The claiming game might lack the charisma and star power of Grade 1 stakes, but for many handicappers it’s the bread and butter of horse racing.
Claimers are the races that usually dominate a card in terms of their sheer number, and to fully enjoy a day at the track, an understanding of them is vital.
As simple as they might seem, there are nuances in them that can help steer an astute eye toward a winner. One of them involves what’s at the heart of the matter: a claim.
When a horse is claimed it can be viewed as a positive sign. It says someone likes something about that horse. But horsemen make mistakes or sometimes they have to run their new acquisitions for a higher claiming tag, so betting a horse just because it was claimed in its last race involves some risk.
What helps to erase some of that uncertainty is when a horse gets claimed multiple times or in back-to-back races. What that activity at the claim box says is that more than one set of eyes likes how that horse looks physically and believes it is in good form. With support like that, it’s easier to reach into your pocket and bet a few bucks on that horse.
A good example of that could be seen in the fifth race at Belmont Park on Sept. 25.
You Know I Know came into the $12,500 claimer off good efforts in his last two races. He was third in his last start – a $16,000 claimer – and before that he won a $12,500 claimer by six lengths. He was also claimed in his last two races. That meant that someone liked him for $12,500 and someone else wanted him for even more money, namely $16,000.
Now he was running for $12,500, a drop which can sometimes be a reason for concern. Yet in this case, the back-to-back claims gave off an indication that he was in good physical shape. He was also dropping back to a level where he had won by five lengths.
The signs were quite visible that horsemen were keen on You Know I Know and handicappers should have followed suit.
If they did, they didn’t collect a king’s ransom – You Know I Know went off at easy money and paid $4 to win – but they did cash a ticket.
And here’s a footnote to keep in mind: You Know I Know was claimed out of his win on Sept. 25. By whom? Trainer Michael Pino, who had claimed the horse for $12,500 in August and then lost him for $16,000.
The fact that Pino had the gelding in his barn, got to know him and his physical condition, and still wanted to claim him back, is another powerful angle to follow.
It’s quite simply a vote of confidence on the part of horsemen and handicappers would be wise to take note and follow suit.
