Gulfstream Opens Sat.
Dec 3, 2014 22:34:00 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Dec 3, 2014 22:34:00 GMT -5
Gulfstream kicks off Championship Meet with $1 million Claiming Crown
Brisnet
Gulfstream Park will kick off its 76th anniversary meeting Saturday while playing host to the $1 million Claiming Crown, an annual eight-stakes tribute to Thoroughbred racing's most enduring performer, the claiming horse.
A total of 110 past and present claimers was entered in the 16th edition of the Claiming Crown that will grace a 10-race program which drew 142 entries overall, providing opening day bettors with a menu of full, competitive fields.
The Claiming Crown has undergone two major changes for the 2014 edition. The Iron Lady, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares, has been replaced by the $110,000 Canterbury, a five-furlong dash for horses that have started for a claiming price of $25,000. The $110,000 Glass Slipper has been extended from seven furlongs to a one-turn mile from fillies and mares that have started for a claiming price of $12,500 (previously $16,000).
The featured $200,000 Jewel -- a 1 1/8-mile contest for horses who have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less since January 1, 2013 -- attracted a field of 14, including a pair of horses entered by the Claiming Crown's all-time leading trainer, Mike Maker.
In search of his 13th victory in the event, Maker is slated to saddle Bill of Rights and Eriugena. The latter is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the all-time leading Claiming Crown owners with 12 visits to the winner's circle, including two last year and four in 2012, during the first two years the event has been held at Gulfstream Park. Eriugena is coming off a victory and a fast-finishing second in optional claimers at Churchill Downs and Keeneland, respectively.
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, who saddled Nevada Kid for a Jewel victory last year, also entered two in the Jewel -- Saratoga allowance victor Catholic Cowboy and Sinorice.
Other Jewel entrants are Grade 1-placed stakes hero Cease, claimed by John Servis three starts back; Cerro, who is riding a three-race winning streak at Laurel; Page McKenney, a dual stakes scorer in the Mid-Atlantic; and Dawly, who finished third last out in the Mountaineer Mile after being claimed for $80,000.
Ribo Bobo, one of the most enduring and popular campaigners to race at Gulfstream Park in recent years, was entered for a title defense in the $110,000 Express, a six-furlong sprint for horses who started for a claiming price of $7500 or less since January 1, 2013.
The John Servis-trained six-year-old gelding opened 2014 with wins in the Caixa Eletronica and Sunshine Millions Sprint during Gulfstream's Championship Meet, and just suffered his first off-the-board run in his past 18 starts when seventh in the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park last out on September 27.
"He pulled a gluteal muscle in that race and he was pretty sore in behind," Servis explained. "It took him a while to get over it, but he's doing great.
"I don't want to jinx myself, but he's doing good," the horseman added. "We've been pointing toward this. When he ran in the Vosburgh, we've always had it earmarked. If you'd have asked me a month ago, I'd have said I don't know if we're going to make it. But he got good and sound in behind, and he's been breezing good and training great."
Paco Lopez has been named to ride Ribo Bobo, who is scheduled to meet nine rivals in the Express.
Already the leading mare in the country by wins this year, Courtney Ryan will likely line up as the horse to beat to races after the Express in the Glass Slipper, which attracted 14 entries.
The five-year-old With Distinction mare has 10 wins and one second in 14 starts this year, the most of any female in the country and one shy of Handsup Moneydown, a five-year-old Mid-Atlantic-based gelding, for most by any horse in 2014.
It will be the second straight year Courtney Ryan has run in the Claiming Crown. The Florida-bred was second by a neck last December in the 1 1/16-mile Iron Lady, replaced this year by a new turf sprint, the $110,000 Canterbury. The Glass Slipper is run at one mile on the main track.
"It works out perfectly, time-wise," said Tammy Levy, who trains Courtney Ryan for her husband, Ron's, IAB Stable. "She likes to run once a month, and this is ideal. I was thrilled when they told me they wanted her to come and run. I put her in there and she's ready to go.
