Shackleford pointed to Travers Stakes at Saratoga, possibly for a rematch with the Haskell tormentor Coil
The Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner and the Haskell Invitational runner up, Shackleford will most likely be headed towards Saratoga to run in another heavily pursed $1million Travers Stakes on 27 August, 2011.
Shackleford trainer, Dale Romans said that the colt is training for the Travers Stakes, where there is a possibility of a rematch between the Haskell Invitational winner Coil.
Shackleford connections were pointing at the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes after the Haskell defeat and a possible rematch with the Bob baffert trained Coil. Woodward will start a week later from the Travers Stakes.
Instead of running against older horses in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes, the 3-year-old son of Forestry will endure competition from his own division in the Travers Stakes, and possibly try to avenge his defeat in the Haskell Invitational from the favourite
to win the race, Coil.
Trainer Dale Romans, described the Travers Stakes as “The Travers is the Travers,” and he further added that it is the most prestigious and classy of a race to pass on, the Travers consists of 1 ¼ miles of distance for the 3 year old colts.
Romans said that since the Woodward Stakes is for the older horses, they can always run the race next year, and keep the Preakness winning colt fresh to compete with horses from his own division.
The son of Forestry is out of Oatsee by Unbridled, and he is owned and bred by W.D Cubbedge and Michael Lauffer. The Kentucky bred 3-year-old became a horse racing sensation when he defeated the Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom in the Preakness Stakes.
Shackleford finished fifth in the follow up Triple Crown last leg, the Belmont Stakes, to winner Ruler on Ice, and recently loss to Coil by a mere neck in the Grade 1 $1million Haskell Invitational.
On the other hand the Bob Baffert trained Coil is also considering the Travers Stakes.
The Haskell winner came fourth in the Kentucky Derby, run at 1 ¼ miles and fifth in the Belmont Stakes which is run at one and a half mile.
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