Godolphin's Proxy Scores Breakthrough Victory in Clark
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Photo: Coady Photography
Proxy wins the Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs
Almost two years ago, patient handling from trainer Mike Stidham with Godolphin's steadily improving Mystic Guide combined to turn the colt into an elite dirt runner, and months later in March 2021, he captured the Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1) at Meydan.
Now it seems Stidham and Godolphin might have another Dubai World Cup prospect for the March 25 race in the Middle East. Proxy suggested as much with his performance Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs by determinedly catching frontrunning favorite West Will Power to notch a breakthrough graded stakes victory in the $750,000 Clark Stakes Presented by Norton Healthcare (G1). He won by three-quarters of a length in a 1 1/8-mile race in which Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Rich Strike finished last of six.
PROXY wins The Clark Stakes with @JRosarioJockey aboard for Mike Stidham and @godolphin!
1 1/8 Miles | Dirt | 1:48.89 pic.twitter.com/pprh3q05Uk— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 25, 2022
"I'd love to get back to the Dubai World Cup, but going into 2023 there's a lot still on the table after a win like today," said Stidham.
There was much to like about Proxy's performance. Fresh in his first start since a third-place finish in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in June, he broke running and jockey Joel Rosario placed him closer than usual, conscious of an apparent lack of pace.
He kept West Will Power honest through splits of :23.94, :48.51, and 1:12.76, perching his mount on that rival's flank, and down the stretch it was a two-horse battle, one Proxy eventually won. The victorious 4-year-old son of Tapit raced 1 1/8 on a fast track in 1:48.89, running his final furlong in about :12. He paid $7.08 to win.
Proxy (blue cap) powers down the lane to win the Clark Stakes
"This was his first start in a few months, so he was a little sharper leaving the gate," Rosario said. "He was a little bit further back in his last start here in the Stephen Foster than I expected him to be. I knew (West Will Power) was really the only horse that had early speed in the race, so I didn't want to let him get away easily. He was very professional today throughout.
"(West Will Power) didn't want to give in. He was very tough on the lead and I had to work pretty hard to get by him."
Rosario scored his second victory in the Clark, having first won aboard G M B Racing's Tom's d'Etat for trainer Al Stall Jr. in 2019.
Godolphin notched their second consecutive Clark victory after taking the 2021 race with the Brendan Walsh-trained Maxfield , another homebred for the global racing and breeding operation.
Godolphin is headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai.
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Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) winner West Will Power was stubborn in defeat, maintaining a half-length lead in midstretch before being unable to fend off the winner's final charge. The Brad Cox trainee held second by 2 1/2 lengths over stablemate Fulsome , who rallied from last to grab third.
Fulsome was the only horse in the slow-paced contest to make up meaningful ground.
Graded stakes winner Last Samurai was fourth, followed by Injunction in fifth and Rich Strike brought up the rear of the field.
The latter, returning on 20 days rest after a fourth-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5, lacked his customary late kick and weakened after stalking the pace along the inside in fourth. He lost by 8 1/4 lengths.
"He was in a good position at the rail but turning for home, he didn't have anything left at all," said trainer Eric Reed. "We knew it was a big risk running him back in three weeks. Sometimes you're the hero, and sometimes you're the goat."
Although Proxy has run a number of quality races over his career, Friday's Clark represented his first stakes win. He had previously settled for graded stakes placings when second in both the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) at age 3, and when second in the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) and third in the Ben Ali Stakes (G3) in graded stakes earlier in 2022 before the Stephen Foster.
Proxy returns to the winner's circle after his victory in the Clark Stakes
Along the way, Proxy kept good company against such classy rivals as Midnight Bourbon , Mandaloun , and Olympiad —none of whom are still in action. Stidham long suspected Proxy was capable of delivering more, pointing to how he would offer run in spurts.
Bred by Kentucky, Proxy is out of the grade 1-winning Include mare Panty Raid , a producer of 10 foals, five starters, and four winners. Proxy is her second graded stakes winner, following 2021 Hillsborough Stakes (G2T) winner Micheline (Bernardini ), who Stidham also trained.
Two of Panty Raid's unraced foals include a yearling colt by Frosted and an Into Mischief weanling filly.
With Friday's victory, Proxy improved his record to 4-5-2 in 13 starts, and his Clark earnings of $458,970 lifted his career bankroll to $971,220.
Stidham praised Rosario's ride and noted his jockey's familiarity with West Will Power.
"I think Joel (Rosario) knew from riding (West Will Power) last time in the Fayette that he would show early speed again," Stidham said. "When he broke as sharp as he did, he didn't take position away from him. I was confident he'd have enough left in the stretch by his pedigree. "