Very much the poster horse for what the annual Claiming Crown at Gulfstream Park represents, Mastic Beach Racing's Tune In will seek his seventh win in his last 10 starts in the $125,000 Jewel Dec. 4.
The Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up who have run for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2020-21, will headline an 11-race program offering nine starter stakes worth $810,000 in purses for the celebration of the blue-collar horses that support day-to-day programs at racetracks across the country. Post time for Saturday's program is noon ET.
Tune In, who opened his career with a 3 1/2-length win in a $20,000 maiden claiming race at Keeneland in April 2019, has developed into a tough-as-nails competitor with a resolute will to win. The Diane Morici-trained gelding has notched a record of six wins, two places, and one third in his last nine races.
"He's a cool dude," Morici said. "He's a rock star; he's a total rock star."
The son of Country Day, who is coming off a dominating victory in a one-turn mile starter allowance at Gulfstream, will attempt to win for the first time around two turns on dirt in the Jewel. His most recent attempt at two turns on dirt came Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs, where he held the lead in the stretch before settling for second behind multiple graded stakes-placed Major Fed.
"He went two turns at Churchill and got beat by a very nice horse," Morici said. "At this level I think he should be fine."
Tune In, who kicked off his impressive nine-race run with back-to-back two-turn victories over the turf at Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream last winter, came back from his Churchill race six weeks later to return to winning form at Gulfstream. He will return in the Jewel off only three weeks between races.
"This is the first time I'm running him back this quick. I usually give him a little bit more time between races, but he did come out of his last race really well," Morici said. "He shipped to Kentucky twice and ran his eyeballs out. He never missed an oat. He's a good eater. He's a class act. He's just a class act."
Leonel Reyes has the return mount aboard Tune In.
John Fanelli, LC Racing, Paul Braverman, and Timothy Pinch's Girolamo's Attack will also attempt to win for the first time around two turns in the Jewel. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 4-year-old gelding is coming off a victory in the one-turn mile Hollywood Lakes Handicap at Gulfstream.
"His best race seems to be a one-turn mile. He's 3-for-3 at Gulfstream at a one-turn mile," Joseph said. "We're experimenting going two turns for the first time at a mile and an eighth. We're going to give it a shot. It's a question mark if he wants to go two turns."
Privately purchased after breaking his maiden for a $32,000 claiming price at Gulfstream in July 2020, the son of Girolamo is usually forwardly placed while sprinting.
"Going longer, it allows him to get into an easier rhythm than when we were sprinting him earlier. I think that was the mistake we were making," Joseph said. "It's a slower tempo (around two turns)."
Edgard Zayas has the return call.
Joseph will also be represented by Magic Cap Stables' Twelve Volt Man, who became eligible for the Jewel two races back when he won a starter optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream while running for a $35,000 tag. The 3-year-old Violence gelding finished fourth in the Showing Up Stakes Nov. 6 in next start on Tapeta. Edwin Gonzalez has the mount on Twelve Volt Man.
Trainer Michael Maker, who has saddled a record 18 winners of Claiming Crown races, will be represented in the Jewel by Paradise Farms and David Staudacher's Hanalei's Houdini. The 5-year-old Jersey Town gelding, who has raced for a claiming price as low as $16,000, will make his first start for his new connections Friday after being claimed for $50,000 out of a fifth-place finish at Keeneland. Paco Lopez has the call.
