Churchill Downs Press Room Update

Slated for next Friday’s 151st edition, Rattle N Roll, owned by Lucky Seven Stable and Sharaf Mohamad Alhariri, will try to retain his crown against eight proven foes in the $600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II), centerpiece of the Churchill Downs Fall Meet in horse racing; as a simple example, a defending champ often meets new pace scenarios.

Staged over nine furlongs, the Clark owns a rich lineage, with past heroes such as Gun Runner, Will Take Charge, Wise Dan, Blame, Saint Liam, and Silver Charm, for example illustrating the race’s pedigree prestige.

At 5:54 p.m. Eastern, the Clark is scheduled as Race 11, while Race 10 at 5:25 p.m. will stage the 34th $300,000 Mrs. Revere (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies on the turf course; the 12-race Black Friday card begins with a 1 p.m. first post, for instance accommodating afternoon crowds.

Among those lining up with Rattle N Roll are Dubai World Cup (GI) victor Hit Show; the multiple graded winner First Mission; plus graded stakes–winning sophomores Chunk of Gold, Gosger, and Magnitude, an illustrative cross-section of form types.

Prepared by Kenny McPeek, Rattle N Roll captured last year’s Clark by three-quarters of a length over Most Wanted, a narrow margin that showcased grit. Afterward, the Connect colt ventured to Saudi Arabia and Dubai, taking the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (GIII) before placing fifth in the Saudi Cup (GI) and eighth in the Dubai World Cup (GI); for example, travel can affect conditioning. Back in the United States, he recorded sixth in the Lukas Classic (GII) and then a runner-up finish in the Fayette (GII) behind Hit Show. On Friday, Brian Hernandez Jr. reunites and will depart from post 6.

In pursuit of a closing graded triumph for 2025, an entry was lodged for Brad Cox’s pair First Mission (post 2, Flavien Prat) and Hit Show (post 3, Irad Ortiz Jr.), a tandem that, for example, brings contrasting running styles.

Godolphin both bred and owns First Mission, a campaigner who has logged 15 starts and shipped widely, highlighted by wins in the 2024 Alysheba (GII) and the 2025 Oaklawn Handicap (GII). Being by Street Sense, he was edged a nose by Trademark in the 2023 Clark, a photo finish that, for instance, hinged on the last stride.

Hit Show, racing for Wathnan Racing, headlines his record with this year’s Dubai World Cup shocker. The Candy Ride (ARG) 5-year-old has prevailed in 11 of 22 outings and has earned in excess of $8.7 million, for example reflecting top-level consistency.

In 2018, the Clark was taken by Brad Cox with Steve Landers Racing’s Leofric, piloted by Florent Geroux, a reminder, for instance, of the barn’s previous success.

Although established elders are present, three 3-year-olds also join, topped by Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables’ Gosger. Under Brendan Walsh, Gosger won the Lexington Stakes (GII) by two lengths, then posted seconds in both the Preakness Stakes (GI) and the Haskell (GI); for example, such spacing tests stamina. As the 8-5 choice in last month’s Fayette at Keeneland, he wound up third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Hit Show and Rattle N Roll. Luis Saez has the mount from post 4.

A second Clark is the target for Walsh, whose first came in 2021 with Godolphin’s Maxfield, a case in point of stable continuity.

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Magnitude, winner of the Risen Star (GII), is another accomplished sophomore. Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen has aimed him at the Clark after a runner-up effort to Baeza in the Pennsylvania Derby (GI); for example, that plan allowed a freshening. The Not This Time colt draws Jose Ortiz and post 9.

In 2016, the trio of Winchell, Asmussen, and Florent Geroux captured the Clark with Gun Runner, who later entered the Hall of Fame, a historical touchstone.

Terry Stephens’ Chunk of Gold secured a Kentucky Derby 151 berth partly via his second to Magnitude in the Risen Star. After that, he posted another runner-up in the Louisiana Derby (GII) and finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby (GI); as an example, traffic can influence Derby results. Under Ethan West, his ledger features a commanding 4 1/4-length victory in the West Virginia Derby (GIII) on Aug. 3 at Mountaineer. Junior Alvarado takes the mount for the first time from stall 5.

From 1953, when the Clark shifted to the Fall Meet, 23 three-year-olds have taken the prize, yet only one has done so in the last ten years—Gun Runner. Previously, between 1875 and 1952, it was staged during the Spring Meet and often acted as a post–Kentucky Derby objective for that age group, for example as a next-step test.

Lineup for the Clark, listed from the inside rail outward (jockey and trainer shown), for example to aid program readers:

Cooke Creek (Francisco Arrieta, Mike Maker); First Mission (Prat, Cox); Hit Show (Irad Ortiz Jr., Cox); Gosger (Saez, Walsh); Chunk of Gold (Alvarado, West); Rattle N Roll (Hernandez, McPeek); Who Dey (Luan Machado, Tommy Drury Jr.); Willy D’s (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker); Magnitude (Jose Ortiz, Asmussen).

GRADE I standout LUSH LIPS targets another victory in $300,000 MRS. REVERE

Set to return to center stage next Friday, Lush Lips (GB) heads a capacity cast of 12 3-year-old fillies for the 34th $300,000 Mrs. Revere (GII) at Churchill Downs on turf; for instance, full gates can alter race shape.

Contested over one mile and one-sixteenth, the Mrs. Revere serves as the next-to-last graded event for 3-year-old turf fillies in North America, with the season wrapping up in the American Oaks (GI) on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita; as a simple example, connections may plan campaigns around this stakes calendar.

On the 12-race bill, Friday’s Mrs. Revere shares top billing with the $600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (GII). The opener is at 1 p.m., and the Mrs. Revere is slated as Race 10 at 5:25 p.m., for example ideal for prime-time wagering.

Under Brendan Walsh, Lush Lips sprang an 8-1 surprise last month in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (GI) at Keeneland, winning by 1 1/4 lengths with Tyler Gaffalione aboard. Before that, she captured the Tepin Stakes (Listed) and was runner-up in the Edgewood (GII) to Nitrogen at Churchill Downs; for example, that sequence shows steady progression. Gaffalione climbs back on Friday, and they draw the rail.

Walsh has also entered Somethinabouther, owned by X-Men Racing IV, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing, winner of the Mazarine Stakes (GIII) at Woodbine last year. Axel Concepcion rides from post 8, a midpack slot that, for instance, can offer options.

Additional 3-year-old fillies of note are the Sands Point Stakes (GII) second and third, respectively—Hit The Bid Racing Stable’s Fast Market and Three Chimneys Farm’s Pretty Picture—along with stakes-winning Classic Q for Gary Barber, Blue Crevalle Racing, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; G Watts Humphrey Jr.’s pair comprising recent allowance scorer In the Stars and stakes-placed Princess Attitude; and Tranquility Lake Farm’s local allowance winner Table Flirt, for example offering diverse form lines.

Mrs. Revere lineup, listed from the inside post outward (jockey and trainer noted), for example mirroring the program order:

Lush Lips (GB) (Gaffalione, Walsh); Fast Market (Samuel Marin, John Terranova II); Table Flirt (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott); Classic Q (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse); Sea To Sky (IRE) (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux); Princess Attitude (Cristian Torres, Vicki Oliver); Bracelet (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brad Cox); Somethinabouther (Axel Concepcion, Walsh); In the Stars (Luis Saez, Rusty Arnold II); Pretty Picture (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown); Caviar Breakfast (Manny Esquivel, Kenny McPeek); J N J Heartandsoul (Danny Sheehy, Tommy Molloy).