CNL: Paco Lopez wins four Claiming Crown Preview races

Kenwood Racing and trainer Kelly Breen swept the headliners on Claiming Crown Preview Day at Colonial Downs with Cadet Corps in the $100,000 Jewel Qualifier and One Time Willard in the $87,500 Emerald Qualifier. Paco Lopez was aboard for both victories as the jockey won four races and finished second in three of the eight Claiming Crown Preview events. Lopez added a fifth winner in the day’s nightcap.

The top two finishers in each Claiming Crown Preview race earned an automatic berth in the corresponding Claiming Crown championships on Nov. 15 at Churchill Downs.

Cadet Corps rallied down the center of the track to beat front-runner Bernin Hot by two lengths in the Jewel Qualifier, finishing in 1:48.19 for 1 1/8 miles.

Cadet Corps returned $10.20, $4.00 and $2.20. Bernin Hot paid $4.60 and $2.40.

Claimed for $35,000 on Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park, Cadet Corps has since won three races for his new connections. The 6-year-old Will Take Charge gelding has a career record of 40-15-3-6 with $410,126 in earnings.

One Time Willard and Paco Lopez won the Claiming Crown Emerald Qualifier. Photo by Coady Media.

In the Emerald Qualifier, One Time Willard saved ground in third, tipped out at the top of the stretch and held off Kitodan to win by a length, covering 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf course in 1:41.96.

One Time Willard paid $9.40, $4.80 and $3.80. Kitodan returned $5 and $3.60.

Claimed for $25,000 on Jan. 31 at Gulfstream Park, One Time Willard has won three times for Breen. The 6-year-old Micromanage gelding owns a career record of 29-7-7-4 with $422,434 in earnings.

The Claiming Card Preview portion of Thursday’s card opened with the $50,000 Glass Slipper Qualifier.

Going 1 mile on dirt, WWCD LLC’s Next Girl showed grit, running down the 4-5 favorite Mercy Warren in the stretch to win by a neck. Trained by Robert Bailes and ridden by Denis Arujao, Next Girl returned $9.20, $3.60 and $2.10. Mercy Warren paid $2.80 and $2.10.

In the $75,000 Canterbury Qualifier, Madison Avenue Racing Stable, Morris Kernan Jr. and Jagger Inc.’s Quick Tempo went to the front and outdueled Sosua Summer by a neck in a 5½-furlong turf sprint. Trained by Jamie Ness and ridden by Lopez, Quick Tempo paid $6.00, $4.00 and $2.80 as the 2-1 favorite. Sosua Summer returned $5.00 and $4.20.

Cutting back from nine furlongs, Jeanine Cumiskey’s Gilmore rallied from last to first in the $62,500 Rapid Transit Qualifier at seven furlongs on dirt. The Joe Sharp trainee beat J D Factor by a length under jockey Ben Curtis. Dispatched as the 3-2 favorite, Gilmore paid $5.00, $2.80 and $2.40. J D Factor returned $3.60 and $2.80.

At 1 1/16 miles on dirt, Cumiskey’s Curlin’s Malibu closed late to win the $50,000 Kent Stirling Memorial Iron Horse Qualifier by a length over Santos to Wilson. It was the second winner of the day for Cumiskey and Sharp, with Lopez again in the irons. The 6-5 favorite paid $4.60, $3.00 and $2.20. Santos to Wilson returned $4.00 and $3.20.

The $50,000 Ready’s Rocket Express was decided late as Jim Tichenor’s Busk surged past Silver Slugger by a half-length at six furlongs on dirt. The victory marked his seventh straight since being claimed by Manuel Chavez. Jockey Carlos Barbosa has been aboard in each win. Busk paid $4.80, $2.60 and $2.10. Silver Slugger returned $2.40 and $2.10.

With a rail-skimming ride from Forest Boyce, Liberty House Racing, Team Gaudet and Penwood Racing’s Cairo Street pulled the upset in the $75,000 Tiara Qualifier for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Trained by Lacey Gaudet, Cairo Street held off favorite Notable Exchange by a length and paid $16.60, $7.00 and $4.40. Notable Exchange returned $3.40 and $2.80.

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