Hi All,

With the closing of the Monmouth Park Stable area our horses have travelled to their new destinations safely and we have four entries between Wednesday and Saturday including two horses in the Claiming Crown rsces at Churchill Downs. We will have a large contingent of Kenwood Partners and Group 97 ARC 25 Members and their families in attendance to cheer our boys on. I have copied an article from the National HBPA which gives a nice description of the Claiming Crown Day including some quotes form our Trainer – Partner Kelly Breen. Please take the time to read it as claiming horses are the backbone of the racing industry. The pp’s for the entire card are attached above for your handicapping reference.

Red Head Italian has adapted well to her new surroundings at Penn National with trainer Mark Salvaggio and she will start us off on Wednesday night November 12th in Race 9 at Penn National sprinting 5 ½ furlongs on the main track with veteran Jomar Torres in the irons (see pp’s attached above and race info below). She is the morning line favorite at 2-1 in this field of nine fillies and mares. Scott’s early comments are below. Good luck to all Group 91 Members and our partners RJR Racing.

We have RED HEAD ITALIAN into the entries at Penn National Wednesday, November 12^th, in a 5.5f sprint on the main track! Top jockey Jomar Torres takes the mount as we drop RHI back to the claiming ranks with one goal – getting another WIN! She has settled in nicely with Mark Salvaggio and his team has been eating great and maintaining her weight; something she has not been the best with over the years! She’s been training well on the smaller track out there and will be ready to go with a Post Time of 9:37 PM for the finale on the Wednesday night card. We’ll look to use her speed breaking from mid pack, and hope that she can take the field of nine gate-to-wire! I’ll be in touch Wednesday after scratches, with the team’s final thoughts.

Red Head Italian is entered on November 12, 2025 at PENN NATIONAL.

Full Entries for Race

Race: 9 - 9:37 PM W-P-S / Exacta / $0.50 Trifecta / $0.10 Superfecta

CLAIMING $5,000

Purse: $ 11,000. (plus Up To 40% Pabf) For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward Which Have Never Won Two Races. Three Year Olds, 124 Lbs.; Older, 125 Lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since October 12 Allowed 2 Lbs. Claiming Price $5,000. Five And One Half Furlongs.

PP	Horse	A/S	Med	Claim $	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer
3	Red Head Italian	4/F	L	$ 5,000	Jomar Torres	123	Mark V. Salvaggio

Outlaw Country has settled in at his winter home at Palm Meadows Training Center with Trainer Kelly Breen and is entered in a 5 ½ furlong spring on the synthetic Tapeta course at Gulfstream Park in race 7 on Friday November 14^th(see pp’s attached above and race info below). Jersey Joe Bravo will take the reins in a field of eight Florida Breds with a nice purse of 43K. They will leave from post 3 in what has come up as a very competitive race with the #5 Rezasrolex a winner in eight of his last nine and #7 Gabaldon who ran well in a Grade 3 at Saratoga two back. OC will have to give his best effort to get a piece of the purse but he has done well here in the past and deserves a shot here.

Outlaw Country is entered to run on November 14, 2025, at GULFSTREAM PARK.

Full Entries for Race

Overnight

Race: 7 - 3:16 PM $1 Daily Double / $1 Exacta / $.50 Trifecta / $.10 Superfecta $1.00 Bet 3 (Races 7-8-9)

ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000

Purse: $ 43,000. (Includes $15,000 - Other Sources) . For State Bred Three Year Olds And Upward Which Have Never Won A Race Other Than Maiden, Claiming Or Starter Or Which Have Never Won Two Races Or Claiming Price $20,000. Three Year Olds, 120 Lbs.; Older, 123 Lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since October 14 Allowed 2 lbs. Claiming Price $20,000 (Races Where Entered For $16,000 Or Less Not Considered In Allowances)(Maiden Races Not Considered in Allowances). Five And One Half Furlongs. (All Weather Track)

PP	Horse	A/S	Med	Claim $	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer
3	Outlaw Country	5/G	L	$ 20,000	Joe Bravo	121	Kelly J. Breen

Speed Figures will be our first Claiming Crown runner in Race 8 the Canterbury Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on Saturday November 15^th going 5 ½ furlongs. Irad Ortiz Jr , currently the nation’s 2^nd leading money earner will be aboard (see pp’s attached above and race info below). He has had two nice breezes since his second - place finish at Laurel Park on 9/28 one at Monmouth Park and another at Churchill on Sunday November 2nd (see below). Scott’s early comments are below and good luck to all Kenwood Partners, Group 97 ARC25 Members and Trainer – Partner Kelly Breen.

