Scott Lake, the leading trainer at Philadelphia Park, has long made the annual Claiming Crown his own private party, and he saddles the probable favorite, Coyoteshighestcall, in the $150,000 Jewel at Canterbury Park, just outside Minneapolis (TVG, 6:43 p.m.).

Lake has made dozens of excellent claims over the years but fewer better than Coyote, who has won 14 races and more than $400,000, much of the success for Lake and owner Robert Cole.

Now 6, Coyote is small in stature but aided by his fierce determination.

Kendrick Carmouche, the hottest jockey at Philly Park, will pilot Coyote, and Lake also has Biblical Scholar for the Iron Horse and Quick Sale for the Golden Slipper, with his wife, Jennifer Stisted, to ride.

The $750,000 West Virginia at Mountaineer Park (5-6 p.m. ESPN, TVG) boasts a field of 12 going 11/8 miles.

The Grade III event is truly a wide-open betting race, with several possible favorites.

Three potential upsetters were shipped from Delaware Park.

Proud Kentuckian, trained by Larry Jones and ridden by Gabriel Saez, is stepping up in class but is seeking his fourth consecutive victory after twice beating older runners.

Ready Set, owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson of Barbaro fame, is trained by Michael Matz and should make a strong late run under Julien Leparoux, who will fly in from Saratoga for the assignment.

Trainer Graham Motion sends out Barbaro Stakes runner-up Cherokee Artist, with Garrett Gomez named to ride.

Illinois Derby winner Recapturetheglory could emerge as the public choice, with My Pal Charlie and Z Fortune as other threats.

Precocious debut. Philly Park trainer Frank Petrozzo started During Deputy only once, but the manner in which she captured her debut prompted a start in today's Colleen Stakes at 51/2 furlongs for juvenile fillies at Monmouth Park.

During Deputy, to be ridden again by Eddie King, pulled away smartly in her July 5 bow, winning by 61/4 lengths.

She looked even better when Celtic Journey, the distant runner-up that day, returned to lose a photo in a good field of maidens yesterday at Monmouth.

A true Test. Indian Blessing will be the odds-on favorite in today's $250,000 Grade I Test Stakes at seven furlongs, but Jones will seek to surprise with Sweet Hope, an impressive winner at Delaware in June.

Ramon Dominguez, on hiatus from the Stanton track to compete at the six-week Spa meeting, will be aboard Sweet Hope, who also shows victories in England and California.

Big Brown on turf. The heavy favorite for tomorrow's $1 million Haskell worked three furlongs in an easy 38.66 yesterday over the turf at Aqueduct.

Yes, the Haskell's on the dirt, but trainer Rick Dutrow said there was no particular reason for the final preparation on a different footing.

Big Brown won his debut on grass in September at Saratoga by more than 12 lengths but was sidelined with foot problems.

Unless you don't like Big Brown's chances in the mediocre field of seven, the Haskell is not a very interesting betting proposition.

But the 14-race card that will begin at noon will offer seven stakes with good-size fields, carrying purses of $100,000 or more.

The Haskell post will be 6:14 p.m. (ESPN Classic, TVG, ESPNews).