Grade 1 Clark Handicap: Entries and Post Positions

While many people will flock to the shopping malls the day after Thanksgiving for "Black Friday", some of us degenerate gamblers might take a peek at the racing action over at Churchill Downs and the 136^th running of the Grade 1 Clark Handicap.

Grade 1 Clark Handicap
Churchill Downs
1 1/8 miles
Three and up,
Purse: $500,000
Post-time: 5:42 EST

2-Apart is expected to be the post-time favorite following a strong win in the Grade 3 Ack Ack on Breeders' Cup Friday and the fact that he's trained by Albert Stall, Jr. of Blame fame.  The colt is on a three-race winning streak which included a score in the Grade 2 Super Derby in addition to his Ack Ack win. 

If the track were to come up sloppy on Friday then I think you have to take a good hard look at 1-Dubious Miss.  This six-year-old gelding by E Dubai is a versatile runner that has won over both synthetic and dirt surfaces (and just missed a score over the turf at Fair Grounds) but it could be argued that he's best on dirt when it comes up wet.  He's won four races over the Churchill main track but both two-turn triumphs took place over a sloppy and sealed surface.

The pace in the Clark looks like it will be honest, a scenario that could set things up nicely for a horse like 3-Successful Dan - assuming that Leparoux is content to off the pace like he did when he won the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland.  Successful Dan has a win over the Churchill main track under his belt and he's a graded winner on both dirt and synthetic.  Trainer Charles Lopresti and jockey Julien Leparoux don't hook up all that often but when they do, they win.  Over the past five years, Leparoux has ridden for Lopresti just twenty times, but he's won eight, finished in-the-money ten times and has brought home a solid $2.79 ROI.

Successful Dan probably won't light up the tote board with overly fat odds, but he could be a bit of an overlay if the crowd hammers Apart.