The Claiming Crown will also feature the $95,000 Emerald for 3-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2020-21, at 1 1/16 miles on turf; the $95,000 Tiara for fillies and mares 3 and up which have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2020-21, at 1 1/16 miles on turf; the $90,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial for 3-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2020-21, at five furlongs on turf; the $90,000 Distaff Dash for for fillies and mares 3 and up which have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2020-21, at five furlongs on turf; the $85,000 Rapid Transit for 3-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in 2020-21, at seven furlongs on dirt; the $80,000 Glass Slipper for fillies and mares 3 and up which have started for a claiming price of $12,500 or less in 2020-21, at one mile on dirt; the $75,000 Express for 3-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $8,000 or less lifetime, at six furlongs on dirt; and the $75,000 Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial for 3-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $8,000 or less lifetime, at 1 1/16 miles on dirt.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 4, 2021, Race 3Entries: Claiming Crown Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial Starter S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Souper Fly Over (KY) Mychel J. Sanchez 124 Harold Wyner 12/1 2 2Causalistic (KY) Leonel Reyes 120 Diane D. Morici 10/1 3 3One Eyed Jack (KY) Miguel Angel Vasquez 120 Enrique Amado 30/1 4 4Brasstown (KY) Edgard J. Zayas 124 Antonio Sano 8/1 5 5Trappezoid (ON) Chantal Sutherland 124 Jorge Delgado 8/5 6 6Blue Steel (KY) Paco Lopez 120 Jeff A. Hiles 7/2 7 7County Court (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 122 Peter R. Walder 15/1 8 8Zanesville (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 124 George Leonard, III 5/1 9 9Uncle Curly (NY) Junior Alvarado 122 Peter R. Walder 8/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 4, 2021, Race 4Entries: Claiming Crown Distaff Dash Starter S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Strong Odor (KY) Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. 122 Michael J. Maker 9/2 2 2Odramark (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 122 Kelly J. Breen 15/1 3 3Awsum Roar (NY) Edgard J. Zayas 120 Antonio Sano 10/1 4 4Running Memories (FL) Corey J. Lanerie 120 Joseph F. Orseno 4/1 5 5Richies Great Girl (FL) Miguel Angel Vasquez 122 Larry Rivelli 5/1 6 6Beantown Baby (FL) Mychel J. Sanchez 124 Arnaud Delacour 6/1 7 7Cat's Astray (FL) Chantal Sutherland 120 Juan D. Arias 15/1 8 8The Great Kath (FL) Victor Lebron 120 J. Kent Sweezey 30/1 9 9Payntdembluesaway (KY) Paco Lopez 120 Jane Cibelli 7/2 10 10Follow Me Mom (FL) Gaddiel A. Martinez 122 Micheal Mullings 30/1 11 11Drop a Hint (KY) Edwin Gonzalez 122 Herman Wilensky 12/1 12 12Mudslide Wicked (KY) Angel S. Arroyo 120 Maria Ines Mejia 30/1 13 13Anonymously (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 120 Michael J. Maker 8/1 14 14Likely Choice (KY) Jesus M. Rios 118 Jonathan Maldonado 20/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 4, 2021, Race 5Entries: Claiming Crown Express Starter S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Face of Victory (KY) Edgard J. Zayas 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 4/1 2 2Uncork the Bottle (KY) Paco Lopez 120 Rohan Crichton 5/1 3 3Hero Tiger (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 124 Juan Carlos Avila 6/1 4 4Handsome Prince (FL) Junior Alvarado 120 Ernesto Ochoa 30/1 5 5Kalu (KY) Edwin Gonzalez 124 J. Kent Sweezey 6/5 6 6Star Juancho (FL) Leonel Reyes 122 Enrique Torres 20/1 7 7Guaco (KY) Miguel Angel Vasquez 120 Gerald E. Brooks 15/1 8 8Ellas My Love (ON) Jose A. Batista 122 Juan Arriagada 10/1 9 9Aequor (KY) Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. 124 Frank Russo 12/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 4, 2021, Race 6Entries: Claiming Crown Tiara Starter S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Kahiko (KY) Paco Lopez 124 J. Kent Sweezey 4/1 2 2Centsless Drama (FL) Emisael Jaramillo 122 Carlos A. David 12/1 3 3Passion Plus (FL) Leonel Reyes 120 Elizabeth L. Dobles 15/1 4 4Bean Counter (KY) Marcos Meneses 120 Antonio Sano 20/1 5 5Una Luna (FL) Miguel Angel Vasquez 122 Steve Klesaris 8/1 6 6Toned Up (KY) Angel S. Arroyo 122 Timothy A. Hills 20/1 7 7Classy Woman (FL) Julien R. Leparoux 120 Moises R. Yanez 30/1 8 8Sugar Fix (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 7/2 9 9Whimsical Muse (KY) Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. 120 Michael J. Maker 3/1 10 10Starship Mallomar (KY) Luca Panici 120 Oscar M. Gonzalez 12/1 11 11Isadorable Aida (KY) Junior Alvarado 120 Carlos A. David 15/1 12 12Act Like Artie (ON) Mychel J. Sanchez 120 Kelly J. Breen 8/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 4, 2021, Race 7Entries: Claiming Crown Glass Slipper Starter S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Don't Get Khozy (FL) Leonel Reyes 124 Antonio Sano 4/1 2 2Chez Paree (KY) Chantal Sutherland 120 Monica McGoey 20/1 3 3Dem a Wonder (FL) Luca Panici 118 Rohan Crichton 8/1 4 4Trevess (FL) Miguel Angel Vasquez 122 Laura Cazares 10/1 5 5Tiz Possible Dear (FL) Angel S. Arroyo 124 Marcial Navarro 15/1 6 6Lavi (KY) Edwin