Joe Sharp walking Excel Calculator (Photo by Kevin Kilroy)

Claiming Crown Showcase Day contenders continued to settle in at Colonial Downs on Friday, with horses arriving from Kentucky, New York, and beyond ahead of Saturday’s nine qualifying races.

Joe Sharp was on hand Friday morning to lead his five Showcase Day starters to the track. The quintet arrived Wednesday and had its first jog over the Colonial Downs main track Thursday.

Sharp’s starters came from three of his divisions. Saratoga-based Funny Uncle will contest Race 11 ($87,500 Emerald Qualifier), while Coquito goes in Race 8 ($50,000 Glass Slipper Qualifier), and Excel Calculator in Race 4 ($62,500 Rapid Transit Qualifier.) Westside Tide shipped from Turfway Park to join Funny Uncle in the Emerald, while Goodbetterbest came from Ellis Park for Race 9 ($75,000 Tiara Qualifier.)

GOATS ON A TREE BACK ON GRASS IN TIARA

Goats On a Tree also arrived Wednesday ahead of her start in the Tiara Qualifier. Third in last year’s Claiming Crown Tiara at Churchill Downs, the 5-year-old Bolt d’Oro mare was claimed for $50,000 by Team Adams Racing and joined Kinnon LaRose’s barn in May.Her lone start for LaRose came at Churchill Downs in late June where she finished a distant seventh over an off track.

“No real excuse, I just don’t think she handled the off track well,” LaRose said. “I’m happy to get her back on the grass.”

Goats On a Tree has posted five workouts ahead of Saturday’s race.

MAKER QUARTET ARRIVES

Mike Maker’s four Showcase Day starters arrived at the Colonial Downs receiving barn Friday morning.Curlin’s Malibu, who had been training at Churchill Downs, will attempt to repeat in Race 5 ($50,000 Iron Horse Qualifier.) The 7-year-old won both the Colonial qualifier and Claiming Crown Iron Horse last year before being claimed for $62,500 and transferred to Maker in May. His first start for the barn came July 4 on turf at Ellis Park, and he returns to dirt Saturday.

Shape Note and Fluid Situation shipped from Saratoga for Race 7 ($75,000 Canterbury Qualifier) at 5½  furlongs on turf. Shape Note, last year’s Claiming Crown Canterbury winner, enters off an off-the-turf victory at Saratoga July 18, while Fluid Situation was second on turf in his latest start.

Tiara qualifier entrant Notable Exchange, who had been training at Churchill Downs, completes Maker’s quartet. She will make her first start for Maker after being claimed for $50,000 in May.

MORE KENTUCKY SHIP-INS ARRIVE

Groveland arrived from Kentucky Thursday evening for trainer Eddie Kenneally and will contest Race 10 ($100,000 Jewel Qualifier) at 1 1/8 miles.Trainer Jason Cook’s In a Jam shipped in Thursday morning for the Emerald Qualifier. The 5-year-old enters off a victory at Colonial Downs, with Declan Cannon retaining the mount.

American Law arrived from Ellis Park Tuesday morning for trainer Sarah Shaffer and will join Groveland in the Jewel Qualifier.

AROUND THE SHOWCASE DAY BARNS

Last year’s Colonial Downs Jewel and Emerald Qualifier winners Cadet Corps and One Time Willard are scheduled to arrive Friday afternoon from Monmouth Park for Kenwood Racing and trainer Kelly Breen. The pair will be received locally by trainer Jesus Cruz.Cadet Corps will defend his title in Race 10 (the Jewel Qualifier), while One Time Willard returns in Race 11 (Emerald Qualifier.)

Bar Fourteen will make his first start for trainer Jason Libertini in the Emerald Qualifier after being claimed for $10,000 by Double B Racing Stables from a Colonial Downs open claiming race Aug. 8.

The 8-year-old had caught Libertini’s attention several starts earlier at Monmouth Park.

“It was his race at Monmouth Park,” Libertini said. “He ran a big figure and tried hard down the lane but got nailed at the wire. We’ll take our shot. If it comes off the turf, we wouldn’t mind.”

Enlighten shipped in earlier this week from Mountaineer for trainer Keith Austin. He galloped Thursday and jogged along the outer rail after the renovation break Friday while stabled in Keith Desormeaux’s barn.

The 6-year-old will contest Race 3 ($50,000 Ready’s Rocket Express Qualifier) at 6 furlongs on dirt. Saturday will be his first six-furlong start. He most recently missed by a head going 5½ furlongs at Mountaineer Park.

Cool Cowboy will make his turf debut for trainer Mark Simms Jr. in the Canterbury Qualifier. The 4-year-old breezed over the Secretariat Turf Course Aug. 14 after winning over a wet Colonial main track in his previous start.

“He handled the grass, switched leads well, and overall looked good,” Simms said. “He’s been doing great.”

Freedom Road is scheduled to ship to Colonial Downs Saturday morning for trainer Richard Sillaman ahead of the Iron Horse Qualifier. The 6-year-old has finished second in each of the past two Claiming Crown Iron Horse starts.

Forrest City and Bushido completed their final preparations for trainer Lacey Gaudet following the renovation break Friday. Forrest City will start in the Iron Horse Qualifier, while Bushido goes in the Canterbury Qualifier.

Saturday’s 11-race Claiming Crown Showcase Day program begins at 12:30 p.m. ET. The nine qualifiers, spanning Races 3-11, begin with the Ready’s Rocket Express.