Dan and Sheila pointed at the Jerome Handicap on 21 April
Trained by Todd Pletcher for owner Zayat Stables, the 3-year-old colt Dan and Sheila has won a single race so far out of his three career starts, and that win came in the maiden special weight race last year, which he broke at first asking at Gulfstream
Park’s dirt course going over a mile.
Now, pointed at the Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome Handicap at Aqueduct race track on 21 April, 2012, over the venue’s dirt course in a race that is exclusive for 3-year-olds, Dan and Sheila will have a lot to prove where he could meet the likes of Adirondack
King in the Jerome.
The Kentucky bred son of More Than Ready, out of mare Sheila’s Prospect by Not For Love, Dan and Sheila finished a disappointing 11th to winner Hansen in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct racetrack, going over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on
3 March, 2012.
“We were obviously disappointed with his last race, but he’s come back with a series of solid works,” said Todd Pletcher’s assistant, Mike McCarthy.
Mike McCarthy further went on to say that the 3-year-old colt has one more work to go before he runs in the Jerome Handicap, which is the last stakes race at the venue before the racing switches on the Belmont Park.
The best race Dan and Sheila had after his maiden breaker was the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes, where he was stretched out in distance but just enough to ensure that he is being asked to run a little farther than before.
It was a very composed run and jockey John Velazquez knew what he was doing with the colt. He sat in behind horses and had a perfect ride until the stretch, and as the field swung off for home, Dan and Sheila made his move.
However, the best three in the field shared the top 3 finishes in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes, as Mr. Bowling wrapped up the race the 1 mile 70 yards race in 1 minute and 43.49 seconds.
Tags: