Mark Cramer
C & X Report

Here we go with CLAIMING CROWN 2005. Please help me keep up with a fast pace here at Canterbury by saving me the time of repeating what I've written in the Barn Notes. You can have access to the Barn Notes at www.canterburypark.com, then click on "racing" and then on Barn Notes. First report Weds, second report today Thurs. Those are posted. There will be at least one more. Use your handicapping sense to interpret what the trainers say. I'll add a few things here that are not publishable there, but in any case, the public at large does not read these Barn Notes, so they are valuable.
What follows are my program selections (not betting decisions) that I was obligated to have ready 48 hours before post time. You should integrate this with the Barn Notes.
THE IRON HORSE
R. Little Redhead 7/2 ML
Mean Kisser
Sacsahuaman (Lake had mixed feelings about this one, as did his groom, but he assured me that he's not here just for the sport.)
THE EXPRESS
Landler 4-1 ML (third fave)... aside what I wrote in the Barn Notes, this trainer explained that he's been snake bit of late and really needs a win for the owner. That's the only thing that doesn't sound good, but he loves his horse and he will be an up-and-coming trainer that we need to follow early before he's known). This horse is a former Clmg Crn winner who obviously had problems and was dropped to the bargain basement. The trainer told me he had claimed the horse on looks, and has been more than satisfied, with severe trip problems preventing a win in both of his last two races.
Max's Ace, from one of my favorite trainers, longshot George Bango
Onlynurimagination, the probable fave, but may prefer wet going
GLASS SLIPPER
Bar Bailey 9/2 second fave on ML, but figures to go off higher, as in talking to the ML maker, it seemed to me that he took this horse because of handicapping and not predicting public behavior. This is the Arapahoe angle. Horse was training and racing at 5,000 feet above sea level for quite some time and the extra red blood cells he's acquired in the adaptation process could give him enough extra gas to recover his past class.
Unforgettable Gal, deserving fave
I Will Survive, the local hope who could pass horses that are not used to the extra half furlong
RAPID TRANSIT
The Student 3/1 second fave ... Scott Lake gave me lots of opinions about his horse, but in summary, he thinks he can lay off the very hot pace. I questioned his ability to get the extra half f, and Lake pointed out that he has the best Beyer for the distance even though he's 0 for 2
Procreate: Zimmerman likes his chances, emphasizing that he likes to go turf to dirt (see Barn Notes)
Awesome Alarm is one of those that can pick up the pieces.
The trainer of the fave, Rodeo's Castle, assured me that her horse will be sent and loves to dig in against duelers; however, not that there are no credentials for this horse beyond 6f
TIARA
Runaway Martha, 9/2 third fave, and tough pick for me. The co-trainer G. Brooks just grunted when I mentioned this horse, as he preferred the other Englander horse. However, the two horses I could have chosen above this one are cool weather horses and it figures to be in the high 90s on Saturday, with RM having raced well in Virginia in the summer.
Out of Pride, with an up-can-coming Canadian trainer. She's confident, to say the least, but does not like the fact that her horse is favored.
OK Corral has another confident trainer (see Barn Notes) and I'd have chosen this horse on top had he raced anywhere else but in cool Bay Area tracks.
The exacta will come from these three.
THE EMERALD
Scottago. 6-1 in ML, but local horses have sometimes defeated fancy out-of-towners in this particular race, and the rider, Seth Martinez, is not only the leading local, but his turf stats are far better than his dirt stats, and this horse has won on this course.
Devine Word is the one they fancy in the Englander barn, but he drew outside and has an 8 percent jock, so I couldn't take the probably low odds. If he goes off at his 5-1 ML, unlikely, then he's worth a play.
Mr. Mabee is the ML fave and rightfully so, with super turf breeding, one for one on the surface and most eligible to improve.
THE JEWEL
Desert Boom 3-1 ML. I'm going against the fave in a short field because I believe that NoCal might be a better circuit at this moment than Illinois. The comparative value of the Illinois circuit has been the nagging question.
Lord of the Game, can't fault fave with 7 for 8 record
Habaneros is an overachiever who finished in same photo as fave.
PS. As an extra treat, here's Steve Fierro's Today's Racing Digest line, his odds and not morning line, saving you 5 bucks thanks to Steve's generosity.
Iron Horse
My Extolled Energy 2-1
Express
Blues Away 5/2
Glass Slipper
Ells Editor 3-1
Rapid Transit
The Student 2-1
Tiara
OK Corral 2-1
Emerald
Mr. Mabee 8/5
Jewel
Desert Boom
8/5
Sorry folks. No time to proofread as I have to handicap the Thurs nite Canterbury card for a seminar. Please excuse the typoss. For what it's worth, in the 8th there's a horse named Baylaura that finished ahead of Claiming Crown entry Ells Editor
I may be able to file another website report, but please keep checking the Barn Notes, since I am talking to you in those notes.
mc