Fri Nov 23 21:44:59 2007

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A. P. Arrow garners win in Clark Handicap

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Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - A. P. Arrow, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, snapped a four-race losing streak on Friday with a victory in the $554,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. The winner was one of three horses in the race trained by Todd Pletcher.

Of the three Plethcer horses, A. P. Arrow was the one getting the least respect. Magna Graduate, the 2005 Clark winner, was 3-1 in the morning-line and Fairbanks, second in the Massachusetts Handicap, was 8-1. A. P. Arrow was 10-1 both in the morning-line and at post-time.

Owned by the Allen Paulson Living Trust, A. P. Arrow registered his first win since capturing the Skip Away Handicap at Gulfstream Park in March. His last start was in the Hawthorne Gold Cup two months ago where he was third to Student Council.

In the Clark, the pace was set by 72-1 longshot Plug Me In with A. P. Arrow never far off the lead. Dominguez moved his mount into position to challenge on the far turn and got to the front coming off the turn.

Brass Hat bumped A. P. Arrow from the outside at the top of the stretch, but Pletcher's horse was able to regain the lead 100 yards from the wire. A. P. Arrow won by three-quarters of a length over Brass Hat with Diamond Stripes third and 2-1 favorite Istan fourth.

The time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48.66 on a fast track.

Rounding out the order finish was Fairbanks, Magna Graduate, Going Ballistic, Purim and Plug Me In.

The Clark win was worth $329,741 to push A. P. Arrow's career earnings past the $1 million mark. The five-year-old has won five of 21 lifetime starts and is expected to compete in 2008.

A. P. Arrow returned $22.40, $10.00 and $5.20. Brass Hat paid $13.20 and $8.40, and Diamond Stripes paid $3.20 to show.