Clark Contenders Turn in Final Breezes as Field Shapes Up

 

A year later, Brown feels the same way about Easter Gift and the 5-year-old son of Hard Spun will travel from New York for another Clark Handicap bid on Friday. But the months between his Louisville visits have not been what Brown had hoped.

 

Easter Girt earned his spot in the 2014 Clark with a sharp Belmont Park allowance win on Oct. 12, his first win in only three outings on the year. He rallied strongly under Joel Rosario to win that 1 1/16-mile allowance by a head and among the horses he ran past that day was Twin Creek Racing Stables LLC and WinStar Farm’s Constitution, the 3-year-old winner of the Florida Derby (GI) who is also expected to compete in the Clark. Constitution suffered the first loss of his career that day when he ran fourth that day in his first outing since the March 29 Florida Derby.

 

But Easter Gift’s wins was preceded by an eighth-place run in the July 27 Monmouth Cup (GIII), his first race of the year, and a dull sixth-place finish in Saratoga’s Aug. 17 Alydar, a race in which he been the runner-up a year earlier.

 

“He had some physical issues that delayed his return as a 5-year-old,” Brown said via telephone from New York. “When he returned to the races he was training well, but he didn’t run well in his first two times I ran him this year and I’m not exactly sure why. He had been training well and came out of the races well, but he didn’t fire.”

 

But the third time out turned out to be the charm for Easter Gift, and convinced Brown that his back-in-form horse deserved another shot in the Clark, a race in which he was beaten by only two lengths by Will Take Charge and Game On Dude.

 

“He ran so well in it last year and was beaten by two really good horses and he has experience over the track at Churchill,” Brown said. “He was in better form last year heading into the Clark, however his most recent race, the allowance win, was okay and he seems within reach now of getting to his best numbers. That was one of his best numbers, so he should be right there.”

 

Rosario, who is looking for his first win in the Clark, was aboard Brown’s veteran in last year’s Clark and will be back in the saddle on Friday.

 

Easter Gift completed his serious training for the Clark with a five-furlong move 1:01.05 on Friday at Belmont Park.

 

Candidates for Friday’s Clark that took advantage of good weather to work in preparation for the race included the Dale Romans-trained duo of Fayette (GIII) winner Pick of the Litter and multiple stakes winner Prayer for Relief, who finished 12th in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). Pick of the Litter breezed five furlongs in 1:02.80 and Prayer for Relief breezed the same distance in 1:02.40.

 

If he runs, Friday’s Clark bid will be the third for Prayer for Relief.  He finished ninth behind Wise Dan in 2011 and was last of nine in its 2013 running.

 

Knights Nation, a recent allowance race winner at Churchill Downs, breezed a half-mile in :49.20 for trainer Dallas Stewart.

 

At Santa Anita, Rebel (GII) winner Hoppertunity had his final workout, a five-furlong move in 1:00. “He’s ready,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who has given the call to Martin Garcia. The 3-year-old will arrive on a California flight that should be in Louisville on Monday at 2 p.m.

 

Easter Gift, Constitution and Protonico will arrive from New York on a Tuesday flight that will land in Lexington around 4 p.m.

 

Pletcher on Constitution: “He needed the race in his comeback. He got tired. He’s trained well since and I believe he’s back to the 1 1/8-mile form he showed back in the Florida Derby.”

 

Horses known to be under consideration for the 140th running of the Clark Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles (with assigned weight and trainer): Departing (121 pounds, Al Stall Jr.), Pick of the Litter (121, Dale Romans), Constitution (119, Todd Pletcher), Hoppertunity (118, Bob Baffert), Prayer for Relief (118, Romans), Easter Gift (117, Chad Brown), Protonico (117, Pletcher), Midnight Aria (115, Nick Gonzalez), Knights Nation (114, Dallas Stewart) and Looking Cool (112, Murat Sancal). Entries will be taken Wednesday morning.

 

Horses known to be under consideration for the 88th running of the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles (in order of earnings with trainer): International Star (Mike Maker), W V Jetsetter (George Weaver), Imperia (Kiaran McLaughlin), The Truth or Else (Kenny McPeek), Lord Nelson (Bob Baffert), Lucky Player (Steve Asmussen), Danny Boy (Dale Romans), Majestico (D. Wayne Lukas), Sky Hero (Mark Casse), Eagle (Neil Howard), Sharm (Lukas), Flashaway (Casse), Tough Customer (Wayne Catalano), War Point (Billy Gowan), Unblunted (Michael McCarthy), Keen Ice (Romans), Toasting Master (Catalano), Jumpin Frac Flash (McPeek), Instant Replay (Catalano), Moonlight Bandit (Casse), War Story (Tom Amoss), Chip Leader (Catalano) and Astounding (Catalano). A maximum 14 will be allowed to run. Entries will be taken Thursday morning.

 

Horses known to be under consideration for the 71st running of the Golden Rod (GII) for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles (in order of earnings with trainer): Cristina’s Journey (Dale Romans), Heart’s Song (Bill Connelly), Harlan’s Destiny (Wayne Catalano), Simply Confection (Jinks Fires), West Coast Belle (Catalano), I’m A Chatterbox (Kenny McPeek), Ancient Goddess-FR (John Terranova II), Movie Mystery (Catalano), Kathballu (McPeek), Lavender Chrissie (Romans), Keen Pauline (Romans), Martz (Ron Moquett), No Fault of Mine (Chris Block) and Super Saks (D. Wayne Lukas). A maximum 14 will be allowed to run. Entries will be taken Thursday morning.

 

Source: Churchill Downs Communications