Leofric Earns First Grade 1 Win in Clark Handicap

Leofric seized the lead in the stretch then held off Bravazo late for a narrow win in the $500,000 Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs.

The win marked the first grade 1 score for Steve Landers Racing’s Leofric, and also served as a formal, top-level introduction of what appears to be a formidable handicap horse for 2019, as trainer Brad Cox said the plan is to race the son of Candy Ride  as a 6-year-old next season.

“We’ll maybe look at the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) or something like that down the road,” Cox said. “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.”

After not racing at 3 and earning his maiden win in his 4-year-old debut, Leofric has put it all together this season, including an impressive Kentucky sweep this fall, as he entered the Clark off an Oct. 27 victory in the Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.

Interviewed in the winner’s circle by Churchill publicity after the race, Cox credited the patience of Landers and noted the excitement of seeing Leofric progress this summer and fall.

“If you get in a fight with him, he’s going to give you all he’s got,” Cox said.

Early on in Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile race, Leofric settled in fourth along the rail as Prime Attraction—who nearly led every step in the Fayette before Leofric got up in the final strides to win by a head—cruised through a quarter-mile in :23.56. Jockey Florent Geroux and Leofric continued to rate inside as Prime Attraction punched a half-mile in :47.58. Leofric saved ground into the turn, then—responding to a cue from Geroux just after six furlongs in 1:11.61—he launched his drive.

That well-timed move prevented Leofric from getting stuck on the rail and, quickly up to full speed and in the clear, he seized the lead just before the quarter pole as Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up Bravazo took up the chase to his outside. In early stretch favored Seeking the Soul and John Velazquez looked for room in a bid to repeat their 2017 Clark win.

Leofric showed the fight Cox talked about, as the favorite flattened and Leofric found more to hold off Bravazo. Leofric prevailed by a neck at the wire and completed the race in 1:48.59 on a fast track.

“We had a great trip in the pocket the entire way around. That made the difference. This is a really nice horse,” Geroux said. “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 Razorback Handicap (G3) (where he finished second Feb. 19 at Oaklawn Park) and then got hurt and took some time off. He had a great summer of preparation for this start.”

Jockey Joel Rosario said Bravazo ran a nice race to finish second.

“I’m so proud of his effort. He ran really hard today,” Rosario said. “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.”

The top three choices formed the trifecta in reverse order, with 3-1 Leofric returning $8.60, $4.40, and $2.40 across the board. Second choice Bravazo paid $3.80 and $2.40 and favored Seeking the Soul paid $2.10 to show. Seeking the Soul was highweight at 123 pounds, while Leofric carried 121.

Bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, Leofric is the first starter from unraced Unbridled’s Song mare Lady Godiva. (fonte : Bloodhorse.com)

It may not be until next week then the top hopes for the 2019 Triple Crown trail come together to decide the title of Champion Korean Juvenile in the Breeders’ Cup at Seoul but this Sunday in the capital will also give a glimpse of some potential future stars as the top imported juveniles compete for the NACF Chairman’s Trophy over 1200M. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:40 to 17:05:

 

 

Last year the race was won by PK. Party, who has gone on to win seven of eleven starts to date but also featured this year’s KRA Cup Classic 3^rd place-getter Moonhak Chief as well as two of the stars of the Queens’ Tour, Ttukseom Cup winner Cheongsu Yeogeol and Sky Bay, victorious in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup.

So, who are the top contenders this time around? Spring Back looked sensational in his first two starts this summer, recording one of the fastest times of the year when winning on his second start over 1400M. He didn’t impress when 2^nd on his reappearance in October though and that may open the door for others.

Since running 3^rd to Spring Back on debut in July, Thank You Charlie has won three in a row, culminating in a facile six-length score at the big-race distance last month. He’s one of two Adios Charlie colts in the race – the other being Havana Charlie – and both will have plenty of backers. Kitten’s Joy colt Munhak Joy has won three out of five so far and looks a solid prospect while Wang Beotkkot was a solid winner at the distance earlier this month and looks dangerous too.

Both Medici Glory and Ultra Punch tackle six-furlongs for the first time and are others who could play a big part in the race.

At Busan, the Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo highlights. It too has illustrious alumni with I’m Your Father taking victory in 2016 before going on to win the Busan Mayor’s Cup the following summer. Last year Ace Korea, who won last weekend’s Kookje News Sprint and looks to be Dubai World Cup Carnival-bound, ran 4^th. Ace Korea’s trainer Peter Wolsley saddles one of the main hopes, Pro Consul while another foreign trainer Thomas Gillespie comes in with the hitherto unbeaten Mujeok Yeongung.

