Churchill Downs Update: Kerness K, Concrete Glory Meet to Open Saturday's $1.2 Million Claiming Crown

Nov 13, 2026

The 28th Claiming Crown drew 113 entries for its return to Churchill Downs on Saturday when some of North America’s top blue-collar Thoroughbreds will compete in nine supercharged starter allowances worth a combined $1.2 million.

First post is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) for the 12-race card, which includes the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed) in Race 3 at 1:58 p.m. The Claiming Crown begins with the $100,000 Ready’s Rocket Express in Race 4 at 2:28 p.m. and concludes with the $175,000 Emerald at 6:23 p.m.

Churchill Downs will host the series for the fourth time in five years. The Claiming Crown, launched in 1999 by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, gives horses that have competed for a claiming price a chance to run for larger purses. This year’s program expands to nine races with the addition of the Empress, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.

Here’s a look at all nine Claiming Crown races:

RACE 4 (2:28 p.m.): $100,000 READY’S ROCKET EXPRESS – Kerness K will seek his 12th straight victory when he faces two-time defending winner Concrete Glory as the 3-1 morning line favorite in the six-furlong Ready’s Rocket Express, which goes as Race 4 at 2:28 p.m.

Trainer Jamie Ness claimed Kerness K back for $7,500 in March. The gelding hasn’t lost since and leads North American Thoroughbreds with 11 wins this year. He rallied from fifth to win the Colonial Downs qualifier by a nose in August and extended his streak in a Maryland Million starter handicap at Laurel Park.

“I’m ready, he’s ready,” Chaun said in an interview Thursday at Parx. “Jamie told me he’s doing really good. I worked him last weekend. It’s a tough race but we’re ready.”

Concrete Glory can become the first horse to win three Claiming Crown races. The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee is 10-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by 17-year-old apprentice Yomar Ortiz Jr.

The field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Swirvin (Tyler Gaffalione, Joseph, 9-2)
Dancin for Gold (Cristian Torres, Terry Eoff, 8-1)
Jimmies Big Day (Martin Garcia, Steve Manley, 12-1)
Kerness K (Chuan, Ness, 3-1)
Lord Majesty (Francisco Arrieta, Cameron Milligan, 10-1)
Dontbesoogrouchy (Luis Saez, Joe Sharp, 6-1)
Delta Tau Chi (Joe Ramos, Randy Klopp, 6-1)
Furious Anger (Guillermo Rodriguez, Marcelino Salas, 50-1)
Raymond (Jaime Torres, Tim Martin, 5-1)
Concrete Glory (Yomar Ortiz Jr., Joseph, 10-1)
RACE 5 (2:57 p.m.): $150,000 TIARA – Michael Eiserman’s Nerazurri, third in the Personal Ensign (GI) at Saratoga two starts ago, was made the 4-5 morning-line favorite for the Tiara, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares that goes as Race 5 at 2:57 p.m. The Mark Casse trainee won the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline at Thistledown in June and leads all Claiming Crown entrants with $571,400 in earnings this year. Jose Ortiz has the mount.

The field from the rail out:

Smiling Ellie (Luis Saez, Mark Casse, 9-2)
Polka Polenta (Fernando De La Cruz, Rene Cazares Jr., 20-1)
Notable Exchange (Junior Alvarado, Mike Maker, 6-1)
Bijou Baby (Emmanuel Esquivel, Jamie Grubbs, 12-1)
Nerazurri (Ortiz, Mark Casse, 4-5)
Lady Iona (Cristian Torres, Darwin Banach, 20-1)
Wandering Kirby (Jaime Torres, Leonard Powell, 10-1)
Goats On a Tree (Gaffalione, LaRose, 8-1)
Asteria (Santo Sanjur, Anna Navarrete, 30-1)
RACE 6 (3:26 p.m.): $100,000 GLASS SLIPPER – TEC Racing’s Coquito will try to turn the tables on Argan as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the one-mile Glass Slipper, which goes as Race 6 at 3:26 p.m. The Joe Sharp trainee stalked the pace and took over on the turn to win a one-mile Claiming Crown qualifier on Aug. 22 at Colonial by 3 ½ lengths.

One month later, Argan went gate-to-wire in a starter allowance event at Churchill Downs to defeat Coquito by a half-length. Luis Saez rides Coquito while Walter Rodriguez has the mount on Argan.

