NEWS
It Happened Again takes Claiming Crown feature
Posted: Saturday, December 03, 2011 6:59 PM
IT HAPPENED AGAIN
Lou Hodges Jr. photo
by Ron Parker
Maggi Moss’ It Happened Again is no stranger to stakes competition and his experience was evident Saturday as he closed steadily to win the $138,000 Claiming Crown Jewel Stakes (video) at Fair Grounds.
The 1 1/8-mile Jewel, for three-year-olds and older who have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less, topped a slate of five Claiming Crown stakes races.
In March, the five-year-old Proud Citizen gelding won the Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park. It Happened Again entered the Jewel after finishing tenth in the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) at Prairie Meadows Racetrack on June 25.
Claiming Crown Jewel was the eighth win from 27 starts for It Happened Again, whose earnings now stand at $429,078.
A half brother to stakes winner Lucky Sam, It Happened Again is out of the winning Quiet American mare Quiet Lucky.
La Marca Stable’s Compliance Officer drew clear in the stretch to annex the $93,000 Claiming Crown Emerald Stakes (video), a 1 1/16-mile turf race for horses who started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less.
Compliance Officer entered the Emerald off an unplaced finish behind Court Vision in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Churchill Downs, a loss that snapped a five-race winning streak. Out of the winning Dynaformer mare Purple Hills, the five-year-old Officer gelding increased his earnings to $464,566 with ten wins from 22 starts.
Also on the card, Rattlin Gyspy was a three-length winner of the $71,250 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper Stakes (video), Atthebuzzer prevailed in the $47,000 Claiming Crown Express Stakes (video), and Pedrolino romped home by 7 ¾ lengths to win the $46,500 Claiming Crown Iron Horse Stakes (video).
For Equibase charts, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
