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Lopez, Joseph Jr. Crowd Claiming Crown Winner’s Circle

Trainer Mike Maker racked up his series-leading 19th career Claiming Crown victory, conditioner Saffie Joseph Jr. won three of the stakes conducted under starter-allowance conditions, and jockey Paco Lopez won five races overall on the Saturday card to kick off the championship meet at Gulfstream Park.

The Claiming Crown began in 1999 as a blue-collar version of the Breeders' Cup to reward primarily older horses who compete in the types of races that form the backbone of day-to-day American racing.

But oddly enough, it was a lightly-raced 3-year-old homebred who snuck up the rail to win the Dec. 4 feature, the $125,000

CC Jewel S. over nine furlongs in a 10-1 upset.

Twelve Volt Man (Violence) stalked patiently in mid-pack, then dove to the rail under deft handling by jockey Edwin Gonzalez to reel in a tiring leader in the final hundred yards for trainer Joseph Jr. and owner Magic Cap Stables. The winning margin was three-quarters of a length in 1:49.92 over a “fast” main track.

“I thought that maybe I'd get beat at the wire there, but a lot of heart this horse has,” said owner/breeder Joe Anzalone, who eventually sold the mare but kept this gelding. “Words can't say [how proud I am]. I'm still shaking.”

The annual CC event is a partnership between the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. After initially rotating among smaller tracks, Gulfstream has evolved into the host site over the past 10 years.

All of Saturday's winners could have been previously snagged at the claim box for relatively low asking prices prior to competing for comparably higher CC purses.

Miles Ahead (Competitive Edge) was one such gelding. There were no takers when he broke his maiden by 12 1/4 lengths for a $12,500 tag back in January 2020. He finished seventh in last year's edition of this $85,000 CC Rapid Transit S., but subsequently won the GIII Smile Sprint S. and had a trip-troubled last-place try in the GI Vanderbilt H. at Saratoga this past summer.

On Saturday he avenged last year's CC defeat by winning the Rapid Transit by 1 1/4 lengths as the 13-10 favorite with a sweeping far-turn bid in 1:21.99 for seven furlongs. Lopez rode for owners David Melin, Leon Ellman, and Laurie Plesa.

“Races like the Claiming Crown are the bread and butter of horse racing,” said trainer Ed Plesa Jr. “It's great to see that they have a day like this, not because I won, but just because the everyday participants of the races are the ones that need a little bit more 'oomph.'”

Another winner on Saturday who set the record straight after losing the same stakes a year ago was the 3-1 Sugar Fix (Treasure Beach {GB}). The 4-year-old filly was second in the 2020 CC Tiara S., but in this season's $95,000 edition she pounced from just off the pace to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:40.19 for 1 1/16 miles over the “firm” turf.

Edgard Zayas rode for trainer Joseph Jr. and owners Mad Dog Racing Stable and Big Frank Stable.

One winner who was a re-claim for current connections stood out: Bad Beat Brian (Jack Milton) in the $90,000 CC Canterbury S. over five furlongs over the lawn.

The 4-year-old gelding had been claimed away for $62,500 at Churchill June 11, but was taken back for $40,000 by trainer Maker and owners Paradise Farms and David Staudacher in his next start July 16 at Del Mar.

Bad Beat Brian then waited until his fourth start off that re-claim to pay 4-1 dividends in the toughest spot he'd ever been entered. He surged down the center of the stretch to win by a length under Emisael Jaramillo in :54.78.

In the companion $90,000 CC Distaff Dash S. over five furlongs on the grass, 9-5 fave Payntdembluesaway (Paynter) bounded straight to the lead, dueled head-and-head with a 45-1 longshot, then asserted her dominance at the eighth pole to win going away by four lengths in :55.31.

Lopez rode for trainer Jane Cibelli and All My Hart Racing, Inc.

