Staking a Claim to Fame

This is the one day of the year it is worth taking a look at Canterbury Downs. For the third time, the Minnesota track will offer the Claiming Crown, a $550,000 six-race series for claimers from around the country. Del Mar and its satellites will take wagering on the races and there will be a pick six with a guaranteed pool of $50,000. The best thing about the races is that they offer full, competitive fields, so there will be plenty of solid wagering opportunities. Names of horses that will be familiar to Californians include Fearless Pirate, a 7-year-old gelding who is running in the $50,000 Express; Lady Di Huntley, who will be running in the $75,000 Glass Slipper; Percutant, who will be in the $125,000 Emerald; and Sing Because, who will be in the day’s richest event, the $150,000 Jewel at 1 1/8 miles. Jose Valdivia Jr. will be at Canterbury to ride Sing Because, who has won three of his last four, for owner Richard Englander and trainer Nick Canani.

Race of the day: The fifth race at Del Mar, a one-mile turf affair, marks a return to the beach for Royal Hill and Chatting, two veterans who have won a combined eight of 12 on the Del Mar turf. The former, a 10-year-old gelding, has won six of 10 on the layout since his arrival in this country several years ago. Two of his victories came last year and a mile is his best distance. Chatting, meanwhile, has won only four races in his career, but he is two for two on the local lawn and both of the victories came in 2000.

Who’s hot: Richard Mandella. Scheduled to enter racing’s Hall of Fame on Monday, the trainer clicked with five of his first 13 starters locally and one of his victories came with Redattore in the Grade I Eddie Read Handicap.

Who’s not: Oh Jazzy Day. Overmatched for most of the year, the 5-year-old gelding is winless in 10 in 2001. The last time he hit the board was when he finished third on Jan. 13 at Santa Anita. Look for him to be prominent early in today’s ninth, then fall apart late.

Exotically speaking: We’ll play early doubles from Tribal Rule in the first to Swiss Miss and Gin Running in the second.