Churchill Downs Update: Carrasco Ready to Make Most of Claiming Crown Opportunity

Nov 11, 2026

Jockey Victor Carrasco doesn’t have much use for a day off when there are opportunities to be had at racetracks and training centers across Kentucky.

Carrasco came to Kentucky last winter after more than a decade riding in Maryland. This fall, he’s been getting on horses at Churchill Downs and making regular trips to Keeneland, Turfway Park and Skylight Training Center as he builds his business with Kentucky trainers.

“I try to be out there every day,” Carrasco said. “Even if I don’t have anything to work, I still want to be seen and try to get the next chance.”

Carrasco will get another opportunity Saturday at Churchill Downs when he’s back aboard Tommy Humphries, Glynn Puryear and BHB Racing’s Free Advice in the $175,000 Claiming Crown Emerald – the most lucrative of nine starter allowance races for some of the country’s top blue-collar horses worth a combined $1.2 million that comprise the 28th Claiming Crown Championship Series, which returns to Churchill Downs for a fourth time.

First post Saturday is 1 p.m. ET and the Emerald goes as Race 12 at 6:23 p.m. ET.

Free Advice and Carrasco finished second over the Matt Winn Turf Course on Sept. 19 before winning a $120,000 allowance 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.”

Carrasco got his start as a hot walker and groom in his native Puerto Rico before attending the Escuela Vocacional Hípica jockey school. He rode his first winner for his uncle at Camarero and went on to earn the 2013 Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey.

“Opportunities have been limited so far in Kentucky, but I’ve made the best of it,” Carrasco said. “Every day I know there’s a new opportunity, and I will keep working hard to get them.”

Carrasco plans to stay in Kentucky after the Fall Meet and return to Turfway Park this winter, which opens its Holiday Meet on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT CHURCHILL DOWNS: CLAIMING CROWN AND HOLIDAY CHEER – The 28th Claiming Crown, $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed) and visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus highlight a five-day week of Fall Meet racing at Churchill Downs, with 51 races scheduled Wednesday through Sunday and daily first posts of 1 p.m. (all times Eastern).

Wednesday, Nov. 11 – Trio of Carryovers Open the Week
Wednesday’s nine-race Veterans Day card offers a trio of carryovers led by a $92,406 in the 20-cent Derby City 6, which begins in Race 4 at 2:27 p.m. The Jackpot 8 has a $458,636 carryover into Race 9 at 4:55 p.m. and the Super Hi 5 has a $6,938 carryover for Race 2 at 1:29 p.m. The featured race is a wide-open $127,000 allowance at one mile on turf that goes as Race 8 at 4:25 p.m.
Trainer Brad Cox is one win away from 3,000 career victories. The veteran horseman has horses entered in Races 4 and 7. Cox also has two entered in the opener at Horseshoe Indianapolis at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 12 – Longines Kentucky Oaks Starter Lovely Grey Returns
Dave Portnoy’s Go Go Greys Stable’s Lovely Grey, runner-up in the Bourbonette Oaks (Listed) at Turfway Park before competing in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), returns to Churchill Downs in Thursday’s featured $127,000 allowance for fillies and mares at one mile on turf. The Kelsey Danner trainee gets Tyler Gaffalione aboard in Race 6 at 3:26 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 13 – Churchill Downs to Honor Bernie Flint After Race 6
Churchill Downs will observe a moment of silence following Race 6 on Friday in honor of longtime trainer Bernie Flint, who died July 17 at age 86. Members of Flint’s family will be in attendance. Flint won 3,551 races during his training career, including 501 at Churchill Downs. Among his 28 graded stakes victories was the 2004 Golden Rod (GII) with Runway Model. Flint saddled his final starter, Bright Spark, to victory at Churchill Downs in November 2023.
Godolphin’s First Resort, winner of the 2024 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at Churchill Downs, returns to turf in Friday’s featured $134,000 allowance optional claimer at one mile in Race 10 at 5:25 p.m. Rafael Bejarano rides the Eoin Harty trainee, who finished third in an Ellis Park turf sprint in July before making his last two starts on dirt. The field also includes John Battaglia Memorial winner Great White, who will try turf for the first time for trainer and co-owner John Ennis, and the Dale Romans-trained Maui Strong, who missed by a neck in a September allowance over the same course and distance.
Saturday, Nov. 14 – Claiming Crown, Dream Supreme and Santa
Nine Claiming Crown races worth a combined $1.2 million share Saturday’s 12-race card with the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed). The six-furlong Dream Supreme goes as Race 3 at 1:58 p.m. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s graded stakes-winning trio of Haulin Ice, Mystic Lake and Indy Bay meets fellow graded stakes winner Echo Sound in a field of six filly and mare sprinters.
The Claiming Crown begins in Race 4 at 2:28 p.m. with the six-furlong Ready’s Rocket Express. Trainer Jamie Ness’ Kerness K brings an 11-race winning streak into the $100,000 race against a field that includes defending winner Concrete Glory. The featured $200,000 Jewel at 1 1/8 miles goes as Race 11 at 5:54 p.m.
Holiday Cheer at the Track begins Saturday with Santa and Mrs. Claus greeting guests in the second-floor Clubhouse from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. A professional photographer will be on-site. The weekend also includes a letters-to-Santa station, holiday crafts while supplies last and a hot cocoa concession stand.
Sunday Nov. 15 – Walsh Duo Fiery Lucy (GB), Icona (IRE) Lead Wide-Open Allowance
Qatar Racing and Fergus Galvin’s Fiery Lucy (GB) seeks consecutive victories when she leads Sunday’s featured $134,000 allowance optional claimer for fillies and mares at one mile on turf in Race 9 at 4:55 p.m. The Brendan Walsh trainee earned her first North American victory with a 1 ½-length allowance win at Keeneland on Oct. 24. Brian Hernandez Jr. retains the mount. Walsh also entered Heider Family Stables’ Icona (IRE), who returns after finishing fourth in the Ellis Park Turf in August.
Earlier in the card, trainer Greg Foley sends out last-out winners Ships Inn and Twirling Claire in a $127,000 allowance at 5 ½ furlongs on turf in Race 6 at 3:26 p.m.
Santa and Mrs. Claus return to the second-floor Clubhouse from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m., with a professional photographer on-site.
Meet Leaders – Saez, Cox, Godolphin Top Standings Through First Nine Days of 24-Day Fall Meet
Luis Saez entered Wednesday atop the jockey standings with 14 wins, four more than 17-year-old apprentice Yomar Ortiz Jr. (10). The top five was rounded out by Tyler Gaffalione (9), Jaime Torres (7) and Jose Ortiz (6).
Brad Cox had 12 wins from 27 starters (44%) to top the trainer standings and was followed by Steve Asmussen (8), Joe Sharp (7), Bret Calhoun (3) and Brian Lynch (3).
Godolphin leads the owner standings with five trips to the winner’s circle from 12 starters, two more victories than owner/trainer Steve Asmussen (3). Robert McCoy’s Epic Horses LLC (2), Robert O’Hara Jr. (2) and Larry J. Romero (2) also have won multiple races.