The Claiming Crown, a showcase for former claiming horses, returns Nov. 16 to Churchill Downs, that includes eight starter races price $1.1 million, topped by the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel.
Most of the races are overdrawn, together with the Jewel. Twelve horses are within the physique of the Jewel, the richest Claiming Crown race. One other two entrants are on the also-eligible listing.
Counting these in three non-Claiming Crown occasions, 120 horses and 28 also-eligibles are entered for Saturday’s stacked 11-race program.
The Jewel is for 3-year-olds and upward which have began for a claiming worth of $35,000 in 2023-24. Different races are for horses that raced for decrease claiming tags and are contested over varied distances. Three of the eight races are carded for the turf.
Dry climate is within the long-term forecast, a welcome reduction after two consecutive years of moist circumstances and sloppy tracks for the Claiming Crown.
Although the Claiming Crown opponents could have as soon as been claiming horses, some have risen to stakes heights since these days, significantly these within the Jewel. One instance is Cash Provide , a $35,000 declare by proprietor Jordan Wycoff and a horse who grew to become a grade 3 winner for coach Joe Sharp. He gained final 12 months’s Jewel.
Six of his eight profession wins have come for his present connections, highlighted by victories within the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at Honest Grounds Race Course & Slots and Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The 5-year-old son of Sensible Joke has confirmed versatile sufficient to deal with each turf and filth.
He failed to fireplace in two begins after the Schuster in a pair of demanding turf races, ending sixth within the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course and ninth in a $481,200 handicap at Kentucky Downs. He misplaced these two races by a mixed margin of 30 3/4 lengths.
Tyler Gaffalione can be aboard within the Claiming Crown Jewel from put up 3.
Cash Provide carries a co-high weight of 126 kilos, recognizing a few of his rivals as a lot as six kilos. Additionally carrying high weight are the Greg Compton-trained Auto Glide and David Jacobson-trained Laughing Boy , who each return from layoffs.
Auto Glide, owned by his coach with Mark Dean and Mike Cohea, gained the July 7 Battery Park Stakes at Delaware Park earlier than a third-place end in his most up-to-date begin within the July 28 Deputed Testamony Stakes at Laurel Park.
The Jacobson and Lawrence Roman-owned Laughing Boy has been out of motion longer. He gained the March 30 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack earlier than going to the sidelines after working eighth within the April 20 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.
Hurry Hurry , Bourbon Day , and Floor to Air are different contenders that carry sharp current kind into the Jewel.
A partnership between the Nationwide Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protecting Affiliation and the Thoroughbred House owners and Breeders Affiliation, the Claiming Crown, inaugurated in 1999, may have its twenty sixth working Nov. 16 and its second renewal at Churchill Downs. Held primarily at Canterbury Park and later Gulfstream Park for its first 23 years, it was first run at Churchill in 2022. Final 12 months, the Churchill Downs Inc.-owned Honest Grounds hosted the Claiming Crown for the second time.