Saint Liam claims Clark at Churchill

By: Sports Network

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Saint Liam, ridden by Edgar Prado, held

off Seek Gold to capture the 130th running of the $500,000 Clark Handicap

 at Churchill Downs. It was the first stakes win of the year for Saint Liam.

Saint Liam was making his first start since finishing second in the Woodward

 Handicap to Ghostzapper in September. Ghostzapper went on to win the

 Breeders' Cup Classic at the end of October.

The start for Saint Liam was troubled when Seek Gold broke into the eventual

winner. Lundy's Liability also broke to the inside at the start. Seek Gold

 proved difficult getting into the starting gate and delayed the start of the race.

Lundy's Liability set the pace in the 1 1/8 mile race. Saint Liam pressed the

 pace just to the outside. The top two horses maintained their position up

the backstretch and into the final turn.

At the top of the stretch Saint Liam put away Lundy's Liability and had to

withstand the hard charging Perfect Drift. Perfect Drift was looking for his

first win of the year after finishing second 5 times.

Perfect Drift was unable to go past the leader down the stretch. Seek Gold,

who trailed the field most of the race, exploded down the stretch to finish

second just one-length behind the winner. Perfect Drift was third and Suave

 finished fourth.

The time for the Clark Handicap was 1:50.81.

Saint Liam adds $300,000 to his earnings which now total more than

 $914,000. The four-year-old colt is owned by Mr. and Mrs. William Warren, Jr.

 and trained by Richard Dutrow. Saint Liam has won five of 14 career starts.

Saint Liam returned $4.40, $3.40 and $2.60. Seek Gold paid $25.60 and

$7.60, and Perfect Drift paid $2.60 for show.