Leofric may target Clark Handicap

Leofric, winner of the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes by a head on closing day at Keeneland, emerged from his second graded stakes victory of the season in good order, and could be targeting a bigger prize to end the year.

Brad Cox, who trains the 5-year-old Candy Ride horse for Steve Landers Racing, said he is considering the Grade 1 Clark Handicap on Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs for Leofric, who has won four of six starts this year. Leofric won the Grade 3 West Virginia Governor's Stakes on Aug. 4 at Mountaineer, finished third in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on Sept. 1 at Saratoga, and came back to win the Fayette last Saturday.

"[The Clark is] back a little quick, but ultimately, we'll see how he comes out of it over the next few weeks, breeze him a time or two, and just let him tell us if he's ready," Cox said. "If not, we won't press him. He's a horse we've taken a lot of time with, and we'll continue to do that. He's rewarded us with time between races."