Shoemaker Mile Handicap 2011 at Hollywood Park - Victor’s Cry to defend title and make history
The American Thoroughbred race named after the jockey, who got hold of 2416 races at Hollywood Park, is drawing a field of seven contenders. Among them is the name of last year’s winner Victor’s Cry.
Victor’s Cry is trying to reclaim his last year’s title in the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile Stakes. He won it last year by defeating Karelian with odds of 21.20-to-1. The race at that time had a purse of about $250,000.
He seeks to be the first repeat in the Shoemaker Mile since 1999 and 2000. Silic was the first one to be able to achieve this feat.
It could also be said that the Street Cry ridgling is stepping in the starting gates of the Shoemaker Mile Stakes to brush off the his fifth place finish in the Grade 1 Dubai Duty Free at Meydan by making his way to the Grade1 Shoemaker Mile Handicap.
Shoemaker Mile is to be held on July 2, 2011 at Hollywood Park. The race is to be run over a distance of about 8 furlongs over the turf surface and is the sixth race on the race card.
The six-year old brown or bay colt receives conditioning from Eoin Harty for Equilete Stables. Harty’s assistant, Alex Elliott, who has been observing the colt for quite a while commented on his coming back by saying, “It’s a big ask to bring a horse back
from Dubai, He runs well fresh and we’ll keep our fingers crossed”.
A win in the Shoemaker Mile is a guarantee to make it to the starting gates of the Grade 1 Breeder’s Cup Mile, which is to take place on November 5, 2011 at Churchill Downs. Breeders’ Cup has a purse of about $ 2 million.
Victor’s Cry enters the Shoemaker Mile after being runner-up in last year’s Grade 3 San Simeon Handicap. The six year old kicked off this year’s season with a third place finish in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Handicap held on February 5, 2011 and then made
his way to Dubai in late March only to end up having a fifth position.
Victor’s Cry has not raced in any other race since March but despite this there is an assurance that he has adapted to the turf surface. He has been working at Hollywood Park. He performed beautifully on the turf winning three of his five starts. These wins
also include him winning the Hollywood Park held Grade 2 Citation Handicap. The Citation Handicap took place on November 27, 2010.
Victor’s Cry has had its mount held by Victor Espinoza in his last three tries and he is to be aboard him in the Shoemaker Mile Handicap. Victor’s Cry was bred in Virginia and will be breaking from post 6. His lifetime earnings are $726,021. He has been
able to gather this much from winning 6 of his 23 starts.
Victor’s Cry will be facing competition from Courageous Cat, Caracortado, and, Liberian Freighter.
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