Not This Time’s Magnitude Causes Good Vibrations in the Clark

[Wandering Eyes]

Runaway GII Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes winner and GI Pennsylvania Derby runner-up Magnitude (c, 3, Not This Time–Rockadelic, by Bernardini) put it all together in his first start against older horses, capturing the 151st running of the GII Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs Friday. Off from the outside as the 2-1 favorite, he pressured early pacesetter and GIII West Virginia Derby winner Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) through the :23.21 first quarter, then backed off a bit to track behind Chunk of Gold's :47.07 half. Magnitude began moving up on the turn at the same time G1 Dubai World Cup hero Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) advanced from midpack, then took command despite Chunk of Gold not relenting easily. The ultra-game latter sophomore fought back and the two appeared to brush, with Chunk of Gold only giving way grudgingly in the last strides as Magnitude swapped to his wrong lead and Hit Show joined the fray late. Magnitude held his advantage, winning by about a half-length over Hit Show, with Chunk of Gold another head back. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48.69.

“In the second turn, I started moving forward and he did the rest,” said winning jockey Jose Ortiz.

Last seen finishing second to Baeza (McKinzie) in the Sept. 20 Pennsylvania Derby, Magnitude was also third in the GI Travers Stakes behind dual Classic winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief). He captured the Iowa Derby July 5 at Prairie Meadows after nearly five months on the sidelines after coming out of a 108 Beyer tour-de-force in the Risen Star Feb. 15 with a bone chip.

WHAT A FINISH!

The 3YO Magnitude wins the G2 Clark at @churchilldowns under @jose93_ortiz for trainer Steve Asmussen!

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/q4qkdIHwD8

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 28, 2025

Friday, Churchill Downs
CLARK S. PRESENTED BY NORTON HEALTHCARE-GII, $595,000, Churchill Downs, 11-28, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48.69, ft.
1–MAGNITUDE, 118, c, 3, by Not This Time
            1st Dam: Rockadelic, by Bernardini
            2nd Dam: Octave, by Unbridled's Song
            3rd Dam: Belle Nuit, by Dr. Carter
($310,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $450,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP).
O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Ron Stolich (KY); T-Steven
Asmussen; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $360,700. Lifetime Record:
MGISP, 11-5-2-1, $1,291,865. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hit Show, 125, h, 5, Candy Ride (Arg)–Actress, by Tapit.
O-Wathnan Racing; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY);
T-Brad H. Cox. $117,000.
3–Chunk of Gold, 120, c, 3, Preservationist–Play for Gold,
by Cairo Prince. ($2,500 Ylg '23 FTKOCT). O-Terry L. Stephens;
B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Ethan W. West. $58,500.
Margins: HF, HD, 4 3/4. Odds: 2.18, 5.21, 13.51.
Also Ran: Who Dey, Rattle N Roll, Gosger, First Mission, Cooke Creek. Scratched: Willy D's. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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