First Look: Magnitude headlines Clark at Churchill Downs

Thanksgiving week brings more than turkey and football. Horseplayers get 16 stakes this week, with Churchill Downs running five graded stakes, Del Mar countering with seven stakes and Gulfstream Park joining the feast with a pair of 2-year-old tests Saturday.

The Grade 2 Clark brings together an intriguing field Friday at Churchill Downs, headlined by Magnitude, who ran second in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). Rattle N Roll returns to defend his Clark title from last year, and Brad Cox sends out a dangerous entry with Hit Show, the Dubai World Cup (G1) winner, and First Mission, who captured the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in April. Chunk of Gold and Gosger add depth to the already stacked field.

For horseplayers seeking action around the holiday, this week's stakes calendar offers quality racing across both coasts before December arrives.

Monday

Steel Valley Sprint, Mahoning Valley, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds

Souper Tuscan has reeled off three consecutive victories. The 3-year-old son of Vino Rosso took a Delaware allowance by three lengths Oct. 11. That followed an Aug. 28 score at Saratoga, where he dueled throughout and held on by a neck. His summer surge began Aug. 10 at Woodbine with a 3 1/2-length maiden-claiming triumph at six furlongs.

Tuesday

Zia Park Derby, Zia Park, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds

Amorosa reeled off four consecutive victories before finishing second in the Iowa Breeders’ Derby at Prairie Meadows. The 3-year-old colt secured the Cyclones stakes by 2 1/4 lengths and added two allowance scores at Prairie Meadows, including a 5 1/2-length romp Sept. 6. He battled throughout the Iowa Breeders’ Derby stretch before Jack's Time edged him by three lengths. The Sky Mesa colt has compiled seven wins from 10 career starts.

Thursday

Falls City (G3), Churchill Downs, 1 1/8 miles, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Raging Sea makes her first start since coming home fourth in the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 23. The 5-year-old mare struggled in three consecutive starts at the Spa after winning the La Troienne (G1) at Churchill Downs in May over Taxed. She won four graded stakes in 2024, including the Personal Ensign (G1) and Beldame (G2), and placed second in the Breeders' Cup Distaff 2024.

Friday

Clark (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up

Magnitude ran second in the Pennsylvania Derby, rallying late before Baeza held him off. Chunk of Gold romped by 8 1/4 lengths in a Keeneland allowance race after finishing second by 1 1/2 lengths in the Bourbon Flight. Gosger dueled four wide before settling for third in the Fayette Stakes (G3) last time out. Before that, he stumbled at the break and ended up sixth in the Pennsylvania Derby.

Mrs. Revere (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 miles, turf, fillies, 3-year-olds

Lush Lips took the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Keeneland, winning by 1 1/4 lengths under Tyler Gaffalione. The daughter of Ten Sovereigns finished second in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) two starts back, a half-length behind Velocity. She claimed the Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs by 2 3/4 lengths in June.

Hollywood Turf Cup, Del Mar (G2), 1 1/2 miles, turf, 3-year-olds and up

Balnikhov rallied to win an optional-claiming allowance test at Del Mar by 2 1/4 lengths on Nov. 2. He finished runner-up in this race last year, a neck behind Truly Quality. The son of Adaay ran fourth in the Eddie Read (G2) at Del Mar in July, finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind the winner, before placing eighth in the Del Mar Handicap (G2) in August.

Saturday

Golden Rod (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 miles, fillies, 2-year-olds

Life of Joy carries a 2-for-2 record into this Kentucky Oaks prep worth 10 points to the winner, most recently taking the Rags to Riches at Churchill Downs on Oct. 26 and earning a 74 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form. The Gun Runner filly debuted with a 14 3/4-length romp at Horseshoe Indiana on Oct. 2, rallying four wide to post a 73 Beyer.

Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), Churchill Downs, 1 1/16 miles, 2-year-olds

Further Ado, the second choice in Kentucky Derby futures wagering at Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada, seeks 10 points in this Derby prep after breaking his maiden impressively at Keeneland on Oct. 10. The Gun Runner colt dominated from start to finish to win by 20 lengths with a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure. He had finished third and fifth in his first two starts at Saratoga before finding his best form stretching out in his route debut.

Hollywood Derby (G1), Del Mar, 1 1/8 miles, turf, 3-year-olds

Test Score captured the Twilight Derby (G2) at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, rallying to defeat Maaz by 1 1/2 lengths. The colt finished third in the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1) in August after winning the Belmont Derby (G1) at Saratoga in July by 1 1/4 lengths. He placed second in the American Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs in May.

Seabiscuit (G2), Del Mar, 1 1/16 miles, turf, 3-year-olds and up

Almendares rallied from sixth to finish third in the City of Hope Mile (G2) at Santa Anita on Sept. 27. The 5-year-old gelding surged through traffic to win the Wickerr at Del Mar by 1 1/4 lengths in July before placing second in the Del Mar Mile (G2) in Aug. He ran fourth in the Frank Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita in March.

Jimmy Durante (G3), Del Mar, 1 1/8 miles, turf, fillies, 2-year-olds

Yours Sincerely finished fourth in both the Surfer Girl Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita on Oct. 5 and the Del Mar Juvenile Filly Turf on Sept. 6. She encountered traffic in the former and broke slowly in the latter. Before those efforts, she rallied from last to break her maiden at Del Mar on Aug. 16, winning by 1 1/4 lengths after overcoming a slow start.

In Reality, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/16 miles, 2-year-olds

Khozalite won his most recent start by four lengths in the Florida Sire Affirmed Stakes on Oct. 18, posting a 77 Beyer Speed Figure going seven furlongs at Gulfstream. The Florida-bred captured a turf maiden by two lengths on Aug. 30 and ended up second by 1 1/2 lengths in his Aug. 2 debut at six furlongs.

My Dear Girl, Gulfstream Park, 1 1/16 miles, fillies, 2-year-olds

Mythical has won four of her five career starts, including a 12 3/4-length romp in the Florida Sire Seasons Girl Stakes on Oct. 18. She posted an 80 Beyer Speed Figure in that seven-furlong score. The Jorge Delgado-trained filly also captured the Adirondack (G3) by 3 1/4 lengths and earned her career-best 93 Beyer in a 3 1/2-length Tremont Stakes victory. Her lone defeat came in the Spinaway Stakes (G1), where she came home fifth.

Sunday

Matriarch (G1), Del Mar, 1 mile, turf, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Heredia captured the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2) at Del Mar in August, drawing off by 2 1/4 lengths after setting the pace. The 6-year-old mare placed third in the De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga in July. She ran third in the Beaugay Stakes (G3) at Belmont in May, closing from seventh.

Bayakoa (G3), Del Mar, 1 mile, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Warming rallied from seventh to take the Autumn Miss (G3) at Santa Anita on Oct. 26. The 3-year-old filly had finished third in the John C. Harris (G3) four weeks prior and placed fifth in both the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) and Lake Placid (G2) at Saratoga during the summer.

Cecil B. DeMille (G3), Del Mar, 1 mile, turf, 2-year-olds

Plutarch is listed at 40-1 in Kentucky Derby futures wagering at Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada. The Bob Baffert runner finished third in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at Del Mar on Oct. 31. He also ran third in the American Pharoah (G1) on Oct. 4 at Santa Anita, finishing three-quarters of a length back. The son of Into Mischief settled for the runner-up spot in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3) on Sept. 7 and was second by 1 3/4 lengths in his maiden debut at Del Mar on Aug. 23.