The $1.1 million Claiming Crown, which gives claiming horses their shot in nine stakes restricted to horses who have started for a tag in 2014 or 2015, will return to Gulfstream Park for a fourth straight year when it begins the Championship Meet Dec. 5.
The event, founded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association to reward blue-collar horses, has attracted full fields with 121 total entries from throughout the East Coast and Midwest.
The $200,000 Jewel, highlight of the event, drew 14 entries. New York-based trainer Rudy Rodriguez entered a pair of horses in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and older that have raced for a claiming price of $35,000 or lower. Rodriguez will be represented in the Jewel by Royal Posse, a $20,000 claim who has become a stakes winner, and Mr Palmer, a stakes winner who has improved in two starts since being claimed for $20,000.
Royal Posse, owned by Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and Gary Asquith, has proven to be an especially wise claim while winning two of four starts, including the Evan Shipman Stakes for New York-bred horses Sept. 4 at Saratoga Race Course.
"He ended up being a bargain because he ended up doing more than we asked him," Rodriguez said. "We were just looking to win some races at Saratoga, even for $20,000 or $25,000, but he was training so good in the morning we decided to give him a chance in non-winners-of-2. He raced good in his first two races and then he won the stake. He ran a big, big race in his last race, so he's been a good claim."
The 4-year-old Posse gelding was claimed May 31 at Belmont Park, meeting with Rodriguez's approval upon returning to his new barn.
"We were very happy. He's a good-looking horse and sound. You have to be happy when the horse comes back the next day, walking sound and happy," Rodgirguez said. "He has no physical issues. He's got good size. I think we got lucky."
Defending Eclipse Award-winning jockey Javier Castellano, who has captured four straight Championship Meet titles, has the return mount on Royal Posse, as well as horses in each of the other eight Claiming Crown races.
Carl Lizza Racing Stables' Mr. Palmer had earned his stakes credentials in March 2013, when he captured the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park before finishing a troubled fourth behind Verrazano , Normandy Invasion , and Rodriguez-trained Vyjack in the Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 5-year-old son of Pulpit bounced around a few stables through the claiming box before being claimed by his current connections out of a third-place finish at Sept. 7 at Saratoga.
Mr. Palmer came right back to win his first start for his new connections by five lengths at Belmont a month later. The Kentucky-bred gelding missed out on a fees-paid trip to the Claiming Crown when he came up short in a second-place finish in a Claiming Crown 'Win and You're In' race Nov. 1 at Laurel.
"The last couple races, he's been improving. We expect him to run another good race, but he has to step up big time, because the race is coming up way tough," Rodriguez said.
Midwest Thoroughbred's Indycott, who edged Mr. Palmer at Laurel, is one of seven winners of the "Win & You're In" races to be entered for Saturday's Claiming Crown. The Danny Gargan-trained gelding was claimed for $50,000 out of an Aug. 10 victory at Saratoga before finishing third in the Temperence Hill Invitational Sept. 12 at Belmont and winning his way into the Jewel with his victory at Laurel. The son of A.P. Indy had raced for a claiming price of $15,000 in 2014.
Trainer Michael Maker, who has saddled a record 14 Claiming Crown race winners, will be represented in the Jewel by Lieutenant Seany O. The 4-year-old son of Bluegrass Cat was claimed at Saratoga for $32,000 for Three Diamond's Farm, captured a Belmont allowance before finishing a neck and a nose behind Indycott and Mr. Palmer, respectively, at Laurel Nov. 1.
Sumaya U.S. Stable's African Fighter, who ran once in a claiming race for a $25,000 tag, will seek his third-straight victory for trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won an unprecedented 12 straight Championship Meet titles.
Carl Moore's Freestyler was claimed out of his most recent start specifically with the Jewel in trainer Joe Sharp's mind. The 5-year-old gelding was claimed for $62,500 out of a third-place finish in an optional-claiming allowance Oct. 31 at Belmont. The son of Street Cry, who had raced for a $32,000 claiming tag at Tampa Bay Downs last January, has won 10 of 25 starts and nearly $300,000 in purses.
In other races, three horses will be trying to defend their 2014 victories. Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who have won a record 14 Claiming Crown races, will be represented by five entrants in five races including St. Borealis, who captured the $125,000 Tiara last year by 1 3/4 lengths. The 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares that started for a claiming price of $25,000 or lower attracted 12 entries.
