Constitution, Hoppertunity look to improve in Clark Handicap

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It may or may not apply to the Clark Handicap, but a sweep of the top six places by 3-year-olds in the Breeders’ Cup Classic seems to illustrate the strength of that division this year.

Whether that means Hoppertunity and Constitution are the horses to beat in the 141st running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark is up for debate, but the race should translate into a very lively wagering event when the field of nine goes to post in the annual fall showcase Friday at Churchill Downs.

This isn’t the most riveting renewal of the 1 1/8-mile Clark, but it is a good wagering race, aside from what might be further gleaned about the 3-year-old crop. Both Hoppertunity (post 1, Martin Garcia) and Constitution (post 7, Javier Castellano) will be making their second starts after injury-necessitated layoffs, and both stand to improve substantially Friday after having needed those comeback efforts.

Hoppertunity and Constitution figure to vie for Clark favoritism with Pick of the Litter (post 9, Corey Lanerie) and Departing (post 4, Robby Albarado), a pair of 4-year-olds who finished a neck apart as the respective one-two finishers last month in the Fayette Stakes at Keeneland.

Bob Baffert, trainer of Hoppertunity, won the Clark with Isitingood (1996) and Silver Charm (1998), the latter being the 13th and most recent Kentucky Derby winner also to win the Clark.

Constitution is one of two 3-year-olds (with Protonico) sent here from New York by Todd Pletcher, who also has two Clark wins, with Magna Graduate (2005) and A. P. Arrow (2007).

First post Friday is 12:40 p.m. Eastern, and the Clark, the 11th of 12 races, will be run under the lights at 5:35. The day-after-Thanksgiving crowd usually is the biggest of the fall meet.

The Clark is named for track founder M. Lewis Clark and was first run in 1875, the same year as the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. The 2013 running was won in dramatic fashion by Will Take Charge, who clinched a divisional Eclipse Award with the victory.

Key contenders

Hoppertunity (Last 3 Beyers: 87-98-100)

* A serviceable effort in his seven-furlong return during Breeders’ Cup week at Santa Anita should set him up nicely for this stretch out, especially given the favorable rail draw.

“He’s ready,” Baffert said.

* The colt was scratched off the Derby program because of a left-front foot bruise, returned with nine works starting in late August, and has had three more since his Oct. 29 comeback start.

Prayer for Relief (Last 3 Beyers: 96-105-97)

* He’s been overmatched by the likes of Will Take Charge, Itsmyluckyday, and the BC Classic 3-year-olds to go winless in nine starts this year, but his Beyer Speed Figures say he matches up with this field. He’s the “other” Dale Romans horse in here (with Pick of the Litter).

Departing (Last 3 Beyers: 97-98-78)

* Except for clinkers in the Oklahoma Derby and Whitney, this Claiborne Farm/Dilschneider homebred earner of nearly $1.6 million just goes out and runs his race, and trainer Al Stall Jr. is confident another top effort is forthcoming.

“He looks great and has trained great [since the Fayette],” Stall said.

Easter Gift (Last 3 Beyers: 93-72-75)

* Third last year in the Clark, this stretch-running 5-year-old finished first among a trio rolling past Constitution in an Oct. 12 allowance at Belmont Park, helping negate two weak preceding efforts.

* Chad Brown is in line for his first Eclipse nomination for outstanding trainer, having won three Breeders’ Cup races and approaching $15 million in stable earnings this year.

Constitution (Last 3 Beyers: 90-98-98)

* The son of the red-hot sire Tapit was one of the spring favorites for the Derby before being injured (hairline fracture, right-front cannon bone), primarily because of the way he turned back Wildcat Red, General a Rod, and Cairo Prince in staying unbeaten in the Florida Derby in late March.

“He got tired,” said Pletcher of the Oct. 12 race. “He’s trained well since [having worked four times at Belmont], and I believe he’s back to the one and one-eighth-mile form he showed back in the Florida Derby.”

Pick of the Litter (Last 3 Beyers: 97-97-95)

* He’s most deserving in this field of a “most improved award,” having gone from allowance caliber to a viable contender in major stakes. His Fayette win stemmed partly from a great trip under Lanerie, who will have to help overcome the outer post when seeking a repeat.