First up will be Speed Figures and Irad Ortiz Jr., who drew the rail in their 5.5-furling turf sprint worth $150,000, carded as Race 8 with a Post Time scheduled for 4:25 PM. It’s a full field of 12 runners, NOT including the four Also Eligibles waiting to draw in with any scratches! Given Speed Figures early, gate speed, the #1 Post Position should be just fine to get out and save ground around the turn. This will obviously be his toughest test to date, but there is not a lot of other “need-the-lead” horses signed on, except for #4-Frosty View, who could be the quickest out of the gate! Speed Figures has 3 wins out of 6 starts at this longer sprint distance along with 2 seconds and comes into the race doing as well as he has been since we claimed him on July 27^th

Speed Figures is entered to run on November 15, 2025, at CHURCHILL DOWNS.

Full Entries for Race

Overnight

Race: 8 - 4:25 PM Daily Double / Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta / Pick 3 (Races 8-9-10) Pick 4 (Races 8-9-10-11) / Super Hi-5

STARTER ALLOWANCE $8,000

Purse: $ 150,000. (Plus $20,000 - KTDF - Kentucky TB Devt Fund) . For Three Year Olds And Upward Which Have Started For A Claiming Price Of $25,000 Or Less In 2024-25. After Payment Of 1% To All Owners Of Horses Finishing Sixth Through Last, 62% Of The Remaining Purse Shall Be Paid To The Owner Of The Winner, 20% To Second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Three Year Olds, 122 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners Of A Sweepstakes In 2025 Allowed 2 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race On The Turf Since October 15 Allowed 4 lbs. Starter races for $16,000 or less and claiming races for $25,000 or less not considered in allowances Preference given to graded stakes winners, then graded stakes placed, then stakes winners in 2024-25, then by highest earnings in 2024-25. (If deemed inadvisable by management to run this race overthe turf course, it will be run on the main track at Five and a Half Furlongs.). Five And One Half Furlongs. (Turf)

PP	Horse	A/S	Med	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer
1	Speed Figures	4/G	L	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	120	Kelly J. Breen

Speed Figures (4-Year-Old Gelding)

Date: November 2, 2025
Track: CHURCHILL DOWNS
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 48:40 Breezing
Track Condition: Good
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 11/91

Speed Figures (4-Year-Old Gelding)

Date: October 18, 2025
Track: MONMOUTH PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 47:40 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 2/44

Cadet Corps will run in the featured event the Claiming Crown Jewel in Race 10 on Saturday at Churchill Downs (see pp’s above and race info below). Junior Alvarado the current 7th leading money winner in the Nation will be aboard in an overflow field of fourteen leaving from post 2 in this 1 1/8^th mile race over the main track. He has had 3 breezes in preparation for this spot (see below) and Scott’s early comments are below. Good luck to all Kenwood Partners, Group 97 ARC25 Members and Trainer – Partner Kelly Breen.

CADET CORPS will run an hour later, in Race 10, going 9-furlongs on the main track in the featured Claiming Crown race, carrying a purse of $200,000, plus $25,000 eligible for Kentucky Bred horses like Cadet Corps. Recent Breeders Cup winning jockey, Junior Alvarado, and Cadet Corps will break from Post Position #2 in a full field of 14 runners, plus two Also Eligibles! While Junior will likely need to work out a bit of a trip on CC, with his late running style, the inside draw should allow him to use less horse early to save ground during the short run into the first turn. There should be plenty of early speed helping set an honest pace for Cadet Corps to run down later, with #1-Gilded Cracken, #7-Double Your Money, #10-Bernin’ Hot and #13-Point Dume all likely pressing that early pace. It will be a crowded trip with 14 runners in the field, but Cadet Corps has continued to improve with every start on the dirt since we claimed him on February 1^st!

We have two of the best jockeys in the game guiding our horses this weekend under the Twin Spires and win or lose we are proud and excited for this opportunity! This is NOT an easy day of racing to qualify for, and we have two horses running, with all three of our claims qualifying for this special day! Congratulations on just getting to this point, and thank you for your support of our flagship, Active Racing Club program! Onwards, and upwards! Please see the early PP’s

Cadet Corps is entered to run on November 15, 2025, at CHURCHILL DOWNS.