Stanley Gold-trained Grande Shores, who captured the $110,000 Rapid Transit by three-quarters of a length last year, is among 11 entered for the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and older who started for a claiming price of $16,000 or lower. The Rapid Transit also attracted Ramon Preciado-trained Trouble Kid, who was disqualified from a victory in the $350,000 De Francis Dash at Laurel Nov. 14.
Jorge Navarro-trained Loverbil, who notched a victory by a neck last year in the $110,000 Express, is among 15 entries (including an also-eligible) for the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up that started for a claiming tag of $7,500 or lower.
The $125,000 Emerald, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up that have run for a claiming price no higher than $25,000, attracted a field of 14 and two also-eligibles. The $110,000 Canterbury, a five-furlong turf dash for 3-year-olds and up that have run for a $25,000 claiming tag or lower, also drew a field of 14 and two also-eligibles. A 13-horse field will contest the $110,000 Glass Slipper, a mile race for fillies and mares who started for a $12,500 claiming price or lower. The newly instituted $110,000 Distaff Dash, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares, drew a 13-horse field and a main-track-only entry. The $110,000 Iron Horse, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up that started for a claiming price of $7,500 or lower, drew 10 entries.
First-race post time for Saturday's 11-race opening day program, which drew 147 entries overall, is set for 12:05 p.m.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 05, 2015, Race 3Entries: Claiming Crown Tiara S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Big N Toasty (FL) Edgar S. Prado 120 Jason Servis 10/1 2 2Afleet Mary (KY) Edgard J. Zayas 119 Antonio Sano 20/1 3 3L. A. Style (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 115 Ralph E. Nicks 15/1 4 4Jester and Me (KY) Jose Lezcano 122 Michael J. Maker 4/1 5 5Two Wonders (FL) Erick D. Rodriguez 120 Michael J. Trombetta 20/1 6 6St. Borealis (KY) Joel Rosario 120 Michael J. Maker 8/1 7 7Be Playful (IL) John R. Velazquez 122 Chris M. Block 8/1 8 8Wild Swava (IN) Javier Castellano 122 Charles L. Dickey 6/1 9 9Rock Me Mama (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 118 Michael J. Maker 20/1 10 10Quiet Kitten (KY) Matthew Rispoli 119 Marcus J. Vitali 5/1 11 11Seneca Destiny (TX) Luis Saez 122 Brad H. Cox 12/1 12 12Seeking Treasure (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 122 Doug Matthews 6/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 05, 2015, Race 4Entries: Claiming Crown Iron Horse S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Twocubanbrothersu (KY) Daniel Centeno 118 John Rigattieri 9/5 2 2Runs With Bulls (FL) Javier Castellano 124 Peter R. Walder 6/1 3 3Valid Concept (FL) Eddie Castro 124 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 10/1 4 4Toh's Grey Cat (FL) Edgar S. Prado 120 Peter R. Walder 10/1 5 5Chillin Dylan (FL) Juan C. Leyva 118 Luis Olivares 20/1 6 6Saturday Special (KY) Edgard J. Zayas 122 Jorge Navarro 5/2 7 7Palatine Hill (KY) Carlos Olivero 122 David Rakoff 20/1 8 8Nominative (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 121 Michael J. Maker 10/1 9 9El Gran Joyful (KY) Marcos Meneses 118 Bernardo G. Lopez 20/1 10 10Roll On the Navajo (FL) Miguel Angel Vasquez 115 David Rakoff 20/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 05, 2015, Race 5Entries: Claiming Crown Distaff Dash S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Bear's Pearl (ON) Luis Saez 122 Michael P. De Paulo 10/1 2 2Awesomendensome (FL) Carlos Olivero 118 Hendrick Chen 30/1 3 3Spectacular Me (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 124 Steve Klesaris 5/1 