Trademark Earns 103 Brisnet Speed Rating in Gutsy Clark Victory

Nov 25, 2023 Kevin Kerstein

BBN Racing’s Trademark tied his career best Brisnet Speed Rating of 103 with his narrow victory over First Mission in Friday’s 149th running of the $600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II).

“I’ve always wanted to win the Clark but we always had fillies in our barn,” trainer Vicki Oliver said. “Now, we have a lot of colts and it’s really fun to win a race like this.”

Trademark has run some of his best efforts at Churchill Downs. Three starts ago in the Lukas Classic (GII), Trademark also earned a 103 Brisnet Speed Rating for his runner-up finish to Clapton in the Lukas Classic (GII). The now 4-year-old gelding closed his 2022 season with a four-length win in the Commonwealth Turf when the race was moved from the turf to the “sloppy” dirt surface.

Oliver stated the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup (GI) is a possible target for Trademark’s next start.

AMANTE BIANCO KICKS OFF JAPAN ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY WITH VICTORY IN CATTLEYA – Silk Racing Co. Ltd.’s Amante Bianco kicked off the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby by defeating 15 rivals in Saturday’s Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse.

Trained by Keisuke Miyata and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Amante Bianco rallied from just off the pace in the far turn and gamely dug in down the stretch to get by George Tesoro just before the wire. Unquenchable rallied on the outside to finish third followed by Star Turn and More Than Once.

The top five finishers in the Cattleya eared 10-5-3-2-1 points in the stand-alone series on the Road to Kentucky Derby 150.    Amante Bianco is a rare white Thoroughbred. The talented 2-year-old is by Henny Hughes out of the Japanese-bred mare Yukichan. The Cattleya was Amante Bianco’s second victory from just three starts.

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby will continue Dec. 13 for the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse.          For more information about the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, visit www.kentuckyderby.com.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Saturday’s 12-race “Stars of Tomorrow II” card featured all 2-year-old races. Action began at 1 p.m. and featured a $21,690 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot. … Entering the final two days of racing in 2023 at Churchill Downs, jockey Tyler Gaffalione had a 22-18 win lead over Luis Saez in the Fall Meet jockey standings. Trainers Steve Asmussen and Brad Cox sat atop the trainer standings in a tie with 14 wins. Owners Gary and Mary West and Rigney Racing battled the at the top of the standings with six wins each.