Clark Handicap- Grade 1 ($500.000 Purse)
CD- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
November 25, 2016

With the likes of Carneyman and Port On The Horizon in the field, the Clark Handicap did not seem like the race that Royal Prodigy would finally get back to the winners circle in.  The gelding has been running well all year, and trainer Mb Stables has never backed down from entering him in Grade 1 events.  He had hit the board a couple times, but for the most part the trainer has been cashing fourth place checks on him this year.   The streak had extended to ten for this horse that was still running very well.  Perhaps, the smaller field of the Clark was something he appreciated.  Or even the fact that he was carrying less weight then he has had to carry lately, and that Carneyman had to carry five more pounds then him.  No matter what, he was overdue, and on this day, this winner can once again be treated like royalty! Speaking of royalty, the winning trainer is the current king of the game, Mb Stables.  It is his second win in the stake, having also done so in 2013 with the late Generals Road.  Aboard the winner was J R Velazquez, a rider that can now call himself a winner of the Clark Handicap for the first time.   Congratulations to our winners! That winning time was 1:47.29, making it the second quickest edition of the race.  Let’s take a look at how it played out!

As for that trifecta? $1,194? Really, and in a five horse field?  If you listened to us (and remember to always box your picks) you’d be rich!  Why can’t this happen in real racing!

1st- 6- Royal Prodigy (8/5)- Our eventual winner from Mb Stables started well out of the gate, and would assume a stalking position of the pacesetting Rapid Refund in the early moments of the race.  He would stay a little less then a length back around the opening turn and would remain in this shadowing position throughout the backstretch run.  As they moved into the turn, we started to see Royal Prodigy gradually complete this pass.  It wasn’t a case of a power move where it was complete in a blink of an eye, and was a simple and steady move.   Only at the top of the stretch would he officially claim lead, as Rapid Refund was not going away.  From behind, Port On The Horizon initially and temporarily looked like he could pose a threat, though it would be Carneyman lurking back there.  With most horses challenging, you could probably say that it Royal Prodigy had it wrapped up with a furlong to go, but that was Carneyman, the BEL and BC Juvenile winner coming, so you could never rule him out.   Royal Prodigy was not bothered, and this time, he was not about to lose.  The margin of victory was a length, coming in a time of 1:47.29.  Royal Prodigy is a four year old gelding by Inspector Jacques (Pink Panther) and out of Desert Doll (Fast Penny).  He was bred in Florida by Mb Stables as a third quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout! Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 1- Carneyman (5/2)- The BEL winner, from John Henry, went right to the back of the field for the start of the race, which was a change in how he ran in the BC Classic earlier this month.  Towards the end of the backstretch, it looked as though he was preparing to make his move around Port On The Horizon and Marshall Berthier, but almost seemed a little too methodical about making that move, and not showing enough urgency to do so.  Still trailed the now frontrunning Royal Prodigy by four on exit of the turn.  Eventually, he moved around those middle two and, while in the outside lane, ran well in stretch.  This would get him within a length of the winner at the end.

3rd- 2- Port On The Horizon (19/1)- The D J C Racing Stables entry was made a ridiculous longshot on the morning line, and fortunately had some play bring his odds down (and they were still too high).  He would start in the middle field, comfortably keeping within reach of the two frontrunners.  Cruised along during the backstretch without showing an interest in challenging the frontrunners yet.  Moved to the rail at the top of the stretch and began making his drive forward.  However, too much ground was conceded to Royal Prodigy to catch him at this point, and the run died off a bit in the final furlong, allowing Carneyman to sneak by.

4th- 4- Rapid Refund (7/5)- Somehow, bettors chose to put their faith in this Grimley entry, and at first they were looking good as he jumped out to the lead and led by about a length into the backstretch, running a half in :47.06.  He would continue to lead the way into the turn, running six furlongs in 1:10.54, but this is when Royal Prodigy began making his move.  He was showing some fight in the stretch early on, but would not maintain it all the way to the wire.

5th- 3- Marshall Berthier (27/1)- The longest shot on the board, from Kopites, started the race near the back of the field, but would pull to within three lengths off the lead as they moved into the backstretch.  Maintained this steady pace down the backstretch and into the turn.  At the top of the stretch, he did not have the same type of response as did the others, and would finish in the back.

Track: Fast
Time: :47   1:10²  1:34⁴  1:47¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 1 Paid 6.20
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 1 – 2 Paid 1,194.30

Scratched: Geeky Pleasure(L)

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES