Premium Tap Assigned Top Weight for Clark

(from Churchill Downs notes)
Premium Tap, winner of the Woodward (gr. I) at Saratoga and third to Invasor in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), has been assigned top weight of 122 pounds for next week's 132nd running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I).

Premium Tap, owned by George Kline, Peter Alevisos and David Whelihan, would concede from two to 13 pounds to the 23 horses nominated for the 1 1/8-mile test that will be contested as a grade I event for the first time on Nov. 24. The John Kimmel-trained son of Pleasant Tap has won three of nine races this year and five of 16 in his career.

Marie and Aaron Jones' Master Command, winner of the Meadowlands Breeders' Cup Gold Cup (gr. II), was assigned 120 pounds. At 119 is Emirates Airline Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) and Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) winner It's No Joke, Brooklyn (gr. II) winner Wanderin Boy, and Badge of Silver, the third place finisher to Miesque's Approval in the $2 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).

Premium Tap is considered "possible" for the Clark, while It's No Joke and Wanderin Boy are considered "likely" for the race.

Others considered likely Clark starters (with assigned weights) include Super Frolic (118), Wild Desert (118), Bright One (115), Andromeda's Hero (114), Wiggins (114), A.P. Arrow (113), M B Sea (113) and Irene's Mon (111).

Magna Graduate, winner of the 2005 Clark, was assigned 117 pounds. The Todd Pletcher-trained 4-year-old's status is uncertain following a 10th place finish as the favorite in the Ack Ack.