CNL: Two seek to defend Claiming Crown preview titles
Cadet Corps, One Time Willard won qualifiers at Colonial last year
Press Release
August 16, 2026
Defending qualifier winners Cadet Corps and One Time Willard will try to repeat Saturday in the $100,000 Jewel Qualifier and $87,500 Emerald Qualifier, the two richest races on Claiming Crown Showcase Day at Colonial Downs.
Owned by Kenwood Racing and trained by Kelly Breen, both veterans won their respective qualifiers at Colonial last year. Cadet Corps went on to finish second in the Claiming Crown Jewel at Churchill Downs.
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For the second straight year, Colonial Downs will host Claiming Crown qualifying races. The top two finishers in each of Saturday’s nine starter handicaps will earn automatic berths in the 28th Claiming Crown, scheduled for Nov. 14 at Churchill Downs. The nine qualifiers offer combined purses of $612,500 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Cadet Corps Faces Eight in Jewel
The 1 1/8-mile Jewel Qualifier, restricted to horses that started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2025 or 2026, drew eight.
Cadet Corps brings perhaps the strongest credentials at the distance. After winning last year’s qualifier, the 7-year-old overcame a wide trip to finish second in the Claiming Crown Jewel, beaten by Double Your Money. He subsequently competed twice in Grade 3 company and returned to the optional-claiming ranks. Cadet Corps is still seeking his first win of the year. Paco Lopez will ride.
American Law has finished second twice in four starts at 1 1/8 miles and also contested last year’s Claiming Crown Jewel. Sent off at 88-1, the Flying P Stable runner endured a troubled trip but finished only eight lengths behind. Sarah Shaffer trains, with Jareth Loveberry aboard.
Groveland has made only two previous starts at nine furlongs, both in major 2023 stakes—the West Virginia Derby and Oklahoma Derby. Now making his third start for HRH Racing and trainer Eddie Kenneally, the 6-year-old followed a narrow, fast-closing loss at Churchill Downs with a victory at Ellis Park. Mychel Sanchez will ride.
Nogradi has won three straight since joining trainer Keri Brion’s stable in December before finishing third at Churchill Downs when a lack of early pace worked against his late-running style. He rebounded with a one-mile win June 5 before finishing fourth in a first-level allowance at Saratoga at the Jewel distance.
Majorca may be the most intriguing challenger. The 4-year-old has won five of six starts this season for trainer Daniel Eubanks, with those victories coming by a combined 20 3/4 lengths. Rising Sun Racing Stables, Darkside Racing and Paul Willis own the rapidly improving runner.
The Jewel Qualifier is Race 10.
One Time Willard Takes on Deep Emerald Field
The Emerald Qualifier, Saturday’s finale, drew 12 older males who have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2025 or 2026. The race will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
One Time Willard returns to defend his title for Kenwood Racing and Breen. The 7-year-old New Jersey-bred won an allowance race transferred from the turf in his most recent start, his first victory since last year’s qualifier. Samuel Marin, who rode him to that win, returns.
What Say Thee brings graded-stakes experience for trainer Horacio De Paz. Claimed for $25,000 from Mike Maker, the 8-year-old immediately won a second-level allowance, then finished fourth in the Grade 3 Dinner Party and third in the Japan Racing Association Turf Cup at Laurel Park.
Westside Tide makes his first start for trainer Joe Sharp after being claimed for $75,000 in June. The 5-year-old has three turf wins and finished less than a length short of victory in the Appleton at Gulfstream Park in March after competing in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf. Lopez gets the mount.
Two’s a Crowd enters in sharp form for trainer Derek Ryan. The 5-year-old has won handicap, claiming and open allowance races since returning to turf this season and is just a nose away from a six-race winning streak. He also has three wins from four starts at the Emerald distance.
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