Clark (Grade 2)- $600.000 Purse
CD- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
November 29, 2024

Before the Clark even began, we were surprised to learn that all three of the Fractious runners that were scheduled would be scratched for the race. This would leave us with a field of eight on a fast track, so it’s not as if rain caused the scratches. We still had a couple of the expected favorites taking part, and even though Investment Center was not among our picks, he was the second choice of the bettors. While he did not pay $78.70 to win like Reorganize did in the race right before this one, it proved to be a worthwhile investment to go with Investment Center. He is trained by TwinTowersRacing and had R M Hernandez aboard. For each, it is their first win in the Clark. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:47.56, which is an average winning time for the race. Let’s take a look at it:

(½ Mile- :46.30)- Wahpekute Sioux breaks sharply out of the gate for Mb Stables, but along the outside, Living In The Matrix, from TwinTowersRacing, will be just a little bit quicker and claims the early lead. These two break away from the rest of the field, with a gap of about three lengths to the third and fourth place horses. That is where we find the post time favorite, Alydar Stables’ All Take, and Asgar’s Officer Chaimura running side by side, with the longshot Colombia nearby for Night Rider Stables. There’s about another two lengths to the Mb Stables- trained China Syndrome, and at the back of the pack we have our eventual winner, TwinTowersRacing’s Investment Center running with Doc Rivers (D J C Racing Stables). They are officially scored as being ten lengths from the front.

(3/4 Mile- 1:10.41)- The leaders slow their pace down a bit, and now it is Wahpekute Sioux with a head in front of Living In The Matrix. Not much has changed behind them, and this includes the gaps that were present within the field. All Take is third, running between Colombia and Officer Chaimura while China Syndrome is two lengths behind them. For now, Investment Center and Doc Rivers are content to ride it out in back.

(Top of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Entering the stretch, Wahpekute Sioux and Living In The Matrix are still the leaders, but the rest of the field is coming quickly. All Take continued to run in third with Colombia to his inside, and while they were gaining on the top two, those that were behind them were gaining on them at a quicker rate. Officer Chaimura was not keeping up with them, however. China Syndrome was caught by both Investment Center and Doc Rivers, who were now 4-5 lengths from the front.

(Finish- 1:47.56)- With a furlong to go about two lengths separated first from last, and this was certainly good news for the two deep closers, Investment Center and Doc Rivers. Investment Center had room on the rail to run, while Doc Rivers would utilize an outside trip. Colombia and All Take were inching closer to the top two, but at this point, they were not the ones to watch for the win. Colombia would show heart all the way to the end, though, but could not hold off the run of Investment Center, who goes on to get the victory. The run of Doc Rivers fizzled out a bit late, but he does get third in a photo over All Take and the disappointing Wahpekute Sioux. The rest of the order will read Officer Chaimura, China Syndrome, and Living In The Matrix.

About The Winner- Investment Center, trained by TwinTowersRacing and ridden to victory by R M Hernandez, is a four-year-old colt by Long Term Investment and is out of Centre. He was bred in Florida as a first quarter two-year-old by TwinTowersRacing, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in 22 starts, second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $693.520.

Track: Fast
Time: :46¹  1:10²  1:35¹  1:47²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 1 Paid 190.90
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 1 – 5 Paid 526.50

Scratched: Hiei(L), Master And Commander(L), Power Grid(L)

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES