2011 Claiming Crown!

2011 Claiming Crown

The annual paean to the claimer takes place this week in Louisiana, as in the real world.  There are nine races in the Crown, and since these horses aren’t usually written about, let’s take at least a brief look at each of the fields and some notable contenders.

Race # 8
The Steel Horse
Starter Allowance  ($7,500)
A mile and one sixteenth
Fast Dirt
$50,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

Full disclosure: this is the only one of the Crown races where I have a starter.  SUN KIL MOON(LA) has been trying to make an impression in the state-bred races here, so I kept her around for this race.  Maybe the change back to a mile will help her out.  DONJON(IRE) is a valid favorite with three straight wins over a route, and BLAMETHEREDHEAD(ARG), SHADY PINES(MD), and MY DESTINATION(GB) have all run fast lately.  The latter two are 7-1 or better and could be value plays.

Race # 9
The Midnight Express
Starter Allowance  ($7,500)
Six furlongs
Fast Dirt
$50,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

In the cheap sprinter ranks, BULLISH SWAN(KY) looks great at 9/2, riding a 3-win streak with a 103 and 105 in the last two.  SECOND WAVE(JPN) and FLASH N’ DASH(KY) are also fast, but you could probably pull down a big trifecta involving some combination of ALARPHARD(IRE), sophomore WAR LEGEND(KY), and SWEET IMITATION(JPN), who just ran a dud at 11 furlongs but is much faster at this distance.

Race # 10
The Get Going Fast
Starter Allowance  ($15,000)
Six furlongs
Fast Dirt
$75,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

The pricier division of sprinters is strangely devoid of early speed.  Perhaps SLIP MAHONEY(NY) can slip away with it, or local bred SEATTLE LEGEND(LA) may inherit the lead.  Favored 8-year-old EXBOURNE’S SENATOR is plenty fast in the lane and may catch up despite the pace scenario.  Young LEFT ME LANGIN(KY) is another with a 3-race streak and is an interesting longshot play.

Race # 11
The Grass Gown
Starter Allowance  ($25,000)
A mile and one sixteenth
Firm Turf
$100,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up

Turf fillies aiming to wear the coveted dress are a well-balanced bunch, with up-and-coming young DANCING SAILOR(KY) and ROCK THE BEAT(KY) doing battle with veterans LOVE HARD TEN(KY) [10 wins], SILVER CROSS(KY) [8 wins], MELLOW DANCER(KY) [8 wins], and TIE DYED DOOTSIN(WV) [11 wins].  I might go with RUTGERS ROCKS(KY), who has the only triple digit showing in all the past performances on the page, and that was in her last race.

Race # 12
The Ruby Tuesday
Starter Allowance  ($25,000)
A mile and one sixteenth
Firm Turf
$100,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

Wow, HANDSOME HOSS(KY), MISSLE OF MONTE(NY), SOVIET BALLET(IRE), and MIDNIGHT SHOW(KY) have all run very fast lately, with the latter coming back from a disappointing turf sprint.  KEY PARTY(KY) is an interesting 22-1 longshot if he can come back to his claiming form of earlier in the year.  SNOWMAN ONTHE MOON(ENG) just discovered the turf and is worth a LONG look at 26-1.

Race # 13
The Showstopper
Starter Allowance  ($35,000)
A mile and one eighth
Fast Dirt
$150,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

The highest-price starter allowance on the card features favorite CONCORDANT(KY), who has been beaten only once, by a nose, in his last eight races.  Speedy NO COMPETITION(KY) could stay up there for a piece, and horses like RUBBER MATT(JPN) and MY MANSHOOD’S OUT(SAF) – very clever – could take it all with a return to their best form.

Race # 14
The Long John Silver
Starter Allowance  ($25,000)
A mile and one half
Fast Dirt
$100,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

What is essentially the Belmont Stakes of the Claiming Crown drew the smallest field, seven.  The oddsmakers have CHANTILI TLC(KY) winning based on a superior number of wins and lifetime earnings.  But watch out for RIEDINGER(FR), unchallenged in his last four in dirt routes, or I DOUBT THAT(AUS), a sophomore on a modest win streak.

Race # 15
The Green With Envy
Starter Allowance  ($25,000)
Two miles
Firm Turf
$100,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

The turf marathon contingent includes, of all things, a number of entrants who like to be in front, including EXBOURNE’S ANTHEM(KY), LIMPQUEEN(KY), EL LAW(NM), and GHOULS N GHOSTS(KY).  That may open it up for CHANTILI JAPAN(JPN), who has run some very fast ones from way back in the pack earlier in the year.  BACK TO ROCKVILLE(KY) might also benefit at 9-1.

Race # 16
The Cinderella
Starter Allowance  ($15,000)
Six furlongs
Fast Dirt
$75,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up

The nightcap is reserved for the female sprinters.  CORONA BEAUTY(AUS) is a worthy veteran favorite, but I like the trio of sophomores: RIDE AND SEEK(FR) with her 102 last out, fast-improving TOLKERA(ITY), and especially rail girl SILVER CADET(JPN), who qualifies off a $7.5k maiden claimer score and just ran a 97 in only her third race.  She’s 20-1 for scoobysnak.