Despite a sweet 8-for-13 lifetime record, the 5-year-old mare has never been claimed despite being offered for $16,000 on four occasions. She's now 4-for-5 sprinting on the Gulfstream turf.

“She's tough. She likes to have things her own way and she's a little tough to train. But if she has things her own way, she's fast. She just loves to run,” said Cibelli.

In the one-turn-mile $80,000 CC Glass Slipper S., Sweet Willemina (Raison d'Etat) uncorked a long drive and split foes late to snatch a head victory at 8-1 odds in 1:36.68.

Silvestre Gonzalez rode for owners Richard Ciavardone and Home Team Stables. The win for conditioner Scott Lake was his ninth (third best among all trainers) in the history of the CC.

The 4-year-old filly was mired in a nine-race losing streak when those connections claimed her for $32,000 June 21 at Churchill Downs. She promptly won six straight Parx and Delaware, then ran second in her last outing up north before getting reacquainted with the winner's circle on Saturday.

In the six-furlong $75,000 CC Express S., the 9-2 Face of Victory (Run Away and Hide) tallied by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:10.52 under Zayas for trainer Joseph Jr. and owner Mercy Man Racing.

The 7-year-old gelding was the oldest CC winner on Saturday's card. He had changed hands via claim for $8,000 and $10,000 earlier this year at Gulfstream.

Blue Steel (Will Take Charge) was an aptly named winner of the afternoon's first CC event, the $75,000 CC Iron Horse S.

The 5-year-old gelding is usually a front-end force. But on Saturday he stalked tepid fractions, took over on the backstretch, and was saved by the wire while losing steam late over 1 1/16 miles at 7-2 odds in 1:44.61.

Blue Steel was ridden by Lopez for trainer Jeff Hiles and owner James Woodruff. He's been a frequent winning shipper this season, getting his photo snapped on six occasions at five tracks (Mahoning Valley, Keeneland, Belterra, Indiana Grand and Gulfstream).

Lopez bookended the CC portion of the program with victories (four wins and two seconds in CC races, plus a score in a non-stakes undercard race). He decisively stormed straight to the front in the nightcap to control the pace in the $95,000

CC Emerald S. with Mid Day Image (Midshipman).

The 5-year-old homebred for Patricia Generazio had been last seen winning back-to-back starter-handicaps at Monmouth. Trainer Luis Carvajal had the speedster ready off a nearly three-month layoff to win at 3-1 odds in 1:39.82.

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Zayas Guides Face Of Victory To Winner’s Circle In Claiming Crown Express

Under a heads-up ride by Edgard Zayas, Mercy Man Racing's Face of Victory ($11) captured Saturday's $75,000 Express, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up that have run for a claiming price of $8000 or less in 2020-2021.

A split-second decision at the 3/8ths pole was the key to the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 5-year-old gelding's upset victory over heavily favored Kalu, who broke sharply to take the early lead. Face of Victory, who broke from the rail post position and was ridden aggressively by Zayas, slipped inside the favorite on the backstretch. Gulfstream's Fall Meet titlist quickly thought better of an inside challenge, easing up on his mount long enough to be able to guide him off the rail to make an outside challenge in the stretch. Face of Victory kicked on through the stretch to prevail by 1 ¼ lengths.

“Saffie gave me a lot of confidence in the paddock. He said, 'Take it to [Kalu]. His only weakness is at the end where he tends to stop a little bit. He said, 'Take it to him early if you can. Make him earn his money,'” Zayas said. “At the three-eighths pole, the other horse started to make his move early. At that point, I gave my horse a little breather and took him outside. He came running at the end.”

Face of Victory, who was claimed for $10,000 in August, ran six furlongs in 1:10.52 to upset Kalu, who held on to second by a head over third-place finisher Aequor.

Zayas and Joseph came right back to win the $95,000 Tiara in the following race with Sugar Fix.

