All systems go for Shackleford out of Churchill Downs Stakes and ahead of the Met Mile Handicap
The last year’s Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner, Shackleford, had to engage in a gruelling duel for his first win since he claimed the middle jewel of the 2011 Triple Crown, with the 2011 champion sprinter, Amazombie, in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard on 5 May, 2012.
The Dale Romans trained 4-year-old colt has had three second place finishes and a single third place finish since he won the Preakness Stakes last year in seven starts, finally notched one in his third start of the new season.
Kicking off proceedings for the 2012 campaign in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap, Shackleford didn’t have a pleasant outing at Gulfstream Park, where he finished seventh to winner, Hymn Book, after a troubled trip on 11 February, 2012, at about 1 1/8 miles.
Owned and bred by W. D. Cubbedge and Michael Lauffer, Shackleford improved his placing as he finished third in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap in his next start, after being cut back to distance at seven furlongs.
At the Aqueduct race track, Javier Castanon, the usual mount on Shackleford, ran big in the final furlong to earn his runner a placed finish, yet again.
Raced at Churchill Downs three times prior to the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes, Shackleford had won once, finished behind a winner once, and in the Kentucky Derby last year finished fourth to, Animal Kingdom, but he improved his record there with a magnificent win over a significant threat, and snapped his seven race losing streak.
The Churchill Downs Stakes victory was a timely one for Shackleford, as he looks ahead for all important Grade 1, $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on 28 May, 2012.
The Kentucky bred galloped 1 ½ miles on 10 May for trainer Dale Romans.
“He looks so good that I think we ought to run him in the Preakness again,” Lauffer joked about the chestnut son of Forestry.
“It’s going to be a war,” Lauffer said in reference to the Met Mile. “But that’s OK. It’s supposed to be that way and if we’re going to go up against those types of horses then I’m glad we’re doing it while the horse is doing so well.”
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