Cadet Corps (Photo by Coady Media)

Cadet Corps defended his title in Saturday’s $100,000 Jewel Qualifier and set a Colonial Downs track record for 1 1/8 miles. Westside Tide led a Joe Sharp-trained exacta over Funny Uncle in the $87,500 Emerald Qualifier to headline Claiming Crown Showcase Day. Paco Lopez rode both winners, sweeping the two featured qualifiers for the second consecutive year.

In the Jewel, Cadet Corps overcame a bobble at the break and powered away in the stretch to win the qualifier for the second consecutive year with Lopez aboard for trainer Kelly Breen. The Kenwood Racing runner covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:45.19, eclipsing the 1:46.41 mark set by American Promise when he won the 2025 Virginia Derby. Cadet Corps drew off to win by 4½ lengths.

Cadet Corps recovered quickly from the poor start and settled in the second flight outside before advancing three wide into the turn. Freedom Principle shook clear midway around the bend and led into the stretch, but Cadet Corps drew closer four wide, challenged in mid-stretch and kicked clear after Freedom Principle briefly resisted past the furlong marker. Freedom Principle held second comfortably

“I thought he telegraphed himself in the paddock,” said Robb Levinsky, founder of Kenwood Racing. “I thought Paco rode him perfectly. Kudos to our team up in New Jersey.”

Cadet Corps used last year’s race as a springboard to a runner-up finish in the Claiming Crown Jewel. Cadet Corps and Freedom Principle, the first- and second-place finishers, earned automatic berths to this year’s Claiming Crown, set for Nov. 14 at Churchill Downs.

The 7-year-old improved his career record to 49-16-6-9 with earnings of $569,246.

Read the full article from the National HBPA here: https://nationalhbpa.com/cadet-corps-repeats-breaks-track-record-in-jewe...