Mike Maker to send out his trio for this year’s renewal of the Claiming Crown Jewel at Fair Grounds
The $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel will be held at Fair Grounds race course on 3 December, 2011, over a distance of 1 1/8 mile on dirt. The race has reeled in six three-year-old and up contestants, and out of those six, trainer Mike Maker has half the field.
This year Mike Maker is sending out three of William Butler’s entry of Al Muhtasib, Isthmus and Harmonizer. Mike Maker has enjoyed sending out runners in the Claiming Crown Jewel in recent years, because he has gone on to win seven races in the past four
years.
Last year at when the race was held at Canterbury Park, Mike Maker sent out Headache against a solid field and still managed to win the 2010 edition of the Claiming Crown Jewel at about 1 1/8 miles on dirt where he defeated Smarten Destiny in second place
and Strike Impact in third with the winning time of 1 minute and 50.11 seconds.
The Claiming Crown is a series which puts racing’s blue collar workers in the spotlight and last year the race was held at Canterbury, and the venue has gone on to host 10 of the 12 editions of the race.
The Kentucky bred 4-year-old son of Distorted Humor, out of mare A.P. Interest by A. P. Indy, Al Muhtasib is coming out of a win in the $35,000 optional allowance at Hawthorne race course on 6 November, 2011.
Under jockey T Thornton, Al Muhtasib starting on dirt after racing his last two starts on synthetic surface, won the 1 1/16 mile event by downing Maltese Dog and Gold Former, who finished second and third, respectively, while Al Muhtasib took control of
the race and hit the wire in 1 minute and 46.46 seconds.
After the Hawthorne race Mike Maker claimed Al Muhtasib. Much of his victories have come on dirt and in summer at Saratoga Al Muhtasib claimed $50,000 at Saratoga won the race. The 4-year-old Distorted Humor colt will be making his first start for his new
connections.
Mike Maker will be bidding strong to land the Claiming Crown Jewel once again this year with Isthmus, Harmonizer and Al Muhtasib who is in fine form on dirt.
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