G1 $500K Clark Handicap features 6 Oaklawn-raced horses

One of the biggest races at Churchill Downs today will have a heavy Oaklawn Park presence as the Grade 1 $500,000 Clark Handicap drew a field of eight, including six horses who have raced in Hot Springs.

Probable post time for the 1 1/8-mile Clark Handicap, which goes as race 11, is 4:56 p.m.

The co-3-1 second choice on the morning line is Leofric, owned by prominent Arkansas automobile dealer Steve Landers and trained by Brad Cox, who won 27 races at the 2018 Oaklawn meeting to finish fourth in the standings.

Leofric won a Jan. 14 allowance race at Oaklawn before finishing second in the Grade 3 $500,000 Razorback Handicap on Feb. 19, the horse’s first loss in five career starts in Hot Springs. Leofric, exiting a victory in the Grade 2 $200,000 Fayette Stakes on Oct. 27 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., is scheduled to break from post 5 under Florent Geroux and carry 121 pounds.

Bravazo (9-2) opened his 3-year-old campaign with an allowance victory on Jan. 13 at Oaklawn. Hence (12-1) gave Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his 500th career Oaklawn victory with a maiden score at the 2017 meeting.

“Believe it or not, I think this horse is actually getting better with each start,” Lukas said of Bravazo. “I don’t think the one-mile distance was his best in the Breeders’ Cup but I thought the (Dirt Mile) was the better option instead of the Classic. I think the extra distance in the Clark will suit him great.

“We plan on running him next year as a 4-year-old. Let’s get this one under our belt and move on to next year. Maybe this is his turn. He shows up every single time we run him.”

The 3-year-old colt by Awesome Again will attempt to give Lukas a record-tying third win in the race after previously winning with multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Will Take Charge in 2013 and Surfside in 2000. Both of Lukas’ previous winners were 3-year-olds that cemented year-end divisional championship honors.

Hawaakom (15-1) beat Leofric by 3 1/4 lengths in the Razorback for co-owner/trainer Wes Hawley. Storm Advisory (30-1) won the

$125,000 King Cotton Stakes for older sprinters in 2017 at Oaklawn. Sight for sore eyes (30-1) won an allowance race in 2017 at Oaklawn.

Defending champion Seeking the Soul is the 8-5 program favorite for the Clark Handicap.

Oaklawn-raced Princess Warrior (7-2) is entered in the Grade 2

$200,000 Mrs. Revere Stakes today at Churchill Downs. Probable post time for the 1 1/16-mile turf event, which goes as race 10, is

4:27 p.m.

Cosmic Burst, among the leading 3-year-old fillies at the 2018 Oaklawn meeting, won the $250,000 Zia Park Oaks Wednesday at Zia Park Racetrack in New Mexico.

Under Richard Eramia, Oaklawn’s ninth-leading rider in 2018, Cosmic Burst ($7.80) finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead Rose of Malibu, who was a neck clear of Sydney Freeman in the 1 1/16-mile race contested over a fast track. The winning time was 1:42.97.

Donnie K. Von Hemel, who has 299 career Oaklawn victories, trains Cosmic Burst and Sydney Freeman.

Cosmic Burst ran three times this year at Oaklawn, winning the Grade 3 $200,000 Honeybee Stakes on March 10, finishing third in the $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes on Feb. 10 and running fourth in the Grade 3 $400,000 Fantasy Stakes on April 13.

Owned by Norma Lee Stockseth and Todd Dunn, Cosmic Burst boosted her career earnings to $499,780 following her fifth victory from 11 lifetime starts. The Zia Park Oaks was Cosmic Burst’s third stakes victory.

A daughter of Violence, Cosmic Burst was a $25,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase.

Oaklawn allowance winner Pinson finished second in the

$150,000 Zia Park Championship Handicap Wednesday at Zia Park.