4 4Rumble Doll (NY) Joel Rosario 122 Robert N. Falcone, Jr. 8/1 5 5Belladini (FL) Juan C. Leyva 118 William A. Kaplan 30/1 6 6Silver Sashay (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 122 Alfred G. McIntosh 4/1 7 7Forest Funds (FL) Jose Lezcano 122 Ramon Preciado 10/1 8 8Estrada's Girl (PA) Erick D. Rodriguez 122 Michael J. Trombetta 20/1 9 9Katie O. (KY) Javier Castellano 120 Michael J. Maker 6/1 10 10Aquinnah (FL) Paco Lopez 122 Jane Cibelli 6/1 11 11Sunrise Kitty (FL) Edgar S. Prado 120 Jason Servis 12/1 12 12Claiming Victory (KY) Matthew Rispoli 118 Marcus J. Vitali 10/1 13 13Maggiesfreuddnslip (NY) John R. Velazquez 122 Roy S. Lerman 20/1 14 14Winning for Sarah (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 124 Jena M. Antonucci 10/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 05, 2015, Race 6Entries: Claiming Crown Rapid Transit S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1One More Night (KY) Matthew Rispoli 124 Marcus J. Vitali 20/1 2 2Classic Salsa (FL) Luis Saez 124 Danny Gargan 15/1 3 3Rockinn On Bye (MD) Taylor M. Hole 120 Joseph C. Catanese, III 20/1 4 4Old Times Sake (KY) Paco Lopez 118 Manuel Morales 15/1 5 5Newfound Gold (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 120 Michael J. Maker 12/1 6 6Gryvon (FL) Eddie Castro 124 Jorge Navarro 15/1 7 7Stallwalkin' Dude (FL) Javier Castellano 124 David Jacobson 7/2 8 8Ledokol (ON) Pedro L. Cotto, Jr. 124 Marcial Navarro 8/1 9 9Trouble Kid (KY) Jose Lezcano 122 Ramon Preciado 9/5 10 10Tricky Call (FL) Jose C. Caraballo 118 Luis Olivares 30/1 11 11Grande Shores (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 120 Stanley I. Gold 9/2
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 05, 2015, Race 7Entries: Claiming Crown Glass Slipper S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Mimi's Dream (KY) Eduardo O. Nunez 118 Marcelo Cuito 30/1 2 2Primo Via (PA) Eriluis Vaz 120 Philip T. Aristone 5/1 3 3Courtney Ryan (FL) Luis Saez 118 Tamara L. Levy 15/1 4 4B L's Wagon (FL) Edgar S. Prado 118 Larry Pilotti 7/2 5 5My House (KY) Daniel Centeno 118 Sandino R. Hernandez, Jr. 15/1 6 6Aix En Provence (VA) Paco Lopez 124 Joseph F. Orseno 3/1 7 7Moonshine Promise (KY) Javier Castellano 120 Peter R. Walder 6/1 8 8Roll It Gal (KY) Miguel Angel Vasquez 118 Bernardo Campos 30/1 9 9Miss Darla (FL) Emisael Jaramillo 122 Jose Garoffalo 12/1 10 10Elusive Harmony (FL) Orlando Bocachica 120 Rasharn Creque 20/1 11 11Dakota Eyes (FL) Matthew Rispoli 118 Tamara L. Levy 20/1 12 12Sixspeedoverdrive (FL) Manuel Aguilar 118 Manuel H. Carrasco 50/1 13 13Concealedwithakiss (KY) Diego Fernando Gomez 118 Luis Duco 12/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 05, 2015, Race 8Entries: Claiming Crown Canterbury S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Billy Two Hats (KY) Jesus Lopez Castanon 120 Jack Frost 20/1 2 2El Botas (FL) Eddie Dominguez 120 Aubrey A. Maragh 6/1 3 3Hashtag Giddy Up (FL) Janelle Campbell 118 David H. Hinsley 20/1 4 4All About Yasom (FL) Paco Lopez 120 Joseph F. Orseno 20/1 5 5High Bar (FL) Edwin Gonzalez 118 Diane D. Morici 15/1 6 6All Star Red (KY) John R. Velazquez 120 Michelle Nihei 20/1 7 7Do the Roar (KY) Carlos Olivero 120 Antonio Cioffi 4/1 8 8Shadow Rock (KY) Edgar S. Prado 118 Charles L. Dickey 15/1 9 9Delta Bluesman (FL) Orlando Bocachica 124 Jorge Navarro 5/1 10 10Bottle Rocket (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 120 Kiaran P. McLaughlin 8/1 11 11McIlroy (KY) Joel Rosario 118 Rudy R. Rodriguez 15/1 12 12Successful Native (KY) Juan C. Leyva 122 Aubrey A. Maragh 6/1 13 13Noble Prince (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 120 Alfred G. McIntosh 12/1 14 14Officer Griffin (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 122 Joe Sharp 8/1 15 15Dreaming of Neno (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 120 Michael P. Petro 8/1 16 16Thomas Hill (KY) Luis Saez 118 Gary C. Contessa 10/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 05, 2015, Race 9Entries: Claiming Crown Express S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Alfredo Romana (FL) Armando Ayuso 124 David Nunn 4/1 2 2Blings Express (FL) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Yvon Belsoeur 15/1 3 3Helper Rye (ARG) Juan C. Leyva 118 Oscar M. Gonzalez 30/1 4 4Slan Abhaile (KY) Javier Castellano 120 Michael J. Maker 5/1 5 5Union Label (KY) Paco Lopez 118 Victor Barboza, Jr. 15/1 6 6Artefacto (KY) Eddie Castro 120 Marcial Navarro 20/1 7 7At Large (FL) John R. Velazquez 120 Michelle Nihei 12/1 8 8Bellamy Storm (FL) Rafael Manuel Hernandez 118 William Tharrenos 30/1 9 9Ore Pass (CA) Erick D. Rodriguez 120 Michael J. Trombetta 20/1 10 10Disarm (TX) Maria Remedio 122 Robert Mosco 15/1 11 11Handsup Moneydown (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 120 Brendan P. Walsh 20/1 12 12Loverbil (NJ) Jose Lezcano 124 Jorge Navarro 7/2 13 13Big Legacy (ON) Luis Saez 122 Dale Bennett 6/1 14 14Doddsprivatelabel (TX) Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. 124 Marcos Zulueta 12/1 15 15Chepstow (ON) Edgard J. Zayas 120 Alfred G. McIntosh 15/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 05, 2015, Race 10Entries: Claiming Crown Emerald S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Roman Approval (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Michael J. Maker 5/1 2 2Ghost Hunter (KY) Luis Saez 124 Jamie Ness 8/1 3 3Uncle Dave (PA) Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. 122 Marcos Zulueta 4/1 4 4Yankee Dealer (IL) Paco Lopez 124 Peter R. Walder 10/1 5 5Escondido (KY) Orlando Bocachica 116 Marcos Fernandez 30/1 6 6Flashy Chelsey (KY) Daniel Centeno 120 Robert R. O'Connor, II 15/1 7 7Scrumpdilicious (KY) Luca Panici 120 Marcus J. Vitali 20/1 8 8Depeche Chat (FL) Eddie Castro 122 Jorge Navarro 12/1 9 9Dreams Cut Short (KY) Matthew Rispoli 120 Marcus J. Vitali 10/1 10 10Key to Power (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 122 Brendan P. Walsh 12/1 11 11Golden Rifle (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 124 Martin D. Wolfson 6/1 12 12Purely Boy (KY) Javier Castellano 120 Michael J. Maker 10/1 13 13Laythatpistoldown (IL) Edgard J. Zayas 120 Jorge Navarro 8/1 14 14Bern' James Bern (PA) Jose Lezcano 124 Timothy E. Hamm 20/1 15 15Steve (FL) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 118 Philip M. Serpe 20/1 16 16M C Squared (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 120 Joe Sharp 15/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 05, 2015, Race 11Entries: Claiming Crown Jewel S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Lieutenant Seany O (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 120 Michael J. Maker 10/1 2 2U. S. S. Boxer (KY) Feargal Lynch 116 Desmond Farrell 30/1 3 3African Fighter (KY) Eddie Castro 120 Todd A. Pletcher 10/1 4 4Padilla (FL) Edgar S. Prado 118 Aubrey A. Maragh 20/1 5 5Rizwan (FL) Jose C. Caraballo 120 Philip A. Gleaves 20/1 6 6Aces for John (FL) Julien R. Leparoux 120 Allen Maragh 30/1 7 7Market Blaster (KY) Paco Lopez 122 Edward J. Coletti, Jr. 12/1 8 8Rich Daddy (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 122 Jose Garoffalo 6/1 9 9Indycott (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 122 Danny Gargan 8/1 10 10Freestyler (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 124 Joe Sharp 5/1 11 11Royal Posse (NY) Javier Castellano 122 Rudy R. Rodriguez 4/1 12 12Mr Palmer (KY) Joel Rosario 118 Rudy R. Rodriguez 10/1 13 13Second City (KY) Jose Lezcano 120 Doodnauth Shivmangal 20/1 14 14Mal Guapo (KY) Luis Saez 120 Brad H. Cox 6/1
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