Today’s previews are for the Claiming Crown Emerald and Tiara. Both races are $25,000 Starter Allowances and bring to the table some pretty impressive horses. The Emerald, in particular, looks to be a great betting opportunity – if you get it right. The race is chock full of contenders and closely matched horses and any one of a number of horses could win and it not be a surprise.
Entries were drawn today and we now know post positions, jockeys and scratches from the pre-entries. Rather than the alphabetical order of previous posts, I will go in post position order and list the rider in parenthesis.
Claiming Crown Tiara
Purse: 100,000
Distance: 1 mile and a sixteenth
Surface: Turf
Love to Tell (Torres): A nice 3rd in the Ouija Board (Gr III) in May and a multiple stakes winner but lost as the favorite in an Indiana stake last out.
Bartok’s Bling (Baze): First back off the claim at Golden Gate. Interesting spot to come back to the races after a 5 month layoff.
Couple Whiles (Butler): A solid mid-level claimer out of the Rhone barn, she just missed winning this one last year while stepping up similarly.
Tour d’Aura (Ocampo): Has only won once on the turf, but that was just in May. Should push the pace early.
Mizzcan’tbewrong (Albarado): Shipped in from Chicago and professionally beat the field in the Minnesota HBPA Mile. Though she has good early speed, she’s also proven that she can stalk effectively.
R Vicarious Girl (Homeister): Simply a winner. Seven of nine this year and four of seven last, she comes in riding a six race winning streak. Latest Beyers are a bit lower than the rest, but she hasn’t been pushed much either.
PICKS
1. Mizzcan’tbewrong
2. Love to Tell
3. R Vicarious Girl
Claiming Crown Emerald
Purse: $100,000
Distance: 1 mile and a sixteenth
Surface: Turf
Luckman (Butler): Fizzy Pop’s former connections come in off a two race winning streak and will be trying to come off the pace.
Pursue A Dream (Nolan): Been just short in last three (twice to contenders in here) after a win at $18,000.
Hard Top (IRE) (Rose): After debuting in the US in graded company his 2009 campaign has been a successful string of claiming races.
Spider Power (IRE) (Ferrer): Flat last out after capturing the Brooks Fields Stakes at Canterbury. He should have some pace to run at Saturday.
Divine Master (Arce): Lake trainee will head to the front. Distance may be a limitation.
Gran Estreno (ARG) (Baird): Has won four in a row while knocking out some of the top Beyers in this group.
T Harry (Albarado): Has won four of five and another one who’ll need some pace to run at.
Gun Salute (Williams): Looks like the near miss at $62,000 was an anomaly. Been beaten soundly by others in here last two.
Trying Brian (Berry): Been on the steady improve while moving up the class ladder.
Stormy Surge (Baze): Been all about $50,000 Optional Claiming in 2009 winning two and hitting the board 5 of 6 times. Beyers belong in here.
Drivingmaxandmitzi (Karlsson): Winner of five in a row and has beat several in here already. His style may be very well suited to the way that this race shapes up.
Spicy Dubai (Leparoux): Youngster is facing his elders for the first time in a difficult spot.
Ludmig (Theriot): Allowance winner may be a notch below those in here.
Alpha Capo (Ocampo): 2008 form puts him in here. He probably needed last.
PICKS:
1. Drivingmaxiandmitzi
2. T Harry
3. Gran Estreno (ARG)
This one was a tough one. Several others could step up and win this one as well. I don't know how I'll bet this one, but it should be a doozie to watch!
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