Bayern, Constitution Top Clark Nominations

Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Bayern and Besilu Florida Derby (gr. I) victor Constitution headline 20 horses nominated to the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Nov. 28.



Named for Churchill Downs founder Col. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., the 1 1/8-mile dirt contest will be renewed for the 140th time as the featured event on the fall meet's closing weekend.

 

Bayern, who prevailed in a controversial renewal of the Breeders' Cup Classic, is an unlikely Clark starter, trainer Bob Baffert told the Churchill racing office. Instead, the Hall of Fame conditioner is pointing Rebel (gr. II) winner Hoppertunity to the Clark.

 

After taking Oaklawn's Rebel and finishing second behind California Chrome in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), Hoppertunity was a highly regarded contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) Derby. He was scratched from the race after a left front foot issue was detected, however.



Hoppertunity resumed training in September and made his return to the races in an allowance/optional claiming event on Oct. 29 at Santa Anita Park, where he finished a late-running second, beaten by a half length. Hopperunity, owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman, has earned $622,720 from a 2-2-0 record through six starts.

 

Twin Creeks Racing Stables and WinStar Farm's Constitution, like Hoppertunity, was another talented Kentucky Derby hopeful until a hairline fracture was discovered in his front right cannon bone. The Todd Pletcher trainee returned to racing Oct. 12 at Belmont Park, where he finished fourth in an allowance/optional claiming event while beaten by 1 1/2 lengths. That was the first defeat for the son of Tapit   in four starts. Constitution has earnings of $653,600.

 

Other Clark nominees include the Steve Asmussen-trained Tapiture, who was a game second, 1 1/4 lengths back of the impressive Goldencents   in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I), and the Dale Romans-trained duo of Fayette (gr. II) winner Pick of the Litter and multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Prayer for Relief, who finished 12th in the BC Classic.



Trainer Al Stall Jr. has nominated Departing, a multiple grade II winner and earner of more than $1.5 million who finished second to Pick of the Litter in the Fayette.

Others nominated are the Chad Brown-trained duo of Suburban Handicap (gr. II) winner and Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) runner-up Zivo and Easter Gift, who was third in last year's Clark; and Cary Street, who impressively won the Las Vegas Marathon (gr. II) on the Breeders' Cup undercard for trainer Brendan Walsh.