3-year-olds Hoppertunity, Constitution among Clark probables

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Lacking any of the big-name 3-year-olds from the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Clark Handicap still could have a pair of 3-year-olds as major contenders.

Constitution and Hoppertunity, both of whom missed the Kentucky Derby in May with injuries, are among the prospective field for the 141st running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark, the annual fall-meet highlight to be run Friday at Churchill Downs.

Constitution, the Florida Derby winner whose record got its first blemish when he finished fourth as the 2-5 favorite in an Oct. 12 optional claimer at Belmont Park, will be making his second start since suffering a hairline fracture of his right-front cannon bone. The Tapit colt is owned by WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing Stables and trained by Todd Pletcher.

“We feel like he really needed his last race,” said Elliott Walden, president of WinStar. “He actually ran better than the race looked, being pressed the whole way. His Ragozin Figure suggests it was perfect for him to move forward with this one, so we’ll be there.”

Hoppertunity, who actually was on the Derby program before being scratched, is scheduled to arrive Monday via equine charter from California for Bob Baffert. Hoppertunity had a useful comeback during Breeders’ Cup week at Santa Anita when finishing a fast-closing second in a seven-furlong optional claimer.

As of Friday, these were the known probables for the 1 1/8-mile Clark, for which entries will be drawn Tuesday: Constitution, Departing, Easter Gift, Hoppertunity, Knights Nation, Looking Cool, Pick of the Litter, and Prayer for Relief.

Three-year-olds filled the top six spots in the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, led by Bayern, Toast of New York, California Chrome, and Shared Belief. Churchill officials initially hoped that one of them would venture here.