Leofric likely to get break before Oaklawn Handicap
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Brad Cox said the $9 million Pegasus World Cup is an outside possibility for Leofric, but it’s more likely the gray 5-year-old will get a short break prior to being pointed to the Oaklawn Handicap in April.
Leofric, owned by Steve Landers, won the annual signature race of the Churchill Downs fall meet, the Grade 1 Clark Handicap on Friday, holding off Bravazo in a torrid stretch duel. Seeking the Soul, the 3-2 favorite and defending champion, was third.
“He came out of it really good, so we’ve got options,” Cox said.
Suspensions for Geroux, Landeros
The two jockeys whose mounts were disqualified in the 12th race Friday both will serve three-day suspensions.
Chris Landeros, rider of first-place finisher Presidential Tweet, will serve Wednesday through Friday of this week before resurfacing Saturday for the Claiming Crown card at Gulfstream Park. Florent Geroux, who rode second-place finisher New Colussus and is headed to Fair Grounds, will serve his penalty Dec. 5-7.
Both horses were disqualified in a controversial ruling that awarded victory in the maiden-special race to third-place finisher Laser Loop.
La Brea next for ‘Fool’
Happy Like a Fool prevailed as an odds-on favorite Sunday in a six-furlong allowance that should provide an ideal setup for her next start in the Grade 1 La Brea on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.
Trained by Wesley Ward for the Coolmore group, Happy Like a Fool was sixth in her prior start in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
◗ After the Single 6 was swept by a solo winning ticket Saturday for a whopping $500,256, the usual closing-day betting frenzy that accompanies mandatory jackpot payouts was conspicuously missing. The Single 6 handle Sunday was $107,273, with each 20-cent winner paying $556.
