Fall meet set to close with host of graded stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Typical for Churchill Downs, the fall meet, which ends next Saturday, will conclude with a flurry of graded stakes action, including two graded stakes each day Thursday through Saturday.

The Grade 2 Falls City and Grade 3 River City handicaps headline the Thanksgiving Day action, followed by the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf and Grade 1 Clark Handicap on Friday and the Grade 2 Golden Rod and Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club stakes on closing-day Saturday, which, as usual, will have a card solely comprised of 2-year-old races.

The Clark is shaping up to be a dynamite renewal, with trainer Bob Baffert likely to bring Dortmund and Hoppertunity to the race, provided they work well in their final tune-ups in the coming days. They are expected to be joined by a quality cast led by Effinex, the runner-up to American Pharoah in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Travers winner Keen Ice.

Looks to Spare, Mr. Z, Protonico, Race Day, and Shotgun Kowboy are among the others being considered for the race, according to Churchill Downs assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork.

The Baffert horses are expected to ship from California early next week.

The Saturday races for juveniles also are intriguing, drawing some horses out of the Breeders’ Cup. Dothraki Queen, third behind Songbird in the BC Juvenile Fillies, looms as the likely favorite in the Golden Rod for 2-year-old fillies, while Airoforce will try dirt for the first time in the Kentucky Jockey Club after making his three prior starts on grass, including a last-out second in the BC Juvenile Turf.

Airoforce breezed Friday at Churchill Downs, going a half-mile on a fast track in 48.60 seconds for trainer Mark Casse.