CADET CORPS, ONE TIME WILLARD NOMINATED FOR BACK-TO-BACK CLAIMING CROWN SHOWCASE DAY WINS
Posted on August 10th, 2026
Cadet Corps, winner of the 2025 Claiming Crown Jewel Preview, is nominated for a repeat score in this year’s edition on Aug. 22 at Colonial Downs. (Photo credit: Coady Media)
One Time Willard is in search of a repeat score in the $87,500 Claiming Crown on Aug. 22 at Colonial Downs (Photo credit: Coady Media)
NEW KENT, Va. (Aug 7, 2026) — Cadet Corps and One Time Willard, both owned by Kenwood Racing and Kelly Breen, who also trains them, have been nominated to pursue back-to-back victories in their respective qualifying races on Claiming Crown Showcase Day at Colonial Downs on Saturday, Aug. 22.
Cadet Corps heads the nominees for the $100,000 Jewel Qualifier and One Time Willard for the $87,500 Emerald Qualifier. Each won its Colonial Downs qualifier last year, with Cadet Corps going on to finish second in the Claiming Crown Jewel.
For the second consecutive year, Colonial Downs will host qualifying races for the Claiming Crown. The top two finishers in each of the nine races will earn automatic berths in the Claiming Crown, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, at Churchill Downs.
The nine starter handicaps offer combined purses of $612,500.
The $100,000 Jewel Qualifier, contested at 1 1/8 miles on dirt, attracted 19 nominations. Cadet Corps won last year’s Colonial qualifier before finishing second in the Jewel at Churchill Downs. The race is open to horses which have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2025 or 2026.
One Time Willard will seek a repeat victory in the $87,500 Emerald Qualifier at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The Emerald drew 34 nominations, the highest total among the Showcase Day races. Awesome Ruta also was nominated after putting together a five-race winning streak over the winter and spring for trainer Joe Sharp. The Emerald is for horses which have started for $25,000 or less in 2025 or 2026.
The $50,000 Iron Horse Qualifier drew 25 nominations for the 1 1/16-mile dirt race. Curlin’s Malibu, now trained by Mike Maker, won both the Colonial qualifier and the Claiming Crown Iron Horse last year while in Joe Sharp’s barn. Freedom Road, trained by Richard Sillaman, also was nominated after finishing second in each of the past two editions of the Claiming Crown Iron Horse. Eligible horses must have started for $8,000 or less in their careers.
Nineteen horses were nominated to the $50,000 Ready’s Rocket Express Qualifier at six furlongs on dirt, including two-time defending Claiming Crown winner Concrete Glory. Owned by Frank Rupolo’s Big Frank Stable and trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., Concrete Glory was named the 2025 Claiming Crown Horse of the Year after winning the Ready’s Rocket Express at Churchill Downs for the second consecutive year. Kerness K also was nominated after winning eight straight races since joining trainer Jamie Ness’ barn. The Ready’s Rocket Express is for horses which have started for $8,000 or less in their careers.
The $75,000 Tiara Qualifier drew 26 fillies and mares for 1 1/16 miles on turf. The nominees include defending winner Cairo Street, trained by Lacey Gaudet, and Goats On a Tree, trained by Kinnon LaRose. The Tiara is open to fillies and mares which have started for $25,000 or less in 2025 or 2026.
Shape Note, winner of last year’s Claiming Crown under the same conditions, and Enlighten are among 22 nominees for the $75,000 Canterbury Qualifier. The Canterbury will be run at 5½ furlongs on turf for horses which have started for $25,000 or less in 2025 or 2026.
The $62,500 Rapid Transit Qualifier attracted 26 nominations, including Nogradi, Willie Bird and Air Invasion. The seven-furlong dirt race is for horses which have started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in 2025 or 2026.
Twenty-one fillies and mares were nominated to the $50,000 Glass Slipper Qualifier, a one-mile dirt race for runners which have started for $12,500 or less in 2025 or 2026. The nominees include Golden Eib Micrphn, a 7-year-old mare with 17 career wins, including five this year.
New to this year’s Showcase Day lineup is the $62,500 Jackie H. Qualifier for fillies and mares at six furlongs on dirt. Its 24 nominees include Julee’s Legacy, a perfect 4-for-4 this year for trainer Michael Jones, and Peridot Pendant, who has won six of seven starts this year for owner-trainer Erin McClellan. The Jackie H. is open to fillies and mares which have started for $16,000 or less in 2025 or 2026 and serves as a qualifier for the Empress.
The Showcase Day card will be drawn Saturday, Aug. 15.
