Bad Beat Brian ($10.20) ran five furlongs in :54.78 over a firm turf course to extend trainer Mike Maker's record to 19 career Claiming Crown victories with his first in the Canterbury. He has won at least one race in all but three Claiming Crowns since 2007.

“Hopefully, we'll get a couple more,” Maker said.

Bad Beat Brian was unhurried under jockey Emisael Jaramillo while saving ground in the early going, as Oct. 2 Laurel Dash winner Xy Speed went right to the front and was challenged by Admiral Abe through a sizzling opening quarter-mile in :21.12. Xy Speed maintained an advantage around the turn and straightened for home in front after going a half in :43.46, with Jaramillo swinging out into the clear.

“The horse broke really sharp and the pace was lively. I was just hoping we'd have a chance somewhere to get out, and he did and ran them down,” Maker said. “As soon as he got him out without getting stopped, I felt pretty confident.”

Xy Speed held second, with 24-1 long shot The Connector third, and Harry's Ontheloose fourth. Discreet Tune was fifth with narrow 3-1 favorite Belgrano checking in seventh.

A 4-year-old Jack Milton gelding, Bad Beat Brian had gone winless in four starts since being claimed back by Maker for $40,000 July 16 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., after losing him for $62,500 one start earlier at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

“He's good. He's a maintenance-free horse, very easy-going,” Maker said. “He's a favorite around the barn.”

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The five preview race winners earned an automatic berth to the 23rd Claiming Crown, to be held Saturday, Dec. 4 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. This will be the 10th consecutive year Gulfstream will play host to the event. All preview winners will receive $2,500 toward shipping costs.

Russo and Vargas won the first two preview races on the program.

Morning Moon Farm's Aequor, an 11-1 shot trained by Russo and ridden by Vargas, drove past the 1-9 favorite Sevier inside the final 20 yards to win the six-furlong Claiming Crown Express preview for 3-year-olds and up, covering six furlongs in 1:10.11. Less than 30 minutes later in the Claiming Crown Canterbury preview for 3-year-olds and up, Vargas rode the Russo-trained Belgrano to victory over a firm 5 ½ furlong turf course in 1:01.98 after drawing away from the 4-5 favorite Noble Commander down the stretch.

Sanchez also won consecutive preview races and had three wins on the afternoon.

He won the Distaff Dash preview aboard Team Valor International LLC's Beantown Baby, covering a 5 ½ furlong turf course in 1:01.96 for trainer Arnaud Delacour. He came right back to score a length victory aboard the Guadalupe Preciado-trained Lookin At Roses in the Rapid Transit preview, covering seven furlongs in 1:23.58.

The final Claiming Crown preview race, the Emerald preview, went to Mandate, who covered the 1 1/16 mile course in 1:40.97 while winning by 3 ¼ lengths under jockey Andrew Wolfsont for trainer Robert Johnston.

Nominations for the Claiming Crown are due November 8.

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