Claiming Crown Recap: Groveland Rolls Home in $219,750 Claiming Crown Jewel

Groveland chased pacesetter Indy Charges On, took the lead leaving the final turn and kicked clear in the stretch to defeat Expect the Best by 3 ¼ lengths and win Saturday’s $219,750 Claiming Crown Jewel at Churchill Downs – the most lucrative of nine starter allowance races on the day for the nation’s top claiming-level horses.

The Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up that raced for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2025-26, headlined Saturday’s 28th annual Claiming Crown, which was staged at Churchill Downs for the fourth time in five years. Inaugurated in 1999 at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, the Claiming Crown showcases nine races with starter allowance conditions and a super-charged total of $1.2 million in prize money for some of the most competitive blue-collar horses in the country.

Groveland, a 6-year-old gelded son of Street Sense, clocked 1 1/8 miles on a “fast” track in 1:50.15. Francisco Arrieta rode the winner for Eddie Kenneally, who trains and co-owns the horse with Tate C. Hubbuch’s HRH Racing.

“It’s pretty emotional winning a race like this,” Hubbuch said. “I’ve watched and bet horses since I was young. Eddie and I have partnered together on horses for a long time. Horse racing is such a big part of my life and it’s awesome to win a race like this.”

Breaking from post No. 6, Groveland broke alertly and sat just off early leader Indy Charge On, who led the field of nine through early splits of :24.03, :48.72 and 1:13.67. Groveland circled to his outside leaving the final turn and kicked away in upper stretch without a serious challenge.

The first prize was $134,040 and hiked Groveland’s bankroll to $337,708 with a record of 5-3-3 from 19 starts.

Groveland was claimed for $30,000 last November.

“Tate and I have been together a while,” Kenneally said. “We’ve at least had one horse in partnership together with one another each year. We’ve been able to get some nice horses together over the years. This is by far one of the best ones we’ve had.”

Groveland paid $17.18, $6.72 and $5.54 as the 7-1 fourth betting choice. Expect the Best, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, paid $3.48 and $3.22 at odds of 5-2. Break Out, under Junior Alvarado, paid $7.48 to show at 17-1.

Carolo Rapido, Urban Planner, Freedom Principle, Indy Charges On, 5-2 favorite Papa Yo and Margie’s Fun Son completed the order of finish.

Groveland, out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Lucknow, was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin.

Also on the Claiming Crown card:

Kerness K ($4.78), the winningest Thoroughbred in North America this year, won for the 12th consecutive time with a come-from-behind 2 ¾-length triumph over Delta Tau Chi in the $103,850 Ready’s Rocket Express. Martin Chuan rode the Parx-based winner for trainer Jamie Ness, who collected his first win at Churchill Downs. “We’ve moved him around anywhere from Colonial to Laurel to Delaware to Parx and now Churchill,” said Ness, who co-owns Kerness K with Morris E. Kernan Jr. “It doesn’t seem to bother him and runs well each time. It was a perfect trip and glad he was able to get the job done again.” The 4-year-old gelding, claimed in February for $7,500, ran six furlongs in 1:10.55, banked $59,520 and improved his overall record to 15-0-4 in 23 starts with earnings of $408,605. Two-time Claiming Crown winner Concrete Glory finished ninth.

Four fillies and mares hit the wire together at the finish of the $165,400 Tiara but it was 5-year-old mare Goats On a Tree ($9.66) who narrowly prevailed by a head over Notable Exchange, Lady Iona and even-money favorite Nerazurri. Tyler Gaffalione rode the winner for owners Sal Perito and Tracy Adams’ Team Adams Racing LLC. Claimed for $50,000 in May, she’s won three of her last five starts with the addition of blinkers and has relished the turf. She covered 1 1/16 miles on grass in 1:43.95. Goats On a Tree, who tracked pacesetter Wandering Kirby in the early stages, won the $102,210 first prize and improved her record to 25-9-1-7—$512,307. “I didn’t know if we got up or not when they hit the wire,” said winning trainer Kinnon LaRose. “In horse racing there’s so many ways you can lose races and today we were on the lucky end of things to get the bob. I’m so happy for this mare that she was able to get the job done and it’s always special to celebrate a win with Team Adams.”

