Leofric Holds Off Bravazo in Grade I, $500,000 Clark Handicap

Nov 24, 2018

Fayette Stakes (Grade II) winner Leofric turned back a determined challenge by 3-year-old Bravazo in deep stretch to win a thrilling renewal of Friday’s 144^th running of the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade I) by a neck. Defending Clark Handicap champion Seeking the Soul, the 123-pound starting high weight and 3-2 favorite, was another 2 ¾ lengths back in third.

Owned by Steve Landers Racing LLC, 5-year-old Leofric covered 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:48.59 while toting 121 pounds and jockey Florent Geroux, who rode the winner for trainer Brad Cox.

The lofty $300,700 first prize lifted the gray or roan Kentucky-bred’s earnings to near-millionaire status: $951,040 from a record of 8-1-3 in 14 starts.

Southern California-invader Prime Attraction, who was second to Leofric in the $200,000 Fayette at Keeneland on Oct. 27, set the pace in the field of eight 3-year-olds and up through fractions of :23.56, :47.58 and 1:11.61. Breaking from post No. 5, Leofric and Geroux worked out an ideal trip along the inside rail and rated just behind longshots Sightforsoreeyes and Storm Advisory, who chased Prime Attraction into the far turn. Bravazo and Seeking the Soul, who finished third and second in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI), were positioned just behind Leofric.

Midway around the turn, Leofric drew even with Prime Attraction and inched clear at the top of the stretch with Bravazo a half-length back on his right hip. The two matched strides in a long stretch drive with the elder getting the best of the 3-year-old in the final stages.

“We had a great trip in the pocket the entire way around,” said Geroux, who also won the 2016 Clark Handicap aboard Gun Runner. “That made the difference. This is a really nice horse. He’s had some great preparation by Brad and his team before this race. He fought Bravazo the whole way until the wire. I’m so proud of his effort.”

“I’m so proud of his effort,” said Bravazo’s jockey Joel Rosario. “He ran really hard today. We had a great trip just off of the pace and I tipped him towards the outside around the three-eighths pole and he started to pick off horses. He tried the entire way down the lane and we almost got the job done.”

Leofric rewarded his backers with mutuels of $8.60, $4.40 and $2.40 as the 3-1 third betting choice. Bravazo, at 118 pounds, returned $3.80 and $2.40 as the 2-1 second choice. Seeking the Soul, under John Velazquez, paid $2.10 to show.

Prime Attraction faded to fourth and was followed by the distant foursome of Hence, Hawaakom, Storm Advisory and Sightforsoreeyes.

This was the first Grade I win and third graded stakes victory of the year for Leofric. In addition to winning the Fayette, he scored in the $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes (GIII) at Mountaineer in August. After the latter, Leofric finished third behind Yoshida (JPN) and Gunnevera in the $750,000 Woodward (GI) at Saratoga.

“Florent did a great job,” Cox said. “He ran really well after running most of the summer and not missing a beat. He ran hard in the Fayette and I was a little concerned he may be coming back a bit too quick. He had two really nice breezes over the track and came into today’s race ready to go. Mr. Landers has been very patient with this horse. We’ll maybe look at the Oaklawn Handicap or something like that down the road. We’ll see how he comes out of things. I’m really proud of his effort. He’s really turned the corner over the summer and become a top-quality horse.”

Leofric is son of Candy Ride (ARG) out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Lady Godiva and was bred by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds.

Racing resumes Saturday at Churchill Downs with a 12-race program that begins at 1 p.m. (all times Eastern). The 92^nd running of the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) – a “Prep Season” race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby – and the 75^th running of the $200,000 Golden Rod (GII) for fillies are the headliners on the second-to-last day of Churchill Downs’ 21-date Fall Meet. Billed as “Stars of Tomorrow II,” each of the 12 races is exclusively for 2-year-olds that may have aspirations of trail-blazing their way to next spring’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and Longines Kentucky Oaks.

There is a massive $317,738 carryover in the 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot to chase on Races 7-12 after Kentucky Horse Racing Commission stewards had a double disqualification in Friday’s finale. If the result stood with Presidential Tweet crossing the wire first, the full jackpot would have been paid. Instead both President Tweet and runner-up New Colossus were disqualified for interference in deep stretch and third-place finisher Laser Loop was promoted to first, which triggered the massive full carryover.

If the jackpot is not hit by a single winning combination on Saturday, there would be an enormous mandatory payout on Sunday’s 12-race finale.

Also, there is a $49,200 carryover in Saturday’s late Pick 5 on Races 8-12 because Friday’s middle Pick 5 was not hit.

CLARK HANDICAP QUOTES

Florent Geroux, jockey of LEOFRIC (winner): “We had a great trip in the pocket the entire way around. That made the difference. This is a really nice horse. He’s had some great preparation by Brad (Cox) and his team before this race. He fought Bravazo the whole way until the wire. I’m so proud of his effort. He had a really tough beat in the Oaklawn Handicap and then got hurt and took some time off. He had a great summer of preparation for this start.”

Brad Cox, trainer of LEOFRIC (winner): “Florent (Geroux) did a great job. He ran really well after running most of the summer and not missing a beat. He ran hard in the Fayette and I was a little concerned he may be coming back a bit too quick. He had two really nice breezes over the track and came into today’s race ready to go. Mr. Landers has been very patient with this horse. We’ll maybe look at the Oaklawn Handicap or something like that down the road. We’ll see how he comes out of things. I’m really proud of his effort. He’s really turned the corner over the summer and become a top-quality horse.”

Joel Rosario, jockey of BRAVAZO (runner-up): “I’m so proud of his effort. He ran really hard today. We had a great trip just off of the pace and I tipped him towards the outside around the three-eighths pole and he started to pick off horses. He tried the entire way down the lane and we almost got the job done.”

Dallas Stewart, trainer of SEEKING THE SOUL (third): “Johnny (Velazquez) said he just ran kind of even around there – just a bummer.”

John Velazquez, jockey of SEEKING THE SOUL (third): “He was in a good spot early around the first turn. He just gave kind of an even effort. I split horses around the quarter pole but he just kind of flattened out.”