Jesus' Team marquee horse on Claiming Crown Day

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The popular Claiming Crown returns to Gulfstream Park for a ninth consecutive season on Saturday, highlighted by the appearance of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile runner-up Jesus’ Team and a card loaded with full and competitive fields from start to finish.

A total of 139 horses were entered on the 11-race program, which includes nine Claiming Crown races and a pair of maiden special weight events for 2-year-olds on the turf that also filled to overflowing. The main event is the $150,000 Jewel at 1 1/8 miles for horses who have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2019-20. Jesus’ Team is using the race as a prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 23.

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Jesus’ Team became eligible for the Jewel by winning a $32,000 maiden-claiming race here in March. He was transferred to trainer Jose D’Angelo’s barn shortly thereafter and drew off to a 6 3/4-length victory in a conditioned $25,000 claimer on May 8.

Jesus’ Team has continued to flourish ever since, although he remains winless in six starts since that win. Jesus’ Team finished fourth behind future Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Authentic in the Grade 1 Haskell, third in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and the Preakness, and ended up 3 1/2 lengths behind favored Knicks Go as a 62-1 outsider in the Dirt Mile.

“He went to Ocala for 10 days after the Breeders’ Cup,” said D’Angelo, who is based at the Palm Meadows training facility. “He just keeps getting better with every start. I think this is a good race for him. He needs a race before the Pegasus.”

The 102 Beyer Speed Figure that Jesus’ Team received for his performance in the Breeders’ Cup will make him the heavy favorite against seven rivals in the Jewel. The field includes defending champion Leitone, who has changed hands via the claim box twice since winning this race by 2 1/2 lengths as the 4-5 favorite a year ago.

Trainer Jack Sisterson, stabled locally for the first time this winter, will send out the improving Dack Janiel’s off a third-place finish going 1 5/8 miles in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes on the Breeders’ Cup undercard last month at Keeneland. Dack Janiel’s became eligible for the Jewel by finishing third in a $30,000 maiden-claiming race in January at Fair Grounds.

“He’s always overachieved for us and really thrives on racing,” Sisterson said. “He ran a competitive race against some tough horses at Keeneland and, fortunately, he’s eligible for the Claiming Crown Jewel.”

The Jewel is race 6 on the card.

In the other Claiming Crown races:

Glass Slipper (race 2)

Liza Star returns to defend her title in the $80,000 Glass Slipper, a one-mile test for fillies and mares who have started for a claiming price of $12,500 in 2019-20. She led throughout to register a one-length decision in last year’s renewal and may prove the one to catch again stretching back to a mile for the first time this season.

Liza Star will face a lineup that includes Parx Racing invader Slingin Sammy B, who has won her last three starts, and the locally based Sky Chaser, a two-time allowance winner at the distance in 2020.

Express (race 4)

Krysto Sky returns locally for the first time since finishing second behind Cool Arrow in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint and should be heavily favored in the six-furlong Express, for horses who have started for an $8,000 claiming price at any time during their careers. Helping to assure an honest pace are Whyruawesome, an easy winner against starter-allowance competition in his last two starts; Ray’swarrior; and the recently claimed Long Blade.

Distaff Dash (race 5)

The $90,000 Distaff Dash, for fillies and mares who have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2019-20, rematches Thinkin Cowtown and Unaquoi, the top two finishers in this race a year ago. The graded stakes-placed Jakarta figures the one to beat in the five-furlong turf race, with Dahlonega and Woodbine invader Sweet Yare N Dira among the other key contenders.

Emerald (race 7)

The $95,000 Emerald, for horses who have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2019-20, features the return of Muggsamatic, Apreciado, and Tusk, the first three finishers in this 1 1/16-mile turf event a year ago.

Tusk has been idle since winning the Grade 3 Tropical Turf here Jan. 11. Muggsamatic is one of five horses trainer Mike Maker has entered in the race, along with Artie’s Rumor, recent winner of a second-level Keeneland allowance; the multiple stakes-placed Temple; Hieroglyphics, a winner of his last three starts; and Apreciado. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. counters with three of his own, Tusk, Rijeka, and High Noon Rider.

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Rapid Transit (race 8)

Miles Ahead brings a three-race win streak into the $85,000 Rapid Transit, a seven-furlong race for horses who have started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less over the last two seasons. He’ll face the multiple stakes-placed New York-bred T Loves a Fight, along with top contenders Yodel E. A. Who, All Around, and I’m a G Six, who was claimed for $62,500 by trainer Todd Pletcher out of a fourth-place finish here in his last start.

Tiara (race 9)

The $95,000 Tiara, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares who have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2019-20, has Grade 2-placed Queens Embrace as the likely favorite for trainer Danny Gargan.

Canterbury (race 10)

Fiya, undefeated in four starts since switching to the grass, tops the $90,000 Canterbury, a five-furlong turf race for horses who have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2019-20. Fiya comes off a 96-Beyer victory in the Maryland Millions Turf Sprint at Laurel. Fiya faces horse-for-the-course Tiger Blood, a winner of 8 of 10 starts over the Gulfstream Park turf.

Iron Horse (race 11)

Trainer Brad Cox will send out his first starter of the meet in Frost Or Frippery against 11 others in the $75,000 Iron Horse, a 1 1/16-mile dirt race for horses who have started for $8,000 or less during their careers. Quenane returns after upsetting the Sunshine Millions Classic Preview three weeks earlier at Gulfstream Park West.