Tag: Clark Stakes

Steve Asmussen won a record five races on Churchill Downs' Thanksgiving Day card. (Image: Coady Photography)

Asmussen Bags Record Five Wins on Churchill Downs’ Thanksgiving Card

In August, Steve Asmussen took the mantle as North America’s winningest career trainer. On Thanksgiving Day, he went from macro record-setter to micro record-setter, winning what is believed to be a record five races on one card at Churchill Downs. Churchill Downs officials said records prior to 1991 are incomplete, […]

Midnight Bourbon comes into Friday's Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs with five runners-up finishes. That includes this Travers Stakes outing in August. (Image: Anne M. Eberhardt)

Clark Stakes Provides A Juicy Grade 1 Opportunity for Familiar Names

The Grade 1 Clark Stakes provides the final opportunity for Maxfield to grab a Grade 1 win. It’s an opportunity for Midnight Bourbon to shake his seconditis and grab his first Grade 1. And it provides a great opportunity for Dr. Post and King Fury to grab validation in their […]

Maxfield's last victory came here, in June's Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. He will bypass the Breeders' Cup Classic in favor of a return to Churchill Downs for the easier Grade 1 Clark Stakes. (Image: Jamie Newell/TwinSpires)

Maxfield Won’t Go West to Breeders’ Cup, Stays East for Clark

In a move designed to deliver him a Grade 1 victory, Maxfield will pass up the Breeders’ Cup Classic, trading that loaded Grade 1 field for the easier pickings of the Grade 1 Clark Handicap. That race is on Black Friday at Churchill Downs. The Daily Racing Form first reported […]

Bodexpress captured last year's Grade 1 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs. That older-horse race is the only Grade 1 on the track's September or Fall Meet schedule. (Image: Coady Photography)

Churchill Downs Announces September, Fall Meets Stakes Schedule

Churchill Downs will offer only one Grade 1 event during its September and Fall Meets. But, even as interesting as the Grade 1 Clark Stakes is on the day after Thanksgiving, there are other races further down the class food chain worth some serious attention. Those races are the track’s […]

Bodexpress became a YouTube sensation for dumping jockey John Velazquez at the start of the 2019 Preakness Stakes. But the horse matured into a Grade 1 winner before his sudden retirement. (Image: John McDonnell/Washington Post via AP)

Preakness Punchline Turned Clark Stakes Winner Bodexpress Retired

Bodexpress, who went from comedic punchline to Grade 1 winner, was retired late Sunday night, nine days after the biggest win of his career. Trainer and part-owner Gustavo Delgado tweeted out a message late Sunday night that the colt suffered “a career-ending injury.” That injury was described as a swollen […]

By My Standards seeks his first Grade 1 victory in the $500,000 Clark Stakes. He is the 4/1 second favorite. (Image: Coady Photography/Churchill Downs)

Recognizable Names, Deep Field: The Clark Stakes Has it All

Together, the $500,000 Clark Stakes field owns 22 stakes victories, 60 overall wins, and more than $12.6 million in earnings. And even in this topsy-turvy, runaway-roller coaster year, the traditional Black Friday headliner at Churchill Downs remains one of the most popular races on the late-season schedule. For the first […]

Gufo owns five victories in seven career races, including this Belmont Derby win. He headlines a strong field in Saturday's Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. (Image: Sue Kawczynski/Eclipse Sportswire)

Horseplayers, Fans Give Thanks for These Strong Thanksgiving Races

Even with COVID-19 wreaking scheduling havoc among many of the country’s marquee races, the traditional Thanksgiving weekend races provide comfort-food wagering opportunities for horseplayers, and intriguing races for food coma-recovering fans to savor. Churchill Downs plays host to one of the best end-of-year races anywhere, along with another glimpse at […]

Code of Honor's Jockey Club Gold Cup victory in 2019 was one of his four 3-year-old wins. He figures to be the favorite in Friday's Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs. (Image: Sophie Shore/Eclipse Sportswire)

Code of Honor Seeking Salvation in Clark Stakes

He is almost certain to be overbet, based on his 3-year-old campaign. But in Friday’s Grade 1 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs, the question is, will we see the sophomore sensation Code of Honor or the jittery, junior Code of Honor? Code of Honor owns the biggest name of the […]

Knicks Go broke the track record in the Breeders' Cup Dirt mile earlier this month. He could run the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Dec. 5. (Image: Coady Photography/Keeneland)

Don’t Take a Holiday on These Late-Season Races

The Breeders’ Cup is in the rear-view mirror, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any prime late-season races on the horizon. The end of the year may seem like a racing lull before the calendar flips, but don’t let the last two months of the horse racing season go by […]