Maker, Servis well represented in Claiming Crown turf races

Four of the nine Claiming Crown events to be run Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., will take place over the lush, spacious turf course, which underwent a $1 million renovation over the last six months or so.

The grass is new. The names are not.

Mike Maker and Jason Servis are among the trainers whose charges figure prominently in the four Claiming Crown turf races that dot the 11-race card. The richest of the quartet is the $125,000 Emerald, which directly precedes the series finale, the $200,000 Jewel, on an action-packed program.

Here’s a rundown of the Claiming Crown turf races:

$125,000 Emerald (race 10, 4:34 Eastern)

The 1 1/16-mile Emerald epitomizes why the Claiming Crown was invented nearly 20 years ago: to confound and delight racing fans all at once. With as many as 14 starters, this is a head-scratcher of the first degree, as more than half the field can stake a rightful claim to victory.

For starters, there are Slim Shadey and Souperfast, both trained by Maker, and Montclair, trained by Servis. Slim Shadey has earned nearly $1.3 million in a remarkable 76-race career, with Maker claiming the 10-year-old gelding for $62,500 on behalf of Michael Hui from a win on Belmont Stakes Day, June 9. He ran fifth in a Keeneland allowance race in his last start.

“He’s an old, classy, cool horse that's been around a long time and had success just about wherever he’s gone,” Maker said. “We claimed him the race after Justify won the Belmont. He didn’t have the greatest trip at Keeneland last time, but he was in against a very deep field so we expect this class to be more to his liking.”

Souperfast, who has used a brazen front-running style in recent starts, drew post 14, which should make for a very interesting early pace scenario. Birdsnest Party, a last-out wire-to-wire winner at Keeneland, and Driven by Thunder, usually on or near the lead, also are part of the lineup. If things fall apart up front, then Aquaphobia, the lukewarm morning-line favorite, is among the top candidates to pounce first.

The Emerald has always been the definitive turf race of the Claiming Crown, having been prominently placed in the original six-race lineup at Canterbury Park in 1999.

:: Want to get the latest news with your past performances? Try DRF’s new digital PPs

$110,000 Canterbury (race 9, 4:02)

Dowse’s Beach, a New York-bred with multiple triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, should be a solid favorite in this five-furlong turf race. He looks to remain perfect since being claimed for $40,000 this summer by Servis on behalf of owner Michael Dubb. Paco Lopez has the mount on Dowse’s Beach, a gray 7-year-old gelding who drew post 9 in a field of 12.

Among the challengers is Dance Proudly, who will be making his first start for trainer Jorge Navarro after coming to peak form this fall in Indiana for Ten Strike Racing, and Rocket Heat, who set the pace past the furlong pole in the Grade 2 Woodford at Keeneland in October.

$110,000 Tiara (race 7, 2:52)

Starship Jubilee, a multiple graded winner who led to deep stretch as the favorite in the 2017 Tiara before being caught, will make her first start Saturday since being sold privately. She is an obvious choice in a field of 12 fillies and mares, even though she breaks from the outside in this 1 1/16-mile race.

A winner in 7 of 13 starts over the Gulfstream turf, Starship Jubilee was purchased by Blue Heaven Farm after failing to meet her reserve at the Keeneland November sale. The 5-year-old Florida-bred mare was fourth in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine in her last start.

“I just can’t say enough about her,” said Kevin Attard, who continues to train Starship Jubilee even after the sale. “I think arguably her last two races have been the best of her career.”

Peru, a Maker trainee who was second in the Tiara last year, is among the top threats, along with Valedictorian, a 12-1 winner of the All Along at Laurel Park in her last start.

$110,000 Distaff Dash (race 5, 1:50)

Blue Bahia, trained by Servis, figures among the heaviest favorites of the day when she returns from a nearly five-month layoff as the defending winner in this five-furlong filly-mare counterpart to the Canterbury. A field of nine goes, with Oxford Comma the likely second choice for trainer Tom Amoss.

Blue Bahia “had some issues this summer, nothing major,” said Servis.

“I know the filly, and I know if you don’t wait she’ll make you wait, so we gave her some time,” he said. “She’s been back breezing good and I’m looking forward to getting her back. She loves the track and she loves the distance.”