Flat Out aims to get back to winning ways in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs after the Classic disappointment
The Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs reeled in an accomplished lineup of 25 horses nominated to run in the 137th running of the Clark Handicap. The Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Flat Out head strong the roster for the race which is presented by Norton Health care with an added $500,000 purse to be held on 25 November, 2011.
Preston Stables owned 5-year-old horse Flat Out is the Florida bred son of Flatter, out of mare Cresta Lil by Cresta Rider, and the older runner is trained by Charles Dickey.
Flat Out is coming off a fifth place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic to winner Drosselmeyer over at 1 ¼ miles under jockey Alex Solis at Churchill Downs on 5 November, 2011.
Flat Out had had a pretty good come back season, where he finished just twice out of the money in seven starts this year with two wins and three second place finishes.
He marked his first win of the 2011 season in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap over at 1 1/8 miles on 2 July, 2011, as he covered the distance in 1 minute and 46.64 seconds defeating Hymn Book and Rodman who finished second and third, respectively.
His second win which made him one of the favourite to win the Classic was in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup over at 1 ¼ miles. Flat Out, there defeated the eventual Classic winner Drosselmeyer and finished second and Todd Pletcher trained and Mike Repole owned ace Stay Thirsty, who was also the Breeders’ Cup Classic contender.
Both his wins for the year 2011 came at Belmont Park and he was beginning to be labelled as a Belmont horse.
Flat Out was second on three occasions this season, first to Awesome Gem in the Grade 3 Lone Star Handicap on 30 May, 2011. In the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap, Flat Out, finished second to Tizway but fended off fast approaching Giant Oak in third place.
Flat Out then finished second to the fantastic 4-year-old filly Havre de Grace in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at about 1 ¼ miles on 3 September, 2011, at about 1 1/8 miles.
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