Crown Over, a four year old gelding by Suggest, began his career in March of 2011 at Golden Gate Fields, debuting in a six furlong Maiden Claimer ($32k-$30k). Crown Over, fourth at the top of the stretch, managed to finish a neck in front of the rest of the field that day at longshot odds, paying $36.40 to win.
Over his next thirteen races, Crown Over would compete without a price tag on his head; he would also fail to win again. But he was always competitive, despite the level. Crown Over took the Place in a first level allowance race; he took the Show in an overnight stakes; he finished in the money in half of the starter allowances in which he ran. In other words, this is a horse that can usually be counted on to run just well enough to lose.
This past Saturday, in the nightcap at Golden Gate, Crown Over, for the first time since his debut, was entered for a tag; and this time, he got picked up. Crown Over now belongs to the barn of James Kasparoff, the former trainer of (among others) Bob Black Jack and Made to Love Her.
Now, a horse getting claimed from a race in which he goes to post at odds of over thirty-to-one certainly gets my attention; especially when it's a gelding, because you know he wasn't bought to be sent to the breeding shed. Therefore, I'm going to keep an eye on Crown Over; at least for his next few starts; not because I expect Kasparoff to suddenly turn this perpetually loser into a winner (though I'm open to the possibility that could happen); but because I think Kasparoff can slot Crown Over back into allowance and overnight stakes company, where he can again hit the board at nice odds to fill out some well paying vertical wagers.
Or so I hope.
Peace and Love,
Jimbo
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