It was the second straight victory for jockey Edgard Zayas and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who also teamed up with Face of Victory in the $75,000 Express. The winning time was 1:40.19 for about 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course.

“The race before, I told Edgard to be aggressive. This race I said, 'patience,' and he executed,” Joseph said. “Like most of the Claiming Crown races, you know your horse is doing well but like I was telling the owner, you can run third or fourth having run your race. Thankfully she ran her best today.”

Centsless Drama was quickest from the gate and led though a quarter-mile in :22.91, pressed by fellow longshot Act Like Artie. Zayas settled Sugar Fix in fourth, where they still were after a half in :47.26. They tipped outside and moved into a contending position on the turn, reeled in the leaders, and slingshot past for her 10th career victory.

Passion Plus got up for second, with Whimsical Muse third and 8-5 favorite Kahiko fourth.

Sugar Fix, a bay 4-year-old daughter of Treasure Beach, hadn't raced since finishing fourth in a one-mile, 70-yard allowance Sept. 8 at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., a race she won last year heading into the Claiming Crown. In the 2020 Tiara, she took a 1 ½-length lead into the stretch but couldn't hold it and wound up second to Queens Embrace.

“Last year, she got a good trip, she just got beat. This year, I think she actually went into the race better,” Joseph said. “Last year, she won her prep at Kentucky Downs, and then kind of lost her way. I don't think she was at her best. This year, she got beat out there and then we couldn't get a race to go so she had a good freshening. I thought today she ran a good race. It was a tough race. You never know if you're going to win.”

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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.

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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