In a fierce battle down the stretch under the lights Friday at Churchill Downs, BBN Racing's 4-year-old gelding Trademark emerged the winner in the 149th running of the $600,000 Clark (G2) by prevailing by a nose in photo with 6-5 favorite First Mission.
Trademark, who collected his first graded stakes win and became racing's newest millionaire, clocked 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.95 under jockey Fernando De La Cruz, who rode the winner for trainer Vicki Oliver.
The lofty first prize of $357,600 lifted Trademark's earnings to $1,055,865 from a record of 6-3-1 from 22 starts.
New York invader Film Star, on the outside, and 3-year-old Lexington (G2) winner First Mission, along the rail, raced in tandem on the lead through the first six furlongs in quarter-mile fractions of :23.27, :47.97, and 1:12.45 as Trademark relaxed just behind the duo while pinned inside by Giant Game who tracked from the outside.
Leaving the final turn, First Mission put away Film Star and took the lead at the top of the stretch, but De La Cruz tipped Trademark out three-wide when a hole opened and he hit his best stride. First Mission had a half-length advantage with a furlong to run but Trademark was surging and caught the leader with a sixteenth of a mile remaining. Trademark poked his nose in front in the final 100 yards, but First Mission fought back along the rail. A photo at the finish had to determine the narrow winner.
“I thought at the sixteenth pole I had a big shot at winning,” De La Cruz said. “He relaxed early and I saved ground, just waiting for the right opportunity to get him outside. He's always been a very nice horse. I've been on him a couple of times and knew he was pretty tactical in his races. He showed a big turn of foot in the stretch and fought all the way to the wire.”
First Mission's trainer Brad Cox said: “He ran a huge race. I thought he was very game fighting back at the wire. We're proud of how he ran.”
Prior to the Clark, Trademark finished a disappointing seventh of eight as the 2-1 favorite in the Fayette (G2) on Oct. 28 at Keeneland after finishing second, a head behind Clapton, in the Lukas Classic (G2) Sept. 30 at Churchill Downs.
Trademark had won two prior stakes events but both were ungraded: the off-the-turf Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs last fall and July's Michael H. Schaefer Memorial at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
The Clark was Trademark's fourth win from six starts over the Churchill Downs main dirt track and sixth overall from 22 career outings.
“We knew he loves this track and he sure showed it tonight,” Oliver said. “He's run some of his best races here which gave us confidence going into the race. He doesn't like to be inside horses and I think when Fernando got him outside that was a big key to get him to show his best run.”
Trademark, the 13-1 betting choice, rewarded his backers with $28.20 to win.
Il Miracolo finished third another 5½ lengths behind First Mission.
Blue Devil finished fourth and was followed by Gasoline, Film Star, Straight Arrow, Giant Game, and Stage Raider. Happy American was scratched.
Stage Raider was never involved after he bungled the start and spotted the field several lengths.
Trademark is a son of Upstart out of the Creative Cause mare Creative Trick and was bred in Kentucky by the late Brereton C. Jones.
“He's had a long campaign this year (nine starts),” Oliver said. “We'll see how he comes out of the race, but the Pegasus (World Cup Invitational) (G1) (Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park) could be an option next year.”
The Clark, named for Churchill Downs founder Col. M. Lewis Clark, was run for the first time in 1875 during the first racing meet at Churchill Downs, which was then known as the Louisville Jockey Club. Like the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), the Clark has been renewed annually without interruption since its first running.
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