Churchill Downs Update: Nationwide Connections Converge at Churchill Downs for Saturday's 27th Claiming Crown

Nov 09, 2025

A total of 121 horses representing 30 different racetracks and training centers across North America were entered for Saturday’s eight Claiming Crown races at Churchill Downs, offering horseplayers deep wagering opportunities and giving connections from coast to coast a chance to compete beneath the historic Twin Spires.

In the body of the eight Claiming Crown races, 100 horses were entered for an average of 12.5 per event. Saturday’s 11-race card will feature 54 different jockeys and 110 trainers. Horses based in 14 states will be represented: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The Claiming Crown – eight supercharged starter allowance races for top blue-collar horses – was created to serve as the claiming horse owner’s Breeders’ Cup from a partnership between the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Now in its 27th year, Saturday marks the third time Churchill Downs has hosted the event. It’s previously been hosted at Canterbury Park, Philadelphia Park (now Parx), Ellis Park, Fair Grounds and Gulfstream Park.

Along with Saturday’s competitive fields, the robust wagering menu will feature three Pick 5s beginning in Races 1, 4 and 7; the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot (Races 6-11) spanning of all Claiming Crown races; and the $3 Late Pick 3 (Races 9-11) consisting of the $125,000 Rapid Transit, $200,000 Jewel and $175,000 Emerald. Horseplayers also will have the opportunity to qualify for the National Horseplayers Championship through a $500 live-money tournament on TwinSpires. For more information and to register, visit www.twinspires.com/bet/tournaments/1415/details.

Saturday’s program will begin at 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) and includes three undercard races led by the $300,000 Chilukki presented by Resolute Racing (Grade III). The eight Claiming Crown races will be contested in Races 4-11 beginning at 2:28 p.m.

For more information about the Claiming Crown, visit www.claimingcrown.com.

WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST TIES CAREER BEST 102 BRISNET SPEED RATING FOR DOMINANT RIVER CITY VICTORY – Woodslane Farm’s Wolfie’s Dynaghost tied his career-best 102 Brisnet Speed Rating with his front-running 2 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s $300,000 River City (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

The veteran 8-year-old last recorded a 102 Brisnet Speed Rating in 2023 when he scored a 2 ¼-length win in the TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (Listed) over the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park.

“The old guy’s still got it,” trainer Brian Lynch said. “We’ll take him down with us to Palm Meadows for the winter and looking forward to him going on with it into next year.”

One race earlier, David Jacobson’s Hillerito earned a 93 Brisnet Speed Rating while scoring her first-career stakes win in the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed).

DOWN THE STRETCH – Saturday’s Derby City 6 Jackpot was taken down for the first time in the Fall Meet for the tune of $354,833. The $140 winning ticket was purchased at Delta Downs and featured the following combination: 5,8,9,10,12/5,8/3,5,6,7,10,11,12/4/4,7/1,4,5,6,8. The jackpot will start fresh for Sunday’s 10-race card … Jockey Keith Asmussen was released from the University of Louisville Hospital early Sunday morning and diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture of his pelvis that occurred when his mount Mighty Nora clipped heels with R Kendl in the far turn of Saturday’s third race. R Kendl, ridden by Alexander Bendezu, was disqualified and placed last. … Following dark days Monday and Tuesday, live racing will resume Wednesday-Sunday with daily first post of 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com