Leofric Earns First Grade 1 Win in Clark Handicap

Leofric seized the lead in the stretch then held off Bravazo late for a narrow win in the $500,000 Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs.

The win marked the first grade 1 score for Steve Landers Racing's Leofric, and also served as a formal, top-level introduction of what appears to be a formidable handicap horse for 2019, as trainer Brad Cox said the plan is to race the son of Candy Ride  as a 6-year-old next season.

"We'll maybe look at the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) or something like that down the road," Cox said. "We'll see how he comes out of things. I'm really proud of his effort. He's really turned the corner over the summer and become a top-quality horse."

After not racing at 3 and earning his maiden win in his 4-year-old debut, Leofric has put it all together this season, including an impressive Kentucky sweep this fall, as he entered the Clark off an Oct. 27 victory in the Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.

Interviewed in the winner's circle by Churchill publicity after the race, Cox credited the patience of Landers and noted the excitement of seeing Leofric progress this summer and fall.

"If you get in a fight with him, he's going to give you all he's got," Cox said.

Early on in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile race, Leofric settled in fourth along the rail as Prime Attraction—who nearly led every step in the Fayette before Leofric got up in the final strides to win by a head—cruised through a quarter-mile in :23.56. Jockey Florent Geroux and Leofric continued to rate inside as Prime Attraction punched a half-mile in :47.58. Leofric saved ground into the turn, then—responding to a cue from Geroux just after six furlongs in 1:11.61—he launched his drive.

That well-timed move prevented Leofric from getting stuck on the rail and, quickly up to full speed and in the clear, he seized the lead just before the quarter pole as Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up Bravazo took up the chase to his outside. In early stretch favored Seeking the Soul and John Velazquez looked for room in a bid to repeat their 2017 Clark win.

Leofric showed the fight Cox talked about, as the favorite flattened and Leofric found more to hold off Bravazo. Leofric prevailed by a neck at the wire and completed the race in 1:48.59 on a fast track.

"We had a great trip in the pocket the entire way around. That made the difference. This is a really nice horse," Geroux said. "He's had some great preparation by Brad (Cox) and his team before this race. He fought Bravazo the whole way until the wire. I'm so proud of his effort. He had a really tough beat in the Razorback Handicap (G3) (where he finished second Feb. 19 at Oaklawn Park) and then got hurt and took some time off. He had a great summer of preparation for this start."

Jockey Joel Rosario said Bravazo ran a nice race to finish second.

"I'm so proud of his effort. He ran really hard today," Rosario said. "We had a great trip just off of the pace, and I tipped him towards the outside around the three-eighths pole, and he started to pick off horses. He tried the entire way down the lane, and we almost got the job done."

The top three choices formed the trifecta in reverse order, with 3-1 Leofric returning $8.60, $4.40, and $2.40 across the board. Second choice Bravazo paid $3.80 and $2.40 and favored Seeking the Soul paid $2.10 to show. Seeking the Soul was highweight at 123 pounds, while Leofric carried 121.

Bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, Leofric is the first starter from unraced Unbridled's Song mare Lady Godiva.

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