Tag: Racing

Claiming Crown: Fiya Wins Fifth In A Row; Jakarta Rallies In Distaff Dash

Robert Masiello's Fiya blazed to victory in Saturday's $90,000 Claiming Crown Canterbury at Gulfstream Park, collecting his fifth straight victory since being transferred to turf.

The Canterbury was one of nine stakes in the 22nd edition of the Claiming Crown, an annual event that pays tribute to claiming horses that provide the backbone of day-to-day racing programs at racetracks throughout the country.

Tom Albertrani-trained Fiya was in control throughout the five-furlong turf race for horses that started for a claiming price of $25,000 or lower in 2019-2020, scoring by 1 ½ lengths while providing jockey Luis Saez with his fifth of six victories on Saturday's program.

“He really is an incredible turf horse, since we've seen him go from dirt to turf, he just does things so easily,” Albertrani said. “From the first day I got him in the barn, I fell in love with him. He got my attention right away and looked like a superstar.”

Fiya broke cleanly from his No. 1 post position and quickly opened a clear lead on the backstretch and was never threatened thereafter.

“He's a special horse. When I rode him for the first time at Belmont, he showed me a lot of ability. I couldn't wait to be on him today,” Saez said. “He broke from there fast and took the lead. I know he was rolling, but he loves to run. I just let him run into the stretch and he just took off by himself.”

Fiya, who ran five furlongs in 55.63 seconds, finished second and third on dirt in his first two career starts at Laurel, where he came back to break his maiden in his turf debut and  win an allowance race. Purchased for $400,000 during the July 2020 Wanamaker's Online Auction and transferred to Albertrani, Fiya captured a Belmont allowance and the Maryland Million Turf Sprint at Laurel before capturing the Canterbury.

“Competition-wise for Claiming Crown, this was a good group of horses. He's an impressive horse,” Albertrani said. “Every time he runs, he just seems to run better and better. I think we'll give him a break now and bring him back later next year.”

Fully Loaded, who was closest in pursuit of Fiya throughout the race, finished second 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Harry's Ontheloose.

Jakarta Rallies to Win Distaff Dash
Three Diamonds Farm's Jakarta, third in the Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3) in October, rallied under jockey Luis Saez to win the Distaff Dash, covering five furlongs in :56.48 over a firm turf course.

A 5-year-old mare who won the Powder Break over this course in May, Jakarta provided trainer Mike Maker with his record 18th victory in the Claiming Crown.

“Claiming Crown is always a fun day, a little different without fans this year,” Maker said. “I was glad to do it with Jakarta. She's been a great filly for us all year, so it's very rewarding. She didn't get away today as quick as she usually does, but her class prevailed.”

Jakarta raced third entering the turn behind the pacesetter My Sarasota Star before driving to the lead inside the final eighth. It was Jakarta's eighth victory in 18 starts. The Distaff Dash was open to fillies and mares who had started for a claiming price of $25,000 less in 2019-20.

Jakarta, who returned $3.60, was 2 ¼ lengths in front of Unaquoi, who rallied from 10th for the place. Thinkin Cowtown was third.

Walder's $6,250 Claim Wins $80,000 Glass Slipper
Walder Racing's Descente, claimed for $6,250 Oct. 18, drove past favored stablemate and defending champion Liza Star around the turn to win the $80,000 Glass Slipper by 3 ¾ lengths. Don't Get Khozy was second and Sky Chaser third.

Trained by Peter Walder and ridden by Miguel Vasquez, Descente was rated in second behind Liza Star past an opening quarter in :23.58 before taking the lead around the turn past a :45.89 half mile. The 4-year-old daughter of Bodemeister was driven home from there and returned $9.20.

The filly, who had been claimed in six of her last eight starts, covered the mile in 1:36.99. It was her seventh victory in 24 starts, boosting her earnings to $176,260. The Glass Slipper was for fillies and mares who had started for a claiming price of $12,500 in 2019-2020. Walder also won the Glass Slipper in 2015 with Moonshine Promise.

Queens Embrace Wears the Tiara
Spedale Family Racing LLC and Flying P Stable's Queen Embrace, claimed out of her last race at Aqueduct for $80,000, provided jockey Luis Saez with his fifth winner of the day, closing from eighth to win the $95,000 Tiara by 2 ¾ lengths over favored Sugar Fix.

Queens Embrace covered the 1 1/16 mile turf course in 1:40.26. It was the 3-year-olds sixth win in 12 starts. The daughter of Real Solution broke her maiden at Tampa in January for a $16,000 claiming tag. The Tiara was open to fillies and mares who had started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less the last two years.

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High Noon Rider Uncorks 60-1 Shocker In Claiming Crown Emerald

GenStar Thoroughbreds' High Noon Rider, having spent the summer and early fall on the road, returned home to register the biggest win of his 55-race career with a shocking 50-1 upset of the $95,000 Claiming Crown Emerald Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The 1 1/16-mile Emerald on turf for 3-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2019-20 was the fifth of nine starter stakes on the $835,000 Claiming Crown program.

