Roses in May out of Clark

Roses in May, whose runner-up finish behind Ghostzapper in the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Classic was his only defeat in six starts this year, will not run in the Nov. 26 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs as had been hoped, owner Ken Ramsey said Thursday.

"I'm afraid that we emptied him out," said Ramsey. "We're going to freshen him up."

Ramsey said Roses in May would soon accompany trainer Dale Romans to the Palm Meadows training center in south Florida, where the colt will begin preparing for the $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 26.

Roses in May's victories this year included the Grade 1 Whitney, Grade 2 Kentucky Cup Classic, and Grade 3 Cornhusker Breeders' Cup.

The defection leaves Perfect Drift, fourth in the BC Classic, as the probable favorite in the Grade 2, $500,000 Clark.