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(7) SATO ROYAL improved to 3^rd place on what was her first try at this distance on October 27^th and her third career start in total. It’s true she’s not shown much in the way of speed, but she has shown progress and with a bit more today, she can win. (8) RAON STELLA is similar in that she’s shown potential if not much swiftness across four starts to date. She’s also gone well at this trip and beat a couple of these over 1000M last time out. (6) GEUP HAENG MA steps up in trip for the first time after a decent showing in 3^rd at 1000M last time and should be challenging for the early lead here. (3) GWANGPOK JUHAENG and (11) CHEONGDAM QUEENS are others who may go close.

Selections:	(7) Sato Royal (6) Geup Haeng Ma (8) Raon Stella (11) Cheongdam Queens
Next Best:	3, 1
Fast Start:	6, 7, 10, 11

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens here with just three of them making their debuts. They’ll be up against it as plenty of those who have raced have demonstrated some ability. (9) SIMPLIFY ran 3^rdon debut on October 27^th, beaten less than a length at this distance. He ran on strongly and should have come on for it. (5) WONDERFUL BRUSH was 5^th when debuting in that very same race. He was very keen at the halfway point and ran out of room slightly and he can improve today. (8) RED BLADE debuted in the Munhwa Ilbo Cup at the end of September and while that was too much too soon, he ran well for 3^rd on his re-appearance last month and is likely to be well-backed here. (12) WONDERFUL MARIA also did nothing wrong when 5^th on debut at this distance and is another who can get close. Of those three first-timers, (7) GEUMSUNI STAR trialled nicely and looks the most forward at this stage.

Selections:	(9) Simplify (8) Red Blade (5) Wonderful Brush (12) Wonderful Maria
Next Best:	7, 11
Fast Start:	5, 6, 8, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) SPEED WINNER ran a good 2^nd on debut over 1000M a month ago, beaten only by a very nice-looking winner, Havana Charlie, who goes in the big race later this afternoon. He ran through the line strongly and can be confident stepped up to 1300M today. He’ll be on pace from the start, as will (8) DAEGUNUI GEOM, 3^rd over 1200M on his first start seven weeks ago and who looks to be the main threat. (3) GEUMSEOK DOLPA was a little slow to begin on debut on October 6^th but ran on well over 1000M to finish 6^th. More trip may suit here. (6) MALIBU GINGER has plenty of experience compared to the rest and while he will need to improve if he is to compete for top honours, he’s capable of beating plenty of these. There are two debut-makers and (5) INCHEON CHIEF looks a potential prospect. The Pioneerof The Nile colt has looked more than competent in two trials and could go well first-up.

Selections:	(4) Speed Winner (8) Daegunui Geom (5) Incheon Chief (3) Geumseok Dolpa
Next Best:	6, 12
Fast Start:	4, 6, 8

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(3) FIGHTING HERO got the best of a tight finish to win by a nose on debut at this distance four weeks ago. He’s up in class here but looks the one to beat. He’ll settle just behind the early leaders and look to be too strong late on. (2) MISS PYEONGCHON may have only won one of her seventeen outings to date, but she enters with strong recent form and was last seen running 3^rd at class and distance with three of her rivals here behind her. She’ll be on the early speed and could win. One of those behind her that day was (7) HANIL MAGIC and he too can get a little closer this time. (5) GEUMA KINGDOM remains a maiden after three attempts but is up in class today following two runner-up finishes and a 3^rd place. She’ll be competitive at this level. (11) ARABIA GONGJU looks best of the rest.

Selections:	(3) Fighting Hero (2) Miss Pyeongcheon (5) Geuma Kingdom (7) Hanil Magic
Next Best:	11, 4
Fast Start:	2, 4, 10

Busan Race 1 Selections: 10 (This is New Legend, a Korean bred who ran seven times in the USA, including winning at Arlington Park in July of this year. This is his Korean debut) 6, 11, 7

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Wildly competitive contest here. Five of these raced each other at class and distance on October 27^th and it was two rank outsiders that day (3) SHADOW MONEY and (2) YEONGWONHAN SUNGAN who finished the best in 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. They will require more respect today although the margins weren’t huge and it’s more than possible that the best backed of them there, (11) HEUNG KKAEBI, who finished 6^th, can overturn the form today. That was his first try at this distance and only his second start overall following a maiden win on debut, and he can have come on for that run. (12) SABA KINGDOM is another who can be given another chance following his latest effort. That was in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup, so this is far more amenable company and he can get close. (7) GOODCHOICE ran 3^rd on his first try at this class three weeks ago and should be very much in the placing frame again.

Selections:	(11) Heung Kkaebi (3) Shadow Money (7) Goodchoice (12) Saba Kingdom
Next Best:	2, 8
Fast Start:	4, 8, 10, 12

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(3) SANGSEUNG DAEHAN remains a maiden after six starts but enters off the back of three consecutive 2^nd place finishes, two of them at tis distance and the latest at this class. An apprentice jockey takes significant weight off his back today and he could well make the breakthrough. (10) ECTON SPEED is up in class following her maiden win which came via a six-length score over 1300M on October 26^th. She made all that day, running on well and should be able to handle to rise in both class and distance. (7) Read more of this post