mark Collared in victory on the final turn, he turned back a challenge from Stolen Base at the top of the race and pulled away late to win the 17th round of the $300,000. Commonwealth Turf by four lengths on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Sunday’s closing day feature was moved from turf to the sloppy dirt track due to rain in Louisville, Ky.
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Trademark, a 3-year-old who was knocked out of the Clark (G1) Vs. oldies on Friday in favor of this race, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.39 to earn his first career stakes victory. Martin Garcia rode the winner for trainer Vicki Oliver.
#2 Trademark takes the Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G2) off Martin Garcia for Victoria Oliver to pay $9.12.
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Long shot Fighter in the Win was fastest out of the gate and set fractions of 23.61 and 47.48 seconds, while Trademark followed about a length behind. Fighter in the Win gave way with three furlongs to run and Trademark dragged Garcia to the front. Stolen Base came within 1 1/2 lengths of Trademark leaving the turn for home, but Trademark was the best of the slog. The rest ended well.
“This horse does some of his best running when he’s off the horses,” Garcia said. “In the back I kept him out of trouble. By the turn, you could tell we had a lot of horses left.“
Trademark is a son of Upstart out of the Creative Cause mare Creative Trick and was bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones. The four-time winner returned $9.12, $4.14 and $3.48 as a 7-2 second betting option in the field of six 3-year-olds. Stolen Base, with Luis Saez up, paid $6.22 and $4.04. Red Danger, ridden by Julien Leparoux, finished another 11 3/4 lengths back in third and returned $4.48.
Actuator, Fighter in the Win and Play Action Pass completed the order of completion in that order. Running Bee, Mount Rundle, Ready to Purrform, Portfolio Company and Barberini were scratched.
Trademark earned $183,450 for owner Ann Braxton Lynch’s BBN Racing and boasts career earnings of $463,689 from a 13:4-1-0 record.
“I was glad Martin took him off the pace early on the back,” said Oliver. “I always knew the Commonwealth would be an option, but Clark had a short field. So we entered him in both places to keep our options open.”
The Commonwealth Turf had a Grade 3 designation before it was moved to the main track.