Little Martha brings a five-race winning streak from Presque Isle Downs into her Churchill Downs debut. The Tamara Housel trainee drew post 10 and will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez.

The field from the rail out:

Larksong (Rafael Mojica Jr., Becky Johnston, 20-1)
Zafyre (Dylan Machado, Jerry Antonuik, 50-1)
Ginger Girl (Yomar Ortiz Jr., Joanne Shankle, 30-1)
Stay Beautiful (Albin Jimenez, Yoni Orantes, 15-1)
Coquito (Saez, Sharp, 8-5)
Two Hearted (Alexander Bendezu, Gene Sandrowski, 20-1)
Mad About Marie (Cristian Torres, Steve Keplin Jr., 7-2)
No Other Like You (Tyler Gaffalione, David Fawkes, 4-1)
Argan (Rodriguez, Camejo, 6-1)
Little Martha (Gutierrez, Housel, 10-1)
Evalina (Kevin Jimenez, Sal Guerrero, 30-1)
RACE 7 (3:55 p.m.): $100,000 IRON HORSE KENT STIRLING MEMORIAL – JKX Racing’s Cowboy Mike, who won his first start for trainer Ernesto Padilla-Preciado by 8 ½ lengths Oct. 21 at Parx, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the 1 1/16-mile Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial, which goes as Race 7 at 3:55 p.m. The gelding was claimed for $8,000 out of a win at Del Mar in August. Ruben Silvera, who rode him at Parx, has the mount.

Freedom Road has finished second by a neck in each of the past two runnings of this race. The Richard Sillaman trainee held off fellow entrant Bill of Rights in an Aug. 22 Claiming Crown qualifier at Colonial and will be ridden Saturday by Jose Ortiz.

The field from the rail out:

Ironsides (Jaime Torres, Fausto Gutierrez, 7-2)
Bill of Rights (Martin Chuan, Joanne Shankle, 20-1)
Cowboy Mike (Silvera, Preciado, 3-1)
Metatron’s Muse (Junior Alvarado, Norm Casse, 10-1)
Rhymes Like Dimes (Rafael Bejarano, Randy Morse, 15-1)
Swiss Guard (Martin Garcia, Steve Manley, 20-1)
Blast Radius (Axel Concepcion, Luis Ramirez, 15-1)
Striking Sparks (Francisco Arrieta, Jose Rodriguez, 8-1)
Little Trouble (Guillermo Rodriguez, Isaiah Ortiz, 10-1)
Freedom Road (Jose Ortiz, Sillaman, 9-2)
Rock N Roll Bolt (Tyler Gaffalione, Jose Camejo, 12-1)
Nixon Joy (ARG) (Eliseo Ruiz, Jose Santaella-Calderon, 30-1)
AE: Money Run (Cristian Torres, Robertino Diodoro, 10-1)
AE: Camp Daddy (Santo Sanjur, Steve Manley, 20-1)
AE: Fire Bryan (E.T. Baird, Fernando Bahena, 15-1)
AE: Alinao Forever (Yomar Ortiz Jr., Dante Zanelli, 8-1)
RACE 8 (4:25 p.m.): $100,000 EMPRESS – James Nelson’s Talkin in Cursive has won three straight for trainer Matt Shirer and is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the six-furlong Empress, which goes as Race 8 at 4:25 p.m. The mare won at Ellis Park, Churchill Downs and Keeneland during her streak and will be ridden Saturday by Jaime Torres.

“It took us a little bit to figure out how to train her,” Shirer said. “She’s a little bit difficult at times but I think we’ve started to figure her out and she’s rewarded us since.”

Rocket Wrench Racing’s Miracle Ball has led at every call in each of her six straight wins at Canterbury Park and Prairie Meadows. Trainer Ruben Fuentes, a former Grade I-winning jockey in Southern California, said he won races as a jockey for Miracle Ball’s owners and they were the first to support his move to training horses.

“I’ve never had a horse win six in a row at any level, and I think at any level it’s pretty tough,” Fuentes told the National HBPA. “I think she’s got a big heart and she’s here to give a good race.”

