There was plenty of interest at the entry box when it closed for the $400,000 Clark Handicap (gr. II), the premier post-Breeders’ Cup handicap event around two turns on dirt in the United States.
In all, 14 horses were entered for the Nov. 27 Clark, which is run at 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs. The Clark is the 11th race on a 12-race program that begins at 11:30 a.m. EDT.
West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again; Stronach Stables’ Einstein; and Mitchell Ranch, Lewkowitz, and Rice’s Bullsbay , first, third, and fifth, respectively, in the June 13 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill, are in the Clark field. Einstein, who drew post 14, will carry high weight of 123 pounds, followed by Macho Again at 121 and Darley Stable’s Etched at 120.
Etched won the Meadowlands Cup (gr. II) in his last start and has won five of six starts; he's five-for-five in the U.S.
The Clark attracted three 3-year-olds: Natalie Baffert and George Jacobs’ Misremembered , winner of the Indiana Derby (gr. II); Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame , who defeated older horses in the Oct. 31 Fayette Stakes (gr. II) on Polytrack at Keeneland; and Virginia H. Tarra Trust’s Giant Oak , second in the Indiana Derby.
Edmund Gann’s You and I Forever, two-for-three on the Churchill dirt, ships in from Florida for the Clark. You and I Forever, a 4-year-old, finished fourth in the Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) in his last start, and previously was second in the Philip H. Iselin Handicap (gr. III) at Monmouth Park.
The Clark program includes the $100,000 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds and up on the grass. Green Lantern Stables’ Karelian is the 122-pound highweight.
The Churchill fall meet concludes Nov. 28 with a 12-race “Stars of Tomorrow” program for 2-year-olds. Co-features are the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and Golden Rod Stakes, both grade II events.
Post time for the Clark is set for 4:29 p.m. Here’s the field, with jockeys and weights:
1. You and I Forever, Jose Valdivia Jr., 115
2. Macho Again, Robby Albarado, 121
3. Giant Oak, Shaun Bridgmohan, 115
4. Demarcation, Jose Castanon, 116
5. Blame, Jamie Theriot, 117
6. Anarko, Leandro Goncalves, 113
7. Anak Nakal, Joe Bravo, 116
8. Etched, Alan Garcia, 120
9. Bullsbay, Jeremy Rose, 119
10. Kiss the Kid, Paco Lopez, 118
11. Timber Reserve, Kent Desormeaux, 114
12. Misremembered, Victor Espinosa, 116
13. Dubious Miss, Calvin Borel, 116
14. Einstein, Rajiv Maragh, 123