Shackleford and Caleb’s Posse to break side by side in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park
The 3-year-old Dale Romans trained colt, Shackleford, will be the second Preakness Stakes winner in two years to participate in the Indiana Derby, last year it was the 3-year-old champion, Lookin at Lucky, who won the Preakness Stakes and prevailed in the
Indiana Derby with odds of 2 to 5 favourite.
Alongside Shackleford, the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes winner Caleb’s Posse has drawn post number 6 for the Grade 2 $500,000 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park on 1 October, 2011, as Shackleford drew post number 7.
The 3-year-old Donnie Von Hemel trained colt, Caleb’s Posse is in slightly better form than Shackleford, as he is coming off two victories in a row.
The son of Posse claimed the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga and then went on to defeat Uncle Mo in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes also at Saratoga, in both races jockey Rajiv Maragh was aboard Caleb’s Posse.
Shackleford on the other hand will be coming in with disparate form in the 1 1/16 mile test at Hoosier Park. His last win was in the Preakness Stakes and after that Shackleford participated in three other races, but victory constantly eluded him.
The son of Forestry came close to winning in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, where he couldn’t handle the late surge from Bob Baffert trained 3-year-old colt, Coil.
In the Travers Stakes, Shackleford seemed badly tired and rolled in a dismal 8th position, but Dale Romans will drive up to Indianapolis with high hopes from his Churchill Downs base in Louisville.
Dale Romans was the first one to admit it wasn’t Shackleford’s best, but he also added the colt will bounce back judging from the way he has picked his head up.
Trainer Dale Romans will also send out Friends Place, who will make his stakes debut in the Indiana Derby, he will be coupled with Shackleford for wagering purposes.
Caleb’s Posse for now will resume his training at Arlington Park and then will be vanned to Indianapolis on 30 September, 2011.
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