Mr. Commons meets Little Mike in Shoemaker Mile at Betfair Hollywood Park
Mr. Commons and Little Mike are all set to lock horns in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile, scheduled to take place at Betfair Hollywood Park this Saturday.
Mr. Commons has developed a knack of putting his rivals under pressure right from the beginning of the race. He usually does not allow the opponents to surpass him after getting an early advantage.
On the other hand, Little Mike races from the front and becomes mighty dangerous at times. His style of running is equally effective and makes him one of the toughest runners in the country.
Both runners will try to establish their supremacy, when they face each other for the first time in the Shoemaker Mile this weekend. On BHP's turf, the pair alongside six others will run for a big prize worth $300,000.
Owned by St. George Farm Racing – LLC, Mr. Commons is expected to earn the highest starting price. The 4-year-old will be pursuing his first stakes victory since February, when he banged the rest of the pack in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes at Santa Anita.
In his last two appearances, the dashing colt was completely unlucky. After missing the gold medal narrowly in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita, he failed to add the winning touch last time at Betfair Hollywood Park. Under his regular jockey
J. Smith, Mr. Commons was runner-up behind Wilkinson in the Grade 2 American Handicap.
Despite a couple of unlucky trips, John A. Shirreffs has not lost trust in his charge. The trainer said ahead of the race: “I haven’t lost any faith. When they finish so close, you know he will get there sometime. That’s a lot of speed. He’s been such a
nice horse and so honest all along. He acts like he’s a little sharper for this race.”
On the other hand, Little Mike is set to fancy his chances following an outstanding victory in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. Terming his charge’s style as a major asset, Dale L. Romans stated: “He’s a rare horse that has speed
and endurance.”
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