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Miles Ahead Best In Claiming Crown Rapid Transit At Gulfstream

David Melin, Leon Ellman, and Laurie Plesa's Miles Ahead, a graded-stakes winner in a race for horses that have raced for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2020-2021, flaunted his class Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained 4-year-old gelding, who captured the Grade 3 Smile Sprint on the July 3 Summit of Speed program at Gulfstream, closely stalked the pace set by Legal Deal before moving to the lead at the top of the stretch and prevailing by a comfortable 1 ½ lengths in the $85,000 Rapid Transit.

The seven-furlong Rapid Transit was one of nine starter stakes in the Saturday's Claiming Crown, an annual event that celebrates the blue-collar horses that support daily racing programs at racetracks throughout the country.

Miles Ahead ($4.60) broke his maiden for a $12,500 claiming price by 12 ¼ lengths in January 2020 after being eased in his debut over turf. The son of Competitive Edge has steadily improved with age while establishing himself as one of the top sprinters on dirt in South Florida.

Miles Ahead ran seven furlongs in 1:21.99 to give jockey Paco Lopez his fourth victory of the day, including three Claiming Crown wins.

Legal Deal, ridden by Edwin Gonzalez, finished second, two lengths ahead of Pudding and jockey Leonel Reyes.

Miles Ahead is likely to return to open stakes company for his next start.

“There's a $100,000 race in Maryland (Dec. 26 Dave's Friend), and there's a race here (G3 Harlan's Holiday, Dec. 19) that's coming up a little too quick,” Plesa said.

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Chasing The Claiming Crown: Trainer Frank Russo Enjoying Career Year At Age 79

At the age of 79, Frank Russo is enjoying his time in the sun. That doesn't mean he's content to just watch the time go by.

Far from it. The Brooklyn native is in his 46th year training Thoroughbreds, a career that has touched parts of six decades dating back to the mid-1970s. This week it has brought him to seasonable South Florida, where he will send out two strong contenders in Saturday's Claiming Crown at Gulfstream Park.

The 23rd edition of the Claiming Crown is being held for a 10th consecutive year at Gulfstream. Created by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the Claiming Crown rewards and pays tribute to the horses and horsemen that provide the foundation for day-to-day racing programs at tracks around the country.

No one exemplifies that more than Russo, who is taking part in the $810,000 Claiming Crown for the second straight year. Both his horses, Belgrano in the $90,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial and Aequor in the $75,000 Express, earned automatic berths with Preview Day victories Oct. 10 at Laurel Park.

“We're all set. It's going to be nice,” Russo said. “I've got five horses. I walk down the barn and this is the first time [where] they all won their last race, and some of them have won their last two. It feels good to look at that after dealing with lesser horses.”

Post time for the first of 11 races Saturday is noon.

Peace Sign Stables' Belgrano has developed into the best horse Russo has ever trained. Claimed at Gulfstream for $16,000 out of a third-place finish in February 2020, the 7-year-old War Front gelding has six wins, three seconds and two thirds in 17 subsequent starts including stakes victories in the 2020 Virgil 'Buddy' Raines and Aug. 28 Rainbow Heir at Monmouth Park.

Belgrano finished seventh of 12 in last year's Canterbury, beaten 4 ¼ lengths by Fiya. He enters Saturday riding a three-race win streak, rallying for a 3 ¼-length decision at Laurel to earn a second straight bid.

“We got lucky with him. He came back about a month after we claimed him and then just went on winning starter races and stuff like that. He's a nice horse,” Russo said. “He's as honest as they come. I really like him.

“What I liked about him is, I looked at his back numbers, his closing numbers, and that he could run 1:10 and change. He wasn't doing it and I said there's got to be a reason,” he added. “We took him back and found a couple of nicks and crannies with him and we got him to go. He really turned out to be a nice horse.”

Morning Moon Farm's Aequor, a gelded 6-year-old son of Flatter, has won each of his last two starts, by a nose Sept. 19 at Monmouth and a neck at Laurel. Both came in similar fashion, sitting just off the early lead before digging in late to prevail.

