2018 was his big year, winning the Pacific Classic and finishing second in the BC Classic (which is the last time he has run at CD). Those races go a long way in his over $2,800.000 in career earnings. He has not won a stake since April 2019, though was competitive for a while after. Recently, he dropped down again, and did win an open allowance. Resurfacing here is intriguing, and he is the low weight at 117 pounds.
#2- Magne Account (RNP Stables, ridden G Corrales)- The accolades for this five year old gelding, when following those of Combat Wombat will not stand out, but he has been very productive in his own right. In 36 races, he has won nine times, and has hit the board in twelve others. He’s run at the graded level many times, but has yet to win one. The career highlight for him is the $300.000 Grand Prix American JC at BEL in 2019. Most recently, we saw him in the Grade 2 Marathon at KEE in the beginning of the month, where he was fourth.
#3- Set In Space (Nakamura Stables, ridden by S Ryan)- Nakamura looks to win his second Clark Handicap in a row, and pins his hopes on this three year old. So far, he is still a bit unproven, with one win in nine career starts. He was picked up in private sales after finally breaking his maiden, for $70.000, and has run in graded stakes ever since. Only his most recent start in standout, running third in the Grade 2 Fayette while getting his photo taken with the winner at the wire.
#4- Achilles (Diablo Diablo, ridden by J Stein)- Here is another who has simply had a stellar career, with over $1,800.000 in career earnings. That spans 25 starts, with seven wins. He has been a master at SA, winning the Grade 1 SA Handicap not once, but twice, both this year and last. He also won the CT Classic this year, so there is plenty to be excited about with him. More recently, the finishes are not as good, with back to back eighth place performances in races where he simply did not get involved in any capacity. He’s had some time to think about it, and is still working well. Plus, this is not the Pacific Classic.
#5- American Phuegoah (The A Stable, ridden by J J Hernandez)- This six year old gelding will be the high weight in the field, carrying 121 pounds. That’s one more than Achilles, and about 2-4 more than the rest of the field, so that is something to consider. What that also means is that you are likely heading into the race on very good form, and that is the case for American Phuegoah, with two wins in his last three starts. The highlight there is the Grade 1 Woodward Handicap at SAR in the beginning of September. He followed that up with a respectable fifth place run in the JC Gold Cup. If the weights were even, he is the best bet, but how much of a difference will they make.
#6- Spirited Stride- Scratched
#7- Buckskin (Smokey Stover, ridden by D Davis)- Here is the second three year old in the field, and I should mention that each of them are sired by Cherokee Sunset. He has won four of his thirteen starts, but you have to like his overall consistency, hitting the board in 12 of them, and he has never failed to get a piece of the purse for Smokey Stover. None of those are a graded win, but that seems to be just a matter of time whether it is here or elsewhere. Ran second in the Grade 2 Marathon over at KEE on BC day. Certainly seems poised for a good run here.
Prediction: 5-7-4-2
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
