Trademark won the GII Clark S. at Churchill Downs in a thrilling finish, narrowly beating First Mission after fighting all the way to the wire, with Il Miracolo finishing third.
‣ Trademark (Upstart) won the GII Clark S. at Churchill Downs, narrowly beating ‘TDN Rising Star’ First Mission (Street Sense).
‣ Trademark was described as a horse for the course, previously winning the rained-off Commonwealth Turf S. and finishing third at Monmouth June 17.
‣ Trademark’s pedigree is connected to the breeding operation at Airdrie Stud, with his ancestors including MGISW Include Me Out, GISW Check The Label, and On the Menu.
Wow! It was an exciting and really close finish in the Clark Stakes (GII) at Churchill Downs. #5 TRADEMARK ($28.20) just gets the nose down to upset the favorite #2 First Mission. The son of Upstart was ridden by Fernando De La Cruz and is trained by Victoria Oliver. pic.twitter.com/Rz8WmupO7z
— TVG (@TVG) November 24, 2023
The GII Clark S. at Churchill Downs was nothing short of a thrilling and electrifying race that had fans on the edge of their seats. In an exciting finish, BBN Racing’s Trademark came out victorious, marking his first graded-stakes win. Piloted by Fernando De La Cruz, the 13-1 chance defied the odds and edged out ‘TDN Rising Star’ First Mission by the slimmest of margins. Talking about the nail-biting finish, Cruz expressed, “I thought at the sixteenth pole I had a big shot at winning. He relaxed early and I saved ground, just waiting for the right opportunity to get him outside. He’s always been a very nice horse. I’ve been on him a couple of times and knew he was pretty tactical in his races. He showed a big turn of foot in the stretch and fought all the way to the wire.”
Trademark’s victory in the Clark S. adds another chapter to its impressive record and achievements. The bay horse, Trede, took a sound third at longshot odds in the GIII Salvator Mile S. at Monmouth this year before clinching the highly coveted Michael Schaefer Memorial S. at Horsehoe Indianapolis. He then fell short by a half-length in the GIII Philip H. Iselin S. and was tagged on the money in the GII Lukas Classic before making an impressive comeback in the Clark S.
Trademark’s exceptional pedigree further adds to his noteworthy triumph at Churchill Downs. A living tribute to the former Kentucky governor’s breeding operation at Airdrie Stud, Trademark has an illustrious lineage with ties to the late Brereton C. Jones. The racecourse is evidently in his blood, and his performance in the Clark S. is a testament to his impeccable breeding and talent. With details about his famiy heritage being shared, it is evident that that Trademark’s impressive finish at the Clark S. only adds to an already impressive family record.
Overall, Trademark’s triumph in the GII Clark S. has solidified its place as an outstanding talent in the racing community. With an impressive victory worth celebrating, Trademark’s journey is one marked by dignified successes and remarkable potential It’s a victory that adds to an impeccable family legacy, making it a race that will be etched in the memories of fans and racing enthusiasts for a long time.
