BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Nine Florida-breds, plus two on also eligible lists, are among 121 entries from 30 different racetracks and training centers entered for Saturday’s Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs, an eight-race event deemed as the claiming horse owners’ Breeders’ Cup.

Created from a partnership between the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association, the 27th running of the Claiming Crown will have 54 jockeys and 110 trainers competing for $1.1 million in total purses in the eight starter allowance races.

Previously held at Canterbury Park, Philidelphia Park (now Parx Racing), Ellis Park, Fair Grounds and Gulfstream Park, this year marks the third time the event will be conducted under the Twin Spires.

Anthony Rogers’ Echo Lane and Skymac Stables’ Mister Abarrio are among 12, plus three on the also-eligible list, entered in the $175,000 Emerald for 3-year-olds and older that have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2024-’25. The Emerald will be contested at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass.

Trainer Rohan Crichton returns Echo Lane to Churchill where the 4-year-old colt has won two of three starts including last year’s Emerald by a half-length on Nov. 16. Echo Lane has two starts there in 2025, the last of which was a neck victory in a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf on June 21. In his previous start on May 11, he just missed by a neck under the same conditions going nine furlongs on the turf, finishing second to Lord Bullingdon as the 6-5 favorite.

Echo Lane makes his second start off a 60-day break. On Aug. 21 with jockey Ben Curtis, he was third in a $25,000 starter allowance going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf at Colonial Downs on Aug. 21.

Echo Lane is by Treasure Beach (GB) out of Misbehavin Miss, by Mineshaft and was bred in Florida by Echo Lane of Ocala LLC. He has won seven with three seconds and six thirds in 24 starts while earning $430,750.

Luis Saez, who rode Echo Lane seven times between last year’s Emerald and the June 21 win, will be aboard again. Echo Lane has post nine and is the 3-1 second choice. 

Mister Abarrio makes his first trip to Churchill for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

The 5-year-old gelding will try to avenge a last out loss in a $35,000 starter allowance, $50,000 optional claiming at Gulfstream when eighth, but less than four lengths behind winner and Emerald-rival Kalik going a mile on the grass on Oct. 4.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic had won three of his last four races including two at Colonial Downs in his two previous starts. He won a first condition, $74,000 allowance by a length-and-a-quarter going a mile on a good turf on July 10 and a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-an-eighth on the grass on Aug. 28. He also took a $25,000 claiming race going seven-and-a-half furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream on April 27.

Mister Abarrio has won six of 33 career starts with seven seconds and 11 thirds, finishing out of the top three only twice in his last eight races going back to December of last year.

An earner of $296,230, Mister Abarrio is out of Gracepointe, by Pleasant Strike and was bred in Florida by Dr. Tiffany A. Atteberry and Scott Brown.

Set at 12-1 in the program, Mister Abarrio will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post seven.

Risk Manager, a winner of his last three including a $50,000 starter allowance on the Aqueduct turf during the Belmont at Big A meet on Oct. 18, is trainer by Michael Maker. 

Maker is the all-time leading trainer of Claiming Crown races, having won 22 of 129 races during the event.

Risk Manager is owned by Case Chambers and has won 11 of 36 career starts with five seconds and two thirds with lifetime revenues of $582,669.

The 7-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky has post three and is the 2-1 morning line favorite. Tyler Gaffalione has the riding assignment.

Others set for the Emerald are Gewurztraminer and jockey Emmanuel Esquivel, Irad Ortiz Jr. will guide Goes the Clown, Nantasket Beach will have Julian Leparoux in the irons, Stroke of Midnight has Ben Curtis taking the call, Azoi will be ridden by Andres Calleja, Grounded will have Rosario Montanez in the saddle, Chris Emigh has the assignment on King Curlin, Swiss Slang with Oscar Villarreal up and Kalik has Junior Alvarado taking the reins. 

Return to the November 12 issue of Wire to Wire