New York Claiming Championship series returns Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack

by NYRA Press Office

The New York Claiming Championship series returns for the seventh year on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack with 10 starter stakes worth $620,000.

The New York Claiming Championship is open to horses which have started for a prescribed claiming price in 2021-22. The 10-race series, each named after some of the most popular claiming horses to run at the Big A, features distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 3/8 miles. A total of 93 horses were entered across the 10 races.

Robert Falcone, Jr. will saddle four starters on the lucrative card, including Answer In in the featured $80,000 Caixa Eletronica, a seven-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up that drew a field of eight in Race 9.

“Days like this are important,” Falcone, Jr. said. “The claiming rank and allowance horses make up the race cards day in and day out. It’s good to have a day for them. They are all really nice horses, but not every horse can be a million-dollar horse. It’s nice for them to get a shot to run in a starter stake. These are the types of horses who make the cards go each day.”

Beast Mode Racing’s Answer In, a 5-year-old Dialed In gelding, was claimed for $40,000 out of a winning effort for his former conditioner Brad Cox in December at the Big A. He followed with a close second in a six-furlong optional-claiming sprint at first asking for new connections.

“He came into the barn well, Brad does an excellent job,” Falcone, Jr. said. “He kept going the right way from there. When we claim a horse, you hope to aim for a race like this. It makes for a real fun race and I’m excited about it. He’s classy and does everything right.”

Kendrick Carmouche will guide Answer In from post 3.

Owner-trainer Linda Rice will send out Zoomer, who is currently on a two-race win streak having been claimed on each occasion.

Dylan Davis has the call from post 2.

Rounding out the field are Prince James [post 1, Manny Franco], More Graytful [post 4, Jose Gomez], Repo Rocks [post 5, Ruben Silvera], Mexican Wonder Boy [post 6, Trevor McCarthy], Whistling Birds [post 7, Eric Cancel] and Son of an Ex [post 8, Samuel Camacho, Jr.].

The action kicks off in Race 1, the $75,000 Xtra Heat for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward travelling 6 1/2 furlongs.

It’s Cold in Dehere enters off two runner-up efforts at the one-turn optional claiming level for trainer Linda Rice. The 6-year-old Ice Box mare completed the exacta behind stakes-winners Glass Ceiling and Hey Mamaluke in her last two efforts. She will seek her first win since running for a $62,500 tag in a November optional claimer at Churchill Downs for previous trainer Norm Casse.

Jose Lezcano will ride from post 1.

Prairie Fire will seek a second straight victory for owner-trainer Charlton Baker. The 6-year-old Posse chestnut mare was claimed by Baker for $25,000 last out going seven furlongs on February 20 at Aqueduct.

Dylan Davis will ride from post 7.

Completing the field are My Girl Lexi [post 2, Omar Hernandez Moreno], Sweet Mia [post 3, Jose Gomez], Easy to Bless [post 4, Jacqueline Davis], Shesalittle Edgy [post 5, Eric Cancel] and Cazilda Fortytales [post 6, Trevor McCarthy].

Race 2 features the $45,000 Belle Gallantey, a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward that will see Indian Bella cut back from a one-turn mile for trainer Mertkan Kantarmaci.

The 7-year-old daughter of Bellamy Road earned her tenth triumph in 40 starts last out, winning for a $12,500 tag on March 6 at the Big A. The victory was her first since August 2020, where she defeated starter optional claiming company at Prairie Meadows by 4 1/4 lengths.

Indian Bella will break from post 3 under return pilot Trevor McCarthy.

Michael Foster’s Witch Hunter also seeks back-to-back triumphs, entering off a first-level allowance coup on February 25 for Baker. The 5-year-old Khozan mare, bred in New York by Brent Fernung and Crystal Fernung, has finished at least second in seven of her last eight starts, which include a pair of victories last summer at Gulfstream Park.

Dylan Davis will ride from post 4.

Completing the field are Starship Reina [post 1, Raul Mena], First Forever [post 2, Silvestre Gonzalez], Sniff [post 5, Jacqueline Davis], Investment Grade [post 6, Luis Cardenas] and Awesomenewyear [post 7, Erick Fuentes].

Flying P Stable’s Dark Money brings a two-race win streak into the $55,000 Kelly Kip for older horses sprinting six furlongs in Race 3.

The 7-year-old Central Banker gelding was claimed for $25,000 by Tom Morley out of an easy four-length claiming triumph last time out for his former owner and trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

The consistent bay has amassed $435,957 in purse earnings with 12 wins from 32 starts. He has won two of his three starts this year with a runner-up effort to kick off his 2022 campaign on New Year’s Day.

