Leofric Too Tough in Clark

[Wandering Eyes]

LEOFRIC (h, 5, Candy Ride {Arg}–Lady Godiva, by Unbridled’s Song) put the wraps on a truly memorable season with a doggedly determined defeat of an equally game Bravazo (Awesome Again) in Friday’s GI Clark H. at Churchill Downs. The 3-1 third choice behind defending champion Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) and Bravazo, Leofric got the perfect spot in transit, covered up in fourth as Prime Attraction (Unbridled’s Song), just defeated by Leofric in the GII Fayette S. at Keeneland Oct. 27, cut out a solid pace on the sharp end. About the same time Bravazo was being stoked up by Joel Rosario for a three-wide run around the far turn, Leofric was given his cue to take the race to the pacesetter and the stage was set. Leofric turned for home narrowly in front and it appeared that Bravazo may have the momentum into the final furlong, but the 5-year-old gray entire, giving Bravazo three pounds, stiff-armed that challenge and stuck his head across the wire first. Seeking the Soul settled in the latter half of the field early on and opted for a run inside of a tiring rival at the quarter pole. He looked to have every chance at the eighth pole, but could not go with the top two and settled for third in defense of his title. A $330,000 Keeneland September yearling in 2014, Leofric was sold to connections for $100,000 as a racing prospect at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. Lifetime Record: 14-8-1-3. O-Steve Landers Racing LLC; B-Peter E Blum Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Brad Cox.

Friday, Churchill Downs
CLARK H. PRESENTED BY NORTON HEALTHCARE-GI, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 11-23, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48.59, ft.
1–LEOFRIC, 121, h, 5, by Candy Ride (Arg)
1st Dam: Lady Godiva, by Unbridled’s Song
2nd Dam: Lady of Choice, by Storm Bird
3rd Dam: Chosen Lady, by Secretariat
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($330,000 Ylg ’14 KEESEP; $100,000 3yo ’16
KEENOV). O-Steve Landers Racing LLC; B-Peter E Blum
Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Brad H Cox; J-Florent Geroux.
$300,700. Lifetime Record: 14-8-1-3, $951,040. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bravazo, 118, c, 3, Awesome Again–Tiz o’ Gold, by Cee’s
Tizzy. O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-D Wayne Lukas. $97,000.
3–Seeking the Soul, 123, h, 5, Perfect Soul (Ire)–Seeking the
Title, by Seeking the Gold. ($37,000 RNA 2yo ’15 OBSOPN).
O/B-Charles Fipke (KY); T-Dallas Stewart. $48,500.
Margins: NK, 2 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.30, 2.40, 1.50.
Also Ran: Prime Attraction, Hence, Hawaakom, Storm Advisory, Sightforsoreeyes. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

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