Clark probables

Midway Road is one of the probables listed for the Clark on November 26  (Michael J Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Fayette S. (G3) winner MIDWAY ROAD (Jade Hunter) breezed six
furlongs in 1:13 4/5 on a fast Churchill Downs track Monday
morning for trainer Neil Howard in preparation for a possible
start in the 1 1/8-mile Clark H. (G2) on November 26. The
four-year-old colt is listed as 50-50 for next week’s race.

“It was a good work,” Howard said. “We’re not
definite for the Clark yet. We’ll wait and see.”

Midway Road’s stablemate, Alumni Hall (A.P. Indy), has been
taken out of contention for the $500,000 race due to an abscess
that formed on the five-year-old’s neck following the Fayette, in
which he finished third. The swelling caused Howard to put Alumni
Hall’s training on a brief hold.

“It was about his second day back to the track after the
race at Keeneland and then, all of the sudden, this big ball came
up on his neck to a point where we had to lance it,” Howard
said. “It’s okay now, but its still draining.”

Those probable for the Clark include 2003 Stephen Foster H.
(G1) winner PERFECT DRIFT (Dynaformer), who finished fourth in
the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) last out; COLONIAL COLONY
(Pleasant Colony), who took this year’s edition of the Foster;
Goodwood Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) winner LUNDY’S LIABILITY (Candy
Stripes); Grade 2 victor EUROSILVER (Unbridled’s Song); and SIR
CHEROKEE (Cherokee Run), an authoritative 5 1/4-length winner of
the Ack Ack H. (G3) on the opening weekend at Churchill.

Multiple Grade 2 winner PURGE (Pulpit), who is unraced since a
fourth-place finish in the Travers S. (G1), is considered
“likely” by trainer Todd Pletcher.