As the hour draws closer, the nerves will jangle because for some the Clark Handicap holds the key
The two major players from the Grade 1, $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs, Flat Out and Ruler on Ice will be looking to bow out of the 2011 season on a high in the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark Handicap presented by Northern Healthcare, and winning
also serve as a dual purpose and a little matter of getting into Eclipse Award contention.
The 137th running of the Clark Handicap has already reeled in 11 runners who will serve the purpose of potential stopping blocks for Flat Out and Ruler on Ice to getting to their desired destinations.
After the Breeders’ Cup, the Clark Handicap is the most awaited and watched event in the fall meet, as the 1 1/8 mile race for 3-year-olds hold much significance especially when there is no clear cut winner of the Eclipse Award.
Attracting significant amount of hype, naturally, the Clark Handicap has once again been able to draw a pretty solid field with the likes of the 4-year-old gelding, Wise Dan, who is in top form this year and he is coming off a win in the Grade 2 Fayette
Stakes defeating Ioya Bigtime and Workin for Hops on the way.
The there is the Bob Baffert trained Prayer for Relief, who had been most impressive with his consistency this year as a 3-year-old, winning mostly everything that has been laid in his path by his connections.
The biggest race of the season from him was the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, where over at 1 1/8 miles, Prayer for Relief defeated Awesome Bet and Populist Politics with the winning time of 1 minute and 52.29 seconds.
The 5-year-old Todd Pletcher trained Alma D’oro could be the dark horse everyone is overlooking with the presence of all these big names in the lineup.
With a patchy 2011 season, Alma D’oro can kick it with a pleasant victory for his connections. He stood second to winner Mister Marti Gras in the Grade 3 Ack Ack at Churchill Downs in his last outing.
Different result will spur up different story lines and destinies for the participants of this all important fall event, but there will be some who will right their own script come 25 November.
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