Since being claimed for $6,250 in July 2012, Courtney Ryan has a record of 17-9-4 with $261,583 in purses from 37 starts for Levy.
"It doesn't seem possible to wake up and see that I've won 10 races with this horse this year, and 17 since I've had her," Levy mused. "It's amazing. I know going forward that I have a sound, healthy horse that can win more races.
"It doesn't seem real sometimes. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity. I love this job that I'm given to do every day, and I'm glad I get to spend it with horses like Courtney. Not everybody gets a horse like her in their career, so it's been great."
This will be the third straight year that Gulfstream Park has hosted the Claiming Crown, and Levy has taken part every year. In all, she nominated five horses to five of the eight races and plans to run as many as three.
"I think it's an absolutely fabulous series of races," she said. "I think every track in the country should have something similar to it. I support claiming horses because it's the backbone of our industry. I'm thrilled to be able to send horses there every year. They get to go to an event that is centered around them and lets them stand out and be special. It's a great idea, and Gulfstream puts on a great day of racing."
Agreeing with Levy was trainer Peter Walder, who has Palatine Hill entered in the $110,000 Rapid Transit, a seven-furlong sprint on the main track for 3-year-olds and up who have been entered to run for a claiming tag of $16,000 or less since January 1, 2013.
"It's the little guys' version of the Breeders' Cup," Walder said. "I was fortunate enough to run a couple in it last year, and I shipped out to Minnesota. Gulfstream has done a great job with it since they took over, adding another race and bumping up the purses and making it a showcase day. You can kind of feel the buzz. It's a great thing."
The remaining Claiming Crown events are the The $125,000 Emerald, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for horses who started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since January 1, 2013; the $125,000 Tiara, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for fillies and mares who started for $25,000 or less; and the $110,000 Iron Horse, a 1 1/16-mile race for horses who started for a claiming price of $7,500 or less which will kick off the Claiming Crown as the 3RD race of Gulfstream's opening day program.
Brisnet
Gulfstream Park will kick off its 76th anniversary meeting Saturday while playing host to the $1 million Claiming Crown, an annual eight-stakes tribute to Thoroughbred racing's most enduring performer, the claiming horse.
A total of 110 past and present claimers was entered in the 16th edition of the Claiming Crown that will grace a 10-race program which drew 142 entries overall, providing opening day bettors with a menu of full, competitive fields.
The Claiming Crown has undergone two major changes for the 2014 edition. The Iron Lady, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares, has been replaced by the $110,000 Canterbury, a five-furlong dash for horses that have started for a claiming price of $25,000. The $110,000 Glass Slipper has been extended from seven furlongs to a one-turn mile from fillies and mares that have started for a claiming price of $12,500 (previously $16,000).
The featured $200,000 Jewel -- a 1 1/8-mile contest for horses who have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less since January 1, 2013 -- attracted a field of 14, including a pair of horses entered by the Claiming Crown's all-time leading trainer, Mike Maker.
In search of his 13th victory in the event, Maker is slated to saddle Bill of Rights and Eriugena. The latter is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the all-time leading Claiming Crown owners with 12 visits to the winner's circle, including two last year and four in 2012, during the first two years the event has been held at Gulfstream Park. Eriugena is coming off a victory and a fast-finishing second in optional claimers at Churchill Downs and Keeneland, respectively.
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, who saddled Nevada Kid for a Jewel victory last year, also entered two in the Jewel -- Saratoga allowance victor Catholic Cowboy and Sinorice.
Other Jewel entrants are Grade 1-placed stakes hero Cease, claimed by John Servis three starts back; Cerro, who is riding a three-race winning streak at Laurel; Page McKenney, a dual stakes scorer in the Mid-Atlantic; and Dawly, who finished third last out in the Mountaineer Mile after being claimed for $80,000.
