Pre-entries for the 10th 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.