Tom's d'Etat gets first Grade 1 in Clark
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ten years after winning the Clark for the first time with Blame, trainer Al Stall Jr. was back in the Churchill Downs winner’s circle Friday when Tom’s d’Etat powered to a popular victory in the 145th running of the Grade 1, $600,000 race.
“This means a lot to us, with everything this horse has been through,” said Stall, who trains Tom’s d’Etat for the GMB Racing of New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson. “He’s one of my all-time favorites.”
Tom’s d’Etat returned $3.80 as a heavy favorite in a field of 11 3-year-olds and upward after finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.84 over a fast track.
Expertly ridden by Joel Rosario, Tom’s d’Etat saved ground while racing in midpack through both turns, easing toward the leaders leaving the three-eighths pole. After maneuvering outside to split a pair of tiring rivals at the quarter pole, the 6-year-old horse suddenly found himself with clear sailing, and he went on to dominate from there. The final margin over a late-closing Owendale was 3 1/4 lengths, although Rosario did not persist in the last 100 yards or so.
“He’s a very special horse,” said Rosario.
Owendale, the only 3-year-old in the field and the 5-1 second choice, trailed for much of the way before rallying along the rail to nail Mr Freeze for second in the last couple of jumps. Draft Pick was another length back in fourth.
Tom’s d’Etat, a Kentucky-bred by Smart Strike, got a late start on what has turned into an outstanding career. He now has won nine of 16 starts and earned $1,236,572, with the Clark being his first Grade 1 victory and just his second in a graded race, following the Grade 2 Fayette last month at Keeneland.
Stall compared Tom’s d’Etat favorably with the two best horses he has trained during his 29-year career, Blame and Star Guitar. Nearly a year after Blame won the 2009 Clark, he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic here at Churchill, defeating the great Zenyatta in a racing epic. Star Guitar won an incredible 24 of 30 starts.
“He’s been a Grade 1 horse in our mind since he was a 2-year-old,” said Stall. “We’re very happy he’s finally had a chance to prove it. It took a lot of patience not only from our staff, but from Gayle Benson and the GMB crew. They never blinked an eye when we had to give him time with an ankle chip and a little of this and that.
“All that time – it’s come together now. He’s been great the last 18 months or so. He’s ready to turn 7, but he’s been like a fountain of youth kind of horse, just unbelievable.”
Under the glare of the Churchill lights, and run before what surely was the largest ontrack crowd of the 25-day fall meet, Mr. Buff set fractions of 23.02 seconds, 47.43, and 1:11.82 while pushed along by Fact Finding and Mr Freeze. Once they wheeled for home, however, Mr. Buff was finished, and Tom’s d’Etat quickly established his superiority as others took up a futile chase.
“For a second I was in tight with a lot of dirt in the face,” said Rosario. “But he handled everything fine. I waited for the right time to get him going, and I got a little room turning for home. Then he took the lead and kicked on from there.”
Stall said the next start for Tom’s d’Etat will be determined in due course as the trainer moves his best horses this coming week to Fair Grounds in his hometown of New Orleans. Stall mentioned the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park while adding the new $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29 is in play, as well as a possible trip to the $12 Dubai World Cup on March 28.
Brad Cox, trainer of Owendale, said he was happy with how stoutly the colt closed. “He fired hard,” said Cox. “A little late, but overall a very big effort.”
After the top four, the order was Major Cabbie, Seeking the Soul, Mocito Rojo, Bravazo, Snapper Sinclair, Mr. Buff, and Fact Finding. Pioneer Spirit was an early scratch.
The $2 exacta (2-8) paid $19.80, the $1 trifecta (2-8-9) returned $79.40, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-8-9-1) was worth $103.76.
The Clark was run under allowance conditions for the first time after Churchill management decided earlier this year to scrap all handicap events. Weight assignments for this renewal range from 123 to 118 pounds, with Tom’s d’Etat sharing highweight with Seeking the Soul, the 2017 Clark winner. The purse was the highest in race history, surpassing the $582,000 paid out in 2003.
Nay Lady Nay (7-1) wins Mrs. Revere
An hour earlier, as nightfall settled in, Nay Lady Nay ran down Dalika in the final yards to capture the Grade 2, $300,000 Mrs. Revere by a half-length under jockey Junior Alvarado.
Trained by Chad Brown for First Row Partners and Hidden Brook Farm, Nay Lady Nay returned $16.80 after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:48.52 over a turf course rated good. She raced in midpack for much of the way before angling out for the stretch drive, splitting Dalika and The Mackem Bullet in the final yards for her first graded triumph.
“She ran an incredible race,” said Brown assistant Whit Beckman.
Dalika, who seized command from The Mackem Bullet inside the furlong pole and appeared poised for her stakes win, gave way grudgingly. She finished another 1 1/2 lengths before The Mackem Bullet, the 3-1 second choice in a field of 12 3-year-old fillies.
“That was a tough one,” said Stall, trainer of Dalika.
Nay Lady Nay, an Irish-bred filly by the young sire No Nay Never, was coming off a victory in the ungraded Parx Fall Oaks in early October. She now has three wins from five overall starts and will go straight from here to Brown’s winter base at Palm Meadows in South Florida, said Beckman.
A second Brown starter, New and Improved, failed to threaten when finishing seventh as the 2-1 favorite. “She didn’t seem to handle the going as well as our other filly,” said Beckman.
The $2 exacta (2-4) paid $94, the $1 trifecta (2-4-14) returned $262, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-4-14-7) was worth $132.95.
► Racing at Churchill continues through the weekend with a Stars of Tomorrow card (2-year-olds only) on Saturday and closing day on Sunday. Steady rain has been forecast for much of Saturday. Twelve races are carded both days.
