The Green With Enyy– Claiming Crown
The Claiming Crown Series
The Green With Envy
Purse: $100,000
Distance: 2 Miles
Surface: Turf (Listed Firm)
Condition: Open 3 and Up Who Started for a Tag
Of $25,000 or More
Welcome all to Minnesota, where today’s card is abound with the hard knocking claimers of this great game. Today is their crowning day, where the best of the claiming divisions will go head to head to see who in fact is the king of the claimers. Today, however, they will not be allowed to get tagged and will return back to their barns with their owners. Some will return dejected and some will do their owners proud. Today’s race is about bragging right for the underworld of the Sim. These are the guys that hit the track every 2 weeks to earn their trainers the valuable bp’s in the Sim. They are the bread and butter of a trainers stable and today they get rewarded with a hefty purse to strut their stuff. Let’s take a look at these battle tested warriors of the Sim, starting from the rail out.
1) Polo Player- BP magnet Hawkz brings Polo Player here today after a 10th place finish in an allowance restricted race. This 6 yr old has won 3 times in 35 starts. Hawkz had put this guy up for a tag 4 times in his life, and Polo Player has remained with him the whole time. Not many in here that have that many starts and is still with his original owner. For today, Polo Player is going to have to step it up a bit for Hawkz. He has 2 decent races at 10f, but today we go the marathon route of 16f. He will most likely try to use some of his earlier speed to get position on the field early. What he has left for the 2nd ½ of the race will be key for him. May try to take lead and not look back. Tough spot for him today though. 30-1, rail and gets Napper for the services.
2) Chromazone- Trainer Rharfo brings a 4 yr old daughter of Scrimshaw to the marathon today. In 16 starts, she has won once but has hit the board in 7 of them. She has been with Rharfo for her last 5 races, in which she has hit the board in 3. For today, Chromazone has a couple things to like. Firstly, she has never been beyond 12 panels, but she hit the board in both of those races. Although she has a sprint type sire, her DS and DDS are brilliant distance sire. Broad Brush and Exclusive Native give this gal the help that her sire wouldn’t give. She has fared well in big fields before and although she in a tougher spot today, she will be getting by some tired ones late. 26-1 and Unchy in the irons.
3) Trig- Hawkz’ 2nd entry here is Trig. A winner of 2 in 28 starts, Trig is another in here that has stayed the course with Hawkz as the sole owner. A good solid 12f horse, as he has run his last 3 at that distance, Trig comes into today with his 2nd highest speed number of his career. Again, will be facing a collectively tougher bunch today, but he knows the route of ground he’s going today better than most and wont be against it like some in here will be. Usually likes to be the fleet footed type early, although today I expect to see him 3rd – 4th down the back. Will try to hang around as long as he can before a rush a the few closers take charge. 36-1 and McDowell get the nod.
4) Rock Quera- Trainer Gorytus brings Rock Quera to the race today. A 4 yr old son of Ransom O’War, his last 22 races have been on the dirt. He tries him back on the green after his 1st 6 career races on turf. This guy has some things to really like. Yes, he’s 0 for 6 on turf. But, he was young and still learning. If he can carry some of his newer form over to the lawn, he should find a lot of things to his liking. He loves the 14f distance (is 2 for last 3 and a place) and should get a suitable upfront pace for his closing tactics. With Rainbow Quest and Kris in his bloodlines, you may have to think this guy will respond back to the turf with his new maturity. If he does respond to the lawn, he will be your 26 dollar winner guaranteed. A big if, but very playable angle here today. 12-1 and gets Sappington to don his silks.
5) Relocation- Trainer Tgerk brings a son of Balestrini to the race today. A good winning percentage for this guy as he totes a 22% or so clip in the win column. His last 2 efforts have been subpar for him, although he’s better than the last 2 race shave shown. 3 of his last 4 prior attempts were in allowance conditional races and today he faces the bunch he’s more used to. He’s one of the few in here that can boast a 100 speed number, albeit it was at a mrker 6f less than today. He has some tactical speed, which will definitely help him here today. His rain dance prayers don’t get answered here today, but I think this guy will find a cozy spot along the rail for a large majority of the race today. He must make a timed move and hold off a few dead closers, but he’s capable to get the board if he can in fact time that move. 11-1 and gets Vanlandingham for the mount today.