The field from the rail out

Frango Electrico (J.J. Meza, Ismael Bahena, 15-1)
Charlee Mae (Jose Ortiz, Kelli Martinez, 8-1)
Talkin in Cursive (Torres, Shirer, 5-2)
Progeny (Rafael Bejarano, Jason Cook, 8-1)
Miracle Ball (Luis Saez, Fuentes, 7-2)
Tizntshelovely (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart, 15-1)
Lady Annabelle (Silvestre Gonzalez, Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, 6-1)
Arrasou (Joe Ramos, Randy Klopp, 12-1)
Warda (Francisco Arrieta, Jose Rodriguez, 20-1)
Blazing Affair (Rafael Mojica Jr., George Bush, 15-1)
Awesome Pic (Daniel Centeno, Enrique Hernandez, 20-1)
So Far So Good (Carlos Jimenez, Anna Decker, 30-1)
RACE 9 (4:55 p.m.): $150,000 CANTERBURY TOM METZEN MEMORIAL – Thiele Thoroughbreds’ Initialize, beaten a nose two weeks ago in an allowance contest at Churchill Downs, is the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial, a 5 ½-furlong turf sprint that goes as Race 9 at 4:55 p.m. The Lacey Gaudet trainee will be ridden by Jaime Torres.

Defending winner Shape Note returns for trainer Mike Maker and jockey Jose Ortiz. The gelding won a Claiming Crown qualifier at Colonial by 1 ¾ lengths under Jareth Loveberry and has won 14 of 30 starts. His victory in this race last year was Maker’s record 23rd in the Claiming Crown.

The field from the rail out:

Mister Mmmmm (Santo Sanjur, Felipe Nickel, 10-1)
Shape Note (Jose Ortiz, Maker, 4-1)
Meroney (Emmanuel Esquivel, Sarah Shaffer, 10-1)
Artemus Citylimits (Yomar Ortiz Jr., Joe Sharp, 8-1)
Outlaw Country (Francisco Arrieta, Gerard Ochoa, 30-1)
Jungle Glow (Martin Chuan, Jamie Ness, 8-1)
Itzel (Edgar Morales, John Ennis, 15-1)
Golden Ale (William Antongeorgi III, Frank Lucarelli, 15-1)
Cinister Cix (Luis Saez, Shane Sands, 6-1)
Coming in Hot (Summer Pauly, Ismael Bahena, 50-1)
Proprietary Trade (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker, 6-1)
Initialize (Torres, Gaudet, 7-2)
AE: Gold Front (Cristian Torres, Terry Eoff, 15-1)
AE: Brie’s in Town (Axel Concepcion, Madison Meyers, 6-1)
AE: American Wind (Alexander Crispin, Agustin Gonzalez Jr., 20-1)
AE: Biz Biz Buzz (Jaime Torres, Gerard Ochoa, 30-1)
RACE 10 (5:25 p.m.): $125,000 RAPID TRANSIT – Buckhead Racing’s Five o’ Somewhere is the 4-1 morning-line favorite for the seven-furlong Rapid Transit, which goes as Race 10 at 5:25 p.m. Trainer Matt Shirer won a 25-way shake to claim the gelding for $25,000 last November.

Five o’ Somewhere won a starter allowance at Churchill Downs under Luis Saez in May and finished third Oct. 21 at Keeneland in his first start in nearly five months. Saez returns to the saddle Saturday.

Trainer Carlos Santamaria will make his Claiming Crown debut with Workman Ranch’s Global Sensation. He claimed the 7-year-old at Ellis Park with Churchill Downs in mind, where the gelding already had won four times. Global Sensation lost a shoe in the race he was claimed out of, Santamaria said. He won his first start for the barn at Churchill in September, then finished second to fellow entrant Military Road at Keeneland. Jaime Torres has the mount.

Nation, who won last year’s Rapid Transit by 6 ¼ lengths, also returns for this year’s edition as a 30-1 longshot.

The field from the rail out:

Military Road (Rafael Bejarano, Chris Hartman, 6-1)
Try to Make Cents (Yomar Ortiz Jr., Joe Sharp, 12-1)
Five o’ Somewhere (Saez, Shirer, 4-1)
Bold Diversion (Martin Chuan, Joanne Shankle, 10-1)
Global Sensation (Torres, Santamaria, 15-1)
Sprint Out Pass (Cristian Torres, Kelli Martinez, 30-1)
Just Asap (Keith Asmussen, Steve Asmussen, 15-1)
Air of Defiance (Francisco Arrieta, S. Jade Cunningham, 6-1)
Dr. Storm (Summer Pauly, Ismael Bahena, 15-1)
Nation (Luan Machado, Bob Hess Jr., 30-1)
Zero Blitz (Emmanuel Esquivel, Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, 10-1)
Evening News (Luis Hernandez, Hugo Andrade, 30-1)
Coach Cronin (Brian Hernandez Jr., Bob Hess Jr., 12-1)
Defending Albert (Tyler Gaffalione, James Watkins, 9-2)
RACE 11 (5:54 p.m.): $200,000 JEWEL – Expect the Best, a 1 ¾-length allowance winner Oct. 1 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the 1 1/8-mile Jewel, the richest of the nine Claiming Crown races. Rafael Bejarano returns aboard the Ron Moquett trainee, who has finished in the money in all eight starts this year.

