Keystoneforvictory provides thrilling finish in Claiming Crown Emerald

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Keystoneforvictory provided a thrilling finish to the 18th Claiming Crown Day program, dueling for the lead throughout and holding off a host of late challengers to win Saturday’s $125,000 Emerald at Gulfstream Park.

 

The 1 1/16-mile Emerald for 3-year-olds and up that have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2015 was the last of nine Claiming Crown stakes worth $1.1 million in purses highlighted by the $200,000 Jewel, where Royal Posse defended his 2015 victory.

 

Created in 1999 to honor the blue-collar horses that are the foundation of the racing industry nationwide, it was hosted by Gulfstream for the fifth straight year and served as a fitting kick off to its 2016-17 Championship Meet.

 

Sent off as a narrow 3-1 favorite in the field of 14, Keystoneforvictory ($8.60) won by a neck over 23-1 long shot Flashy Chelsey in 1:43.09 over a firm turf course with Market Outlook another neck back in third, a head in front of program favorite Cammack.

 

Keystoneforvictory, third in the Showing Up Stakes Nov. 6 at Gulfstream Park West off a 3 ½-month layoff, helped Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker extend their Claiming Crown-record win total to 15 apiece. It was the third win on the day for New York-based jockey Jose Ortiz.

 

Ramsey and Maker have won at least one Claiming Crown race seven of the past nine years, coming up empty in 2011 and 2015.

 

“Every race we win is important, obviously, but we love the Claiming Crown. We love coming to it and love being part of it. I’m glad we didn’t get shut out again this year,” Maker said. “I thought I had won a couple earlier today and it didn’t work out so I was due, I guess.”

 

Keystoneforvictory, a 3-year-old son of Grade 1 turf winner Shakespeare, broke running from Post 4 and found himself in a familiar spot up front, alternating with Class and Cash through a quarter-mile in 23.57 seconds, a half in 48.28 and six furlongs in 1:12.63 chased by stakes winner Aire Bueno ahead of a bunched-up field in behind.

 

“His best races come when he’s forwardly placed,” Maker said. “Jose rode him hard and he’s very game when he gets to the front, which he showed today.”

 

Ortiz kept Keystoneforvictory along the inside rounding the far turn and began to edge away after going a mile in 1:36.82. He drifted to his right in mid-stretch as the field began to close in, but was resolute in holding off challenges from Market Outlook and Flashy Chelsey.

 

“He broke well. I knew if I put him on the lead, he was going to fight,” Ortiz said. “I got a little pressure. Going into the turn I knew I had to keep my position. I let him go a little and he really fought in the last sixteenth.”

 

Ortiz, who leads all jockeys nationally in races won, began the day by winning Saturday’s opener aboard Gentle Kitten ($3) for Ramsey and Maker, and also took the $110,000 Distaff Dash with Spectacular Me ($5.80).