Morton Fink’s Successful Dan could be the starting in the highweight in the $500,000 Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Nov. 27. The race is at 1 1/8 miles.
Weights were assigned Nov. 19. Successful Dan, winner of the Oct. 30 Fayette Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland and two-for-two at Churchill, was assigned 121 pounds along with Etched, who isn’t expected to start.
Dakota Phone, winner of the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. I) at Churchill, is the Clark highweight at 124 pounds, but he isn’t expected to return to Kentucky from California.
Of the expected starters, Adele Dilschneider’s Apart, winner of the Nov. 5 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) at Churchill, was assigned 118 pounds, followed by Redding Colliery (117), Brass Hat (116), Demarcation (116), Duke of Mischief (116), Stately Victor (116), Win Willy(116), and Giant Oak (115).
Fred Bradley’s 9-year-old Brass Hat, winner of the Oct. 21 Sycamore Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland, has run only once on the dirt since June 2008. He does have a win and two seconds on the dirt at Churchill; in November 2007 he finished second, beaten only three-quarters of a length, in the Clark.
Mrs. Fitriani Hays’ Redding Colliery, winner of the Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) Oct. 2 and never worse than third in six starts this year, would make his Churchill debut in the Clark.
