"He just didn't do any running over there," Hollendorfer said by telephone. "I don't know why. We don't see any physical change or change in attitude in the horse, so we're looking at running him." Cappuchino has a record of 2-0-3 in nine races in 2003 and has a career record of 7-2-5 in 24 races. His only start at Churchill Downs aside from the Ack Ack was a strong third-place finish behind Aldebaran in the Churchill Downs Handicap (gr. II) on Kentucky Derby Day. Entries for the Clark will be taken on Wednesday and 15 horses are now on the list of expected entrants in a race that will be limited to 14 starters. That list includes: Tenpins, Evening Attire, Crafty Shaw, During, Cappuchino, M B Sea, Quest Star, Aeneas, Devil Time, Quest, Request For Parole, Seattle Fitz, Sonic West, Toccet and Private Lap.
The field for Friday's 129th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap (gr. II) added another member on Tuesday when trainer Jerry Hollendorfer notified Churchill Downs officials that Cappuchino, winner of the Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) at Churchill Downs on opening day, would likely run in the 1 1/8-mile test for older horses.Hollendorfer remains mystified by the poor performance by Cappuchino in the Schaefer Mile at Hoosier Park, but the 4-year-old son of Capote has bounced back so well from that effort that the colt is now considered "likely" to run in Friday's Clark Handicap. Cappuchino finished seventh in the Schaefer Mile Nov. 15 race and was beaten nearly 23 lengths by Clark rival Crafty Shaw.