By Press Release – G M B Racing’s classy eight-time winner Tom’s d’Etat will focus his attention on the marquee race of the Fall Meet at Churchill Downs, the Grade I, $600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare, following his 4 ¼-length victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Fayette Stakes.
“I can’t even give you any ‘trainer speak’, we’re headed for the Clark,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said Sunday morning. “The Clark obviously sets up perfectly from the Fayette and will be a great next spot for this horse.”
Tom’s d’Etat, a 6-year-old son of Smart Strike, will hope to cap his 2019 campaign with his first Grade I victory. The Kentucky-bred began his year with a ninth-place effort in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup (GI) at Gulfstream Park.
Tom’s d’Etat returned to the races in May with a runner-up effort behind McKinzie in the $400,000 Alysheba (GII) and six weeks later finished a gutsy third behind Seeking the Soul and Quip in the $600,000 Stephen Foster (GII) at Churchill Downs. Stall then shipped Tom’s d’Etat to Saratoga where he recorded a one-length victory in the $100,000 Alydar and a fourth-place effort in the $400,000 Woodward (GI).
“We’ve always thought this horse was deserving of a Grade II or Grade I,” Stall said Saturday following the Fayette.
STAKES PROBABLES – A trio of stakes events are on tap for next weekend at Churchill Downs. On Friday, filly and mare sprinters will take the spotlight in the $120,000-added Dream Supreme Overnight Stakes.
The following horses are expected to enter the six-furlong race: Ascot Day, Meadow Dance, Mia Mischief and Skamania. Entries for the Dream Supreme close Sunday.
On Saturday, two stakes will be run on the 10-race program: the $200,000 Chilukki (GIII) for fillies and mares at one mile and the $120,000-added Bet on Sunshine Overnight Stakes at six furlongs.
The Chilukki is expected to include Jeltrin, Sally’s Culrin, She’s Pretty Lucky and Talk Veuve to Me.
