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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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‘Total Rock Star’ Tune In Ready To Roll In Claiming Crown Jewel

Very much the 'poster horse' for what the annual Claiming Crown at Gulfstream Park represents, Mastic Beach Racing's Tune In will seek his seventh win in his last 10 starts in Saturday's $75,000 Jewel.

The Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up who have run for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2020-2021, will headline an 11-race program offering nine starter stakes worth $810,000 in purses for the celebration of the blue-collar horses that support day-to-day programs at racetracks across the country.

Post time for Saturday's 11-race program is noon.

Tune In, who opened his career with a 3 ½-length win in a $20,000 maiden claiming race at Keeneland in April 2019, has developed into a tough-as-nails competitor with a resolute will to win. The Diane Morici-trained gelding has notched a record of six wins, two places and one third in his last nine races.

“He's a cool dude,” Morici said. “He's a rock star; he's a total rock star.”

The son of Country Day, who is coming off a dominating victory in a one-turn mile starter allowance at Gulfstream, will attempt to win for the first time around two turns on dirt in the Jewel. His most recent attempt at two turns on dirt came Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs, where he held the lead in the stretch before settling for second behind multiple graded stakes-placed Major Fed.

“He went two turns at Churchill and got beat by a very nice horse,” Morici said. “At this level I think he should be fine.”

Tune In, who kicked off his impressive 9-race run with back-to-back two-turn victories over the turf at Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream last winter, came back from his Churchill race six weeks later to return to winning form at Gulfstream. He will return in the Jewel off only three weeks between races.

“This is the first time I'm running him back this quick. I usually give him a little bit more time between races, but he did come out of his last race really well,” Morici said. “He shipped to Kentucky twice and ran his eyeballs out. He never missed an oat. He's a good eater. He's a class act. He's just a class act.”

Leonel Reyes as the return mount aboard Tune In.

John Fanelli, LC Racing LLC, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch's Girolamo's Attack will also attempt to win for the first time around two turns in the Jewel. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 4-year-old gelding is coming off a victory in the one-turn mile Hollywood Lakes at Gulfstream.

“His best race seems to be a one-turn mile. He's 3-for-3 at Gulfstream at a one-turn mile,” Joseph said. “We're experimenting going two turns for the first time at a mile-and-an-eighth. We're going to give it a shot. It's a question mark if he wants to go two turns.”

Privately purchased after breaking his maiden for a $32,000 claiming price at Gulfstream in April 2020, the son of Girolamo is usually forwardly placed while sprinting.

“Going longer, it allows him to get into an easier rhythm than when we were sprinting him earlier. I think that was the mistake we were making,” Joseph said. “It's a slower tempo [around two turns].”

Edgard Zayas has the return call aboard the son of Girolamo.

Joseph will also be represented by Magic Cap Stables' Twelve Volt Man, who became eligible for the Jewel two races back when he won an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream while running for a $35,000 tag. The 3-year-old Violence colt finished fourth in the Showing Up Nov. 6 in next start.

Edwin Gonzalez has the mount on STwelve Volt Man.

Glenn Fagan's Glory of Florida enters the Jewel off a close second-pace finish behind Girolamo's Attack in the Hollywood Lakes, in which he rallied from mid-pack but was unable to sustain his drive in deep stretch. The Laura Cazares-trained 5-year-old son of Dialed In will be ridden back by Miguel Vasquez.

Michel Winters' Strike Appeal has ventured from West Virginia to Gulfstream Park with an impressive two-turn record. The Odin Londono Jr.-trained 4-year-old gelding has won eight of his last 10 starts, all around two turns, at Thistledown and Mountaineer Park. The son of Tonalist was claimed two starts back for $25,000 out of an optional claiming allowance. Jockey Erik Barbaran has accompanied Strike Appeal from Mountaineer for the Jewel.

