Phlash Phelps will have to raise game in Henry Clark
Phlash Phelps, unbeaten in four starts and honored as the Maryland-bred turf champion last year, faces a stiff challenge against open company when he returns from a six-month layoff in Saturday’s $75,000 Henry Clark Stakes at Laurel Park.
The Clark, scheduled for one mile on turf, drew a deep and competitive field that includes Cage Fighter, the runner-up in the Grade 2 Dixie and Grade 3 Knickerbocker last season; the formerly California-based Mister Brightside, second in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby in October; Special Envoy, narrowly beaten in the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger last summer; and Golden Sabre, the winner of the Grade 3 Durham Cup on Woodbine’s Polytrack last fall.
Phlash Phelps, 5, will be making his first start since closing out his 2015 season with back-to-back wins against Maryland-breds in the 1 1/8-mile Find in August and the one-mile Maryland Million Turf in October.
Trainer Rodney Jenkins has worked Phlash Phelps into shape since early March, including three consecutive five-furlong moves since March 26.
“He’s had enough works,” Jenkins said. “If he’s himself, he should run fine. We understand we’re against a little better horse than Maryland-breds, so we’ll see how he does.”
Special Envoy has been no worse than third in five of his six starts since August, including a neck loss in the Cliff Hanger at Monmouth Park and a neck victory in a fourth-level optional $100,000 claimer at Tampa Bay Downs last month.
“I’ve had good luck running straight from Tampa just because they’re fit and they’re coming back to the cooler places, and he really likes it,” trainer Arnaud Delacour said. “I hope that he can run a good race. I’m excited about running him.”
Henry Clark, Race 10
KEY CONTENDERS
Phlash Phelps, by Great Notion
Last 3 Beyers: 88-86-74
◗ He has yet to hit 90 on the Beyer Speed Figure scale, which makes him slower than several of his opponents here.
Cage Fighter, by Closing Argument
Last 3 Beyers: 77-104-100
◗ This 6-year-old will be making his first start since finishing last at 150-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He lost the Knickerbocker by a nose, won the $194,000 PTHA President’s Cup at Parx, and held a two-length lead at the stretch call of the Dixie before weakening to finish second.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Cage Fighter. Trainer James Lawrence is 15-5-1-1 with a $3.49 ROI over the past five years in two-turn flat races on turf following a layoff of 120 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Mister Brightside, by Lord Shanakill
Last 3 Beyers: 85-90-93
◗ Makes his first start for trainer Niall Saville.
◗ His best performance in three starts since arriving from Europe was a close second in the Twilight Derby at Santa Anita.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Mister Brightside. Trainer Niall Saville is 24-5-2-0 with a $3.54 ROI over the past five years on turf in the first start following a trainer switch. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Special Envoy, by Stroll
Last 3 Beyers: 90-93-92
◗ He ran well the last time he raced at Laurel, finishing second in the restricted Bert Allen.
Golden Sabre, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 74-92-101
◗ Makes his first start for trainer Graham Motion.
◗ Finished far behind Special Envoy when they met at Tampa Bay Downs last month.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Edge of Reality. Trainer Graham Motion is 42-1-7-3 with a $0.29 ROI over the past five years going dirt to turf in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts