Diversify, Hoppertunity give Clark regional flavor

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Diversify and Hoppertunity have been confirmed as starters for the Clark Handicap, giving the Grade 1 race an East vs. West component to mix in with a solid cast of locals.

Entries for the $500,000 Clark, to be run next Friday for the 143rd time at Churchill Downs, will be taken Sunday, one day after weight assignments were to be released. The Clark is one of six graded stakes to be run here Thanksgiving weekend.

Diversify, who skipped the Breeders’ Cup Classic after winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont, was confirmed Friday by trainer Rick Violette. Joining Diversify in shipping in with New York form will be Good Samaritan, whose victory in the Jim Dandy in his dirt debut was followed by a fifth in the Travers and a fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Good Samaritan, trained by Bill Mott, actually has trained in recent weeks at Payson Park in Florida.

Meanwhile, the California-based Hoppertunity, who won the 2014 Clark as a 3-year-old for Bob Baffert, will seek to become the first horse to win the 1 1/8-mile race in non-consecutive years. Three others have won it twice, but all in back-to-back runnings: Hodge (1915-16), Bold Favorite (1968-69), and Bob’s Dusty (1977-78).

The local contingent for the Clark is led by The Player, winner of the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland last month, and Honorable Duty, whose string of outstanding efforts was broken when he finished far back in the slop as the Fayette favorite.

Ahead of nasty weather that was forecast for this weekend in the Louisville area, The Player and Honorable Duty were sent through their final pre-race breezes here Friday over a fast track, both at five furlongs. The Player went five furlongs in 1:00 with regular rider Calvin Borel up, while Honorable Duty went in 1:02.

Here is a quick look at the other closing-week stakes:

Grade 2, $200,000 Falls City (Thursday): This 1 1/8-mile race might have the shortest field of all the weekend stakes, with Faithfully, Blue Prize, Money’soncharlotte, and Motown Lady among the fillies and mares expected.

Grade 3, $100,000 River City (Thursday): Shining Copper and Kasaqui are among the top names expected for this 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up.

Grade 2, $200,000 Mrs. Revere (Friday): Wayne Catalano is leaning toward Farrell making her grass debut against Daddys Lil Darling and Lovely Bernadette in what is expected to be a sizable field of 3-year-old fillies for this 1 1/16-mile turf race.

Grade 2, $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (Saturday): Quip and Reride, both unbeaten in two starts, are among a large field of 2-year-olds likely for this 1 1/16-mile race, along with Enticed, Givemeaminit, Lone Sailor, and Gotta Go.

Grade 2, $200,000 Golden Rod (Saturday): Monomoy Girl, unbeaten in three starts, all for Brad Cox, figures to be favored in a big field of 2-year-old fillies headed for this 1 1/16-mile twin to the KJC.

Both Saturday stakes are part of a 12-race Stars of Tomorrow card restricted to 2-year-olds. There are no stakes on closing day, Nov. 26.