Three-year-old filly Stay Beautiful ($160.46) grinded her way past odds-on 4-5 favorite Coquito in deep stretch to score a 79-1 surprise in the $109,933 Glass Slipper. Stay Beautiful ran one mile in 1:37.30 to win by three lengths. Albin Jimenez rode the winner for owner/trainer Yoni Orantes. The daughter of Volatile won her first race at the $15,000 maiden claiming level at Belterra Park in May and has now won four of 14 starts. The $64,280 first prize jumped her earnings to $113,459. “It’s so special to win at Churchill Downs,” Orantes said. “It’s hard to put into words. She’s a special filly to our barn and has had a great year so far. It’s great to be rewarded in a race like this.”

Sean Morris’ 6-year-old gelding Metatron’s Muse ($14.60) out-kicked 9-5 favorite Cowboy Mike in deep stretch to win the $107,880 Iron Horse / Kent Stirling Memorial by a neck under jockey Junior Alvarado for trainer Norm Casse. Prior to this race, Metaron’s Muse had been claimed six times this year, including a $30,000 purchase price last time out in September at Saratoga. Metatron’s Rose clocked 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.70 and earned $64,900 for the win. Overall, his record now stands at 29-8-2-4—$394,646. “The idea always was to freshen him up a little bit since we claimed him at Saratoga,” Casse said. “It’s great the Claiming Crown was at Churchill. It was a good opportunity to run in a race like this out of his own stall. He’s been a very consistent horse this summer in New York, and I think the time off really helped freshen him up to run his best in this race.”

The streaking 5-year-old mare Miracle Ball ($8.12) won for the seventh straight time with a three-quarters of a length victory over 8-5 favorite Talkin in Cursive in the $109,660 Empress. Ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Ruben Fuentes and owner Justin Revak’s Rocket Wrench Racing LLC, Miracle Ball sprinted six furlongs in 1:10.64 en route to the $64,900 payday. Claimed for $10,000 in May, she’s won seven of her last eight starts at Canterbury Park and Prairie Meadows. Her overall record now stands at 21-11-1-2—$220,150. “I always pictured being here as a rider and never as a trainer,” said Fuentes, who was a jockey from 2015-22 and won 2019 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (GI) at Santa Anita aboard Brazilian-bred Ohio. “I guess God had different plans. She is an incredible mare and it’s so rewarding training a horse like this. She didn’t want to let anyone by her today. It speaks so much to her grit and heart.”

Locally based Shape Note ($5.98), claimed for $25,000 in July 2025 by Paradise Farms Corp. (Peter Prosica) and David Staudacher, won the $163,828 Canterbury / Tom Metzen Memorial for a second straight year when the 5-year-old gelding ran down pacesetter Itzel in deep stretch under Jose Ortiz. The 3 ¼-length victory in 1:02.81 for 5 ½ furlongs on turf gave trainer Mike Maker his record-extending 24th victory in a Claiming Crown race. Overall, Shape Note has won 15 of 31 starts and the $98,490 first prize pushed his earnings to $674,526 ($486,831 since the astute claim). “The Claiming Crown is really important to us,” Staudacher said. “Mike has won so many of them. Usually when we claim horses we go over the eligibility for the Claiming Crown and target them if we can. It’s great that it worked out again for us this year.”

Air of Defiance ($11.90), claimed for $20,000 last November by owner Steven Connolly’s Crown and Thistle Stable LLC, shot clear in mid-stretch and rolled to a three-length victory over closing 31-1 outsider Dr. Storm to win the $139,475 Rapid Transit in 1:22.43 for seven furlongs. The 5-year-old gelding was ridden by Francisco Arrieta and is trained by Jade Cunningham. Since the claim, he’s won five of nine starts and banked $242,547. Overall, the son of Quality Road has won nine of 21 starts and $403,430. “We really don’t focus on running him every month,” Cunningham said. “After his last start, we talked about running in this race and didn’t want to have a prep race in between. He handles the time off very well.”

