What we learned: Trademark is best horse in Lukas defeat

Although Trademark lost a stretch battle to Clapton in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs, he deserves credit for enduring the blazing early pace and continuing to battle even though he had a right to quit. Given the situation, Trademark arguably ran the best race in defeat.

Even without reading the fractions, observers could tell the leaders were running fast from how far the field spread out by the first fraction. 

Five Star General wanted the lead out of the gate, and he took it from Trademark before the first turn while setting a grueling 23.12-second opening quarter. Americanrevolution ran right on his tail end in second, and Trademark took up the stalking position in third only two lengths behind.

The leaders went so fast that the trailer Happy American fell 16 lengths behind. When Five Star General ran through the half-mile fraction in 46.66 seconds, Happy American found himself 20 lengths behind the lead.

There were other noticeable gaps throughout the field, which only backs up the idea of a super-fast pace as that type of pace scenario fractures the field into pieces and spreads the gap significantly from first to last.

Trademark kept his close-range stalking position behind Five Star General and Americanrevolution while remaining only 2 1/2 lengths behind the leader in third. Even though Trademark did not set the pace or try to press Five Star General, he still ran grueling fractions because it took a high amount of speed to stay within two or three lengths.  

Clapton ran in seventh at the half-mile with 10 lengths to make up, but he soon began to pick up momentum along with the public favorite Rattle N Roll to his inside. But when the two of them caught up with the field on the approach to the far turn, Clapton on the outside was clearly moving better than Rattle N Roll, whose move suddenly began to stall.

As the closers began to close the gap, Five Star General threw in the towel and Trademark shifted outside of Americanrevolution to position himself for the lead right after another grueling fraction of 1:10.83.

Trademark took the lead at the top of the stretch as Americanrevolution faded, but Clapton under Cristian Torres already was positioned to Clapton’s outside and moving strongly. Given his two earlier opponents Five Star General and Americanrevolution faded away, Trademark had every right to give up at this point too and let Clapton reach the front.

Blue Devil also came rolling along the inside, which meant Trademark now faced challenges on both sides of him. But instead of giving up, Trademark kept fighting bravely and found more in mid-stretch. He held a slight cushion until he switched to his wrong lead late.

Once Trademark ran on his wrong lead, possibly out of fatigue, Clapton took advantage and went past Trademark to prevail by a head.

Clapton completed the nine furlongs in 1:48.79, which resulted in a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form. Given the head margin probably does not result in a different Beyer, Trademark likely also earned a 98 on Beyer.

From a visual standpoint, Trademark came off as more impressive because he was working hard early in the race to remain within two lengths of Five Star General and Americanrevolution through the grueling fractions. In contrast, Clapton was running in seventh and 10 lengths behind at the half-mile point, which meant he stored energy.

Both horses still ran well, but Clapton did take advantage of the pace while Trademark somehow kept fighting late despite traveling close to the leaders. Five Star General ended up folding to last and 22 1/2 lengths behind Clapton, and Americanrevolution faded to sixth.

Clapton and Trademark are 4-year-olds in peak form. If the connections want to tackle the Breeders’ Cup Classic, they deserve a chance after their performances Saturday. But the race is shaping up as a tough one.

If Trademark aims for an easier race, keep his Lukas Classic effort in mind. Because he lost, bettors might refrain from over-betting him next time, especially with Victoria Oliver as his trainer. Oliver’s runners normally get left alone by the public when they enter higher-level races.

On that note, keep an eye on Clapton too because the public also leaves him alone for the most part. Clapton won the Lukas Classic at 8-1 and previously started at double digits for four straight races before this race. 

In any case, it is nice to see both runners on the upswing.