Pre-entries for the 10^th annual Claming Crown, which will be held on
Aug. 2, were taken on Wednesday. Eighty-three horses have been pre-entered for
the event known as thoroughbred racing’s day for “blue collar” racehorses. The
Claiming Crown consists of seven races, five on dirt and two on turf, with
purses totaling $600,000.

Trainer Justin Evans, based at
Canterbury, has seven runners pre-entered, a record for Claiming Crown. Evans
trains Chickster, who is pointed to the $50,000 Express. The 7-year-old gelding
has won more races, nine, than any horse in North America in 2008.

Steve Asmussen, currently the
leading trainer in the U.S. by both wins and earnings, has pre-entered two
horses. Trainer Scott Lake, who has won a record eight Claiming Crown races, has
four pre-entered. Maggie Moss of Des Moines, IA, the leading owner by wins in
the U.S. in 2007, has pre-entered one horse to each the Glass Slipper  Rapid
Transit, and Iron Horse.

This year Claiming Crown attracted
279 nominations. Pre-entries narrowed down the possible entrants to 83. Final
entries will be taken on Wednesday, July 30. The post position draw will be held
at 11:00 a.m. that day in the Ascot Lounge in the grandstand. Tom Kelly, former
manager of the Minnesota Twins, winners of the 1987 and 1991 World Series, will
assist with the draw.