Preakness Stakes Winner Shackleford’s Next Start Undecided

By Author: horseracegame
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Preakness winner Shackleford came out of his disappointing finish in the Travers Stakes pretty well, according to his trainer Dale Romans, but a decision has not yet been made where next to point him. The chestnut horse with the distinctive white blaze stripe down his nose is a favorite who won many fans over with his gutsy performances in the Preakness Stakes, his gritty second place performance in the Haskell, and his second place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby earlier in the year when he hung tough till the end.
Shackleford was beaten at least 22 lengths in the August 27th Travers Stakes while finishing eighth in the race. He never seemed to be going all that well and threw in the towel as they turned into the stretch, which surprised many who were used to seeing him fight on so gallantly in his other races. The uncharacteristic performance led some to speculate whether he had sustained an injury, didn’t like the Saratoga track surface, or perhaps just needed a break after fighting so many battles this year. In any case, he was not quite himself that day.
Romans says he is back home at his Churchill ...
... Downs home base and doing well. The Breeders’ Cup at this point is undecided for him, but if he does end up going, Romans admits that Shackleford needs a prep race. The Breeders’ Cup will be held at his home track of Churchill Downs on November 4th and 5th. Shackleford last ran at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby in which he finished a very respectable fourth at 23-1 odds after leading most of the way. Many expected him to fold earlier than he did but he kept fighting on until the end.
Shackleford’s chances at winning three year old champion honors were probably ruined following his Travers Stakes performance. He might have an outside chance if he can come back and win a tough race for older horses such as the Grade 1 Goodwood at Santa Anita or the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont in early October, and then go on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
His past races have shown that he may have distance limitations, however. He faded in the 1 ½ mile Belmont, the 1 ¼ Kentucky Derby, and the 1 ¼ mile Travers Stakes. The longest distance race he has won is the 1 3/16 mile Preakness Stakes, in which he held off Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom by a diminishing half length. Most observers have noted that if the race had been a 1/16 of a mile longer, Shackleford would probably have finished second.
Romans is not sure when Shackleford will have his next breeze, but rather is just glad that he is healthy.