Proxy Gives Godolphin Second Straight Win In Clark

[Wandering Eyes]

Making his first start since running a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure when third to future GI Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Olympiad (Speightstown) in the GII Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs this past June, Proxy (Tapit–Panty Raid, by Include) got just the better of a final-furlong throwdown with favored West Will Power (Bernardini) to take out Friday's GI Clark S. beneath the Twin Spires. The win was a second straight in the race for Godolphin following Maxfield (Street Sense) last fall.Given a positive ride from gate one by Joel Rosario in this fresh-up run, the homebred 4-year-old–off as the 5-2 third choice–raced closest in attendance to the last-out GII Fayette S. winner passing under the wire for the first time and traveled inside into the first turn before popping out into the two path passing the seven-furlong pole. West Will Power was the controlling speed through fractions of :23.94 and :48.51, but Proxy remained his shadow into the second bend and was asked to come after the front-runner in earnest fully three furlongs from home. Proxy drifted wide into the stretch and still had the pacesetter to catch entering the final eighth of a mile, but   shoulder to shoulder with time ticking away, Proxy knuckled down to hit the front late and edged clear. Fulsome (Into Mischief) came on late to be third. GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) raced inside and at the tail through the opening exchanged and gradually improved his position down the backstretch. But he came under heavy Sonny Leon urging three furlongs out and trailed in sixth. He is the 30th Grade I winner for Tapit and the second new graded winner on the afternoon out of a daughter of the late Include. Lifetime Record: 13-4-5-2. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael Stidham.

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