This marked the ninth straight year at Gulfstream and 22nd overall for the Claiming Crown, created in 1999 to celebrate the blue-collar horses that are the foundation of the racing industry nationwide.

It was the first career Claiming Crown victory for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. The runner-up, 2-1 favorite Temple, was one of five horses in the field trained by Mike Maker, the event's all-time leader with 18 wins including seven in the Emerald.

“We're just thankful,” Joseph said. “We've claimed horses that won graded-stakes, but had never won a Claiming Crown race. It's good to get it done finally. He's a cool, old horse. To be honest, I didn't think he was coming in at his best so the confidence wasn't there. We're thankful and blessed. He stepped up and ran the race of his life today.”

Jockey Edgard Zayas settled High Noon Rider well behind Grade 3-winning stablemate Tusk, racing for the first time in 11 months, who posted fractions of 25.10 and 48.77 seconds pressed by Maker-trained Hieroglyphics and Over the Channel three wide. Hierolyphics assumed the top spot on the turn and went six furlongs in 1:11.74 with Over the Channel poised to strike, but Zayas worked his way outside and High Noon Rider powered through the stretch once in the clear.

“Saffie told me before the race this horse had a really good kick on him,” Zayas said. “Once on the turn, I cut the corner and I was following Temple through the corner. I knew Tyler had a lot of horse and he was the horse to follow, really. I was just trying to save enough until I got into the stretch and once he got into the clear he kicked on really hard from there.”

It was the sixth win with one second and one third from 10 lifetime tries at Gulfstream for High Noon Rider, an 8-year-old Distorted Humor gelding whose last victory came in a 1 1/8-mile optional claimer June 28 over the course. The victory pushed his career bankroll over the $600,000 mark.

“He's just a horse for course, honestly. If you see his numbers before he left Gulfstream this year, they were good. Then we got ambitious. We went all around with him and he kind of lost his way. Today, he ran back his best race,” Joseph said. “I got so excited jumping up, my chest was hurting me after. Edgard gave him a dream trip, saved every kind of ground and got him out when he needed to.”

Maker-trained horses finished second through fifth, as Temple and defending champion Muggsamatic dead-heated for second with Artie's Rumor fourth and Hieroglyphics fifth.

Defending Riding Champ Ortiz, Krsto Skye Claim Express
Krsto Skye, second in September in the Smile Sprint (G3) and third last time out in the De Francis (G3), led gate-to-wire under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to win the $75,000 Express, covering six furlongs in 1:10.14.

Owned by Daniel Feit and Carlos David and trained by David, Krsto Skye broke from the rail and set fractions of :22.35 and :45 before driving home 1 1/4 lengths in front of Whyruawesome. for his 14th victory in 61 starts. David claimed the 8-year-old gelding in February for $16,000 out of a five-furlong turf race at Gulfstream.

For Ortiz, it was his first win of the Championship Meet. He is the two-time defending riding champion.

“It feels great to be back at Gulfstream,” Ortiz said. “It feels great to have the support from the owners and trainers here. This is a nice horse. Carlos told me to let him do his thing in you can control the pace from the inside post. He put me in a good position, so I just held it there and when it was time to go he responded very well.”

The race was for horses that have started for an $8,000 claiming price at any time during their careers.

Avant Garde Gets Up in Time for Rapid Transit Win
Gelfenstein Farm LLC's Avant Garde, a 3-year-old gelded son of Tonalist, drove up the rail under jockey Leonel Reyes to win the $85,000 Rapid Transit by a half-length over Town Classic.

Trained by Jesus Lander, Avant Garde's only loss since claimed by Lander for $10,000 in June was a fourth-place finish Sept. 27 in the Oklahoma Derby (G3).

Avant Garde broke second to last but was moved up quickly to fourth by Reyes down the backstretch while Fix Me a Sandwich was taking the field through the opening quarter in :22.14. Entering the stretch, Town Classic took the lead after moving three-wide around the turn, but Reyes and Avant Garde drove to the front in the final 50 yards along the rail for the win, covering seven furlongs in 1:21.98.

The Rapid Transit was open to horses who had started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less over the last two years.

Frost of Frippery Takes the Iron Horse
Frost or Frippery, a 7-year-old gelding trained by Brad Cox, shipped in from Kentucky to win the $75,000 Iron Horse over a late-closing Bobby G. The victory was jockey Luis Saez's sixth of the afternoon. The victory for the son of Lewis Michael was No. 21. The gelding has now placed first, second or third in 46 of 66 career starts.

Frost or Frippery, owned by Steve Landers Racing LLC, covered the 1 1/16 mile in 1:44.57.

