Sweet Willemina Rallies To Win Claiming Crown Glass Slipper

Richard Ciavardone and Home Team Stable's Sweet Willemina ($18.60) emerged from a pack of horses in mid-stretch and rallied past Our Fantasy to capture Saturday's $80,000 Glass Slipper at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The Scott Lake-trained 4-year-old daughter of Reason d'Etat, who was coming off her first loss in seven starts since being claimed by her connections for $32,000, rebounded with a last-jump decision over Our Fantasy in the mile starter stakes for fillies and mares that have run for a claiming price of $12,500 or less in 2020-2021.

Sweet Willemina, a Parx-based filly who broke her maiden for a $10,000 claiming price in September 2020, ran the mile in 1:36.68 under Silvestre Gonzalez to return to winning form after finishing second in an optional claiming allowance at Parx last time out.

“She's a beast,” Lake said. “Her last race when she got beat – Silvestre and I talked about it and thought he rode her over-confidently and didn't go after the lone speed,” Lake said. “We were a little worried coming in because she wasn't quite as sharp coming off that race. But she's been training great down here. Silvestre did a great job.”

Our Fantasy made a sweeping move to the lead coming off the stretch turn to open a clear early lead under Edgard Zayas but was unable to hold off Sweet Willemina by a head. Lets Be Honest finished third a length back.

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Maker Leads With 20 Horses Nominated For Claiming Crown At Gulfstream

Graded stakes-placed in his most recent start, Three Diamonds Farm's Doubly Blessed is among six Mike Maker-trained nominations for the $125,000 Jewel, the centerpiece of the $810,000 nine-race Claiming Crown Dec. 4 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Doubly Blessed, who finished third in the Sept. 21 Grade 2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., is among 27 nominees for the Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-olds and up who have started for a claiming price for $35,000 or less in 2020-2021. Maker, who has saddled a record 18 winners of Claiming Crown races, is also represented on the noms list by Auburn Hills, First Line, Healing, Malthael, and Mr. Tip.

Maker, who has saddled two Jewel champions, has nominated 20 horses for the Claiming Crown, the annual showcase for the blue-collar Thoroughbreds that are the day-to-day backbone of the racing industry throughout the country.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has nominated four horses for the Jewel, including John Fanelli and partners' Girolamo's Attack who most recently captured the Oct. 27 Miami Beach Handicap, and Sonata Stable's Calibrator, who most recently romped to a dominating optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream.

The Claiming Crown, which attracted a total of 267 nominations for nine starter stakes, will headline opening weekend of the 2021-2022 Championship Meet that will get underway Friday, Dec. 3.

The $95,000 Emerald, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up who have raced for a claiming price of $25,000 or less during 2020-2021, leads all Claiming Crown races with 50 nominations, including five trained by Maker, who has saddled a record seven Emerald winners. Bruno Schickedanz's War Bomber, who captured the $125,000 Toronto Cup Sept. 12 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, in his first start after being claimed for $25,000, is also prominent on the noms list.

The $95,000 Tiara, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares who started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2020-2021, drew 30 nominations, including Mike Repole's Kitten by the Sea, whom Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher saddled for back-to-back optional claiming allowance races at Saratoga.

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The $90,000 Distaff Dash, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares who started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less, drew 27 nominations; the $90,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial, a five-furlong turf dash for 3-year-olds and up who started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less, attracted 33 nominations; the $85,000 Rapid Transit, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up who ran for a $16,000 claiming price or less, got 27 nominations; the $80,000 Glass Slipper, a one-mile stakes for fillies and mares who ran for a $12,500 claiming price or less, attracted 24 nominations; the $75,000 Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up who raced for a claiming price of $9000 or less, drew 25 nominations; the $75,000 Express, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up who have run for a claiming price of $8000 or less, received 24 nominations.

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