Jose Gomez retains the mount from post 1.

Well-traveled veteran High Five Cotton ships in from Tampa Bay Downs to make start number 67 for trainer Jose Delgado and owner Carole Star Stable. A gelded son of High Cotton, High Five Cotton will look to improve off a runner-up effort last time out in a 6 1/2-furlong claiming sprint at Tampa. The 8-year-old dark bay has won 17 races across five different racetracks.

Trevor McCarthy picks up the mount from post 4. 

Rounding out the field are Belle Tapisserie [post 2, Dylan Davis], Smile Bryan [post 3, Manny Franco], Dee Bo [post 5, Jacqueline Davis], Tapizearance [post 6, Jose Lezcano], P J Advantage [post 7, Julio Correa] and Karen’s Cove [post 8, Eric Cancel].

Foxtail, owned and trained by Linda Rice, will look for the first win of her 8-year-old campaign when she takes on the $60,000 Sis City for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up traveling one mile in Race 4.

She enters from a runner-up effort in a $12,500 claimer at Aqueduct on March 6 when beaten a neck after stalking the pace and battling to the wire with Indian Bella.

The daughter of Mizzen Mast has compiled a record of 31-8-3-4 with one win at the Big A and total purse earnings of $343,616.

Kendrick Carmouche will ride from post 1.

Gringotts arrives off a string of in-the-money efforts in four claiming races at Aqueduct for trainer Chandradat Goberdhan, most recently finishing a close second to Prairie Fire in a $25,000 claiming contest sprinting seven furlongs on February 20.

Owned by Emily Racing Stable, Gringotts is seeking her first trip to the winner’s circle since an allowance victory at Finger Lakes Racetrack in May. The bay Central Banker mare has earned four wins and eight other placings from 24 lifetime starts.

Heman Harkie has call from post 9.

Completing the field are Game Theory [post 2, Benjamin Hernandez], A Ring Thing [post 3, Jacqueline Davis], Daria’s Angel [post 4, Manny Franco], Bee Bit [post 5, Andre Worrie], Infringement [post 6, Samuel Camacho, Jr.], Honey Money [post 7, Trevor McCarthy], and Customerexperience [post 8, Dylan Davis].

Graded stakes-placed Doubly Blessed will vie for his first victory since May 2021 in the $60,000 More to Tell for older horses going a one-turn mile in Race 5. 

Trained by Mike Maker for Three Diamonds Farm, Doubly Blessed was last seen finishing second to graded stakes-winner Green Light Go in the Stymie at the Big A on February 26, beaten 3 3/4 lengths after being bumped at the start and rallying from fifth.

The 5-year-old son of Empire Maker picked up graded black type when he finished third in the 2021 Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont Park behind multiple Grade 1-winner Life Is Good.

Doubly Blessed will emerge from post 4 with Manny Franco in the irons.

Trainer and co-owner Rudy Rodriguez will send out stakes-winner Tiergan to try and make it two-in-a-row after a strong optional claiming win at the Big A last time out on March 6, soundly defeating five foes by 4 3/4 lengths.

Campaigned by Rodriguez with Michael Imperio and Andrew Gurdon, Tiergan won an off-the-turf edition of the Ashley T. Cole at Belmont in September.

The son of Afleet Alex will break from post 5 with Trevor McCarthy aboard.

Rounding out the field are American Lincoln [post 1, Raul Mena], Merchants of Cool [post 2, Eric Cancel], Pier Forty [post 3, Jacqueline Davis], Fast Break [post 6, Kendrick Carmouche], Spectatorless [post 7, Jose Gomez], Johnnypump [post 8, Ruben Silvera], Hammerin Aamer [post 9, Dylan Davis], Forever Wicked [post 10, Heman Harkie] and Striking Speed [post 11, Samuel Camacho, Jr.].

Prestine Racing's South Sea brings winning form into the $70,000 Peeping Tom in Race 6 going 6 1/2 furlongs for 4-year-olds and upward.

The 8-year-old Into Mischief gelding was claimed for $16,000 last out from a 9 1/2-length romp in a six-furlong sprint on January 22 at the Big A. The hard-knocking gelding has hit the board in each of his last six starts.

Trevor McCarthy retains the mount from post 6.

Also entered are Lost in Rome [post 1, Heman Harkie], Supreme Aura [post 2, Eric Cancel], Blake B [post 3, Raul Mena], Magnificent Chrome [post 4, Omar Hernandez Moreno], Mount Travers [post 5, Jose Lezcano], Aristocratic [post 7, Jose Gomez], Baby I’m Perfect [post 8, Dylan Davis] and Brilliant Brooks [post 9, Manny Franco].

