$12,500 Claim Brings Owner/Trainer John Haran To Grade 1 Stage At Churchill Downs

Exactly one year after being claimed for $12,500, American Band will be running for a seven-figure purse.

“Just luck, that’s all,” Oaklawn-based owner/trainer John Haran said Sunday morning.

American Band is among 10 horses entered in the seven-furlong, $1 million Derby City Distaff (G1) for older fillies and mares Saturday at Churchill Downs. American Band won three consecutive races this season at Oaklawn, including the $250,000 Matron Stakes for older female sprinters March 30 in her last start.

The Matron marked the biggest career victory to date for Haran, 62, who won a seven-way shake, or blind draw, to claim American Band, the now-5-year-old daughter of Flatter, for $12,500 May 4, 2023, at Oaklawn.

“I didn’t even look at that,” Haran said, referring to the date. “If she gets it done, it will be an amazing story.”

Cristian Torres, Oaklawn’s champion jockey the last two seasons, is named to ride American Band (30-1 on the morning line) from post 6.

American Band (27-1) edged Grade 1 winner Daddysruby by three-quarters of a length in the Matron. The Matron has already proven to be a key race, with three next-out winners in Royal Spa (allowance last Friday at Keeneland), Hoosier Philly (last Saturday’s $200,000 Dig A Diamond Stakes at Oaklawn) and Zeitlos (last Saturday’s $200,000 Roxelana Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs).

“I haven’t seen the field yet,” Haran said. “I’m sure there’s going to be lots of monsters in there. But she’s beaten a Grade 1 winner already and she’s coming into the race in good form. I think she’ll be ready to fire.”

Haran is seeking his first career graded stakes victory in the Derby City Distaff, which also drew, among others, Alva Starr, who launched her 2024 campaign with a sharp score in the $150,000 American Beauty Stakes for older female sprinters Feb. 3 at Oaklawn.

Prior to the Matron, Haran’s most lucrative career victory was with American Band in a $140,000 allowance sprint March 9 at Oaklawn. American Band captured the Matron – Haran’s 499th career victory – in her next start. Haran saddled his first horse in 2011.

“I started later,” Haran said with a laugh. “I started really late.”

A native of Ireland, Haran purchased Kentucky’s Eagle Valley Farm in 2004 and would send horses he owned that were stabled there to other trainers, including Eddie Kenneally, Frank Kirby and Ray Sibille, to compete around the country.

Among the best horses campaigned by Eagle Valley Farm was multiple stakes winner Kathleens Reel. Haran sold Eagle Valley Farm in 2013, two years after he started training his horses to shave expenses.

Haran set a career high for purse earnings ($1,151,960) in 2023. He has 11 victories, a single-season personal Oaklawn best, at the 2023-2024 meeting that ends Sunday. Haran also races extensively at Horseshoe Indianapolis.