Trainer Michael Maker, who has saddled a record 18 winners of Claiming Crown races, will be represented in the Jewel by Ten Strike Racing and Thorough Crowd's Hanalei's Houdini. The 5-year-old Jersey Town gelding, who has raced for a claiming price as low as $16,000, will make his first start for his new connections Friday after being claimed for $50,000 out of a fifth-place finish at Keeneland. Paco Lopez has the call.

J. Richard Perkins' Ludington, a back-to-back optional claiming allowance winner; Bianco Stable's Braccio Di Ferro, who captured a $20,000 claiming race by 3 ½ lengths at Gulfstream Nov. 19; GU Racing Stable's Mo Hawk, who finished second in the 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance on Tapeta last time out; and Partner Stable LLC's Hard Lighting, who ran in the 2020 Blue Grass (G2); round out the field.

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Max K. O. Goes For The Green In Saturday’s Claiming Crown Emerald

Ten Twenty Racing's Max K. O. earned a berth in Saturday's $95,000 Emerald by winning a Sept. 8 qualifying race at Kentucky Downs, which paid the $100 nominating fee and would have paid a shipping fee up to $1000 had the Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee been stabled anywhere other than Gulfstream Park.

The 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 in 2020-2021, is one of nine starter stakes at Gulfstream in Saturday's $810,000 Claiming Crown – an annual event that celebrates the blue-collar horses that support the day-to-day racing programs at racetracks across the country.

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.

Saturday's 11-race program drew 128 total entries.

Max K. O. was claimed by his connections for $25,000 out of an impressive optional claiming allowance victory at Gulfstream May 16 after being claimed by his former connections for $16,000 out of a winning effort two weeks earlier.

In his first start for Joseph, the 5-year-old son of J P's Gusto stepped up in a big way to miss winning the Mr. Steele Stakes by a nose to stablemate Renaisance Frolic, a graded stakes-placed multiple stakes winner.

“We claimed him for $25,000 because he was always in good form,” Joseph said. “We ran him in a stake. We were a bit ambitious, and he just got beat. After that we took him to Kentucky Downs for a Claiming Crown prep and he won that quite well.”

Max K. O. stalked the pace before kicking in through the long Kentucky Downs stretch to win by 2 ¾ lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr. Back at Gulfstream, where the turf course was undergoing renovation, the Florida-bred turf runner held a clear lead in the stretch before coming up just a neck short of holding off Louder Than Bombs in a starter allowance on Tapeta Oct. 28.

“Last time on Tapeta, he looked like he was home free and he just got nailed at the wire,” Joseph said. “My primary thought was: it was on Tapeta, and it was still early and it didn't play to speed as much. I think that was against him. I know it's an excuse, but I honestly believe it was valid excuse. The horse that beat him had more stamina. I hope back on the turf, he will run a big race.”

Trainer Mike Maker will seek his record-extending 19th Claiming Crown success with Paradise Farms Corp.'s Attentive and Jordan Wycoff's The Last Zip in the Emerald.

Maker has saddled a record seven Emerald winners.

Attentive, a 5-year-old son of Power Broker was claimed for $40,000 out of his most recent start, a close-up third Nov. 7 at Belmont Park. The Last Zip finished four lengths behind Max K.O. in Kentucky Downs' Emerald qualifier two starts back. Chantal Sutherland has the mount on Attentive, while Jorge Vargas Jr. has been named to ride The Last Zip.

Sandra New's Louder Than Bombs will clash again with Max K.O. in the Emerald. The David Fawkes-trained 5-year-old had rallied to win a $20,000 claiming race on turf prior to his victory over the Joseph trainer on Tapeta. Emisael Jaramillo will once again be aboard the son of Violence.

Monarch Stable Inc.'s Light Fury, who has won starter allowances on turf and Tapeta while finishing in the money in his last six starts; Bruno Schickedanz's Mandate, who captured the Artie Schiller takes at Aqueduct at 44-1 last time out; Dotson Stable LLC's Benelux, who won back-to-back optional claiming allowances at Arlington prior to an off-the-board finish at Keeneland; Mob Stables LLC's Clear Vision, claimed for $25,000 out of a dominating victory at Belmont last time out; Patricia Generazio's Mid Day Image, who is coming off back-to-back starter handicap wins at Monmouth; and David Melin, Laurie Plesa and Leon Ellman's Vow Me Now, a stakes-winning son of Broken Vow trained by Eddie Plesa Jr.; are also entered in the Emerald.

