John Jones among prospects for Claiming Crown Preview Day
Laurel Park will hold Claiming Crown Preview Day on Sunday, which will produce starters for the $1.1 million Claiming Crown on Dec. 3 at Laurel’s sister track, Gulfstream Park.
The nine starter stakes at Laurel will offer total purses of $400,000. The winners of the Claiming Crown Preview races will earn fees-paid berths in the corresponding Gulfstream races and will receive free shipping to Florida.
Among those expected to compete Sunday is John Jones, who has developed into one of the top older horses in Maryland since being claimed by trainer Lacey Gaudet for $25,000 in mid-July.
John Jones has since won the Maryland-bred Mister Diz Stakes at six furlongs on turf; an open, second-level optional claimer at a mile on dirt by six lengths; and an open, third-level optional-claiming race by two lengths. His Beyer Speed Figures have risen in each win, from a 94 to a 96 to a 98.
John Jones, a 4-year-old Smarty Jones gelding who races for Matt Schera, is expected to stretch out to 1 1/8 miles in the $60,000 Jewel, which is for horses who have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2015. The Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream will be the richest race on the card, with a purse of $200,000.
◗ There are three carryovers on Friday at Laurel. The pick five with a 12 percent takeout has a carryover of $5,602, the first-race Super Hi 5 begins with a $2,636 carryover, and the Rainbow 6 carryover is $5,905.
◗ The free Premier Parlay football contest continues Sunday. Members of the Premier Players Club at Laurel can pick up a three-team parlay card at the track. If the NFL teams they select in the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. games all win, the Premier Players points in their account – up to a cap of 5,000 points ($50) – will be doubled.