when magnitude The horse seemed like a horse poised for fulfillment at Churchill Downs after storming out by 9 3/4 lengths within the Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes on the Fairgrounds on February 15.
His connections naturally anticipated him to do nicely within the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve on Could 2nd, however a chip in his ankle was found simply days after Risen Star, requiring arthroscopic surgical procedure, which sidelined him alongside the Derby course.
Now wholesome and recovered, the 3-year-old colt Not This Time lastly made his approach to Churchill Downs, the place he had his second on November twenty eighth underneath Twin Spires on the racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. He stormed by means of a cussed chief in Chunk of Gold and withstood gradual competitors from Dubai World Sponsored Emirates Airways winner Hit Present to win the $595,000 G2 race by half a size. Clark Stakes Offered by Norton Healthcare.
Magnitude coated 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 48.69 seconds on a quick monitor underneath jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode the winner of Winchell Thoroughbreds, led by Corridor of Fame coach Steve Asmussen and proprietor Ron Winchell.
Magnitude is the primary 3-year-old to win the Clark Trophy since Gun Runner, educated by Asmussen and owned by Winchell, gained in 2016 earlier than turning into Horse of the 12 months in 2017.
Ortiz mentioned the horse “ran nice” all through the race, together with when the colt chased Chunk of Gold down the backstretch. Magnitude, despatched after its opponent halfway by means of the second flip, was unable to achieve a lot distance towards its rival, however took the initiative. Sustaining a slender benefit till the top, he outperformed Hit Present and took second place by a head over Chunk of Gold.
The winner, who swapped leads within the last 16, returned $6.36 on a $2 single-win wager as a 2.18-to-1 favourite.
“He needed to apply late to get by, however he was very aggressive,” Ortiz mentioned. “I feel he’ll be even higher subsequent yr as a result of he has loads of expertise.”
Hitshaw, who completed fifth in Clark in 2024, carried out nicely within the 2025 renewal.
“On the eighth pole, I did not suppose he was going to be in rivalry,” coach Brad Cox mentioned. “Then he actually dug in and got here at me.”
The win was Magnitude’s first on the graded stakes stage since coming back from harm. The horse ran within the non-weighted Iowa Derby held at Prairie Meadows on July fifth, did nicely within the DraftKings Stravers Stakes (Saratoga Race Course) on August twenty third, ending third behind Sovereignty and Bracket Buster, and completed second behind Baeza within the Pennsylvania Derby at Parkes Racing on September twentieth.
“We have been ready all yr for him to carry out like that,” Winchell Thoroughbreds racing supervisor David Fisk mentioned of the anticipate the most important prize. “Risenstar was a sort of informant.”
Asmussen rated Magnitude’s Clark because the stallion’s greatest efficiency in 11 begins and higher than Risenstar. This was Magnitude’s third stakes victory, however the first time he was unable to manage the tempo.
“You realize, he gained (Risenstar) with a bias that day as a result of he was clearly handicapped. He ran some good horses on his ft,” he famous. “I feel he beat a gifted group of horses within the sq. immediately.”
Asmussen, the best coach in North American historical past but to win a Derby, was content material to savor Friday’s victory slightly than dwell on what occurred at Run for the Roses.
“If the Derby would not go our manner, who is aware of?” he mentioned. “I may have left it on their lonesome, however I am so pleased with him immediately.”
Neither Asmussen nor Fisk have been able to sort out Magnitude’s subsequent race, however a G1 win would make the well-bred colt a priceless stud candidate. The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24 is an possibility, together with the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 14 or the $12 million Dubai World Cup within the Center East on March 28. The Pegasus World Cup and Saudi Cup are each 1 1/8 miles, whereas the Dubai World Cup is 1 1/4 miles, a distance that diminishes in magnitude on the Travers.
Whatever the subsequent race, Magnitude will quickly head to the New Orleans Fairgrounds, the place Asmussen stables his greatest horses all through the winter. The $500,000 New Orleans Basic Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on March 21 would be the richest race for older horses within the first quarter of 2026.
