11/26/21

   4  CD     Clark Handicap (GI)

$750.000   3yo&Up    1 1/8m  Dirt     Handicap Weights

Down to the Twin Spires and we catch a nice field of eight gents set to go the mile and an eighth distance in the Clark Handicap (GI) on Friday.  A nice, fat purse and this appears to be a fairly open event as I see no overwhelming favorite and you can make a case for just about anyone.  I landed on the outside post and Home Spirit as my top selection today.  His two seasonal wins were both vs. graded horses and he won at today’s distance.  Let’s go right next door and look for General Obvious to run a big race today.  Mb Stables is always tough in this type of race and the horse has been very consistent.  Another that seems to warrant some attention is Mr Charming.  He’s been in good form and the added distance could be the difference for him. 

Here’s The Field –  

His lone seasonal win came back in Jan when he took down LA-bred types is the Gold Cup at DED.  He has been on the board in four other starts in ’21, including a third in the Salvatore Mile (GI) at MTH.  He seems to have a problem of tiring late vs. graded horses, but his best could earn him a check today. 

Three wins for this one in ’21, two of those since the hostile takeover at the $50.000 level.  He won a Cal-bred sprint stakes, took the PRX Dirt Mile, then ran a close-up third in the Bold Ruler (GIIII) at BEL last out.  He has talent, for sure… the only question for me is the distance. 

He’s still looking for his first win on the season but has a couple of thirds including the Grand Prix America JC going the marathon mile and a half distance.  He’s been on a steady diet of graded foes so this is nothing new for him.  He will need his best, but his class may help him get part of this. 

Another that has some real class behind him although he was last of fourteen in the BC Classic (GI) and comes back on short rest.  He’s won the Alysheba (GII) and the Forester (GII) over this oval, so this is certainly a track he’s gotten the job done on.  Give him a serious look. 

Had a four race win streak to close out ’20 and get ’21 started, and has been second in his last two start, both of those on the grass.  They dropped him in for a $20.000 tag last out, where he lead til the final strides and was caught on the wire… no takers at that level and now it’s back to the rich side of town. 

Two seasonal wins including an Alw race at HAW and a NY-bred stakes at BEL.  His last two have been off-the-board finishes while facing similar to this one.  He’s going to need his best if he wants to be in the picture when they turn for home today. 

He never seems to run a bad race but only a single win for this one this season and that was back in Mar vs Alw horses at HOU.  He has a pair of fourth place finishes vs. GI foes coming into today, so he will try to step that up a bit and get a bigger check. 

 Both of his ’21 wins have been vs. graded horses and that may lend to a great finish in this one.  He won the California Stakes (GII) at this distance back in April, and took the Seagram Cup (GIII) at WO two back… another like either of those would make it hard to over-look today.

COZMAN      8 / 7 / 2                   WILLIE’S GREEN CARD    7 / 1 / 8   

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES