Claiming Crown Overview
Hot on the heels of the Bargain Bowl, we have another festival day dedicated to the lower levels of our game. The Claiming Crown emulates the real-life event, where starter allowance types get to run for $75k to $150k purses. Trotter200 has two entries in a number of these, so if he doesn’t come home with a win or two, he just might eat his hat. Let’s take a glimpse at highlighted entries in each of the carded eleven Crown events (some of them split divisions):
The Steel Horse, 8.5 furlongs on dirt, $7.5k tag
Interestingly, I bred the favorite, MIRA MESA. Since I lost him by claim, he’s had a parade of triple digit speeds, but threw a dud in his last. Current owner plugger03 needs to find the solution to get the deserving fave home first. SINGAPORE NERD needs a return to last winter’s form, but the reduction in distance might do the trick; DIAMOND SHIELD has solid speed numbers and looks to be closing late; VOTE FOR CHARM is a versatile type with the numbers to contend; STRONG RIVER needs his best, but is another that could run late for a big piece.
The Midnight Express Division 1, 6 furlongs on dirt, $7.5k tag
EQUIMATIC, a Michigander, has tried everything, from frontrunning to deep closer style, and was graded placed way back in 2005 as a juvenile. FANTASTIC SPECIAL comes in looking the improving horse off two sharp wins; the astute fritzl1 claim was for just $2k two races back. RULE THE HEART is a sprint closer type with a number of 100 speeds and 13 wins. I’D BE LION if I didn’t say this one will be among the leaders, probably behind ADIOS CUCARACHA early. RANDOLPH looks better at a mile. BELIEVE N MUSIC has won two straight and looks interesting at 6-1.
The Midnight Express Division 2, 6 furlongs on dirt, $7.5k tag
HEAD N OUT has 14 wins, three with current owner rubiano07, and will probably lay midpack waiting for a run. SINNER SPEAK has been rounding back up in form since returning to a speedster technique. RED MONSUN is that rare Monsun offspring fed a diet of dirt sprints. MY PROJECTS comes in off his best race ever, and could win with a repeat. KNICKED returns to dirt but might really prefer the green stuff. CRYPTOCOMBO popped some big numbers this fall at the distance and is looking for a return to that form.
The Get Going Fast, 6 furlongs on dirt, $15k tag
4yo COLAPSO is really coming on, and firfight10 coaxed a 101 speed off the claim last out at this starter level. SEASCAN goes through up and down form cycles, and might just be coming down off a high. PLATO’S RETREAT might have been favored in this race in the spring, but has a bit of a rough spot now. PLANET BEATER chooses an interesting spot to make his sprint debut, but is a sneaky pick off a 100-speed route where he ran fast early. COSTA ME CREDITS also comes off a 100 speed race. LIVESFOREVERMORE has back class AND a 102 last out for his part. But it all comes down to favorite MICHIGAN, who hasn’t run slower than 104 since switching to dirt in June.
The Grass Gown, 8.5 furlongs on turf, females, $25k tag
SHEER DROP is a speedy stakeswinner; GOLD IN THE SKY just won from 12 lengths back at the third call last out, but that was at 12 furlongs; GIVE HER A SHOT is a consistent winner who can sit off the speed; BARB’S SOPPRESSETTA might have blasted an easy field last out and be faster than expected; SEEK THE BARD has a top career speed of 79.
The Ruby Tuesday, 8.5 furlongs on turf, $25k tag
SLAM AGAIN has just one turf race, and it wasn’t good. PRO UNIVERSE broke a string of nine straight 90s last out when finishing off the board. LAZY BARB just busted a big number in a 10k claimer. SIR FASTROCK hit career highs this time last year, but has been less impressive this year. RAY OF SUN is of consistent quality, and is likely for a paycheck. HOOSIER CADET is a 4yo coming into his best form, and RATTLE THE SABRE comes off two straight wins and adds a furlong (interesting at 18-1).
The Showstopper Division 1, 9 furlongs on dirt, $35k tag
VILLAGE VOICE would seem to want polytrack off a career best performance on that surface. Favored 7yo BAR K RASH has been running very impressively againts saltier company, but needs to hold off the likes of CANADIAN QUALITY and the rest. DIGNIFIED ROBOT enters off a 103 speed and is a big threat. MICHAEL CRICHTON could sneak in for a share. SHAMWOW (cool name!) is a dangerous last-race winner.
The Showstopper Division 2, 9 furlongs on dirt, $35k tag
EARLY CLAN would have loved a wet track, having won four straight starters a while back on off going, but overall looks off his best form. DEUCE BIAGLOW too has seen better days, but does have an interesting closing kick if the pace collapses. CELTIC ESSENCE throws a big one every once in a while, so maybe it’s his turn. OZZZY DAZZLER comes in off a win, and has the best form other than outside threat EXBOURNE’S COURT. That one has a two-race win streak and is a worthy bet at a co-favored 4-1.
The Long John Silver, 12 furlongs on dirt, $25k tag
THE SILENT EMPEROR has done most of his damage at 8 furlongs and less. Favorite HARD TO TELL has a recent 102 speed at the distance and looks tough. I BEN SUCKERED has played around the edges most of the year, but is experienced at this trip. SEATTLE LEGEND, inbred 2×3 to Strawberry Road, has won 13 of 50 and might like the extra distance today coming off a nice performance. WEST WELSH DRIVE is a former graded stakes contender, but may still have enough to contend. Maiden winners BOLTOR, DEVASTATING OIL, and MR. CADET are 156-1, 46-1, and 38-1, respectively, but MR. CADET is interesting in the show spot.
The Green With Envy, 16 furlongs on turf, $25k tag
YOU ARE PLEASANT is primed and ready off two wins, the most recent at two miles. PROFLY KINGDOM has looked better at 10 furlongs or so. PRAETORIAN PREFECT is a Grade 2, half-million dollar winner who made his way down to the $5k claimer level now in his 8yo year – he wins easily if he relives his younger days. DIESIS LEGACY is consistent at longer distances and is stakesplaced at two miles. Stakeswinner GREYHUNT R. looks hard to beat off a frontrunning win at this distance in a $150k starter allowance.
The Cinderella, 6 furlongs on dirt, females, $15k tag
If you like the lottery, try ST. POWER at 316-1. He’s run about a 60 speed in his three races, but maybe he likes sprints, eh? THE IN CROWD has some recent 98s and might be going better than 9/5 favorite BLACK DIAMOND STAR. The other low odds runner, HAPPY TIME, will try to steal it on the front end.