NEWS
Headache proves pain for challengers in Claiming Crown
Posted: Saturday, July 24, 2010 8:06 PM
by Steve Bailey
Prominent Central Kentucky owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey left their mark in Shakopee, Minnesota, on Saturday as their horses won the final two Claiming Crown races at Canterbury Park.
The six stakes races that make up the Claiming Crown are restricted to horses that have started at least once in 2009 and '10 for claiming prices ranging from $5,000 to $25,000.
The Ramseys, trainer Mike Maker, and jockey Julien Leparoux teamed to win the $94,000 Claiming Crown Emerald Stakes with Inca King (video) and followed with a victory in the featured $138,000 Claiming Crown Jewel Stakes with Headache (video).
Headache raced last of six in the Claiming Crown Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile race for horses three years old and older, though never far back through a half-mile as Smarten Destiny took the group through a quarter-mile in :23.87 and a half in :48.06.
Blocked entering the stretch, Leparoux angled Headache to the outside and found room to drive with determination down the lane to edge ahead of Smarten Destiny and win by a neck in the final strides, covering the distance in 1:50.11 on a track rated as fast.
The victory was the first of the year and first stakes triumph for the four-year-old Tapit colt, who has finished second on four occasions this season.
In the Emerald, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for horses three years old and older, Inca King tracked the pace from the rail before making his bid three wide approaching the stretch and driving to a 1 ¼-length victory, covering the distance in 1:42.80 on turf rated as good.
The six-year-old Sir Cat gelding, who won the 2007 Jefferson Cup Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, won for the sixth time from seven starts this season for Maker.
In the other Claiming Crown races on the card:
Humble Smarty tracked the pace in second through a half-mile before dueling through the stretch and inching ahead in the final strides for a three-quarter-length victory in the $70,500 Claiming Crown Rapid Transit Stakes, a six-furlong race for horses three years old and older. (video)
Trained and owned by Brett Creighton, the six-year-old Mutakddim gelding improved to three wins and two seconds from five starts this season.
Midwest Thoroughbreds’ My Irish Girl remained unbeaten in six starts this season as she rallied in the lane and drew clear to a 1½-length victory in the $70,500 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper Stakes, a six-furlong race for fillies and mares. (video)
The three-year-old Closing Argument filly, who has won at Oaklawn Park, Delaware Park, and Penn National Race Course already this season, increased her bankroll to $116,250 after capturing her stakes debut
Miracle Logistics’s Moralist pressed the pace from the outside before taking over and driving to a one-length victory in the $46,500 Claiming Crown Express Stakes, a six-furlong race for horses three years old and older. (video)
The victory was the third from seven starts this season for the five-year-old Talk Is Money gelding, who is trained by Tammy Domenosky.
Maggi Moss’ Roaring Home sprinted clear and turned back a late challenge to capture the $46,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race for horses three years old and older and the first of six Claiming Crown races on Saturday’s card. (video)
The seven-year-old Roar gelding won for the second time from nine starts this season and the tenth time from 37 career starts in four seasons.
For Equibase charts, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
