Recently, Longines announced its list of World's Best Jockeys, and it went like this: 1- Frankie Dettori, 100 points; 2 - Victor Espinoza, 90 points; 2 - Ryan Moore, 90 points; 4 - Maxime Guyon, 88 points; 5 - Javier Castellano, 86 points.

    To steal a line from ESPN'S Skip Bayless: "Are you kidding me?"

    Javier Castellano wouldn't even be down in fifth place if it was a list of PGA Tour stars. There is nobody better at plying his trade. Period. Among his many other accomplishments, he has taken the Gulfstream riding title the last four years. 

    Javier gets his latest chance to show the Longines people what a mistake they made when he rides in all nine Claiming Crown races races on tomorrow's opening-day program of Gulfstream Park's Championship meeting. The popular event for claimers (or former claimers) begins in race 3 and goes through race 11, and 121 entries were dropped in the box for the nine races that are worth a total of $1.1 million. There are six races with purses of $100,000, two with $125,000, and the Jewel Stakes, worth $200,000 to close out the afternoon. There are also a pair of $50,000 maiden races to open the card.

      Unlike so many stakes that have short fields and odds-on favorites, wagering should be brisk on these more than full field events.

    There are three defending champs in the mix - St. Borealis, who won the Tiara last year by 1 3/4 lengths; Grande Shores,  winner of the Rapid Transit by 3/4; and Loverbil, by a neck in the Express. 

    Ken and Sarah Ramsey are the all-time leaders with 14 victories in the Claiming Crown series. They have five entered this time, all in different races. Post time is 12:05 p. m. 

    

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