The Iron Horse was open to horses who had started for $8,000 or less during their careers.

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A Grade 1 First For Kendrick Carmouche As True Timber Takes Cigar Mile In Third Try

Calumet Farm's True Timber earned black type in the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile in each of the last two years. After a runner-up effort in 2018 and a third-place finish in 2019, the son of Mineshaft finally broke through on Saturday, taking command out of the turn and powering home a 5 1/2-length winner to capture the 32nd edition at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

A storm-drenched day made for a sloppy and sealed main track, but the conditions did not faze True Timber, who broke sharp from post 5 under Aqueduct fall meet-leading rider Kendrick Carmouche and tracked in third position as New York-bred Mr. Buff led the six-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 22.89 seconds and the half in 45.82.

Heading into the stretch, Carmouche set True Timber down, easily holding off late bids from runner-up and 13-1 longshot Snapper Sinclair and 4-5 favorite Performer to hit the wire in 1:36.49.

“I had perfect position leaving the gate and all the way around there,” Carmouche said. “Right before we got to the quarter pole, I pulled the trigger and I knew they were going to have to run me down from here.”

The win was a history-making one for Carmouche, who secured his first Grade 1 victory in a career that started in 2000. The Vinton, La., native had tallied six previous Grade 2 wins and will enter Sunday's Closing Day looking for another milestone, as he holds a four-win lead over Jose Lezcano [21-17] in a bid for his first career riding title at a New York Racing Association meet.

“It's my first Grade 1. I owe it all to my fans, my wife and kids and how much they stuck with me and kept me pushing and fighting in this game,” said an emotional Carmouche. “This means so much to me. This is the biggest win of my career and I hope I have many more blessed ones.

“It means a lot going into the winter meet,” he continued. “New York has really good racing and really good purses. Things are getting started back up in the country and the sky is the limit. We just have to keep on fighting.”

Carmouche needed six months to recover from a broken right leg suffered in a spill at Kentucky Downs in September 2018. He has won six graded stakes since returning and three this year, with True Timber joining Mischevious Alex in the Grade 3 Gotham and Fire At Will in the Grade 2 Pilgrim.

“I got hurt and things got set back a little bit, but with the type of person that I am – working hard and having a lot of heart and fight – it got me back to where I am today,” Carmouche said.

Winning trainer Jack Sisterson had reason to be confident in True Timber's ability to handle an off track, following his third-place finish in the Grade 1 Forego in August at Saratoga Race Course, garnering a season-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I got to give credit to True Timber, the farm, the incredible staff I have, and of course Kendrick,” said Sisterson, who took over True Timber's training duties in the summer when Kiaran McLaughlin retired to become a jockey agent. “I had all the confidence in the world when Kendrick texted me, 'I got you brother, don't worry', with a little peace sign.”

Returning to another sloppy track, True Timber won for the first time in 14 starts dating to September 2018 at Belmont Park. The now 6-year-old had finished second or third eight times in that stretch, including three consecutive third-place efforts to cap 2019 in the Grade 2 Kelso, Grade 3 Bold Ruler and Cigar Mile.

“As soon as I got the horse, the Cigar Mile was a year-end goal,” Sisterson said. “A lot of emphasis has to be put on how good a trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is. He had this horse before I did and sent him to me in such good shape. This shows how good of a trainer he really is.”

Sisterson won his second career Grade 1 after he won the Personal Ensign with Vexatious in August at Saratoga.

Off at 7-1, True Timber returned $16.60 on a $2 win wager. He improved his career earnings to $1.21 million.

“We'll make sure he comes out of it in good shape and talk to the farm about what the future might be,” Sisterson said. “Physically, he's beautiful to look at, and he's in great shape.”

Snapper Sinclair, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and ridden by Manny Franco, edged Performer by a neck for second.

“I was happy with the position that I got,” Franco said. “The pace in front of me was quick and I just tried to give my horse a breather. When I made my move, he really responded for me. I knew the horse in front had a lot and would be hard to catch, but my horse ran a great race.”

Performer, ridden by Joel Rosario from the inside post, saw his five-race winning streak snapped but kept intact his pristine record of on-the-board efforts, moving to 5-0-2 in seven starts.

“He broke just OK and I was a little further back than I wanted,” Rosario said. “It took him a little time to handle the track. Sometimes when the track is wet it's hard to come from where he was. He made his run from the outside and seemed to be comfortable there. But it was tough to catch up with the leader.”

King Guillermo, Mr. Buff and Bon Raison completed the order of finish. Firenze Fire, Mind Control and Majestic Dunhill scratched.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct with Closing Day of the 18-day fall meet, offering three stakes on the nine-race card, including a pair of $250,000 New York Stallion Stakes Series races with the Great White Way and Fifth Avenue and the $100,000 Garland of Roses. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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