The number of claims at Del Mar

[Swaps1955]

Maybe I've just not noticed it before, but it seems every day at Del Mar there are between 6 and 12 claims (including a 4 way shake for Bluesthestandard) ! I don't remember seeing that before at other tracks in this profusion! Any explanations???

[louis finochio]

DM is vacation time and most all the owners are there. They want to see their TB in action, so the claim box is always busy at DM.

I asked this same ? last year and thats what the trainers said, and that explains why so many TB are claimed.

[Swaps1955]

Thanks, Louis!

Wendy

[monicabee]

Saratoga can be similar. People run horses there at slightly below their usual tag in an attempt to "buy" that glorious Saratoga win, and if the horses have conditions available, others see opportunity. A good Saratoga claimer can often run at allowance level at Aqueduct in the winter.

I'm not so familiar with the California tracks, but from what Louis says, perhaps there's the same relationship between Del Mar, and say, Hollywood Park?

[henthorn]

When I ran a mare at Santa Anita that was an allowance/stakes horse at most tracks, I ran her at $25K claiming to be competitive. Horses are generally going to have to race in lower company at the premier tracks because the competition is so much tougher.

I can claim a horse from an expensive track, transport them to a cheaper track, and earn black type or allowance money at their new home. It helps the catalog page if a race mare gets black type, which she would never earn at the premier tracks.

[louis finochio]

The competition at HP SA and DM is tough, as evidence of the success of TB that are shipped out of state and pick up Black Type.