Thursday, August 2, 2012
Contact: John Scheinman
(518) 584-6200, ext. 4237
SHACKLEFORD CUTS BACK TO SIX FURLONGS FOR G1 VANDERBILT
The winner of the Grade 1, 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes last year over Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, Shackleford has transformed his game this year – from speedball that runs his heart out in route races to fearsome sprint and middle-distance star.
In his most recent assignment, Shackleford turned back Caleb’s Posse and To Honor and Serve to win the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on May 28 at
The race for 3-year-olds and up drew a field of eight including the promising speedster Emcee and Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap winner
Research shows a victory would vault Shackleford into select company: Since the introduction of the graded stakes system in 1973, it appears only four horses have won Grade 1 races at six furlongs farther than 1 1/8 miles – Foolish Pleasure, Dancing Spree, Precisionist and Ruffian. Three of those four were named champions and later inducted into the Hall of Fame. Dancing
Shackleford, the 6-5 favorite on the morning line, emerged from his heart-stopping victory in the Met Mile a tired horse, and trainer Dale Romans sent him home to rest in
“He’s ready to go,” Romans said. “I think this is the time of year the older horses’ division shakes itself out and the 3-year-olds merge. I think Game On Dude is on top and Shack ranks among the best of them.”
Shackleford, who drew the inside post, is on schedule to compete in the Vanderbilt and the Grade 1 Forego at seven furlongs on September 1, with the ultimate goal being the Breeders’ Cup. Right now, Romans isn’t looking past Sunday. When considering the possibility of joining the four horses that won Grade 1 races at such disparate distances, he said, “It might stamp you as great. Those are great horses on the list.”
Godolphin Racing continues its quest to land a Grade 1 victory with Emcee, a 4-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song, who has won three of five starts and drew just outside Shackleford in post position No. 2.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and 2-1 on the morning line, Emcee flaunted his abundant talent in sharp efforts in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap presented by Corona Extra on the inner dirt course at Aqueduct Racetrack in March and the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on the outer dirt there a month later. In the Tom Fool, he engaged in a torrid speed duel before finishing third; in the Carter, he lost his footing at the start and then loomed boldly before finishing behind Jackson Bend, Caleb’s Posse and Shackleford.
He returned on May 5 at
“He is doing great and peaking for the Vanderbilt,” McLaughlin said. “He was unlucky in the Carter and left the gate awkwardly that day. We gave him a little time because he ran so fast last time [in the allowance race]. He’s a fast horse and a good sprinter. I hope I never stretch him out.”
When healthy, the 6-year-old
When asked what’s been bothering
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas sends out the rugged 6-year-old Hamazing Destiny (12-1), who picked up the first graded-stakes win of his career in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Handicap on Preakness Day at Pimlico.
“A Grade 1 is always tough,” Lukas said. “He travels well, he runs well everywhere. Once in a while, he’ll get a surface he doesn’t care for, but most times he’s pretty good. I expect him to run well here.”
Trainer Marty Ciresa is high on the chances of his 6-year-old gelding Sloane Ranger (15-1), winner in June of the $150,000 Le Vine Memorial at seven furlongs at Parx Racing. In his most recent start, Sloane Ranger almost knocked off two runners headed to the Whitney – Rule and Flat Out – in the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup.
Used to sizzling sprint paces, Sloane Ranger dueled on the lead at Monmouth through a quarter-mile in 25.43 seconds and a half in 49.72.
“That 25 did him more harm than good,” Ciresa said. “To run 25, you have to strangle them. I thought I was going to win that race and thought I had them in a spot.
“You know, he’s really coming around. Every year, he gets a little better, a little more mature. When he was young, he loved to run but didn’t have much upstairs. He loves racing, running, shipping, everything about it.”
Trainer Steve Asmussen will run an uncoupled entry of Rothko (8-1), winner of the Grade 3 Aristides at six furlongs on June 2 at Churchill Downs, and Justin Phillip (10-1), second two races back in the Grade 2 True North Handicap on June 9 at
Completing the field is multiple stakes winner Poseidon’s Warrior (30-1), shipping in from Parx Racing for trainer Robert Reid, Jr.
The field for the Grade 1, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap:
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 | Shackleford (KY) | J R Velazquez | 121 | D L Romans | 6-5 |
| 2 | Emcee (KY) | A Garcia | 115 | K P McLaughlin | 2-1 |
| 3 | Justin Phillip (KY) | R A Dominguez | 115 | S M Asmussen | 10-1 |
| 4 | Rothko (KY) | J R Leparoux | 116 | S M Asmussen | 8-1 |
| 5 | Poseidon's Warrior (MD) | J | 114 | R E Reid, Jr. | 30-1 |
| 6 | Sloane Ranger (PA) | J Lezcano | 115 | M | 15-1 |
| 7 | | E | 116 | B Tagg | 10-1 |
| 8 | Hamazing Destiny (KY) | J | 116 | D W Lukas | 12-1 |
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