Gonzalez 120 Victor Barboza, Jr. 12/1 7 7Sweet Willemina (KY) Silvestre Gonzalez 126 Scott A. Lake 5/1 8 8Let's Be Honest (FL) Marcos Meneses 122 Enrique Torres 6/1 9 9Pretty Rachel (KY) Paco Lopez 118 J. Kent Sweezey 9/2 10 10Willoughby Gap (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 122 Jean L. Adorno 20/1 11 11Papa's Little Girl (FL) Junior Alvarado 122 Jose Garoffalo 15/1 12 12Our Fantasy (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 120 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 8/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 4, 2021, Race 8Entries: Claiming Crown Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial Starter S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Tropicat (FL) Chantal Sutherland 120 Ralph E. Nicks 10/1 2 2Bad Beat Brian (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 120 Michael J. Maker 4/1 3 3Harry's Ontheloose (FL) Leonel Reyes 124 Elizabeth L. Dobles 6/1 4 4The Connector (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 120 Darien Rodriguez 20/1 5 5Henry's World (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 122 Gilberto Zerpa 12/1 6 6Mystery Messenger (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 122 Fernando Abreu 8/1 7 7Belgrano (KY) Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. 126 Frank Russo 3/1 8 8Forest Survivor (ON) Andrew Wolfsont 124 Yvon Belsoeur 20/1 9 9Xy Speed (KY) Paco Lopez 126 Gerald S. Bennett 5/1 10 10Discreet Tune (FL) Junior Alvarado 120 Carlos A. David 15/1 11 11Admiral Abe (PA) Silvestre Gonzalez 126 Robert Mosco 12/1 12 12Dr. Shane (NY) Mychel J. Sanchez 120 Jesus Cruz 30/1 13 13Gran Malbec (FL) Miguel Angel Vasquez 120 Gerald E. Brooks 20/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 4, 2021, Race 9Entries: Claiming Crown Rapid Transit Starter S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1I'm a G Six (KY) Rajiv Maragh 122 Aubrey A. Maragh 8/1 2 2Fortunate Friends (FL) Jose A. Batista 120 Juan Arriagada 30/1 3 3Financial System (KY) Edgard J. Zayas 120 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 9/2 4 4Motataabeq (KY) John Bisono 120 Alison Escobar 30/1 5 5Pudding (FL) Leonel Reyes 124 Elizabeth L. Dobles 7/2 6 6Star Sign (KY) Silvestre Gonzalez 120 Robert Mosco 10/1 7 7Blessed Journey (KY) Marcos Meneses 122 Carlos Luis Perez 15/1 8 8Miles Ahead (KY) Paco Lopez 126 Edward Plesa, Jr. 3/1 9 9Well Defined (FL) Luca Panici 126 Kathleen O'Connell 8/1 10 10Lookin At Roses (KY) Mychel J. Sanchez 124 Guadalupe Preciado 10/1 11 11Legal Deal (FL) Edwin Gonzalez 124 Carlos A. David 8/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 4, 2021, Race 10Entries: Claiming Crown Jewel Starter S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Ludington (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 120 Peter R. Walder 8/1 2 2Hard Lighting (KY) Marcos Meneses 120 Victor Barboza, Jr. 20/1 3 3Girolamo's Attack (KY) Edgard J. Zayas 124 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 5/2 4 4Tune In (KY) Leonel Reyes 122 Diane D. Morici 7/2 5 5Glory of Florida (FL) Miguel Angel Vasquez 122 Laura Cazares 8/1 6 6Strike Appeal (KY) Angel S. Arroyo 124 Odin J. Londono, Jr. 5/1 7 7Twelve Volt Man (KY) Edwin Gonzalez 118 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 10/1 8 8Braccio Di Ferro (FL) Emisael Jaramillo 118 Jose Francisco D'Angelo 30/1 9 9Mo Hawk (KY) Chantal Sutherland 120 Juan Carlos Avila 12/1 10 10Hanalei's Houdini (MD) Paco Lopez 120 Michael J. Maker 6/1
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 4, 2021, Race 11Entries: Claiming Crown Emerald Starter S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Mid Day Image (NY) Paco Lopez 120 Luis Carvajal, Jr. 6/1 2 2The Last Zip (KY) Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. 122 Michael J. Maker 5/1 3 3Attentive (KY) Chantal Sutherland 122 Michael J. Maker 8/1 4 4Clear Vision (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 120 Matthew Brice O'Connor 7/2 5 5Mandate (KY) Andrew Wolfsont 126 Yvon Belsoeur 8/1 6 6Louder Than Bombs (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 122 David Fawkes 15/1 7 7Kitten's Spa (KY) Mario E. Fernandez 120 Jose Lozano Sanchez 30/1 8 8Max K. O. (FL) Edgard J. Zayas 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 3/1 9 9Surf and Turf (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 120 Odin J. Londono, Jr. 30/1 10 10Benelux (KY) Jose E. Lopez 124 Christopher Davis 15/1 11 11Light Fury (KY) Junior Alvarado 124 Ronald B. Spatz 12/1 12 12Go Mike (KY) Angel S. Arroyo 118 Herbert Miller 30/1 13 13Call Curt (KY) Marcos Meneses 120 Juan Carlos Avila 30/1 14 14Vow Me Now (KY) Edwin Gonzalez 120 Edward Plesa, Jr. 10/1
