Churchill Downs notes: Will Take Charge the likely favorite in Clark matchup with Game On Dude

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With things coming together for an alluring matchup between Game On Dude and Will Take Charge in the signature race of the Churchill Downs fall meet, the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, there’s this question: Which horse will be favored?

Clearly, part of that depends on the complexion of the 1 1/8-mile race, for example, what other pace will be present to challenge Game On Dude. Other probable starters for the $500,000 Clark, to be run next Friday, Nov. 29, include Bourbon Courage, Finnegans Wake, Prayer for Relief, and hopefully at least a couple more.

Said Churchill linemaker Mike Battaglia: “It’s got to be very close, but I’d say right now I’m leaning slightly toward Will Take Charge” as the program favorite. “He beat Game On Dude pretty easily in the Breeders’ Cup.”

Game On Dude, a disappointing ninth as the 8-5 favorite in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Classic, breezed six furlongs Sunday at Santa Anita in California, after which trainer Bob Baffert said the 6-year-old gelding is “right on schedule.” Mike Smith will be back aboard.

Will Take Charge, beaten a nose as the Classic runner-up behind Mucho Macho Man, is scheduled to breeze this weekend for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Luis Saez has the mount back, Lukas said.

Weight assignments will be released Friday and entries drawn Tuesday.

Imposing Grace to Falls City

Trainer Wayne Catalano said he is hoping to have Imposing Grace ready for the traditional Thanksgiving Day feature at Churchill, the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap. Imposing Grace, a 4-year-old by Empire Maker, has not raced since winning the Grade 3 Arlington Matron on May 25 but has been working vigorously in the last five weeks. The filly has had six works since Oct. 14, the latest a five-furlong breeze at Churchill on Tuesday.

“We got a little behind with her, but I’m pretty confident I’ve got her as good as I can, or at least I hope,” Catalano said.

Entries for the $150,000 Falls City will be drawn Sunday, and it’s coming up a very good one, too, with Believe You Can, Don’t Tell Sophia, Flashy American, Molly Morgan, and Wine Princess among the other probables.

Full field for River City

An oversubscribed field of 15 older horses has been drawn for the lone stakes here this weekend, the Grade 3, $100,000 River City Handicap on Saturday.

Daddy Nose Best will start from post 9 as the 118-pound highweight in the 1 1/8-mile turf race, which is carded as the ninth of 10 races. Keep Up (117), the 2012 winner, was assigned post 4. As many as 14 can start, with Star Channel (113) being the only also-eligible.

The Saturday card will conflict in part with the Memphis-Louisville college football game, which carries a noon Eastern kickoff at nearby Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. First post is 12:40 p.m.

Rocco sore after fall

Jockey Joe Rocco Jr. was hoping to be back riding Thursday after taking off all mounts Sunday and Wednesday. Rocco was still sore after being thrown to the slop by Desert Dew when the 4-year-old maiden colt flipped over behind the starting gate prior to the second race Sunday. Desert Dew was a late scratch.

Rocco, whose mount earnings of more than $5.7 million this year are a career high, is headed to Gulfstream Park after the Churchill meet ends Nov. 30.

Gentlemen’s Bet target unclear

Gentlemen’s Bet most likely is not headed to the Cigar Mile now that the Grade 1 race on Nov. 30 at Aqueduct is coming up so incredibly tough. Trainer Ron Moquett said he is looking to divert Gentlemen’s Bet to an upcoming race at Fair Grounds or maybe even wait for the meet at Oaklawn Park, where he will be based this winter. Gentlemen’s Bet has not worked since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Entries down at meet

Despite having 10 races in the condition book for Friday, only nine were carded, yet another sign that the Churchill racing office is struggling with insufficient entries. The nominal feature is the only allowance on the card, a $43,000, first-level sprint that drew a field of 10 fillies and mares.

Turfway meet begins Dec. 1

Turfway Park is gearing up for four months of winter racing with a Polytrack surface that has undergone the first phase in a three-year, $500,000 renovation plan. The Florence, Ky., track starts its holiday meet Dec. 1 and will conduct racing on a four-day-a-week basis through Jan. 1, after which the schedule will be reduced during the winter-spring meet through the end of March.

Wolf earns horseman award

Jack Wolf will be honored with the Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year award by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners on Saturday evening after the races at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Wolf not only has been a major player as an ownership partner in Starlight Racing, but also in efforts to grow and improve aftercare programs for retired racehorses. Tickets to the awards dinner are $125 and are available by calling (502) 458-5820.