Ribo Bobo, one of the most enduring and popular campaigners to race at Gulfstream Park in recent years, was entered for a title defense in the $110,000 Express, a six-furlong sprint for horses who started for a claiming price of $7500 or less since January 1, 2013.
The John Servis-trained six-year-old gelding opened 2014 with wins in the Caixa Eletronica and Sunshine Millions Sprint during Gulfstream's Championship Meet, and just suffered his first off-the-board run in his past 18 starts when seventh in the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park last out on September 27.
"He pulled a gluteal muscle in that race and he was pretty sore in behind," Servis explained. "It took him a while to get over it, but he's doing great.
"I don't want to jinx myself, but he's doing good," the horseman added. "We've been pointing toward this. When he ran in the Vosburgh, we've always had it earmarked. If you'd have asked me a month ago, I'd have said I don't know if we're going to make it. But he got good and sound in behind, and he's been breezing good and training great."
Paco Lopez has been named to ride Ribo Bobo, who is scheduled to meet nine rivals in the Express.
Already the leading mare in the country by wins this year, Courtney Ryan will likely line up as the horse to beat to races after the Express in the Glass Slipper, which attracted 14 entries.
The five-year-old With Distinction mare has 10 wins and one second in 14 starts this year, the most of any female in the country and one shy of Handsup Moneydown, a five-year-old Mid-Atlantic-based gelding, for most by any horse in 2014.
It will be the second straight year Courtney Ryan has run in the Claiming Crown. The Florida-bred was second by a neck last December in the 1 1/16-mile Iron Lady, replaced this year by a new turf sprint, the $110,000 Canterbury. The Glass Slipper is run at one mile on the main track.
"It works out perfectly, time-wise," said Tammy Levy, who trains Courtney Ryan for her husband, Ron's, IAB Stable. "She likes to run once a month, and this is ideal. I was thrilled when they told me they wanted her to come and run. I put her in there and she's ready to go.
Since being claimed for $6,250 in July 2012, Courtney Ryan has a record of 17-9-4 with $261,583 in purses from 37 starts for Levy.
"It doesn't seem possible to wake up and see that I've won 10 races with this horse this year, and 17 since I've had her," Levy mused. "It's amazing. I know going forward that I have a sound, healthy horse that can win more races.
"It doesn't seem real sometimes. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity. I love this job that I'm given to do every day, and I'm glad I get to spend it with horses like Courtney. Not everybody gets a horse like her in their career, so it's been great."
This will be the third straight year that Gulfstream Park has hosted the Claiming Crown, and Levy has taken part every year. In all, she nominated five horses to five of the eight races and plans to run as many as three.
"I think it's an absolutely fabulous series of races," she said. "I think every track in the country should have something similar to it. I support claiming horses because it's the backbone of our industry. I'm thrilled to be able to send horses there every year. They get to go to an event that is centered around them and lets them stand out and be special. It's a great idea, and Gulfstream puts on a great day of racing."
Agreeing with Levy was trainer Peter Walder, who has Palatine Hill entered in the $110,000 Rapid Transit, a seven-furlong sprint on the main track for 3-year-olds and up who have been entered to run for a claiming tag of $16,000 or less since January 1, 2013.
"It's the little guys' version of the Breeders' Cup," Walder said. "I was fortunate enough to run a couple in it last year, and I shipped out to Minnesota. Gulfstream has done a great job with it since they took over, adding another race and bumping up the purses and making it a showcase day. You can kind of feel the buzz. It's a great thing."
The remaining Claiming Crown events are the The $125,000 Emerald, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for horses who started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since January 1, 2013; the $125,000 Tiara, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for fillies and mares who started for $25,000 or less; and the $110,000 Iron Horse, a 1 1/16-mile race for horses who started for a claiming price of $7,500 or less which will kick off the Claiming Crown as the 3RD race of Gulfstream's opening day program.