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Clark Brings Full Gate of Class To CD

By on

11/25/22

  6  CD       Clark (GI)
$750.000     3yo&Up    1 1/8m  Dirt      3yo 122lbs  Older 124lbs

It might be Turkey Day this week, but the only birds in this race are the ones that fly… and I do mean fly!  What a great field we have for the Clark (GI) this Friday, including the winner of the BC Classic (GI) and the BC Dirt Mile (GI) and with that, you know my picks for this one.  Can you go against Individuation right now?  I think not… four wins in a row, six on the year and he just looks heads-and-tails better than everyone at this point in the season.  Gran Z is another that is just lights-out right now, and he won the CD (GI) over this track, so if he can run back to that last out race, we should have one heck of a race.  Add in the ’22 KYD (GI) winner, the BEL (GI) winner… holy smokes, this is going to be one for the ages.  Grab a cold snack and let’s get down to the rail for this one. 

Here’s The Field –

1
   Individuation    Mb Stables    Saez L   122   7/5

Can you really go past him at this point?  Not on paper…  four in a row, including the BC Classic (GI), he is the horse to beat right now, no matter what.  The Big Barn has him hitting on all 8… or 10… or 12…  maybe a rotary!  No matter the engine, he’s fast. 

2
   Lions Reward    Smokey Stover    Jaramillo E   122   8/1

Four wins from nine starts this season, including a win in a high level Alw race, over this surface, last out.  He also beat Alw foes here back in Apr, so he has a like for the track.  This is a steep group, so it will be interesting to see how he does in this one. 

3
   Killer Instinct    Mb Stables    Hernandez R M   122   10/1

Three wins in ’22 including the OK Derby (GIII) last out, but you have to wonder, with his stable mate, is he here to win, or is he here to help with a particular scenario.  He has ability in his own right, but compared to the one horse, nah. 

4
   Crack Dab    Gdp Inc    Boulanger G   124   12/1

His only seasonal win came over this track in the Blame, and he has a pair of seconds in the Knicks Go and the Foster (GII), so here’s another with a like for the surface.  His best could get a piece of this, and he should come with some odds. 

5
   Great Bonkers    Aer Stables    Silvera Ru   124   6/1 

Claimed for a mere $18.000 and it’s been lights, camera, actions since… right out of a movie.  He won the King Edward (GII) and was second in the WO Mile (GI), north of the border, then won the BC Mile (GI)… now those are all grass wins, so the move to the main track in interesting, to say the least. 

6
   Combat Wombat    Maxmillion Farm    Gonzalez Ru   124   9/2

Ol’ boy just keeps on rockin’, taking down half of his ’22 starts, including the Pacific Classic (GI) prior to his fifth in the BC Classic (GI).  I don’t think the wet track was to his liking, so let’s see if the 7yo can bounce back like has has time after time after….

7
   Force Of The Shark    Arindel   Hernandez C J   122   10/1

He’s been making a nice living off of NY-bred races, but was a fast closing second in the OK Derby (GIII), so it will be interesting to see how he handles this step up in class.  He’s shown speed, and also closed to be in the middle of things, and versatility could help vs. this group. 

8
   King Que Niagra    D J C Racing Stables    Lopez P   124   9/2

Three straight GI wins, taking the United Nations (GI), Sword Dancer (GI) and Hirsch Turf (GI) but the key word in those races is turf… He also won the Man O War (GI) on the weeds, so four GI wins in a season is a head turner… how does he do on the main track?

9
   Gran Z    Maxmillion Farm    Gaffalione T   124   7/2

Another with a four win season and he killed it in the BC Dirt Mile (GI), pulling away to win by two and looked like he could have gone around the over 3-4 more times with no issues.  Max has a formidable duo of horseflesh in this one. 

10
   Pennine Way    Hippyheart    Talamo J   122   6/1

Another from the four-win club and he went wire to wire at WO in the ONT Derby (GI), getting his first graded stakes win.  Now, it’s another step up and this is a very very tough group to go up against… he’s another that will be interesting to watch. 

11
   Brave Freedom    Nakamura Stables    Husbands P   122   12/1

He’s been the king of the great white north this year, winning five races doing most of his damage on in Canada, but he did with the Dwyer (GIII) as well, so he’s not afraid of open company.  This is a salty bunch, so he will need to bring the brass knuckles. 

12
   First Sargeant    High Voltage    Gutierrez Mario   124   8/1

Got back to the winning ways taking the Fayette (GII) at KEE in his most recent, breaking a four race skid, but he did wint the OP Hcp (GII) back in Apr, so he’s had some very bright moments this year… can he do it again?

13
   Gigabyte    Smokey Stover    Velazquez J R   122   12/1  

He’s your ’22 KYD (GI) winner, so there’s no doubt that his best work has been over this oval, and now it’s time to see if he can rekindle that fire and take down another big one.  He was also third over this track in the Lukas (GII), so again, home cookin’ could be key. 

14
   Ocean Of Wisdom    Nakamura Stables    Centeno D E   122   10/1

The BEL (GI) winner comes into this one off a poor showing in the BC Classic (GI) where he only beat one.  He won the Durham Cup (GIII) prior to that, and we know he can run all day… but can he run fast enough to get it done here? 

15
   Ags Cherokee    RNP Stables   No Rider   124   AE

Would need some help to draw in, would be way out there coming out of the gate, and I just don’t think he wants this.  The third in the Fayette (GII) may say otherwise. 

COZMAN    1 / 9             Willie’s Green Card       1 / 3 / 6  

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Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES