Royal Posse (Posse), the 9-5 favorite for the Saturday's $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel–the signature event of the 16th-annual series of races restricted to horses who have run for a claiming tag–splashed home decisively at Gulfstream Park over fellow Rudy Rodriguez trainee Mr Palmer (Pulpit). Claimed by Rodriguez on behalf of Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables and Gary Aisquith for $20,000 from Epona Racing Stable, Dark Horse Racing Stable and trainer Bruce Brown out of a runner-up effort at Belmont May 31, the 4-year-old gelding went on to take a New York-bed optional claimer two starts later before annexing Saratoga's Evan Shipman S. Sept. 4. He was last seen finishing second in Belmont's Empire Classic S. Oct. 24. The Jewel was rider Javier Castellano's fourth win on the card. Castellano has won the last four riding titles at Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet.
Quiet Kitten (Kitten's Joy), bred by dominant Claiming Crown owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, kicked things off with a two-length victory in the Claiming Crown Tiara S. for fillies and mares on the turf. She was claimed by Crossed Sabers Farm and Marcus Vitali for $25,000 here last March.
Loooch Racing Stables and Peter Walder were represented by Runs With Bulls (Flashy Bull) in the Claiming Crown Iron Horse S. for older horses over 8 1/2 panels on dirt who have started for $7,500 or less in their career. The 6-year-old gelding was making his first start since being transferred from trainer Anthony Rini. The same connections enjoyed their second win on the card with romping Moonshine Promise (Will He Shine) in the Glass Slipper S. going a one-turn dirt mile for fillies and mares.
The Claiming Crown Distaff Dash S. was taken off the turf, but that didn't stop Silver Sashay (Eurosilver) from earning her fourth-straight victory in front-running fashion for Acclaimed Racing Stable and Alfred McIntosh.
David Jacobson and Head of Plains Partners' Stallwakin' Dude (City Place), who had already earned more than $500,000 this year with two stakes wins, a Grade I placing and a GI Breeders' Cup Sprint appearance, got the job done in the Claiming Crown Rapid Transit S. over seven panels on the main track.
Successful Native (Successful Appeal) was let go at 11-1 odds despite a win in the local unrestricted Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint S. here in July to annex the rained-off Claiming Crown Canterbury S. The lightly raced 4-year-old was scooped up for $25,000 by trainer Aubrey Maragh on behalf of Marco Thoroughbred Corp. in April.
Marooned in the far-outside stall, 12-1 shot Doddsprivatelabel (Suave) got the job done in the six-furlong Claiming Crown Express for conditioner Marcos Zulueta and M-Z Racing Partnership.
Originally carded for the grass, the Claiming Crown Emerald S. was won by Premier Stables Unlimited's Brendan Walsh-trained Key to Power (A.P. Indy). The multiple stakes-winning entire hadn't been on a main track since 2012.
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