Shackleford working toward a start in the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct
Dale Romans trained 4-year-old colt, Shackleford, made his 2012 debut in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap over at Gulfstream Park’s dirt course, where he turned in a disappointing performance going over a distance of 1 1/8 mile and finishing an unplaced seventh
to winner, Hymn Book on 11 February, 2012.
Now the colt is ready to make his second start of the campaign in the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter Handicap on Wood Memorial Day at Aqueduct’s dirt course on 7 April, 2012, where he will go against some big names of the year past. Caleb’s Posse is expected to
make a start in the Carter Handicap, along with Todd Pletcher trained Calibrachoa with Capt. Candyman Can.
The last year’s Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner, Shackleford will be using the Carter Handicap as a prep race to make a start in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on 28 May, 2012, over at a mile on dirt, where he could run against Caleb’s
Posse, Mucho Macho Man, Jackson Bend and Boys at Tosconova.
Michael Lauffer’s Shackleford is cutting way back in distance in the Carter Handicap to seven furlongs, compare to the Donn Handicap where he went over a distance of 1 1/8 miles.
However, Romans have taken two things into account before opting for the Carter Handicap. “He has already proven that he can run well going one turn,” said Romans. “This is also a great spot to prep for the Met Mile.”
“He has run subpar before and has always come back to redeem himself,” Romans said. “We’re looking for a big effort.”
The Kentucky bred is the son of Forestry, out of mare Oatsee by Unbridled. Shackleford capped off his 2011 season with an impressive performance, but not a winning performance in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last fall at Churchill Downs, where he
finished a solid second to winner, Caleb’s Posse, as Tres Borrachos finished third.
With four second place finishes in graded stakes, far too many for a horse of Shackleford’s calibre, he turned in another second place finish prior to the Breeders’ Cup in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby to winner, Wilburn.
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