Thiele Thoroughbreds’ Indy Charges On finished third in an Aug. 22 seven-furlong Claiming Crown qualifier at Colonial before stretching back out to win an Oct. 11 starter allowance at Keeneland under Jose Ortiz for trainer Lacey Gaudet.

Gaudet described Indy Charges On as a stall walker and travels with a companion goat.

The Jewel goes as Race 11 at 5:54 p.m.

The field from the rail out:

Expect the Best (Bejarano, Moquett, 3-1)
Margie’s Fun Son (Luis Saez, Ronald Abrams, 15-1)
Papa Yo (Tyler Gaffalione, Linda Rice, 4-1)
Urban Planner (Yomar Ortiz Jr., Mike Maker, 10-1)
Carolo Rapido (Cristian Torres, Norm Casse, 9-2)
Groveland (Francisco Arrieta, Eddie Kenneally, 12-1)
Indy Charges On (Jose Ortiz, Gaudet, 7-2)
Break Out (Junior Alvarado, Michael Campbell, 6-1)
Freedom Principle (Jaime Torres, Gerard Ochoa, 15-1)
RACE 12 (6:23 p.m.): $175,000 EMERALD – Klaravich Stables’ Unit Economics (GB), a winner in his last two starts at Saratoga and Belmont Park, is the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the Emerald, which closes the card as Race 12 at 6:23 p.m. The Chad Brown trainee won a starter allowance at Belmont on Oct. 17 at the Emerald distance of 1 1/16 miles on turf. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount.

Victor Carrasco reunites with Tommy Humphries, Glynn Puryear and BHB Racing’s Free Advice. The duo won on turf at Horseshoe Indianapolis in August and finished second over the Matt Winn Turf Course Sept. 19 before winning a $120,000 allowance moved to the dirt Oct. 11 at Keeneland.

“I’ve ridden him in his last four starts, and he’s improved each time,” Carrasco said. “He can handle any surface, and he’s proven that throughout his career.”

The field from the rail out

War Officer (Yomar Ortiz Jr., Mike Maker, 15-1)
Unit Economics (GB) (Tyler Gaffalione, Chad Brown, 6-5)
In a Jam (Rafael Bejarano, Jason Cook, 30-1)
Hall Monitor (Mario Gutierrez, Blake Kelly, 20-1)
McCullough (Martin Chuan, Jamie Ness, 9-2)
Magical Ways (Ruben Silvera, Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, 15-1)
Westside Tide (Luis Saez, Joe Sharp, 6-1)
Free Advice (Victor Carrasco, Tommy Humphries, 20-1)
Pike Place (Francisco Arrieta, Tom Van Berg, 15-1)
Light the Way (Cristian Torres, Matt Shirer, 30-1)
Sing Sing (Jaime Torres, Matt Kordenbrock, 20-1)
Funny Uncle (Jose Ortiz, Joe Sharp, 8-1)
AE: Sand Bagger (William Antongeorgi III, Sean McCarthy, 15-1)
AE: Battle Call (Junior Alvarado, Mike Maker, 10-1)
AE: Jus Too Fly (Orlando Bocachica, Anna Decker, 30-1)
AE: Ur Benja (James Graham, Jose Aranha, 50-1)
DOWN THE STRETCH – Live racing resumed Friday at Churchill Downs for an 11-race card that got underway at 1 p.m. There were carryovers of $471,377 in the Jackpot 8, $107,250 in the Derby City 6 and $4,241 in the Super Hi 5. … “Inside Churchill Downs” returns Friday at 6 p.m. for a preview of Saturday’s Claiming Crown. Fans can listen live on ESPN Louisville or anytime on the “Inside the Kentucky Derby” podcast. … Trainer Brad Cox is one win away from 3,000-career victories. He had one entrant Friday in Race 1 at Belmont Park and one in Race 11 at Churchill Downs. … For the latest information about the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.