Tom’s d’Etat Outclasses ‘Em in the Clark

[Wandering Eyes]

The consistent TOM’S D’ETAT (h, 6, Smart Strike-Julia Tuttle, by Giant’s Causeway) put in a decisive and ultimately winning move at the five-sixteenths pole and left his rivals in the dust through the final furlong, motoring home to win Friday’s GI Clark H. by a resounding three lengths from Owendale (Into Mischief), who caught Mr. Freeze (To Honor and Serve) on the wire for second. Settled in mid-pack as New York raider Mr. Buff (Friend or Foe) showed the way from Mr. Freeze, Tom’s d’Etat advanced in hand on the turn and was asked for some acceleration by Joel Rosario nearing the stretch. Showing a sharp burst of speed, he circled four wide outside of Mr. Freeze at the head of the lane and once he switched his leads, he was off and gone, reporting home a very easy winner. It was the first Grade I victory for trainer Al Stall, Jr. since Blame (Arch) took down the previously unlowered colors of Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) in the 2010 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill. It was also a first Grade I for Gayle Benson’s G M B Racing, widow of the late former New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson. Stall said post-race that all options were open in terms of a 7-year-old season to possibly include the Saudi Cup and/or the G1 Dubai World Cup. Retirement to stud is also a possibility. Tom’s d’Etat is the 18th Grade I winner for his late sire. Lifetime Record: 16-9-2-1. O-G M B Racing; B-S F Bloodstock (KY); T-Al Stall Jr.

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