Claiming Crown-The Showstopper
The Showstopper
Starter Allowance ($35,000)
A mile and one eighth
Fast Dirt
$150,000
All horses, 3 years old and up
Hello and welcome to the main event of the year, The Showstopper. This race consists of some of the best classic milers in the claiming community. A full field has entered again and you’ll see a few horses that are just home at higher levels as well as start allowance with a few prior stake winners thrown in there. The race really consists of two strong runners who seem to be a step above the rest, Call Me Rowdy and Goldbricker. Both horses have two distinct running styles. Call Me Rowdy will more than likely go straight to the lead while Goldbricker will be satisfied to sit back behind the main group and make a late charge. There are huge group rated slightly behind those two who will look pull the upset led by Aza Major and Perfect Trip. Any combination should make for a nice trifecta payout.
I just want to take a minute to thank everyone again this year for your participation in the Claiming Crown. It just seems to get stronger every year.
PP1 13/1 GOLD AND MORE GOLD(NM)
Trainer: bentley
12 of 13. That’s how Gold And More Gold has fared in hitting the board in his past few races including five wins. However, he’s never been able to bring his game to the next level as he’s never broke the triple digit SP barrier. Unless something changes here, he will most likely be posted as an “also ran”.
PP2 10/1 EL PASO CONNECTION(FL)
Trainer: ezbreezy
El Paso Connection was a much heralded three year colt a couple years ago. This 5 year old Macho Uno horse was well bred and won the G2-Heat Less Stake as a three year old. He continued to fare decent the remainder of the year in listed stakes and allowance races but it’s been a while since he’s competed at a top level. Ran mainly as a sprinter lately, you have to go all the way back to September 2008 to find his last win at two turns. Hard choice here but makes a drop in class from allowance company to try to make a go at it. Could surprise many.
PP 3 6/1 GOLDBRICKER(KY)
Trainer: mavrkstbl3
Goldbricker makes his first start under new connection, Maverick Racing Stables. I saw this colt a couple a weeks ago and liked the breeding but the four year Touch Gold cold was having difficulties at the allowance level. He makes a nice drop in class here and should run well. As our number two pick at 6/1 he would make for a good payoff. He will likely let Call Me Rowdy lead the pack while he drops way pack of the field for strong stretch close. Pace make the race here.
PP 4 5/1 CALL ME ROWDY(KY)
Trainer: rdog
Wow! What a difference a trainer makes. Hats off to the Starpukie Stables for having a great eye when this colt was nabbed in February. Up to that point, Call Me Rowdy was 1 for his first 36 and not showing much of anything. He was quickly claimed for $5k and he’s been on a run ever since with wins in five of his last six starts including two Allowance wins. He makes for a strong morning line favorite. Look for him to break quickly out of the gate and try to take the field the whole way.
PP 5 10/1 NOVERRE BRUSH(IRE)
Trainer: run40roses
A solid performer, Norverre Brush is what you most trainers would be looking for in a claiming horse. This Norverre sired horse is making his debut for the Kiddman Stables. He’s coming off a second place finish in a $15k claimer and has been racing consistently in the mid to high 90’s. He does have the occasional burst of triple digit speed ratings but they’re too erratic to count on. He will be looking to steal a minor piece of the purse.
PP 6 13/1 CAT HAWK
Trainer: ers
You have to go 53 races back to find the last time Cat Hawk made a legitimate start on the dirt. In fact, that was his first start as a two year old. However, he had a great career on the grass but it wasn’t until his last start was forced to the main track when the turf was just too sloppy to run on. He won that race with ease but did the off track help? Flip a coin here.
PP 7 10/1 NICE REED
Trainer: psyduck127
No doubt that Nice Reed’s connections will be looking for a repeat of his last race where he posted a lifetime high SP of 106. He got a late start in his career as this nine year old colt only has 18 races under his belt and only started about 2 ½ years ago. He makes his first start at two turns today though so there’s a bit of an unknown factor here. He does make a late charge which sometimes leaves him short but we’ll have to see.
PP 8 10/1 PHASE II(AUS)
Trainer: mattress
Phase II continues our run of five horses at 10/1. Much like the other he runs consistently in the mid to high 90’s with a few 100+ from time to time. He’s hit the board with rhythm lately, 8 of 10. Not sure if he has the stuff but surely one of these 10/1’s will contest the favorites. Look for him to sit behind the pack and stalk the front runners.
PP 9 20/1 QUICK DISPATCHER(KY)
Trainer: dscreetcat
Good news here is that Quick Distpatcher is not the long shot in the race. However, it still may not be enough. Not really a bad horse as he has some decent races and he seems at home at just about any distance. But there’s no comparison to the favorites. Should run well here but probably mid pack at best.
PP 10 9/1 THE PERFECT TRIP(KY)
Trainer: sharpstabl
The 9/1 The Perfect Trip makes a much needed drop in class for this race. Claimed back in March, he’s been ran exclusively in allowance company his last six races with one win. He can reach those triple digit SP figures but he’s had difficulties lately. His last two races have been well off the board and with SP’s of 95 and 85. However, he may bounce back with drop in class. Could be a sleeper pick here.
PP 11 30/1 DUBAWI ROAD(IRE)
Trainer: 00teejay00
A lifetime sprinter for most of his career, Dubawi Road is making his 9th attempt at two turns. Although he has five lifetime wins, none have been at anything over 8 furlongs. He comes off a horrible trip last time out at 10 furlongs where he finished 23 lengths off the lead with a last place 69 SP. He’s the long shot for a reason.
PP 12 11/1 UNNAMED TED(GB)
Trainer: aussietj
Unnamed Ted is what you consider a true work horse. This seven year old has gone to the track an amazing 73 times with 6 wins in that span. He hasn’t run bad in last 10 starts but somehow seems to find himself on the losing end every time. In fact, you have to go back to January of 2009 to find his last win. At one time a couple of years ago he was a consistent starter with speed of 100+ but just not enough lately. He’s much like our group of 10/1 choices. Could compete for show money if he can grab a little of the past.
PP 13 10/1 CHARLES VANE(IRE)
Trainer: wtas01
A dry/fast track may have been a bit of a disappointment for his connections, Teejay Stables. This four year old Barathea colt has been all over the place lately with SP’s ranging from 88 to 108. Wow! What a huge spread. The previously mentioned 108 comes off his last start on a sloppy track. The biggest problem here is you don’t know what you got. Which horse will show up on Saturday?
PP 14 8/1 AZA MAJOR(IRE)
Trainer: trotter200
The Trotter200 trained Aza Major represents our third choice on the board. He makes his second start for his connections and I think you can throw out that last race on a sloppy track. He gets a fast rated track here today and the distance seems to suit him. Although he lacks the consistency of the first two choices he can pull off some nice runs evident by the 106 SP he posted two races back. That win came at 7.5 furlongs but he’s done well on two turns before. Should place well.