Betting With, and Against, Hit Show in the 2025 Clark Stakes

Dubai World Cup (G1) winner #3 Hit Show (3-1) is the morning-line choice for Friday’s $600,000 Clark S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. A well-matched field of nine will run 1 1/8 miles on the main oval in the fascinating event. 

Hit Show is 11-for-22 in his lifetime while amassing in excess of $8.7 million for conditioner Brad Cox. The durable son of Candy Ride doesn’t always run his best race, but he has shown up on plenty of occasions in big spots, led by his triumph at Meydan in April. He is a Grade 2 winner on the oval after bagging the 2024 Lukas Classic (G2) beneath the Twin Spires, and the gray also comes in with a victory in the Fayette S. (G3) at Keeneland most recently. The stalker retains the services of Irad Ortiz, Jr. 

I think that #9 Magnitude (9-2) impressed me most in defeat when making a big late run to be second in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) most recently for Steve Asmussen. The Not This Time colt was a useful horse earlier in his career before exploding to daylight wins in the Risen Star S. (G2) and Iowa Derby, and he showed a new dimension at Parx in his latest contest when making a sustained run from off the early pace, as well. His best effort will put the sophomore right there in the lane beneath Jose Ortiz. 

The Cox-conditioned #2 First Mission (5-1) is a notch below the top horses in the handicap division, but the Godolphin homebred is no slouch as a multiple Grade 2 winner who runs well beneath the Twin Spires. The Street Sense five-year-old comes in fresh with some strong morning drills as of late, and his best race also will have him squarely in the mix inside the final furlong under the guidance of Flavien Prat. 

Brendan Walsh’s #4 Gosger (4-1) was a credible third behind Hit Show in Lexington most recently and will race with blinkers on for the initial time. The Preakness S. (G1) and Haskell S. (G1) runner-up has very good tactical speed and will be a horse to be reckoned with if the equipment change goes in his favor. Regular pilot Luis Saez will be in the silks. 

• Hit Show – Bet With
  • $1 superfecta 3 with 2,4,9 with 2,4,9 with all ($36)
• Hit Show – Bet Against
  • $.50-cent superfecta 2,9 with 2,3,4,9 with 2,3,4,9 with all ($36)