Friday's Best Bet: Owendale makes strong late bid in Clark
Friday's 10th race from Churchill Downs is the Grade 1 Clark Stakes for 3-year-olds and up traveling a mile and an eighth on the main track (Post Time 5:27 p.m. ET).
#9 OWENDALE (5-1) has had nothing but bad luck mostly due to race shape since starting his 2020 campaign with a win in the local Blame Stakes. He got no pace help in the Stephen Foster (G2), Alysheba (G2), or Pimlico Special (G3), and managed to land the place in the latter pair. He was marooned out in post 12 in the BC Dirt Mile (G1), and he showed decent late interest in a 5th place finish. He rallied to win two graded races at this distance last year and is more than capable of beating a field like this under the right pace circumstances. I don’t think the pace will be lightning quick but it should be honest.
#3 Code of Honor (3-1) has been a disappointment this year but it’s not as if he is running terrible. After winning the Dwyer (G3) and Travers (G1) and just missing in the JCGC (G1) last year, there were very high hopes for his as a 4-year-old. He won the Westchester (G3) to start 2020 and was along for 3rd in the Met Mile (G1). He was a flat 4th in the Whitney (G1) and exits a clear 2nd of four in the Kelso (G2). He reconnects with his winning rider John Velazquez and can win this on his best day.
#12 By My Standards (4-1) was outclassed in the BC Classic (G1) Nov. 7. Authentic controlled the pace and stole that one, and this colt is not really ten furlong horse in the grade one ranks. He is much more effective at a mile and an eighth and figures to stalk outside and in the clear.
#5 Aurelius Maximus (8-1) is lightly raced and still has upside, but he might be one of those wise guy sucker plays. He moved to the Steve Asmussen barn this year and won his first two optional claiming dirt routes including one under the Twin Spires. He stepped up to tackle graded foes in the Fayette (G2), but could not quite get to Mr Freeze in a neck defeat that day. I thought the Fayette was a very weak race and he blew a golden opportunity to make the grade that day. He is fresh and tactical but he is going to have to uncork a career top to beat this deep field.
Wagers:
#9 to win
Exacta 9/3-5-12
Exacta 3-5-12/9
Trifecta 3-5-12/ALL/9
Recent Best Bet Winners
Nov. 1 - STEPHEN ($6.30)
Nov. 3 - POPIZAR ($19.00), Trifecta ($66.30)
Nov. 7 - Merneith/Motivated Seller Exacta ($50.60)
Nov. 11 - FLAT OUT BEAUTIFUL ($7.20)
Nov. 19 - Nomo Ron/Stroll Smokin/Hold Me Black Trifecta ($60.80)
Nov. 25 - Saints N Muskets/Quickfast N Ahurry Exacta ($89.00)