Thanksgiving weekend at the races is always a good one, particularly at Churchill Downs. The Clark Handicap is the signature race of the weekend, a rare Grade 1 race run on a Friday between some of the best elder ponies in the world.
You can find horse racing odds at BookMaker.eu at the online racebook.
ODDS ANALYSIS
1: Keen Ice 3/1
2: Looks to Spare 30/1
3: Mr. Z 30/1
4: Frivolous 15/1
5: Protonico 8/1
6: Hoppertunity 7/2
7: Shotgun Kowboy 20/1
8: Effinex 5/2
9: Race Day 7/2
The Breeders' Cup is said and done with, and though many colts take the rest of the winter off, many head to big races like this at the Clark Handicap.
Effinex and Keen Ice were two of the colts who were beaten and beaten badly by the awesome American Pharoah, but they're also the favorites here in this race as well. Race Day, the winner of the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes at Keeneland Park is next in line at 7 to 2 along with the 2014 winner of the Clark Handicap, Hoppertunity.
Frivolous, Mr. Z, Shotgun Kowboy and Looks to Spare are the longshots of the bunch.
FAVORITE TO FOLLOW
Here's the difference between Keen Ice and Effinex to us: Keen Ice was 10 to 1 at the Breeders' Cup Classic. Effinex was 30 to 1. Yes, Effinex finished second, while Keen Ice was fourth best, but the oddsmakers rarely get it wrong at this point in the ponies' careers, especially by that large of a margin.
Keen Ice is the one horse who ever beat American Pharoah after his romp to the Triple Crown, and he did so by coming from off of the pace. He's the one horse in this field you just know wants to stay out of trouble early on and ultimately rally, and we have to think he's going to end up doing just that in this one as well.
The concern with Keen Ice is the fact that he hasn't run better than a 102 Beyer Speed Rating, and he might have to do better than that at the Clark Handicap to win.
UNDERDOG TO WATCH
Frivolous is the interesting horse to watch here. She's a relatively old mare who has mostly just run against the girls in her career, but she's giving it a shot here at the Clark Handicap.
Frivolous is going to run a similar race to Keen Ice for sure, knowing that she wants to run from off of the pace, but whether she has the kick to beat the boys in the final three furlongs or so is yet to be determined.
Still, for our money, Frivolous is worth the risk, knowing that the few fillies we've seen run against the colts in 2015 have generally had success.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Hoppertunity is going to be a dangerous colt, knowing that he won this race last year, but we just aren't onboard with him doing it again. He hasn't had a great 2015 season and isn't likely to change that at the tail end of the year.
Mr. Z is likely to jump out to the head of the pack, but he hasn't had a history of finishing what he starts.
That's why we think Keen Ice is the right pick here. He'll rebound from his poor effort at the Breeders' Cup to win the Clark Handicap.
Play Keen Ice to win the Clark Handicap
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