Romans map out Shackleford’s next start en route to the Breeders’ Cup
W. D. Cubbedge and Michael Lauffer’s homebred 4-year-old colt, Shackleford, found his winning touch after bagging two back to back races after being sent as the underdog in both of them. With the son of Forestry showing that form is temporary and class is permanent, trainer Dale Romans wants to make winning a habit for Shackleford.
The aim for the year is to win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but en route to that ultimate goal, Shackleford will have to down mile long races to feel confident about his chances at Santa Anita Park this fall.
Dale Romans have roughly mapped out a plan from Shackleford, and it primarily focuses on this summer’s Saratoga meet and with huge races installed in the Saratoga meet, Dale Romans is leaning toward the Whitney Handicap or the Woodward Stakes.
The Kentucky bred Shackleford in the Grade 1, $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap on Memorial Day at Belmont Park was absolutely fantastic, especially the way he led with swift fractions reeling in a small but highly competitive field, and topped it up holding off the favourite, Caleb’s Posse in a sizzling rally to the end.
Dale Romans admitted after the race, that Shackleford winning the Met Mile was one of his most important victories of his career.
Out of Unbridled mare Oatsee, Shackleford fell in a dry spell after winning the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes last year, and in that seven race losing streak, Shackleford finished second thrice, and third once, but he snapped his losing streak by defeating, Amazombie in the seven furlong long Churchill Downs Stakes.
“It’s a prestigious race for a stallion, and with his body of work, to put that on his resume puts him over the top,” Romans said of the Met Mile. “He should make a great stallion. He’s so sound, never had any issues. He’s got speed and endurance. It’s just a tough combination.”
Caleb’s Posse and Shackleford have gone head to head on 4 occasions, and prior to the Met Mile, Caleb’s Posse had defeated Shackleford in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last fall at Churchill Downs.
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