Claiming Crown's large and competitive fields a bettor's delight

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Claiming Crown has become a yearly fixture opening weekend of the Gulfstream Park Championship meet, traditionally offering full and highly competitive fields, with this year’s edition being no exception. Saturday’s Claiming Crown undercard, which supports the $125,000 Jewel (race 10), consists of eight starter-allowance stakes at various distances and claiming price levels, on turf and dirt.

Here is a capsule look at them:

Race 3: $75,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse, 1 1/16 miles on dirt

There is plenty of pace signed on here and a lot of familiar faces to loyal Gulfstream Park followers among the key contenders, among them Brasstown, Trappezoid, and Casualistic. The invaders are led by Souper Fly Over, who won four similarly conditioned $8,000 starter races this year at Parx Racing and is well drawn at the distance breaking from the rail, and Zanesville, who defeated $10,000 starter opposition with a last-to-first rally one month ago at Churchill Downs.

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Race 4: $90,000 Claiming Crown Distaff, five furlongs on turf

A full field of 12 promises to make this one among the most wide-open races of the day. Solid cases can be made for many in this lineup, with a sanitary trip a requisite for success. Strong Odor, Richie’s Great Girl, Beantown Baby, and Payntdembluesaway – all of whom have shipped in for the race – are among the most likely winners. Strong Odor, whose trainer, Mike Maker, has dominated the Claiming Crown, has banked more than $132,000 this season. Her most notable victory came in an allowance race last summer at Saratoga, in which she defeated Richie’s Great Girl by a head.

Race 5: $75,000 Claiming Crown Express, six furlongs on dirt

Kalu will likely go postward a heavy favorite coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 De Francis Memorial at Laurel, which followed a string of three straight victories, the first of which came over this course in June. Among those awaiting his return are the locally based pair of Uncork the Bottle, who defeated Kalu here during the spring, and Face of Victory, a game starter-allowance winner in his most recent start.

“Kalu looks tough on paper but he hasn’t run for a while, and if we can work out a trip after getting drawn inside again, I think we have a good chance to beat him,” said Saffie Joseph Jr., who trains Face of Victory.

Race 6: $95,000 Tiara, 1 1/16 miles on turf

Kahiko may be favored off three victories in her last four starts, with the lone loss a second-place finish against overnight handicap company two starts back. She’ll break from the fence in a full field of fillies and mares, which also includes leading contenders Whimsical Muse, Sugar Fix, and Act Like Artie, who is drawn on the outside in post 12.

Race 7: $80,000 Glass Slipper, one mile on dirt

Don’t Get Khozy, who has finished first or second in 20 of her 30 local appearances, with 10 victories over this course, will be favored to defeat 11 rivals. Familiar faces Tiz Possible Dear, Papa’s Little Girl, and Let’s Be Honest are among her chief rivals.

Race 8: $90,000 Canterbury, five furlongs on turf

Another full, wide-open field of turf sprinters should give handicappers plenty to ponder, with Harry’s Ontheloose, who finished third in this event a year ago, among the leading contenders. Maker counters with Kentucky invader Bad Beat Brian, a three-time winner over this strip, with a long list of other possible win threats to consider.

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Race 9: $85,000 Rapid Transit, seven furlongs on dirt

Joseph likes his chances, and rightly so, with Financial System, whom he haltered for $10,000 two starts back. Financial System stepped up to allowance company and missed by a neck to the talented 3-year-old Manor House.

“This is one of the most competitive races of the day, but I like my horse off that last start when it appeared he was home free before getting nailed right on the wire,” Joseph said. “But that was at a mile, and he’s back to seven furlongs today.”

There are many other options to choose from, including Well Defined, Miles Ahead, and Lookin At Roses, who finished third in this race a year ago at odds of 47-1

Race 11: $95,000 Emerald, 1 1/16 miles on turf

Back to the turf for the finale, which includes five horses into six figures in earnings this season, Mid Day Image, Attentive, Mandate, Max K. O., and Light Fury. Bettors could settle on the recently claimed Clear Vision, who has registered Beyer Speed Figures of 96 and 94 in his last two starts. He ships to South Florida off a one-sided $25,000 claiming victory at Belmont.