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 Antrim
County Scores Historic and Determined Win in Claiming Crown Jewel July 25, 2009 -- Shakopee, MN -- After today’s sixth race on Claiming Crown day, the exuberant Canterbury Park crowd of 11,324 witnessed a special presentation honoring Antrim County as the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) 2008 Claimer of the Year. Highlighting that banner 2008 campaign was a win in the $50,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse at Canterbury. Less than two hours after that presentation Canterbury fans were reminded of Antrim County’s unique blend of talent and determination when he re-rallied after being headed in deep stretch to take the day’s featured event, the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel. The win marked the first time in Claiming Crown history that a horse had ever won two different Claiming Crown races. The only other horse to win at the Claiming Crown more than once is Al’s Dearly Bred who won the 2001 and 2006 renewals of the Claiming Crown Emerald. Under confident handling by Jamie Theriot, Antrim County made a three-wide run around the first turn to stalk pacesetter Glamour Guy. Antrim County then moved alongside Glamour Guy and the two raced as a team until midstretch, when Fancy Runner made a menacing move along the inside rail just as Antrim County took the lead. With Glamour Guy dropping out of the battle from between horses, Antrim County and Fancy Runner matched strides to the wire, and Fancy Runner put a head in front about 50 yards from the wire. But Antrim County reached down for every ounce of his reserves and surged one final time to reclaim the lead by a neck at the wire. “I knew I had a lot of horse around the turn,” said Theriot, “then he came on again late and I hung on.” Antrim County, sent off as the 4-1 third choice, paid $10.80 to win, $4.60 to place and $3.80 to show. Fancy Runner, an 8-1 proposition, paid $7.60 to place and $4.40 to show. Glamour Guy hung on for third and returned $3.00 to show. Furthest Land, the 4-5 favorite, never seriously threatened and finished fourth. Repenting and Forest Warfare completed the order of finish. Final time for the mile-and-one-eighth was 1:50.77. In the day’s other top events: $50,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse “We got a very good break, so we took advantage and got slow fractions,” said winning rider Jamie Theriot. The 8-year-old, claimed last August for $4,000 has now won six of his last seven starts. Bright Hall returned $8.60 to his backers for a $2.00 win bet. Favored Calm and Collected finished second and longshot Benson captured third in a photo finish. $100,000 YouBet.com Claiming Crown Tiara “She broke really alertly, really aggressive,” said Albarado. “We didn’t necessarily want her on the lead, but she’s a fighter and that’s what she did. Love to Tell is a great horse too. It was a great race.” Mizzcan’tbewrong, who won her third in a row today after capturing the Minnesota HBPA Mile last time out in an off-the-turf race, paid $6.20 to win. Bartok’s Bling checked in third. $75,000 TVG Claiming Crown Rapid Transit “To tell the truth, I really didn’t think he was one of my better chances today,” said Baze. “I thought he might be tailing off lately, but he really came to the party running. He stayed in contention early, caught up with them at the eighth pole, and kept running right to the wire.” Sent off at 7-1, You’re My Boy Blue paid $16.20 to win. $50,000 Pepsi Claiming Crown Express “They went pretty quick so we wait…we wait…and it turned out pretty good,” said Leparoux. “You want your horse to finish the last part—that’s the way to win a race.” Winning trainer Mike Maker registered his fifth career Claiming Crown win, after capturing three tallies in 2007 at Ellis Park and another last year here at Canterbury Park. Chasing the Prize was sent off as a slight 2-1 favorite and returned $6.40 to win. $75,000 Daily Racing Form Claiming Crown Glass Slipper Breaking from the far outside in the field of nine, Frisco Fox settled in a distant fourth position behind the aggressive early fractions of 21.31 and 44.44 set by Iowa shipper Margie Marie, who won a two-furlong stakes last time out at Prairie Meadows. Margie Marie could not keep that pace up, however, and at the top of the stretch, Frisco Fox was the only making a serious run at the leader. After taking the lead in midstretch, Frisco Fox was able to withstand a late rally from Thunder and Belle. Cassie D, a 70-1 longshot picked up the pieces for third. Final time for the six furlongs was 1:11.04. “She came and fired a big one,” said Baze. “She has the talent, she just hadn’t been showing it lately. I didn’t think I could go with the speed horses, so I was glad we were on the outside. She relaxed real well and switched leads on the turn all by herself. Turning for home, I had just enough horse to hold on.” Frisco Fox paid $25.20 to her win bettors. Asked when the last time was when he had ridden a $16 winner and a $25 winner on the same card, the always well supported Baze smiled and replied, “It’s been a while!” $100,000 Bremer Bank Claiming Crown Emerald “Today it had a big benefit,” said Baird regarding his previous experience aboard Gran Estreno(ARG). “I know him and I know what I have to do to avoid getting him in a bad position.” Stormy Surge was third under Russell Baze, capping a big day for trainer Lloyd Mason, who sent four horses from Northern California to Claiming Crown and registered two wins and two thirds. Sent off as the lukewarm 7-2 favorite, Gran Estreno (ARG) paid $9.20 to win after scoring his fifth consecutive win. Three of those wins have come for Stidham, who claimed the 6-year-old on May 1 for $20,000 at Arlington Park. $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes Owned by the Vegso Racing Stable, Happiness Is stayed a length pacemaker Fabulous Babe in the early going, then took command at the top of the stretch, and held off Euphony, ridden by Cliff Berry, as the top two drifted well out to the center of the track. It was the first stakes win for Happiness Is and the first loss of 2009 for Euphony, who had won the Grade III Arlington Matron Handicap in May among her three victories this year. “I knew Euphony would be coming at us,” said Homeister. “I was able to get her settled early on, and keep her away from the speed, but around the first turn she grabbed the bit and got aggressive. She settled again, though, and when horses came up outside her in the stretch, she accelerated and just didn’t want to get beat.” Happiness Is paid $10.40 to win. Behind Euphony, the order of finish was completed by Lady Carlock, Fabulous Babe, Quiet Queen, Adhsilver and Sirrah. Attendance increased by 11% compared to 2008. Wagering handle for the seven Claiming Crown races rose by 11.35% to $2,175,936. Founded in 1940 on the philosophy of “horsemen helping horsemen” the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) has developed into the largest organization representing horsemen's interests in North America. Over 40,000 members strong, the NHBPA protects the rights of the representative majorities of licensed racehorse owners and trainers in over 30 affiliate HBPA offices across the U.S. and Canada. TOBA, based in Lexington, Kentucky, was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA's mission is to "improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders." Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, The Racing Game, Sales Integrity Program and Claiming Crown. TOBA is the owner of The Blood-Horse Inc., and is represented on the Board of Directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association as a founding member. For additional information please contact Claiming Crown Coordinator Nat Wess at 800-340-6361 or 952-496-6411 or nwess@canterburypark.com. Click Here to Return to News Page
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