Shackleford arrives at Monmouth to challenge the Breen duo in the $1million Haskell Invitational starting 31 July
Trained by Dale Romans for owners Michael Lauffer and W D Cubbedge, the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford arrives at Monmouth Park for the $1million Grade 1 Haskell Invitational.
On 27 July, the Forestry colt arrived from Kentucky in an overnight van ride.
Haskell is the great opportunity for the top 3-year-olds of this year, to etch their names in the record books to become the leader of the 3 year old division of 2011.
Most certainly, Shackeford is among the leading candidates to achieve greatness, who had an uncomfortable trip to New Jersey shore.
The elite eight are expected to run in the $1million Haskell Invitational, when the confirmed line up will be declared on 28 July for the 31 July main event. The annual meet will be run for the 44th time in total, and it is expected to be the
most exciting one of all.
The Kelly Breen trained duo, Ruler on Ice who won the third and final leg of the Triple Crown series, Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and sent a shockwave through the race course because it was longest of long shot 24 to 1 upset.
The other Kelly Breen stakes winner is Pants on Fire, who placed in the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes in pre dominantly and prior to that landed the all important Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.
The 1 1/8 mile race event will be a three way affair, as the Breen duo is the top challengers to Shackleford.
With so many top 3-year-old horses side lined like, Uncle Mo and most notably the Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, Dale Romans think that it is a perfect opportunity for his speedy colt, Shackleford to grab the divisional title.
Shackleford will go through some easy galloping between now and up to the race time, get used to the environment. His trainer thinks that if the chestnut colt can go all out in the Haskell and go on to win it, and then the Travers Stakes, it will be a huge
statement and will have his leg over whoever comes for the rest of the year.
The colt will be ridden by Jesus Castanon, who has ridden the colt throughout his career up till now and it will look to devise a strategy for the race with trainer Dale Romans.
The Preakness Stakes' winner and the Kentucky Derby runner up, Shackleford, is coming off a long lay off, and he is eager to train, said trainer Dale Romans.
He further added that the rest has done him a world of good and he is in great shape.
Other rivals for the Haskell include Coil, Astrology and three others who are perfectly capable to pull out a Belmont Stakes equivalent up set.
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