Three Claiming Crown Preps Sept. 8 at Kentucky Downs

Horses who have raced in the claiming ranks this year or last year will share some of the spotlight on the Sept. 8 Kentucky Downs card as the track will offer three starter condition races that will award berths in corresponding Claiming Crown races.

Besides the automatic berths, winners will have their nomination fees paid and will receive a $1,000 travel allowance to compete in the Claiming Crown Dec. 7 at Gulfstream Park. The three $100,000 events at Kentucky Downs will be offered as Races 5-7 Sunday. Horses who have competed for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2018, are eligible.

In the Claiming Crown Canterbury Stakes prep for 3-year-olds and older going 6 1/2 furlongs, Steve Klesaris and Jay Young's Tiger Blood will look to extend his perfect record on turf to five races. The 6-year-old Cowtown Cat  gelding has earned those four turf wins since April, with the two most recent scores coming by a combined 12 1/2 lengths in starter condition races at Gulfstream.

Klesaris trains Tiger Blood, who will be guided by jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

In the Claiming Crown Tiara Stakes prep for fillies and mares, Mt. Joy Stable's Cubs Win enters off a narrow victory in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race Aug. 3 at Ellis Park. Trained by Dallas Stewart, Cubs Win enters the one-mile, 70-yard race on a roll, having won three of her past four starts.

Jockey Declan Carroll, who was aboard in the race at Ellis, is back. The 4-year-old English Channel  filly will try to add to her 5-2-2 record from 14 starts.

In the Claiming Crown Emerald Stakes prep, AJ Suited Racing Stable's Dontblamerocket enters off a clear victory in a starter condition race Aug. 11 on the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course. The 5-year-old Blame  gelding is trained by Norm Casse and will be ridden by Julien Leparoux in the one-mile, 70-yard race for 3-year-olds and older.

Dontblamerocket has top-three finishes in eight of his past nine starts.