Full Entries for Race

Overnight

Race: 10 - 5:25 PM Daily Double / Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta / Super Hi-5

STARTER ALLOWANCE $35,000

Purse: $ 200,000. (Plus $25,000 - KTDF - Kentucky TB Devt Fund) . For Three Year Olds And Upward Which Have Started For A Claiming Price Of $35,000 Or Less In 2024-25. After Payment Of 1% To All Owners Of Horses Finishing Sixth Through Last, 62% Of The Remaining Purse Shall Be Paid To The Owner Of The Winner, 20% To Second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Three Year Olds, 122 lbs.; Older, 125 lbs. Non-winners Of A Sweepstakes Over A Mile In 2025 Allowed 2 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Over a Mile Since October 15 Allowed 4 lbs. Starter races for $25,000 or less and claiming races for $35,000 or less not considered in allowances Preference given to graded stakes winners, then graded stakes placed, then stakes winners in 2024-25, then by highest earnings in 2024-25. One And One Eighth Miles.

PP	Horse	A/S	Med	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer
2	Cadet Corps	6/G	L	Junior Alvarado	121	Kelly J. Breen

Cadet Corps (6-Year-Old Gelding)

Date: November 2, 2025
Track: CHURCHILL DOWNS
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 50:20 Breezing
Track Condition: Good
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 71/91

Cadet Corps (6-Year-Old Gelding)

Date: October 18, 2025
Track: MONMOUTH PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 48:20 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 3/44

Cadet Corps (6-Year-Old Gelding)

Date: October 11, 2025
Track: MONMOUTH PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 47:60 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 1/81

Lisa Connects made the trip to Palm Meadows in good order and has been galloping over the training track in the mornings with Trainer Kelly Breen. She should be scheduled for a breeze in the coming days and we will be looking for a race for her later this month.

One Time Willard has been enjoying his break at Sunset Meadow Farm (see photo attached above) will be in NJ until the New Year when he will ship to Palm Meadows for his 2026 campaign some time in January.

Lisa’s Palace is well in Saratoga Springs New York awaiting the 2026 breeding Season

Cali Heat has been progressing nicely in his recovery from injury and should be able to begin a second career as a riding horse sometime in 2026.

For immediate release: Claiming Crown news feature

“This is a big deal to us.”

Saturday’s $1.1 million Claiming Crown gives regular horses

their day in the sun (and handicappers a great betting card!)

Dance Some Mo at Trackside Training Center training for Saturday's Claiming Crown Jewel for trainer Tom Van Berg. Jennie Rees photo

Kevin Kerstein's Churchill Downs update leading with the Claiming Crown

Equibase entries for Nov. 15

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025) — The Breeders’ Cup is over for another year. The fireworks of $5 million broodmares and $2.2 million weanlings sold at auction have concluded. Now it’s time for the real world for the vast majority of horsemen.

Saturday’s Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs, with $1.1 million in purses spread over eight events, was created to give American racing’s everyday workhorses — and their owners and trainers — a day in the spotlight.

“It’s reality for most people in horse racing,” said trainer Tom Van Berg, who will try to win his third Claiming Crown race with Dance Some Mo in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel. “Most people don’t deal in the $2.2 million weanlings, the $5.6 million broodmares. It’s not feasible for most people.”

“Only a small percentage of owners and trainers are blessed with having a horse qualify for the Breeders’ Cup or Triple Crown,” echoed National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback. “But the majority of horsemen have a shot to someday be in the Claiming Crown, providing that big-day experience for their owners. Even trainers with considerable Grade 1 experience strive to participate in the Claiming Crown.”

The Claiming Crown was created in 1999 by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). Churchill Downs is the Claiming Crown’s host track for the third time in four years. Registered Kentucky-bred horses will race for an additional $130,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, with the per-race supplement ranging from $10,000 to $25,000.

The eight races are conducted under starter-allowance conditions, with race specifications requiring participants to have competed for a certain claiming price or cheaper within a designated time period.

Saturday’s card provides one of the best betting cards of the fall, or even the year. The fewest entries for a Claiming Crown race were 10 horses. One race drew a capacity 14, with the stewards giving permission to run three of the races with 14 instead of the usual maximum of 12. Six races drew overflow fields, whether limited to 12 or 14. Churchill Downs publicist Kevin Kerstein counted 54 different jockeys and 110 trainers in Saturday’s entries.

First post is 1 p.m., with the Claiming Crown on races 4-11. The 11-race program also includes the Grade 3, $300,000 Chilukki Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile, carded as race 3.

TwinSpires is conducting an online, $500 buy-in handicapping contest on the Claiming Crown card, with two seats to the 2026 National Horseplayers Championship and prize money up for grabs in the live-money tournament.

