By Today at Churchill was the the G1 $500K Clark Handicap, run at 1 1/8 mi. on the dirt for three-year-olds and up. In a race that had little late speed, #3 Code of Honor was the favorite at 8-5 and was also the first selection in the program with a total win probability of 31.9%. Code of Honor rated best and 2nd best in SPD and LP with 31.9% and 28% win estimates and also had the highest winning percentage, adjusted for stakes, at 19.1%. #12 By My Standards was second in the betting at 5-2, who did not perform well in the Breeders Cup Classic last month and generally has been out of form of late, but still had the 2nd highest winning percentage at 16.8%. The other speed in the race was #8 Bodexpress at 11-1 with a 27.4% SPD estimate but a low WP of only 1.5% and #9 Owendale at 5-1 with a 24.9% SPD estimate. Bodexpress‘ odds were 21-1 before dropping sharply down to 11-1 by post-time. Even though Code of Honor was a good horse in this race, receiving a FIT2 checkmark for being TOP in SPD and in WP, he was a tepid favorite at 8-5. Having been fools gold in the past, Bodexpress came into the race in absolute top form after winning a $62.5K optional claiming race by eleven lengths at Gulfstream West in Oct. In the race, long shot, #13 Phantom Currency at 99-1, set a brisk pace for the opening quarter mile in 23.39, while being pursued by #7 Mr. Freeze at 9-1 and #8 Bodexpress. It continued this way through the half mile mark, when Mr. Freeze surged to the lead, with Bodexpress following him closely on the outside in second. Down the final stretch Bodexpress took the lead from Mr. Freeze with a furlong to go only to have Code of Honor and Owendale bear down on him from the outside inside the final fifty yards. Showing grit, Bodexpress hung on to win, while Code of Honor finished second and Owendale third. The $2 exacta (8-3) paid $120 and the $0.50 trifecta paid $196.60. The horses in the tri-fecta were the three that rated strongest by final speed in the simulation.
Pro-Handicap Analytics 