From the Churchill Downs Media Team / Darren Rogers:

MAGNITUDE DEFEATS HIT SHOW, CHUNK OF GOLD TO WIN GRADE II, $595,000 CLARK

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, Nov. 28, 2025) – Rising star Magnitude scored a monumental win in Friday’s 151st running of the $595,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II) at Churchill Downs when he wore down pacesetter Chunk of Gold and turned back a late run by $8.8 million-earnerHit Show to prevail by a half-length in another thrilling renewal of the historic race.

Magnitude clocked 1 1/8 miles on a “fast” track in 1:48.59 under jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode the winner for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC.

Magnitude became the first 3-year-old to win the Clark since the Asmussen-trained and Winchell-owned Gun Runner won it in 2016 prior to his epic 2017 Horse of the Year campaign. Also, Magnitude’s final time was the third-fastest winning time by a 3-year-old only behind Aeroflint’s 1:48.40 in 1961 and Gun Runner’s 1:48.50.

“It’s so great to win this race, especially with him showing a different dimension by sitting just off the lead,” Asmussen said. “I think we’ve always been excited about his level of talent. For him to put it all together here and turn the corner, it’s a good sign for next year.”

The Clark’s lofty first prize of $360,700 lifted Magnitude’s career earnings to millionaire status – $1,291,865 from a record of 5-2-1 in 11 starts.

Chunk of Gold, winner of the $400,000 West Virginia Derby (GIII), broke fastest from the gate and led the field of eight older horses through early splits of :23.21, :47.07 and 1:10.79 but Magnitude was content to track in second and in the clear down the backstretch. On the turn for home, Magnitude powered to the front at the top of the stretch and the two 3-year-olds raced shoulder to shoulder as Hit Show, the winner of the $12 million Dubai World Cup (GI), began to hit his best stride late. Magnitude put away Chunk of Gold inside the sixteenth pole and was best to turn back Hit Show’s closing kick.

“It was a great trip today,” Ortiz said. “We planned to sit about second or third if we couldn’t get the lead. The entire race he was traveling great. He had to dig in late to get by but he was very game. He has a ton of talent and I think will get better into next year.”

This was Magnitude’s third stakes win but first without leading every step of the way.

Prior to the Clark, Magnitude finished second 2 ¼ lengths behind Baeza in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (GI) 69 days ago on Sept. 20 at Parx. Earlier in the year, Magnitude burst onto the Road to the Kentucky Derby picture in February when he dazzled in the Risen Star (GII) at Fair Grounds with a fast 9 ¾-length romp. He didn’t get the opportunity to compete in the Kentucky Derby because he underwent surgery to remove a bone chip in his left front ankle. Following the procedure, Magnitude returned in early July and dominated the Iowa Derby (Listed) by 9 ¼ lengths. He then finished third in the Travers (GI), 20 lengths behind Kentucky Derby 151 winner Sovereignty, before the Pennsylvania Derby runner-up finish.

Magnitude, the 2-1 favorite, rewarded his backers with $2 mutuels of $6.36, $3.74 and $3.20. Hit Show, with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, returned $5.10 and $4.10 at odds of 5-1.

“At the eighth pole I didn’t think he was going to get into contention,” said Hit Show’s trainer Brad Cox. “Then, he really dug in to make it close.”

Chunk of Gold, ridden by Junior Alvarado at 13-1, was another head back in third and paid $6.06 to show.

“He did everything but win,” said Chunk of Gold’s conditioner Ethan West. “We’re so proud of him and how he ran today. Junior gave him a great ride.”

Who Dey was fourth and was followed by last year’s Clark winner Rattle N Roll, Gosger, First Mission and Cooke Creek. Willy D’s was scratched.

Magnitude is a bay son of Not This Time out of the Bernardini mare Rockadelic who was bred in Kentucky by Ron Stolich.

The Clark, named for Churchill Downs founder Col. M. Lewis Clark, was run for the first time in 1875 during the first racing meet at Churchill Downs, which was then known as the Louisville Jockey Club. Like the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), the Clark has been renewed annually without interruption since its first running.

Racing at Churchill Downs continues Saturday with a 12-race program that begins at 1 p.m. (all times Eastern). The 99th running of the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) – a “Prep Season” race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby – and the 82nd running of the $400,000 Golden Rod (GII) for fillies are the headliners on the penultimate day of Churchill Downs’ 26-date Fall Meet. Billed as “Stars of Tomorrow II,” each of the 12 races is exclusively for 2-year-olds that aspire of trail-blazing their way to next spring’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

CLARK QUOTES

Jose Ortiz, jockey, Magnitude, winner: “It was a great trip today. We planned to sit about second or third if we couldn’t get the lead. The entire race he was traveling great. He had to dig in late to get by but he was very game. He has a ton of talent and I think will get better into next year.”

Steve Asmussen, trainer, Magnitude, winner: “It’s so great to win this race, especially with him showing a different dimension by sitting just off the lead. I think we’ve always been excited about his level of talent. For him to put it all together here and turn the corner, it’s a good sign for next year.”

Brad Cox, trainer, Hit Show, runner-up: “At the eighth pole I didn’t think he was going to get into contention. Then, he really dug in to make it close.”

Ethan West, trainer, Chunk of Gold, third: “He did everything but win. We’re so proud of him and how he ran today. Junior (Alvarado) gave him a great ride.”

Tommy Drury Jr., trainer, Who Dey, fourth: “I thought he ran a good race. It was a tough field and he tried hard.”