Clark Handicap next for Golden Ticket

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - Former Travers co-winner Golden Ticket is on target to start in Churchill Downs' $500,000 Clark Handicap on Friday, Nov. 29.

Trained by Ken McPeek, Golden Ticket will be part of a strong field in the 1 1/8-mile stakes that should include Game On Dude and Will Take Charge.

"A couple of his better speed figures are here at Churchill, plus he doesn't have to ship," McPeek said. "That race in New York (Cigar Mile) looked like it was coming up pretty deep with a big field. The Clark looks like it will have a shorter field."

Owned by Magic City Thoroughbred Partners, Golden Ticket is coming off a second-place finish in the recent Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile behind Goldencents. Earlier this year, the 4-year-old colt won the Prairie Meadows Handicap for his lone victory of the year and was second to Fort Larned in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill.

Last year, he finished in a dead heat with Alpha in the Travers. Overall, Golden Ticket has won five of 20 starts with six seconds for $1,091,323.

Other probable Clark starters are Bourbon Courage, Easter Gift, Finnegans Wake, Prayer for Relief with Jaguar Paw as possible.