Cover Photo, a 5-year-old daughter of Munnings, will attempt to earn her first win for trainer Randi Persaud when she sprints six furlongs in Race 7, the $55,000 Videogenic for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up.

A popular horse in the claim box, Cover Photo has won three of her last four starts for three sets of connections, most recently skipping away to a four-length $10,000 claiming victory on March 13 for previous conditioner Michael Miceli. She was claimed out of that effort by Peter E. Bell, who won a three-way shake for the 6-year-old chestnut.

Cover Photo will be piloted by Benjamin Hernandez from post 7.

The Jeffrey Englehart-trained Shasta Star also enters from a last-out claiming win at the Big A, closing from off the pace to grind out a three-quarter-length victory over returning rival Quality Stones on February 21 for owner Robert Photos.

The stakes-winning Ready’s Image mare took down the 2019 California Governor’s Cup Handicap at Sacramento and has finished off the board just twice in her last nine outings.

Shasta Star will break from post 1 with Trevor McCarthy up.

Completing the field are Quality Stones [post 2, Samuel Camacho, Jr.], Bustin Bay [post 3, Manny Franco], Awesome Indra [post 4, Jose Gomez], Barista Vixen [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche], Shadolamo [post 6, Dylan Davis], and Ok Honey [post 7, Jose Lezcano].

Gus Ginesin’s Blewitt, a horse-for-course with six wins and three seconds from 11 starts at the Big A, headlines the $75,000 Stud Muffin in Race 8, a 1 3/8-mile endurance test for 4-year-olds and upward.

Trained by John Toscano, Jr. the 8-year-old Uncle Mo bay enters from a one-length win in a nine-furlong claiming tilt. The veteran of 24 career starts was claimed for $25,000 out of a winning effort at nine furlongs three starts back.

Dylan Davis retains the mount from post 4.

Rob Atras will saddle defending race champion Air Attack for owner Robert Derr. The 6-year-old Curlin gelding is winless in five starts since capturing last year’s test by one length, but enters from a good third traveling nine furlongs for a $40,000 tag.

Manny Franco retains the mount from post 2.

A loaded field of 12 includes Battalion [post 1, Trevor McCarthy], Roman Empire [post 3, Heman Harkie], Fleet Irish [post 5, William Otero], Super John [post 6, Ruben Silvera], Original Intent [post 7, Kendrick Carmouche], Bellamy Dolce [post 8, Samuel Camacho, Jr.], Giocare [post 9, Luis Rodriguez Castro], Bar Fourteen [post 10, Jose Gomez], Sir William [post 11, Raul Mena], and Therisastormbrewin [post 12, Jose Lezcano].

Irving Kalensky and Joseph Loner’s No Salt brings the class when cutting back to seven furlongs for Race 10, the $45,000 Dads Caps at seven furlongs for 4-year-olds and upward.

The Michael Miceli-trained Tonalist gelding, bred in New York by Larry Goichman, faced stakes-winners Tiergan, Water’s Edge and Yankee Division in his last three starts at state-bred optional claiming level. No Salt last found the winner’s circle four starts back on December 18, defeating fellow New York-breds at 6 1/2 furlongs over the Aqueduct main track.

Dylan Davis will pick up the mount from post 11.

Beast Mode Racing’s Magnetron will enter off one week’s rest after being claimed for $10,000 by trainer Robert Falcone, Jr. Bred in New York by SF Racing Group, the 7-year-old Take Charge Indy gelding saw a cutback to seven furlongs for his last out victory over the Big A main track. He was previously a narrow second twice at Aqueduct going a one-turn mile for an $8,000 tag.

Kendrick Carmouche will ride from post 7.

Completing the field are Binkster [post 1, Jose Gomez], Mi Tres Por Ciento [post 2, Eric Cancel], Healy’s Hope [post 3, Ruben Silvera], Direct Order [post 4, Manny Franco], Tale of Mist [post 5, Benjamin Hernandez], Joycee Haz Pizzaz [post 6, Heman Harkie], Next Flight [post 8, Luis Rodriguez Castro], Bedazzling [post 9, Samuel Camacho, Jr.], Trappeze Artist [post 10, Erick Fuentes], Confectioner [post 12, Raul Mena], Winning Drive [post 13, Trevor McCarthy] and Anything Pazible [post 14, Jacqueline Davis].

First post for Saturday’s card is 1:20 p.m. Eastern. 

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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