Trademark Edges First Mission by a Nose to Win Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs

November 24th, 2023 by Byron King

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Trademark, First Mission, 2023 Clark Stakes, Churchill Downs

Trademark on the outside nosed out First Mission in a thrilling finish to the Grade 2 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs. (Coady Photography/John Gallagher)

Trademark had to give everything to win the Grade 2 Clark Stakes presented by Norton Healthcare at Churchill Downs, but under a furious ride from Fernando De La Cruz, Trademark managed to inch past 3-year-old First Mission to win by a nose. First Mission was the 6-5 post time favorite who had won the Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes in April and an allowance optional claimer last month at Keeneland. The two finished far clear of the rest of the pack. Il Miracolo, another 3-year-old, was 5 1/2 lengths back in third.

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The Clark victory by Trademark on Friday, Nov. 24 improved the 4-year-old gelding's record to 4-1-0 in six starts on the Churchill Downs main track. He is 6-3-1 in 22 races overall.

Trademark completed 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.95. It was the slowest time in the Clark since Giant Oak covered the distance 1:50.82 in 2010. Splits in the race were :23.27, :47.97 and 1:12.45, set by Film Star and First Mission.

The Clark was downgraded from Grade 1 status by the American Graded Stakes Committee this year. The $600,000 race is the richest race of the Churchill Downs fall meet.

Dismissed at odds of more than 13-1 after finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Hagyard Fayette Stakes Oct. 28 at Keeneland, Trademark paid $28.20 to win.

"I thought at the sixteenth pole I had a big shot at winning," said De La Cruz one of the top riders from the recently concluded Horseshoe Indianapolis meet. "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."

Trademark became a millionaire with Friday's victory. He made $357,600 in the Clark to further his earnings to $1,055,865.

"We knew he loves this track, and he sure showed it tonight," trainer Vicki 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."