Claiming Crown Veterans and New Faces Shine on Showcase Day at Colonial Downs
Awesome Pic (Photo by Coady Media)
Familiar Claiming Crown names and new contenders shared the spotlight Saturday at Colonial Downs in seven Showcase Day qualifiers on the undercard to the $100,000 Jewel and $85,000 Emerald. Kerness K won his ninth straight, Shape Note impressed in defense of his Canterbury title, Freedom Road broke through after two Iron Horse runner-up finishes, and Awesome Pic delivered the day’s biggest upset at 40-1.
The top two finishers in each Showcase Day qualifier Saturday at Colonial Downs earned spots in the starting gate for the Claiming Crown on Nov. 14 at Churchill Downs. The seven races comprised the undercard to the $100,000 Jewel and $85,000 Emerald, the two featured events on Claiming Crown Showcase Day.
The $50,000 Ready’s Rocket Express Qualifier produced a thrilling finish as Morris Kernan Jr. and Jagger Inc.’s Kerness K nailed pacesetter Celtic Pride at the wire to win by a nose at 6 furlongs on dirt. Trained by Jamie Ness and ridden by Martin Chuan, Kerness K earned his ninth straight victory and stopped the clock in 1:08.68. He paid $3.60, $2.40 and $2.10.
Joanne Shankle swept the top two spots in the $62,500 Rapid Transit Qualifier as Zero Blitz rallied from off the pace to defeat stablemate Bold Diversion, who held well after stalking the pace throughout.
Owned and trained by Shankle and ridden by Jorge Ruiz, Zero Blitz covered 7 furlongs on dirt in 1:20.41 and paid $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10.
Freedom Road took command early in the $50,000 Iron Horse Qualifier, turned back pressure and held off the late-running Bill of Rights to win at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Trained by Richard Silliman, Freedom Road covered the distance in 1:40.23 after finishing second in each of the past two editions of the Claiming Crown Iron Horse. He paid $8.20, $4.80 and $3.60.
At 40-1, Carlos Diaz’s Awesome Pic pulled the upset in the $62,500 Jackie H. Qualifier for fillies and mares at 6 furlongs on dirt. Trained by Enrique Hernandez and ridden by Daniel Centeno, Awesome Pic stalked a hot pace along the inside, took command and held off the late bid of Tiz Purple to win by two lengths in 1:09.29. Awesome Pic paid $82.60, $30.60 and $31.60. The inaugural Jackie H. served as a qualifier for the Claiming Crown Filly & Mare Sprint.
Defending Claiming Crown Canterbury winner Shape Note impressed in the $75,000 Canterbury
Qualifier, pressing the pace before drawing clear of the field at 5½ furlongs on turf. Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Jareth Loveberry, Shape Note stopped the clock in 1:03.91 to win by 1¾ lengths.
Normandy Hero, trained by Jamie Ness, finished second. Shape Note paid $5.00, $3.60 and $2.40.
TEC Racing’s Coquito dominated the $50,000 Glass Slipper Qualifier for fillies and mares at one mile on dirt, drawing off to win by 3½ lengths over Antonacci Girl. Trained by Joe Sharp, Coquito stalked three wide, took command late on the turn and cleared comfortably through the stretch to stop the clock in 1:34.93. She paid $3.40, $2.60 and $2.10.
Team Adams Racing’s Goats On A Tree rallied from off the pace to win the $75,000 Tiara Qualifier for fillies and mares by a neck over Goodbetterbest at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Trained by Kinnon LaRose and ridden by Manny Esquivel, Goats On A Tree launched a four-wide move on the far turn, engaged Goodbetterbest in a late duel and dug in to prevail in 1:41.34. She paid $16.20, $8.40 and $3.20.