Parx-based Magical Ways ($71.54), a 7-year-old gelding owned by Joe Klause’s JKX Racing, powered home in deep stretch to upset the $194,344 Emerald under Ruben Silvera for trainer Ernesto Padilla-Preciado. He defeated War Officer by a neck while running 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:42.40. Unit Economics (GB), the 4-5 favorite, was fifth. “I know the horse well,” Silvera said. “I’ve ridden him a lot of times. I was confident after I broke. I know he comes with a strong kick for me every time. It’s my dream to be here.”

READY’S ROCKET EXPRESS QUOTES
Jamie Ness, trainer, Kerness K, winner: “We’ve moved him around anywhere from Colonial to Laurel to Delaware to Parx and now Churchill. It doesn’t seem to bother him and runs well each time. It was a perfect trip and glad he was able to get the job done again.”

TIARA QUOTES
Kinnon LaRose, trainer, Goats on a Tree, winner: “I didn’t know if we got up or not when they hit the wire. In horse racing there’s so many ways you can lose races and today we were on the lucky end of things to get the bob. I’m so happy for this mare that she was able to get the job done and it’s always special to celebrate a win with (owner) Team Adams.”

GLASS SLIPPER QUOTES
Yoni Orantes, owner/trainer, Stay Beautiful, winner: “It’s so special to win at Churchill Downs. It’s hard to put into words. She’s a special filly to our barn and has had a great year so far. It’s great to be rewarded in a race like this.”

IRON HORSE / KENT STIRLING MEMORIAL QUOTES
Norm Casse, trainer, Metatron’s Muse, winner: “The idea always was to freshen him up a little bit since we claimed him at Saratoga. It’s great the Claiming Crown was at Churchill. It was a good opportunity to run in a race like this out of his own stall. He’s been a very consistent horse this summer in New York, and I think the time off really helped freshen him up to run his best in this race.”

EMPRESS QUOTES
Ruben Fuentes, former jockey turned trainer, Miracle Ball, winner: “I always pictured being here as a rider and never as a trainer. I guess God had different plans. She is an incredible mare and it’s so rewarding training a horse like this. She didn’t want to let anyone by her today. It speaks so much to her grit and heart.”

CANTERBURY / TOM METZEN MEMORIAL QUOTES
David Staudacher, co-owner, Shape Note, winner: “The Claiming Crown is really important to us. Mike (Maker) has won so many of them. Usually when we claim horses we go over the eligibility for the Claiming Crown and target them if we can. It’s great that it worked out again for us this year.”

RAPID TRANSIT QUOTES
Francisco Arrieta, jockey, Air of Defiance, winner: “It looked like there could be a couple horses that want to show speed in the race, and that’s how it developed early. He broke well and I just let him settle. Down the lane, he gave me a beautiful kick. I’m so happy for the connections and Jade (Cunningham). She’s done a great job with this horse and so happy to see her rewarded like this.”

Jade Cunningham, trainer, Air of Defiance, winner: “We really don’t focus on running him every month. After his last start, we talked about running in this race and didn’t want to have a prep race in between. He handles the time off very well.”

JEWEL QUOTES
Tate Hubbuch, co-owner, Groveland, winner: “It’s pretty emotional winning a race like this. I’ve watched and bet horses since I was young. Eddie (Kenneally) and I have partnered together on horses for a long time. Horse racing is such a big part of my life and it’s awesome to win a race like this.”

Eddie Kenneally, co-owner/trainer, Groveland, winner: “Tate (Hubbuch) and I have been together a while. We’ve at least had one horse in partnership together with one another each year. We’ve been able to get some nice horses together over the years. This is by far one of the best ones we’ve had.”

EMERALD QUOTES
Ruben Silvera, jockey, Magical Ways, winner: “I know the horse well. I’ve ridden him a lot of times. I was confident after I broke. I know he comes with a strong kick for me every time. It’s my dream to be here.”