Tom's d'Etat Makes it to the Top in Clark

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Photo: Coady Photography
Tom's d'Etat wins the Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs

Trainer Al Stall Jr. planned to point Tom's d'Etat to the Nov. 29 Clark Stakes Presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) at Churchill Downs from the moment the 6-year-old son of Smart Strike finished clear in the Oct. 26 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.

The plan was masterful, as Tom's d'Etat coasted to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $600,000 feature to land his first grade 1 victory for G M B Racing.


"You can have a horse that's a great-looking horse and he does everything right, he breezes lights out all the time, but you can't tell who's a grade 1 horse until you actually throw them in there," said Stall, who won the Clark a decade ago with Blame . "He's always been the right kind of horse in our mind, but you have to prove it on the racetrack."

Connections have shown both their faith and patience in Tom's d'Etat. After breaking his maiden at 3 and picking up a trio of allowance-level wins at 4, Tom's d'Etat was put on the shelf for over a year. He won his return in the fall of his 5-year-old season before winning the Tenacious Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Tom's d'Etat began this year with a ninth-place run in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park but has been a consistent performer since. He placed in a pair of grade 2 events, won the Alydar Stakes at Saratoga Race Course before running fourth in the Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) there, then sprung back-to-back wins in the Fayette and Clark.

Joel Rosario improved to 4-0 when he rides Tom's d'Etat, who was tucked in midpack of the 11-horse field Friday, sitting in sixth as Mr. Buff set fractions of :23.02 and :47.43. By the time the pacesetter ran six furlongs in 1:11.82, Tom's d'Etat was up into fourth. Rosario asked Tom's d'Etat, the 4-5 favorite, to go at the five-sixteenths pole, and the horse ran on to an easy victory. 

The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48.84 on a fast track.

"He ran unbelievable," said Rosario, who collected his first Clark score. "It was such a good effort from him tonight to be able to sit behind the speed like that. He had such a strong kick in the stretch and won easily."

Tom's d'Etat wins the 2019 Clark at Churchill Downs
Photo: Coady Photography
The connections of Tom's d'Etat in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs

Video: Clark S. presented by Norton Healthcare (G1)



Multiple grade 3 winner Owendale rallied from last to get up for second by a head. It was the second grade 1 placing for the 3-year-old Into Mischief  colt, who finished third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) in May.

Mr Freeze ran a steady third over Draft Pick, Major Cabbie, and 2017 Clark winner Seeking the Soul. Mocito Rojo, Bravazo, Snapper Sinclair, Mr. Buff, and Fact Finding completed the order of finish.

G M B Racing went to $330,000 for Tom's d'Etat, who was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The Clark victory pushed the bay into millionaire status, with earnings of $1,236,572 from a 9-2-1 record in 16 starts.

"It was very satisfying," Stall said. "There's a lot of grade 1 horses in this game that don't make it to grade 1s. For him to persevere, for the owners to persevere, for our crew to persevere. … And you can't believe the care this horse gets on a day-to-day basis. I'm surprised he's not fat from grazing so much."

Stall said the connections are open to multiple options going forward. There have been calls received about interest in Tom's d'Etat as a stallion, but he could also continue his race career at 7.

"We're just going to do what's right for that animal," the trainer said. "I can tell you that right now."

Tom's d'Etat wins the 2019 Clark at Churchill Downs
Photo: Coady Photography
Tom's d'Etat cruises home to win the Clark

SF Bloodstock bred Tom's d'Etat in Kentucky out of the stakes-winning Giant's Causeway mare Julia Tuttle, whose dam, Candy Cane, is a full sister to group/grade 1 winner and sire Candy Ride . Julia Tuttle foaled a Connect  filly in February and was reported bred back to Nyquist .


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