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Claiming Crown Brings Out the Best at Canterbury Park Shakopee, MN -- The 2005 Claiming Crown went off for a crowd of 10,515 at Canterbury Park. The fields were full of favorites and longshots running for the money in the $650,000 day. $50,000 Miller Brewing Co. Claiming Crown Iron Horse A jockey’s patience led to triumph for New York shipper My Extolled Honor in the $50,000 Miller Claiming Crown Iron Horse at Canterbury Park. After breaking last out of the gate, bettors’ second choice My Extolled Honor saved ground avoiding early pace battles in the 1 1/16 mile stakes. Jockey Heberto Castillo, Jr.’s patience with the Steve Asmussen trainee paid off when Castillo released the horse around the final turn gaining on the entire field save 18-1 King of Chicago. The two wrestled for the lead neck and neck to the wire in a 1:43 4/5 finish that was ultimately decided through a photo in favor of My Extolled Honor. “The owner gave instructions from Steve to tell me to hold the horse until he was ready to go, so I wasn’t discouraged with my break or backside position,” said Castillo, Jr. “When I asked him to go, he went. The horse really showed that he belonged here.” My Extolled Honor pocketed a winner’s purse of $30,000 for owners Robert Asaro and Steve Asmussen raising the seven-year-old gelding’s lifetime earnings to $282,140 in 40 starts. My Extolled Honor returned $7.20 to win. King of Chicago finished second and Sacsahuaman grabbed third. $50,000 Pepsi Claiming Crown Express Onlynurimagination took the $50,000 Pepsi Claiming Crown Express in track record-breaking fashion covering the six-furlong distance in 1:08.04 seconds. Under jockey Bobby Walker, Jr., Colorado shipper Onlynurimagination bolted from the gate to take command of the field. The Merrill Scherer trainee held off a charge from Cicero Games going into the final turn then lengthened his lead and crossed the wire posting a new track record. “I wanted him to break to the lead as long as it was clean,” said Walker, Jr. “Merrill had him ready. I could see his ears perking up so I knew he had plenty left. I just had to start him. He put me in the winners’ circle on his own.” Owned by Deborah Isaacs and Merrill Scherer, Onlynurimagination took the winner’s purse of $30,000 raising the six-year-old geldings career earnings to $240,014. Five-to-four favorite Onlynurimagination paid $3.80 to win. Cicero Games and Landler finished second and third, respectively. $75,000 WinTicket.com Claiming Crown Glass Slipper Canterbury’s own Ells Editor took the $75,000 WinTicket.com Claiming Crown Glass Slipper from open company in a surprise upset at the Park. Hall of Fame jockey Scott Stevens held Ells Editor back after a clean break from the gate in the 6 ½-furlong race. Peekaboo Cat and I Will Survive fought for the lead from the get go. The early speed held the front until the final turn when Stevens unleashed the Percy Scherbenske trainee from six lengths behind. The Editor’s Note filly answered the call and took the race at the wire. “I had a dream trip,” said Stevens. “We relaxed at the beginning so when I asked her to go I knew she had plenty left. I think the locals have a definite advantage. The horses are used to the heat and local riders have no pressure. It’s just another day for us.” Ells Editor scored $45,000 for owners Doris and Stanley Holland raising the four-year-old filly’s earnings to $113,175. The local connections paid $26.40 to win. I Will Survive held second while Peekaboo Cat took third. $100,000 Claiming Crown Tiara Another local long shot took the money in the return of the $100,000 Claiming Crown Tiara. The 1 1/16 mile turf race began with Michael Ziegler piloting Inhonorofjohnnie to early lead tight on the rail. Ziegler and Inhonorofjohnnie held that position wire to wire, despite charges from O.K. Coral and Shadow Dance, to take the race in 1:43.51. O. K. Coral and Roberta Gonzalez took second and local jockey Shannon Uske and Secret Lies came up for third. “There’s a lot of talented riders here in our jockey colony,” said Ziegler, “but it is ultimately depends on the horse. You can put anybody on a good horse and their going to win.” Inhonorofjohnnie took a winner’s purse of $60,000 for owner and trainer Owen McQuade raising the five-year-old mare’s career earnings to 117,689. The local long shot paid $23.20 to win. $100,000 Daily Racing Form Rapid Transit World record holder Procreate took the $100,000 Rapid Transit in style. The Maryland shipper Procreate, ridden by jockey Heberto Castillo, Jr., took the 6 1/2 –furlong race wire-to-wire in 1:14 2/5, just missing a track record. Trained by John Zimmerman, Procreate brought in a winner’s purse of $60,000 raising his career earnings to $271,619 in 47 starts for owners Thomas McClay and Harry Nye. The seven-year-old gray gelding paid $10.60 to win. The Student took second while Crafty Player held third. $125,000 Dodge Claiming Crown Emerald Lukewarm three-to-one favorite Mr. Mabee took the $125,000 Dodge Claiming Crown Emerald with ease. The 1 1/16 mile Emerald began with sharp speed from Celtic Approval. Mr. Mabee, and Rockhurst. Derek Bell settled Mr. Mabee on the rail behind Celtic Approval on the backstretch, but prompted the horse around the final bend on the inside to take the lead. Mr. Mabee never looked back and took the race in 1:41 3/5. “It was an amazing trip,” said Bell. “I was just a pilot; the horse did all the work.” Trained by Jimmy Zook, Mr. Mabee earned the winner’s purse of $75,000 for owner William Stiritz raising lifetime earnings to $145,344. The four-year-old colt paid $8.00 to win. Sigfreto got up for second and Rockhurst held third. $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel In a race pitting the top claimers in the country against each other for $150,000, Lord of the Game took media action but it was Desert Boom who proved to be the better horse taking the win in the Claiming Crown Jewel. The 1 1/8 mile race began with Grade III winner Desert Boom taking the early lead and the rail. Lord of the Game and Habaneros trailed close behind. The pair both made bids at the leader on the backstretch but to no avail. Under Roberto Gonzalez, Desert Boom crossed the finish in 1:47 1/5. The winner’s purse of $90,000 went to owner Robert Bone and trainer Art Sherman. Desert Boom raised his lifetime earnings to $541,920 in 33 starts. The five-year-olds third consecutive win paid $4.60 to win. Lord of the Game finished second while Habaneros took third. Click Here to Return to News Page
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