Trademark Continues Winning Ways at Churchill in Clark
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Photo: Coady Photography/Jetta Vaughns
Trademark (outside) noses out First Mission in Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs
After a promising juvenile campaign in 2021, the connections of Trademark dreamed of success at Churchill Downs in the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1). Those dreams were dashed when the son of Upstart was unplaced in three races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at age 3, leaving him short of qualifying.
But he has picked up some pretty large paydays otherwise under the Twin Spires, the most rewarding of which came Nov. 24 when the now 4-year-old gelding edged First Mission by a nose to win the $599,500 Clark Stakes (G2), the richest race of the fall meet at the Louisville, Ky., track.
The victory improved him to 4-1-0 in six starts on the Churchill Downs main track, with his only poor performance coming when he ran 10th in the 2022 Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2) around one turn on the undercard of that year's Kentucky Derby. He is 6-3-1 in 22 races overall.
Trademark had to give everything to win Fiday's Clark, but under a furious ride from Fernando De La Cruz, one of the top riders from the recently concluded Horseshoe Indianapolis meet, the BBN Racing-owned runner managed to inch past 3-year-old First Mission, the 6-5 favorite who had won the Lexington Stakes (G3) in April and an allowance optional claimer last month at Keeneland.
Trademark "made us sweat it out," said Braxton Lynch, one of the BBN Racing partnership founders and its racing manager.
The two finished far clear of the rest of the pack. Il Miracolo , another 3-year-old, was 5 1/2 lengths back in third.
Trademark completed 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.95, the slowest time in the Clark since Giant Oak covered the distance 1:50.82 in 2010. Splits in the race were :23.27, :47.97 and 1:12.45, set by Film Star and First Mission.
The Clark was downgraded from grade 1 status by the American Graded Stakes Committee this year.
Dismissed at odds of more than 13-1 after finishing seventh in the Oct. 28 Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, Trademark paid $28.20 to win.
"I thought at the sixteenth pole I had a big shot at winning," De La Cruz said. "He relaxed early and I saved ground, just waiting for the right opportunity to get him outside. He's always been a very nice horse. I've been on him a couple of times and knew he was pretty tactical in his races. He showed a big turn of foot in the stretch and fought all the way to the wire."
Sales History, Earnings, and Pedigree
Bred in Kentucky by late Kentucky Gov. Brereton Jones, Trademark was a $42,000 purchase by BBN Racing from the Eaton Sales consignment to the 2020 September Yearling Sale at Keeneland. He is among three winners from the Creative Cause mare Creative Trick .
Trademark became a millionaire with Friday's victory. He made $357,600 in the Clark to further his earnings to $1,055,865.
"We knew he loves this track, and he sure showed it tonight," trainer Vicki Oliver said. "He's run some of his best races here, which gave us confidence going into the race. He doesn't like to be inside horses, and I think when Fernando got him outside, that was a big key to get him to show his best run."
Upstart is the sire of 2022 Bluegrass Stakes (G1) winner Zandon and other graded stakes winners. He stands for a $30,000 fee in 2024 at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky.