BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Eleven Florida-breds have entered seven of the nine Claiming Crown Qualifier starter handicap races set for Saturday at Colonial Downs, including three in both the $62,500 Jackie H. Qualifier going as Race 6 and in the $75,000 Canterbury Qualifier scheduled as Race 7.
Colonial Downs will host Claiming Crown qualifying races for the second consecutive year. The top two finishers in each of Saturday’s nine starter handicaps will earn automatic berths in the 28th Claiming Crown, scheduled for November 14 at Churchill Downs. The nine qualifiers offer combined purses of $612,500 on the 11-race program.
Amalio Ruiz-Lozano’s Celtic Pride, bred by Stonehedge LLC, has been entered for the $50,000 Ready’s Rocket Express Qualifier starter handicap set for Race 3 and Carolyn Wilson’s homebred Willie Bird will go in the $62,500 Rapid Transit Qualifier starter handicap in Race 4. The Ready’s Rocket is for 3-year-olds and older which have started for a claiming price of $8,000 or less and will be run at six furlongs. The seven-furlong Rapid Transit is for 3-year-olds and older which have started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in 2025-2026.
The $62,500 Jackie H. Qualifier starter handicap has Carlos Diaz’s Awesome Pic, Robert Deckert Jr.’s Miguel’s Belle and Robert Prouix’s Julee’s Legacy representing Florida breeders in the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and older which have started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in 2025-2026. Richard George bred Awesome Pic while Palm Beach Racing III bred Miguel’s Belle. Julee’s Legacy was bred in the Sunshine State by Golden Legacy Stable.
Florida-breds in the $75,000 Canterbury Qualifier starter handicap include In Front Racing Stables’ If Not for Luck, bred by Juan Rodriguez; GOP Racing Stable’s Outlaw Country, bred by Bulldog Racing; and David Staudacher and Paradise Farms Corp.’s Fluid Situation. Fluid Situation was bred by Hidden Point Farm Inc. The Canterbury has ten 3-year-olds and older who have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2025-2026 sprinting five-and-a-half furlongs on the grass.
La Girvina will represent owners Robert A. Ferraro, James Fischer, S. Matthew Kintz Racing and Sales in Race 8, the $50,000 Glass Slipper Qualifier starter handicap for fillies and mare, 3-years-old and older which have started for a claiming price of $12,500 or less in 2025-2026. Brad and Misty Grady bred La Girvina.
Race 9, the $75,000 Tiara Qualifier starter handicap for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older which have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2025-2026 has Florida-bred Notable Exchange for owner David Staudacher. Notable Exchange was bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon.
Return to the August 18 issue of Wire to Wire
