Exotics Plays for the Claiming Crown Jewel

A total of 14 boys are entered to contest the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at Churchill Downs on Saturday exotics. Grade 3 victor #3 Money Supply (2-1), who took the race at Fair Grounds last season, is among the top contenders in the 1 1/8-mile conditioner for conditioner Joe Sharp, but the son of Practical Joke will have to be at his best to defend his title against a deep and talented cast. I’ll spread with multiple runners in the exciting contest. 

Jewel Exotics Wagers

• $4 exacta 8 with 2,3,6,9,11 ($20)
• $2 trifecta 8 with 9,11 with 2,3,6,9,11 ($16)
• $.20-cent superfecta key 8 with 2,3,6,9,11 ($12)

The Brad Cox-trained #8 Bourbon Day (5-2) has won or placed in each of his five performances since being claimed by his current connections in February, and he comes off of an impressive run at Aqueduct last out when dominating allowance foes at the 1 3/16-mile voyage. The Race Day chestnut has done a good portion of his running on the sod in his career, but earning a whopping 120 Brisnet Late Pace number last time on the main strip tells me that he is just fine on the dirt. Florent Geroux riding adds to his appeal. 

#11 Surface to Air (8-1) has won four of his last six races coming in, which includes a fine tally at Keeneland while facing second-level allowance runners most recently. Claimed by Panagiotis Synnefias in April, the Midshipman colt was 20-1 in an allowance score at Aqueduct in the summer, and the colt was sent postward at odds of 24-1 last time, but he is no fluke. The chestnut will stalk the early tempo from the break with Fernando Jara in the silks. 

David Jacobson’s #9 Laughing Boy (12-1) is the expected pacesetter in the field and will be dangerous if he clears early on, which is very possible. The multiple-stakes hero comes in for his first run since April for a solid layoff conditioner, and he could get very brave if left alone for too long beneath Sammy Camacho, Jr.

Mike Maker’s #6 Guntown (12-1) is a capable late runner with Luis Saez in the silks. Recent Larry Rivelli claim #2 General Mathis (12-1) was a sharp claiming winner on the oval last time and moves to a high-percentage outfit. And the aforementioned Money Supply will appreciate the class relief in the contest, too.