At any rate, we claim their arms and horses as lawful plunder.

"Mostly, I train allowance and claiming horses," the trainer said, "so winning a race like this feels great."

"I hear you won't ride claiming horses anymore," Howard said.

Ferriola has been among New York's leading trainers over the last few years while often improving the fortunes of claiming horses.

He started his second career, with horses, in the 1970's when he owned claiming horses, usually the cheapest runners available.

And he did it chiefly with claiming horses, his specialty.

Solid, older $12,500 claiming horses ran it in a dull 1:46 2/5.

It is seen as a "blue collar" Breeders' Cup series for claiming horses.

He had won hundreds of races with claiming horses until he finally got the opportunity to saddle first-rate equines.

He spent the bulk of his career chasing claiming horses, most of whom he could not catch.