Expert Pick of the Week: 2023 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs

Nov 22, 2023 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A very good field of 10 will vie in the $600,000 Clark S. (G2) at Churchill Downs on Friday. The Todd Pletcher-trained Gasoline has steadily improved in his career and comes off a pair of very good runs on the oval leading up to his third run off the layoff. By Curlin, the gelding put in a career-best showing most recently and could move forward off of that performance in this spot with more ground to work with. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Gasoline broke his maiden in his fifth lifetime run last summer at Saratoga in his initial try at two turns, and the four-year-old is in very smart form at the moment while proving to have an affinity for the Churchill Downs oval, as well. He drove home a decisive winner at 1 1/16 miles here in his latest venture and will appreciate the additional distance with which to work with on this day. Flavien Prat inheriting the mount is an added bonus.

Brad Cox’s First Mission has run big in each of his four career races to date, and he displayed a lot of heart when getting up late to beat allowance foes at Keeneland off the long absence most recently. The lightly raced Godolphin homebred has early presence as well as a powerful turn of foot, and the son of Street Sense gives every impression of a sophomore who will thrive as the distances increase going forward. He shows bullet morning drills in his last pair of workouts, and First Mission also drew well to save ground early in the tilt, too. The Grade 3-winning colt will have Luis Saez in the silks once again, and I expect him to be prominent from the opening bell on Friday.

Woodward S. (G2) runner-up Film Star has been first or second in nine of his last 10 leading up to this assignment and is an obvious contender in the well-matched field. The speedy son of Flatter had a good prep for this when a close fourth when traveling one turn in the Forty Niner S. (G2) at Aqueduct most recently, and the four-year-old colt will relish the added distance while making his local debut, as well. Jose Lezcano will guide the bay.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #4 Gasoline on top of #2 First Mission and #6 Film Star in the 2023 Clark Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week. Bet Churchill Downs live racing with TwinSpires now!