Four starter races make for a Mini-Me Claiming Crown
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It’s the Claiming Crown in miniature. Four of the nine races Friday at Gulfstream are starter-allowance or starter-optional, albeit with smaller fields and purses than what typically turns out for the popular Claiming Crown series held here each December.
Two of the starters (races 3 and 7) will be run over a turf course expected to be firm, given the local forecast of sunshine for Friday, while race 2 goes on the Tapeta and race 8 on a main track expected to be fast. Purses range from $34,000 to $42,000.
First post is 12:30 p.m. Eastern, with a $54,000, first-level allowance restricted to Florida-breds ending the card as race 9 (4:42). The 1 1/16-mile turf race rematches four of the top five finishers from a similar race rained off the turf Jan. 21, including the winner, Timmy M., one of three entered for an optional $16,000 claiming tag among a lineup of eight older horses.
Races 8 and 9 at Gulfstream on Friday will be part of the $1 minimum Stronach 5 wager exclusive to 1/ST tracks.
A gross pool guarantee approaching $1 million is expected for the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 4-9), assuming the jackpot was not swept by a solo winner Wednesday or Thursday. The Rainbow was last emptied Jan. 30 by forceout.