Big names target Clark Handicap

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Nov. 26 Falls City and a Nov. 28 Stars of Tomorrow card sandwich the Nov. 27 Clark Handicap, a Grade 1 race that is shaping up with an excellent field.

Prospects for the $500,000 Clark include Dortmund and Hoppertunity for Bob Baffert; Race Day and Protonico for Todd Pletcher; Effinex and Keen Ice, the second- and fourth-place finishers behind American Pharoah in the Breeders’ Cup Classic; Frivolous, a 5-year-old mare in her final career start; and Mr. Z, trained by D. Wayne Lukas.

Keen Ice continues to be the subject of a possible sale that might preclude the colt from starting in the Clark, although trainer Dale Romans said last weekend he is “training as if we’re going to go ahead and run.”