Streaking Money Supply is early chalk for Claiming Crown Jewel

Money Supply, the star of Joe Sharp’s six Claiming Crown entries, gets top billing in Saturday’s marquee event, the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up.

Saturday’s 25th annual Claiming Crown day will feature eight races for hard-knocking horses from across the nation. It returns to Fair Grounds for the first time since 2011, and the featured Jewel will go as race 10 of 11 at 6:15 p.m. EST.

As the 5-2 favorite, Jordan Wycoff’s 4-year-old colt by Practical Joke was claimed from Chad Brown last August at Saratoga. In Sharp’s care, Money Supply finished second going the Jewel distance at Saratoga, then won his next two races, both at Churchill Downs. Facing first-level allowance competition in his most recent victory, Money Supply finished open lengths ahead of next-out winner Arro Smash and the promising 3-year-old Banishing.

Entering three of the nine entries, trainer Robertino Diodoro looms over the field with the second, third and fourth choices on the morning line. At 3-1, Saqeel leads the Diodoro trio. Over the 5-year-old’s 2023 campaign, he is 6-for-8 in the money with three wins, most recently scoring in a first-level allowance at Churchill Downs.

Of the nine entries, only All West has won at the Jewel distance of 1 1/8 miles. Trained by Chris Hartman, the 7-year-old’s last win came going nine panels in a first-level allowance level on April 30 at Oaklawn. All West is cross-entered in the six-furlong Rapid Transit Starter.