6) Bills Baitshop- New stable Drc Racing brings this son of Afleet Alex to the post with 3 wins and 3 board placings in his last 6 races. He seems to have been privately purchased from some guy named computer, who amazingly gives out winners. In a starter allowance on dirt back in January, Bill went this 16f distance. The result was wire to wire score by 4 ¾ lengths. The distance for him here today seems well suited compared to a few in here. He will stalk the early pace setters today and must also time his move. The timing of his move today will either get him to the circle, or get him back to the pack. A consistent type horse who looks to put it all together for the crown race. Will like the 16f more than most, but not more than some. He will try to use his pace tactics to his play here today and try to out foot the closers when they turn for home. 9-1 and Cothill in the saddle.
7) Rock River Sam- JdTrot brings a son of Brian’s Time to the crown race today. In his last, an allow nw1x race, Rock River Sam came charging hard late to miss on the off going by 3 ¾ lengths. The real wise-guy of the race, mainly because he’s only set foot on the turf course 1 time. At that point in his career, it had been the highest speed number he had thrown. He’s matured now and his breeding suggests that he should like the turf. Always hard to pick these type horses, as he’s running against hard knocking turf horses, but if he does like he may be your winner. Never has been past 12f before, but has 2 wins in 4 tries at that distance. Has a good running style for the race and will be picking off dead meat late in the race. Oddball of the race, but has sever upside and win potential. 11-1 and Hardinger in the irons.
8) Kielbasa King- Teejay brings the son of Polish Precedent to the races today. When asked how he thinks the horse will perform today, Teejay responded “ I dunno, I just bought him”…This guy, on paper, looks to be a real solid performer. He doesn’t run many bad race, fires consistently, and the last time he went 16f, he won by a whopping 8 ½ lengths. Has run multiple 90+ speed numbers ad has a great running style for today’s pace scenarios. Is 19 for 38 itm on the green and today sets up beautifully for this guy. Will be heard from late in the race today and if can unravel his motors earlier, will be your winner here today. 8-1 and Pickel in the irons.
9) Cheerful Charger- Trainer Argo brings a son of Pleasant Tap to the race today off a good 2nd place finish in a claiming nw2y race. A veteran of 50 races, Cheerful Charger got back on form in his last. His 2 prior efforts were not his best and he looks to regain older form here today. His last win came in last July, but he has had some good 2nd place performances in between. He owns a 27% win on the turf. Hasn’t been past the 11f distance in quite a bit of time, but his last race, if can duplicate, shows he can get running late. The key for him is the distance today, as there are some in here that run longer more consistently. The positive side, well, is just that as well. If he hasn’t run, maybe he’ll respond even better. If can get back to last years form, or improve just a bit off last effort, he could find the board or maybe even the win spot. 7-1 and Friar for the mount.
10) Wedding Dance- Trainer JdTrot has his 2nd entry here today with a son of Haafd. Another in here who will be making his debut for a new owner, Wedding Dance enters here today with a 10th place finish in a claiming event. Some good consistent speed numbers this guy has. What he fails to have a bit may be the distance limitations. Maybe that’s why 64% ITM trainer Jd bought him. Does he see something that could shake this horse up and get him a big purse in his first attempt? He’s only had 8 career starts on turf, so that could be one angle. The other angle could be the the closing kick factor. At 9f, this horse has a very nice closing effort, and maybe JD thinks the change in surface and the stretchout with fool around settings could be all the difference for this guy. Has run in much better company in here than most and has performed admirably. So today, he returns to the green, stretches out and has some real good chances to spring the mild upset based on so many unknowns. 7-1 and gets Ireland for the luck.
11) Jugurtha- Trainer Lime brings this son of Not Impossible to the race today following a 5th place finish in an 11 horse open claiming race. A winner of $245,000 lifetime, he may be slightly off his game lately and looks to rebound here. Cople of good things here today is that he has been running against better company than he has here today. Many tough allowance spots and a couple of decent efforts in some of them. Othere ting is in terms of distance, this is just a regular stroll in the park for the big guy. In his last 7 races, 5 of them were at 14f, and the other 2 were 13f. Sp u get the idea that this is no big test in endurance for him. On the slightly negative side, he has to up his speed numbers a bit more to be competitive today. He had some good experience and now must call on a lil’ old school class to help him here today. About a 22%win on the green and today can put it all together. A good 12-1 shot today.
