Claimers run for solid paydays Monday
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Claiming Crown has become the traditional opening-day attraction of the Gulfstream Park championship meet every December. There’s nothing quite like it – unless you count what Gulfstream is unveiling on Presidents Day.
A 12-race extravaganza is on tap for Monday, and every race is written Claiming Crown style, with starter-allowance conditions governing a variety of races divvied up by gender, age, surface, and distance. The finished product makes for some pretty tricky handicapping, with virtually every contender in every race having reached peak form in recent starts.
Every one of the 12 races has a purse of $50,000 or $60,000. Each one has a name, too, with such inventive labels as the Sage of Monticello and the Old Man Eloquent having been applied. Don’t get too caught up, however, in which race is named what – there won’t be a quiz afterward (or there’d better not be).
There are even a few “name” horses, too. Trouble Kid finished first in the prestigious De Francis Dash last fall before being disqualified. Manchurian High is a two-time winner in the Sunshine Millions, and Sr. Quisqueyano owns a couple of triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures. Key to Power is a multiple stakes winner in open company, Born to Be Winner was beaten just a length in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant in her last start, and several winners in the Dec. 5 Claiming Crown events are back in action. So, clearly, there is some quality horseflesh spread among this novel program.
First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern. As a bonus, there was the distinct possibility that the Rainbow 6 jackpot carryover could reach seven figures by Monday, having reached $852,100 going into Saturday. The Rainbow 6 will be offered on races 7-12 Monday.
Here is a quick rundown of select Monday races:
◗ $50,000 Rough and Ready (race 1): Loooch Racing and trainer Peter Walder were front and center at the Claiming Crown, and they’ll be well represented on this card when teaming with four horses, starting here with Runs With Bulls. This 1 1/16-mile opener, like so many races that follow, is very well matched, with Rich Daddy and Percussion among the main opposition to Runs With Bulls.
◗ $50,000 Trust Buster (race 4): Defer Heaven was sensational in earning a career-high 95 Beyer and defeating the favored Slan Abhaile in a Jan. 31 race under starter conditions, but can he run that race back 15 days later? There’s not a lot of opposing speed to soften him up in this seven-furlong race, so a fourth straight win for the 6-year-old gelding is entirely possible.
◗ $60,000 Sage of Monticello (race 6): Off a dominating triumph as the even-money favorite over many of these same 3-year-olds, Ousby figures as a solid choice when assigned the rail for this 7 1/2-furlong race. Making his second start since being claimed by Marcus Vitali, the gray gelding doesn’t necessarily need the early lead, a factor in his favor.
◗ $60,000 Rail Splitter (race 8): Trouble Kid might not start in this race because trainer Ramon Preciado could be saving him for the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint on Feb. 27. But assuming he runs, he will be very tough after registering huge back-to-back Beyers to start his Gulfstream meet. Successful Native and Delta Bluesman fill the void if he happens to defect.
◗ $60,000 Old Man Eloquent (race 9): The big field would seem to assure an honest pace, a scenario that the stretch-running Manchurian High tends to need to fire his best shot; the 8-year-old gelding has quite a charming backstory, having fulfilled the racing dreams of his owner-trainer, Lilli Kurtinecz. Key to Power and Golden Rifle are among the opponents helping to make this a rugged spot.
◗ $60,000 Old Hickory (race 11): Walder will slap some blinkers on Sr. Quisqueyano, which seems like a shot in the dark, seeing how the $750,000 earner has tailed off noticeably. Assuming that trick won’t work, this 1 1/16-mile race probably boils down to the trio of Catholic Cowboy, Behemoth, and Muntij, all having shown themselves capable with a top effort.
After Monday, Gulfstream goes dark for just one day before a five-day week commences Wednesday. The next major date here is Feb. 27, when the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth goes as the richest of eight stakes.