Churchill Downs Stakes Recaps and Quotes: Magnitude Defeats Hit Show, Chunk of Gold to Win Grade II, $595,000 Clark; Lush Lips (GB) Prevails in Grade II, $269,800 Mrs. Revere

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-earner Hit 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.

*************************************************************************************************************************

LUSH LIPS (GB) PREVAILS AS FAVORITE IN GRADE II, $269,800 MRS. REVERE

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, Nov. 28, 2025) – Odds-on 1-2 favorite Lush Lips (GB), the winner of last month’s Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, scored her second straight graded stakes win in Friday’s 33rd running of the $269,800 Mrs. Revere (Grade II) for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs when she ran down pacesetter Classic Q and turned back a late charge from Pretty Picture to win the 3-year-old filly turf race by a half-length.

Purchased for $3.7 million at this month’s Keeneland November Sale by William Shively’s Dixiana Farms LLC, Lush Lips (GB) returned to run 1 1/16 miles on “firm” turf in 1:45.75 to collect her third stakes win and second straight against graded stakes company. Tyler Gaffalione rode the winner for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Her final time was just .02 seconds off Mary’s Follies’ 2009 stakes record of 1:41.73.

Lush Lips (GB) banked the $147,250 first prize and rewarded her backers with $2 mutuels of $3.14, $2.64 and $2.10.

Breaking from post No. 1, Lush Lips (GB) relaxed a couple of length just behind Wild Applause winner and recent Valley View (GII) runner-up Classic Q as she led the field of 10 through fractions of :24, :48.46 and 1:12.21. With the turf rails 24 feet out, Lush Lips (GB) tipped out to engage Classic Q on the final turn and the two match strides through the stretch until Lush Lips (GB) put the leader away inside the final sixteenth of a mile. Sands Point (GII) third Pretty Picture, who raced in sixth down the backstretch, closed with a wide rush to nail Classic Q for the placing.

“All the credit goes to Brendan and his team,” Gaffalione said. “She’s an incredibly talented filly and we saw that last time when she won the QE II at Keeneland. We saw it again today. We sat a great trip and I was just a passenger.”

Pretty Picture, at odds of 7-1 under Flavien Prat, paid $5.64 and $3.12 for second. Classic Q, ridden by Jose Ortiz, was another neck back in third at 5-1 and paid $2.68 to show.

Bracelet, Caviar Breakfast, Sea To Sky (IRE), In the Stars, J N J Heartandsoul, Table Flirt and Somethinabouther completed the order of finish. Fast Market and Princess Attitude were scratched.

The winner’s share of the purse pushed the career earnings of Lush Lips (GB) to $916,760 from a record of 5-4-0 in 11 starts. Prior to the Mrs. Revere, Lush Lips (GB) won the $665,300 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (GI) at Keeneland on Oct. 11 by 1 ¼ lengths over Laurelin (IRE). In June, she also won the $210,000 Tepin at Churchill Downs by 3 ¾ lengths.

“She’s improved the entire year,” Walsh said. “All credit to our team. I’m very thankful for the Dixiana Farms team to keep her in training. We had this race in mind after the sale. We’ll take her down to Florida after this and get her ready for her 4-year-old season.”

Lush Lips (GB) is a bay daughter of Ten Sovereigns (IRE) out of the Arcano (IRE) mare Lamyaa (GB) who was bred in Great Britain by The Popcock Family.

The Mrs. Revere is named in honor of Mrs. Revere, an accomplished Churchill Downs fan favorite in the mid-1980s. Mrs. Revere won 12 races in 28 starts, finished second seven times and earned $429,545 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Her six wins in a dozen starts at Churchill Downs included stakes triumphs in the Regret, Dogwood and Edgewood in 1984 and the Kentucky Cardinal in 1985. She was owned by Dr. Hiram Polk and the late Dr. David Richardson.

*************************************************************************************************************************

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.”

*************************************************************************************************************************

MRS. REVERE QUOTES

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey, Lush Lips (GB), winner: “All the credit goes to Brendan (Walsh) and his team. She’s an incredibly talented filly and we saw that last time when she won the QE II at Keeneland. We saw it again today. We sat a great trip and I was just a passenger.”

Brendan Walsh, trainer, Lush Lips (GB), winner: “She’s improved the entire year. All credit to our team. I’m very thankful for the Dixiana Farms team to keep her in training. We had this race in mind after the (2025 Keeneland November) sale. We’ll take her down to Florida after this and get her ready for her 4-year-old season.”