Aqueduct Spotlight Shines on Claimers, Past and Present

On a day when the world's richest horse race will be contested in Dubai, New York will showcase horses at the other end of the equine spectrum.

Claimers and former claimers will get their moment in the spotlight March 30 at Aqueduct Racetrack through the Claiming Championship, a package of 10 stakes worth a combined $620,000.

The 10 races are open to horses who have raced at certain claiming levels in 2018 and 2019 and range in value from $45,000 to $80,000, covering distances from six furlongs to 1 3/8 miles.

Topping that menu is the $80,000 Caixa Eletronica for horses that have started for a claiming tag of $40,000 or less in 2018-19. The seven-furlong sprint attracted a bulky field of 12 and will close out the 10-race program.

M and A Racing's Mr. Dougie Fresh heads into the race off a convincing 4 1/4-length victory in a Feb. 21 first-level allowance race at Aqueduct for trainer Jason Servis. A son of Ghostzapper , Mr. Dougie Fresh was claimed by his current connections on Nov. 29 for $40,000.

In his first start for Servis, the 5-year-old gelding lost by a neck in a Jan. 12 allowance race at Aqueduct.

Trainer Linda Rice will send out the uncoupled duo of All in the Family Racing's Bavaro and American Power, who she owns in a partnership with Stephen Cooper.

Claimed for $25,000 on Jan. 11, Bavaro won the Hollie Hughes Stakes for state-breds and then was third in the Tom Fool Handicap (G3) in his first two starts for Rice.

American Power, claimed for $40,000 on Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course, was second in his last start, falling a head short in a March 10 first-level allowance race.

"They are both doing very well," Rice said. "I thought they might be good entries with Bavaro being the speed on the front end and American Power as a closer, so I think they'll be a suitable pair."

Adding some sentimental value is Sudden Surprise, who is owned by Mike Repole and was claimed by trainer Rudy Rodriguez for $40,000 in his last start. Repole owned Caixa Eletronica during the second half of his career. He rose from the claiming ranks to earn $1.8 million but died during a tragic training accident at the age of nine in 2014.

The $75,000 Stud Muffin, for horses who have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2018-19, promises to be a test of stamina as the 1 3/8-mile test attracted a field of 10.

Race 9 on the card, the Stud Muffin features a rematch of Woodlands Farms' stakes-winning Turco Bravo, claimed for $25,000 three starts ago, and Island Wind Racing's Devine Dental, claimed for $30,000 two starts ago by trainer Rob Atras, who has won with 12 of 26 starters at the meet.

Devine Dental and Turco Bravo ran 1-2, respectively, in a nine-furlong March 8 starter allowance race at Aqueduct, with Devine Dental prevailing by a half-length.