Aequor has been to the Claiming Crown before, finishing ninth in the 2019 Jewel for previous trainer Oscar Gonzalez. Russo haltered him for $6,250 out of a fifth-place finish Jan. 21 at Gulfstream, and he has gone 4-0-2 in 10 starts since.

“He's doing great. He was another horse that had a couple of problems, minor problems,” Russo said. “I saw some numbers on him that I liked and he just went on to be a nice horse, a very good horse. He's getting stronger as he gets older. We found some nicks and crannies with him, too, and when I say that, those are problems that a horse has that could be solved, within reason. There's other problems they never solve. But, in his case, we found a couple nicks and he's doing well now.

“It's nice,” he added. “It's great when you can claim a horse for $6,200 and he's got a shot to run in something like this.”

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Russo has enjoyed a similarly steady existence in racing, going back to his days visiting the New England fair circuit as a teenager.

“I grew up with horses all my life,” he said. “My uncle owned horses at Narraganset and I used to go and watch them. My father used to leave the butcher shop and go up there and gamble. They'd go to Bowie. It was something to do. I started with horses when I was about 14 or 15 and got to the racetrack when I was 17 and that was it.”

Russo worked as an exercise rider, galloping horses at Aqueduct and Belmont Park, and ultimately eschewed a more lucrative career opportunity in favor of staying with the game he has grown to love.

“I just stayed with it all my life. It just took priority. I could have been a millionaire in the printing business, but I let it go to be with my horses,” Russo said. “It was a family business – me and my brother. It had to be 40 years. We came down to Florida originally with the business and I brought a couple of horses down, and from that point I just stayed more and more with the horses. Finally my brother bought me out and that was it.”

Though Equibase statistics only date back to 1976, Russo said he ran his first horses in 1974 at old Calder Race Course. “I didn't even win a race,” he said.

“But, we had a couple of seconds and we enjoyed it. That's when I really got indoctrinated to the horses.”

To date, Russo has 138 wins and $2.1 million in purse earnings from 1,730 lifetime starters. His 13 wins this year from only 37 starters mark a career best; he went 12-for-132 in 1985. His $349,365 in purses earned are, by far, a personal best.

“We only have five [horses]. It's enough for now but we're looking to claim a couple more,” Russo said. “I've got a friend of mine that I've trained for for years and I've got a couple of my own, and we share the expenses and just go along with it. If something pops up, we're doing good.

“It's not so much me, it's always the horses,” he added. “I attribute a lot to exercise riders and the horse itself. There's so much you can do with a horse. After 50 years of training you should be able to find something. I'm not going to go another 50, that's for sure.”

Russo credits exercise rider Finley Bishop with having a large hand in the trainer's success this year.

“I've got to say, without him it's rough,” Russo said. “He's probably the best I've ever seen. I've known him since we're young, since we came down to Florida in '74. He was with [trainer] Harry Benson. He's very good on a horse, he can tell you something and he listens, and that's important.

“I've got a farm up in Pennsylvania. Usually I take the winter off and I turn horses out on my farm up there, and this year I didn't do it. We just came back down,” he added. “I love it.”

The Canterbury, a five-furlong turf dash for 3-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2020-21, drew an overflow field of 13 including 2020 third-place finisher Harry's Ontheloose, Oct. 2 Laurel Dash winner Xy Speed and also-eligible Gran Malbec.

For 3-year-olds and up that have run for $8,000 or less lifetime, the six-furlong Express attracted nine horses, among them Guaco, riding a three-race win streak, and Kalu, most recently third in the Sept. 18 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) at Laurel.

Based on their qualifying wins, Russo comes to the Claiming Crown with confidence in each of his entries.

“I'm really excited about it,” he said. “I thought we might win or be close in both races, but the way they won I was very happy. They came out of it great and they're training well, so I don't have no excuses. They're either going to run or not run.”

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