Call Curt, Go Mike, Kitten's Spa, Surf and Turf and Viski Jones round out the 14-horse field.

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Having Revived Her Career, Sutherland Has Momentum at Gulfstream

Around this time last year, Chantal Sutherland was riding in Kentucky, struggling to get mounts and to win races and she was miserable. She won just 11 races in 2020, the worst year of her career. Worse yet, she didn't have a lot of answers.

“I was just not in a good place,” she said. “I was really struggling there. I couldn't believe how no one would give me a shot. I thought, 'what is my next move, what is going to happen?' I prayed about it. I thought 'is it time to do something else?'”

The one thing she did know is that she had to move on and try some place else. A year later and after a move to Gulfstream, Sutherland, 45, is in the midst of a remarkable comeback. With 29 wins, she finished second in the Gulfstream standings at the recently concluded meet and will head into Friday's opener of the Championship Meet confident that she can hold her own against a colony that will include many of the sport's top riders.

Her 75 wins on the year are the most she has had since 2010 . She has 15% winners on the year, her best percentage since 2002.

“I can't even tell you how grateful and happy I am for this opportunity,” she said. “That's why I am taking every single minute to be my best, do my best and be there for the people who support me. I am just so grateful.”

After she won 152 races with earnings of $8,778,038 in 2010, Sutherland struggled to maintain those numbers. She won 32 races in 2014 before briefly retiring to focus on starting a family.

“I got married and I wanted to try to have a baby,” she said. “I'm not married anymore and I don't have a baby, so that's how that went.”

She came back in 2016, but had a hard time establishing any momentum. The decision to try Kentucky only made things worse.

“I felt that in Kentucky they were not giving me a fair shot,” she said. “I'm not exactly sure why, but I think that it is still an 'old boy's club' there.”

After sitting out the first few months of 2020, she began riding at Gulfstream in April and detected early on that things would be different. Soon, she was riding three, four horses a day, something she might not have done in Kentucky in a week's time.

“I'm more comfortable and happy here,” she said. “You have a lot of Latin American trainers, Jamaican trainers, Bajans, Americans. It is a melting pot here so there's not as much discrimination against a minority who is a woman. Everyone seems to be more open here and I have an amazing agent in Jay Rushing.”

Part of Sutherland's problem has always been that she didn't seem that focused on her riding career. An aspiring model, she had a four-page spread in Vogue magazine and, in 2004, appeared in a TV commercial for Esquire watches. As well, she was chosen one of People magazine's “100 Most Beautiful People.” She was one of the jockeys featured on the reality TV show Jockeys on Animal Planet and appeared in five episodes of the HBO series “Luck.”

That's all part of her past. She is not in a relationship and has no outside projects.

“I'm able to be really focused on myself for once in my life,” she said. “I'm not in any kind of relationship. I can focus on myself, the horses and the trainers I ride for and being completely motivated to be the best. Whoever supports me and makes me part of their team, I will give 150% so that I win for my team. The hard work is paying off. This is my passion. I love horse racing. It is everything to me and it makes me happy. It's a great time in my life. I get to focus on myself only and my career. I wish I would have done that when I was younger.”

For Sutherland, it's about to get a lot tougher as there's an influx of top jockeys that come to Gulfstream for the Championship Meet. She looks forward to the challenge.

“I've ridden against the best in world already,” she said. “I'm looking forward to seeing how we all measure up. I'm looking forward to riding against terrific world-class riders. It will be different. They have the same determination, competitive drive and work ethic that I have. It's going to be fun and it's going to be a challenge.”

It begins again Friday and she is named on six horses. She's looking forward to it.

“I fit here,” she said. “I feel happy here.”

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