Claiming Challenge Incentive Program Back at Aqueduct

The Under 20's Claiming Challenge will return for the upcoming winter and spring meets at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The program, launched in 2018 and open to local trainers with 20 or fewer horses nationwide, will begin Dec. 10, opening day of the 56-day winter meet, which runs through March 28. The challenge continues through the end of the 11-day Aqueduct spring meet, set to run April 1 to April 18.

The top eight trainers in the contest will share a prize pool of $80,000, with the winner receiving $16,000. Stall allotments for the Aqueduct winter meet will be used to determine eligible trainers.

Trainers earn points based on their horses' performances in all winners' claiming races on the main track at Aqueduct from Dec. 10 through the end of the spring meet. Points will be tallied and records verified April 19, and awards will be granted thereafter. 

To retain eligibility, there can be no more than 20 horses on a trainer's roster at any given time, although a trainer's stable may grow above 20 horses through claiming activity. But not all horses will be eligible for the contest, and only roster horses can earn points. A trainer may replace a claimed horse who was on their roster with another claimed horse. After a horse is claimed, it will be added to the trainer's roster only at the trainer's request.

Horses in for a tag in an allowance optional claiming race will qualify for contest points. Points are not earned in maiden, allowance, starter allowance, or stakes races.

A horse that ends up on the stewards' list for poor performance will not earn the trainer points for that race. Horses that are running for 50% or less of the claiming price from their most recent start will only be eligible to earn 50% of the typical points for that race.

In addition, horses can only earn contest points for two races within a given 30-day time period. A horse may enter in additional races during that time frame but will not earn contest points for those additional races.

Past winners of the Under 20's Claiming Challenge are Eddie Barker and Mertkan Kantarmaci, who tied for top honors during the 2019-20 Aqueduct winter meet. Kantarmaci took the 2019 Belmont spring/summer title along with the 2018-19 Aqueduct winter title, and Barker won top honors during the 2018 Belmont spring/summer meets.