‘Tom’ Seeks Grade I Glory in Clark

[Wandering Eyes]

Tom’s d’Etat (Smart Strike) looks to break through at the highest level Friday in the GI Clark S. at Churchill Downs. Second to McKinzie (Street Sense) in the track-and-trip GII Alysheba S. May 3, he was third behind 2017 Clark winner Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}) in the GII Stephen Foster S., also over this course and distance, June 15. Capturing the Alydar S. at Saratoga Aug. 2, the bay was fourth in the Spa’s GI Woodward S. Aug. 31 and returned to winning ways in the GII Fayette S. at Keeneland Oct. 26, defeating GIII Ack Ack S. victor Mr. Freeze (To Honor and Serve) by 4 1/4 lengths. Tom’s d’Etat registered triple digit Beyer Speed Figures in all of those five efforts and is likely to maintain his morning-line favoritism at post time.

Mr. Buff (Friend or Foe) ventures out of the Big Apple to take another crack at Grade I company. The Broman homebred has been beating up on his fellow New Yorkers for the past few years, including a dominant score in the state-bred Saginaw S. at Belmont June 30. Following that with a decisive win in the NY-bred Evan Shipman S. Aug. 7, the chestnut faded to seventh in the Woodward, but returned to winning ways in the Empire Classic H. Oct. 19 in Elmont.

Fact Finding (The Factor) enters off a pair of optional claimer scores, first at this oval Sept. 20 and then at Keeneland Oct. 12, albeit both were at seven furlongs. However, he came up just a head short going nine panels on this oval’s turf course in June. Seeking the Soul enters off a well-beaten sixth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic and GIII Oklahoma Derby hero Owendale (Into Mischief) looks to bounce back after finishing 10th in that event.

 

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