Betting With, and Against, Hit Show in the Clark Stakes

A total of nine horses will aim to upend morning-line choice #6 Hit Show (3-1) in Friday’s $600,000 Clark S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. The son of Candy Ride is 4-for-5 in 2024 and comes in with a trio of graded stakes wins in succession for conditioner Brad Cox. The Kentucky-bred gray, who has flashed a lot of ability since his two-year-old season, has been at his best as of late while coming in with victories in the Lukas Classic S. (G2) here and Fayette S. (G2) at Keeneland in his last pair of assignments. 

Hit Show – With

• 50-cent superfecta 6 with 5,9 with 5,7,8,9 with all ($21)
• 50-cent superfecta key 6 with 5,7,8,9 ($12)

Hit Show – Against

• $1 trifecta 5,9 with 5,6,7,8,9 with 5,6,7,8,9 ($24)
• $1 superfecta 9 with 5,6 with 5,6,7,8 with 5,6,7,8 ($12)

Hit Show owns four lifetime wins at the distance, two beneath the Twin Spires, and he also possesses the turn of foot to make him very dangerous inside the final furlong, as well. The four-year-old colt will stalk the pace before being asked for his best approaching the turn for home under Tyler Gaffalione. 

#9 Cooke Creek (6-1) has morphed into a new animal since being claimed by Mike Maker. The Uncle Mo gelding is 2-for-3 for his new connections and was a narrow second to the favorite in the Lukas Classic (G2) in his latest appearance. He has been forwardly placed in each of those outings which has aided his results, and the in-form Kentucky-bred will likely receive a great trip in this one while forcing the early tempo throughout. The five-year-old has run a trio of big ones on the grounds this season and looms large under Luis Saez. 

Unbeaten Grade 3 winner #5 Most Wanted (7-2), also trained by Cox, is a quick colt with a big heart who could find himself on the lead with a clean break. The Candy Ride sophomore is on the improve and lightly raced enough to expect more progression going forward. I am a bit concerned that he faces a hard-knocking group of elders in this encounter, but regular pilot Florent Geroux stays in the irons and the Kentucky-bred is a top three must-use, nonetheless. 

I have a level of interest in both #7 Rattle N Roll (5-1) and #8 Red Route One (6-1), and I will include both of the contenders in my vertical exotics.