12) Lee Von Helms- The black and gold of the Steelers barn comes here today with a son of Leestown. Claimed from Pa 4 starts back, this guy has won once for his new trainer and that was at 12f on turf. His other 3 starts were not as prolific, but that race was most similar in what he’ll be running today. In that start, the 11 time winner ran a 98 speed number at 12f in open $20,000 claiming. His race in whuch he actually got claimed, he won a 13f local bred race for Paz. Today, he steps up his distance bid , but usually gets better results when the going is longer. The scratch bred horse today is really not in for anything he hasn’t already seen before. If he can run his recent speed number of 98, and prove that the 16f isn’t too much for him now, he can definitely find the winners circle. Has a few ifs in here today, but who doesn’t? Should be mid-pack to back early and be the first of that bunch to make their bid to the front. 11-1 and gets Annika today.
13) The Navigator- Trainer Kiddman brings a son o El Nino to the festivities today. A younger than most in here horse today, The Navigator has some real good things to like today. One of only a few horses lately that have fired a 100 speed number and he stll has his best racing in front of him, not behind him. The old men of the division will be trying to teach this younger buck a thing or 2 about claiming races, but this guy can bring it hard if he needs to. Whats the problem then? Well. It’s the 16f marathon that may cause the spoiler for him. He’s only run 3 route races and his furthest attempt was at 8 ½f. His sire, was mainly a sprint type horse and his ds and dds don’t really spell the true marathon distance races. But the old age question of the sim is: Can a more athletic horse win a race that may not be to his liking just because he is faster? Or will the old vets let him get his way earlier in the race and come charging at the young pup late?. Dunno, but he’s got a lot of upside today, but the biggest question posed is the distance. If he can overcome that huge obstacle, he’s your winner based on speed and athleticism. 8-1 and gets Stinson.
14) Castle Of Fire- 61% ITM trainer Dixie brings a recently purchased horse of $100,000 to the races today. Is it possible that when Dixie buys your horse at a claim race, you know you made a mistake? The son of Castledale won that race he was bought out of by ¾ of a length. In his last 6 starts, he has won 4 and placed itm in other 2. He owns the best speed numbers as of late in here today, but like a few other more speedy type horses, he must answer the distance question today. Owns 2 speeds above 100 and has run against better fields than most comparatively in here. So today’s question for him today is, can he get 16f? Couple things in his favor are: 1) He is an athletic horse who likes to be near the action early. He does his best racing on the front end. He doesn’t need to be on the lead to win either, which is part of his versatility. With “only” 26 races, he comes in a bit more fresh than some others in here. His RL sires lines say that he should have no problem getting a bit of ground, but we all know how that works in the Sim. But today, if he can answer the distance question, he totes the best numbers and speed in the race. Dangerous entry today. 4-1 fav and Bowen gets the mount for Dixie.
Smoke’s Anaylsis:
I don’t really know much about this series, but it seems like a lot of fun. These are the bread and butter horses that pay the bill for all of us. It’s a great day to have the best of those types face each other and square off. We have some of the best ITM trainers in the game here today, and now you know why. We don’t become great trainers unless we know the ins and out’s of the claiming game. Anyway, I think it’s going to be very interesting to see which of these can get the board spots. Seems like we have the more athletic/faster type horses getting the play, but many of them haven’t gone close to this far. The slower steadier types are the ones that have gone this far. So it’s kind like a tortoise and hare type race. Tough race to pick here, but I’ll give my usual 5 losers:
1) Rock Quera- Switching back to the lawn, but likes the distance and should be the controlling speed. Must answer the call back to the surface change, but capable if he can.
2) Kielbasa King- Just a consistent type horse who should find a good trip throughout. He’s won at this distance before and has competitive speed numbers in here. If can better just a bit, is definitely capable of winning this.
3) Chromazone- This mare is one of the tortoises’ against the hares in here. But she just runs long and steady. She owns way lower speed numbers, but the key is she will hit her natural mark. So I’m think if she betters late numbers and jumps to say 90, that gets her right here. She will do her usual passing of some of the dead ones late in the race.
4) Lee Von Helms- It depends which Lee shows up today. Will the one that ran a 98 at 12f be here today? Has won at 12 and 13f already and if I could trust that he may love the 16f a lil more, this guy is your winner. Capable of running away with this one if he does in fact run like he can and prove the distance answer.
5) Castle Of Fire- Don’t remember the last time I picked a horse in Dixie barn below 3rd, but today this guy has a few questions to answer. Totes best numbers in here today, but he hasn’t raced at over 10f in his life. Usually that doesn’t translate well when sent that long and not increased somewhat gradually. Horse that’s coming into this race the best, but must answer distance question today.
Well that’s it from here today and best of luck to all here today. Best of luck with all the other series races as we look like we have a great day for some claiming competition!!