“For claiming people doing what we’re doing, this is a big deal for us,” said Jeff Hiles, trainer and co-owner of Time for Trouble, an $8,000 claim in 2021 who seeks a record third victory in the $100,000 Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial. “It gives the small guy who claims a horse for $8,000, and the horse gets good, a chance to have the shine on them for a little bit. A lot of people don’t have the clientele to go out and buy high-end yearlings and get the breeding. But you can pick one out that has been running, claim it and hopefully the change of scenery helps it. A couple good races in them, they might get their confidence built up and they might turn out like him.”

Kelly Breen, based in New Jersey and Florida, won the 2011 Belmont Stakes with 24-1 shot Ruler on Ice. He’s been in the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup. Now he’s looking forward to trying to get his first Claiming Crown win with Cadet Corps in the $200,000 Jewel and Speed Figures in the $150,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial.

Breen owns both horses with the Kenwood Racing partnership. If the idea is to get owners excited, mission accomplished.

“We’re going to have 20 people coming,” Breen said. “There are people flying in from the East Coast. My people are making an event of it. They’re going to go out to eat there, spend money. It’s a good vibe for horsemen.”

Referencing the durability of owners as well as the horses, he continued: “One of the races is the Iron Horse. This is the Iron Horse for owners. Your meat and potatoes of horse racing are your claiming horses. Here they are having a special day for it.”

The Claiming Crown is populated with good horses at their level, much as college football players in NAIA or Division-III programs are good, if not as gifted as those in D-I.

“This rewards those people who have paid their dues all year,” said trainer Joe Sharp, who has horses in six Claiming Crown races Saturday, including Gilded Craken and Alternate Reality in the $200,000 Jewel. “It costs the same to feed a claimer as it does a stakes horse. Churchill Downs does a great job hosting the venue. It’s really nice to showcase those horses and those owners. They’re the bread and butter, the backbone of racing Wednesday through Friday.”

Besides Kentucky, horses are coming from Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, with others stopping by Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Arkansas, West Virginia and Colorado on their way to Churchill Downs.

Just in the $100,000, six-furlong Ready’s Rocket Express, half the field possesses at least 10 career victories, including Sharp Warning (18) and 2024 winner Concrete Glory (16). In fact, Sharp Warning’s 10 wins out of 15 starts for owner-trainer Kayla Warren in 2025 lead North America.

Michael Friedman’s Ohio-based Sadie the Goat brings a six-race win streak (by a combined 34 lengths) into the $100,000 Glass Slipper for fillies and mares at a mile.

Dewaine Loy’s Happy Strike, a $6,000 yearling, has won seven of 14 careers, earning $168,161 as he takes four straight victories at Iowa’s Prairie Meadows into the $200,000 Jewel.

The late-running Risk Manager, one of the favorites in the $175,000 Emerald at 1 1/16 miles on turf, is an 11-time winner and $582,669-earner. The 7-year-old horse has won at least one race in each of his seven years of competition, mostly spent with Mike Maker, the Claiming Crown’s all-time leading trainer.

Maker’s 22 wins and 129 prior Claiming Crown starters dwarf anyone else, as do his seconds (17), thirds (12) and purse earnings ($2,241,654). He is in three races Saturday.

With seven Claiming Crown mounts — including on last year’s Emerald winner Echo Lane for trainer Crichton Rohan — Luis Saez has a chance to cut into the absent Paco Lopez’s all-time lead with 16 wins. Saez has 13 Claiming Crown victories. Brothers Jose and Irad Ortiz, both now making Kentucky their spring and fall base, are named to ride in all eight Claiming Crown races, putting them in a great position to tack on to two prior wins apiece. Tyler Gaffalione has seven mounts.

Brian Hernandez Jr., the 2024 Kentucky Oaks and Derby-winning jockey, is scheduled to resume riding Wednesday after sustaining fractured ribs, a collapsed lung and a lacerated liver in a Sept. 21 spill. He is named on three Claiming Crown horses: 11-time winner Keen Cat in the Rapid Transit for Randy Morse and Alternate Reality (Jewel) and Mercy Warren (among the favorites for the Glass Slipper) for Sharp.

Claiming Crown 2025 is presented by the National HBPA and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association in conjunction with Churchill Downs and the Kentucky HBPA.

-- story by Jennie Rees

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Get in the mood! Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation's 2025 Claiming Crown video

ICYMI: Alicia Hughes' story about the Claiming Crown in Blood-Horse Magazine

Echo Lane winning last year's Claiming Crown Emerald under Luis Saez. Coady Media

Concrete Glory returns to defend last year's victory in the Claiming Crown Ready's Rocket Express. Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation

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