Clearly Now looking for a bit more distance

NEW ORLEANS – Clearly Now was the odds-on favorite Thursday in the Thanksgiving Handicap in his first start for Brittlyn Stable and trainer Ron Faucheux, and he rallied from off the pace to finish third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths.

“I was hoping this horse would get [up] at six furlongs, but he probably needs more ground,’’ Faucheux said.

Clearly Now, a millionaire and multiple graded stakes winner, hasn’t won a six-furlong race since he was a 2-year-old in 2012. Since the longest sprint distance at Fair Grounds is six furlongs, Faucheux said he might look for a longer sprint out of town for the horse’s next start.

Clearly Now previously was owned by Up Hill Stable and trained by Brian Lynch.

Ride On Curlin, the 2014 Preakness runner-up, finished fifth in the Thanksgiving Handicap in his first start since May. He broke slowly and was 12 lengths off the lead after a quarter-mile before rallying, finishing 5 1/4 lengths behind the winner, Control Stake.

A two-turn race, on dirt or turf, might be next for Ride On Curlin, trainer Billy Gowan said.

“I just like the fact that he was running hard at the end and look forward to bigger and better things,’’ Gowan said. “I was pleased ... the main thing is he pulled up good.’’