Monday, May 28, 2012
Future Darby Dan stallion Shackleford achieved a feat not seen in half
a century, when he became the first Preakness (G1) winner since 1962
to win the Met Mile (G1). The stunning chestnut with the distinctive bald face showed true
mettle in the sire-making Memorial Day feature at Belmont on May 28.
Shackleford broke fastest of all from the 2-hole, and set fast
fractions of :22 3/5, :44 3/5 and 1:08 2/5 under first-time rider
Johnny Velazquez. Turning for home under a long rein, Shackleford
shook free, and drew out to a 2-length lead. But running hard on the
far outside was two-time Eclipse Finalist Caleb's Posse, and those two
battled it out to the wire.
Final victory margin was a nose, but Caleb's Posse never got his head
in front of Shackleford, whose long and fluid stride and great heart
were on full display. Final time of 1:33.30 is one of the faster Met
Miles on record, and the winner's share of the $750,000 purse boosted
Shackleford's earnings to $2,741,381 off a record of 16-5-4-1.
Front-running victor of the 2011 Preakness S. (G1), Shackleford
defeated Eclipse Champion Amazombie in a stirring edition of the
Churchill Downs S. (G2) in his last start, on Derby Day. He has also
placed in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Florida Derby (G1),
Haskell Invitational (G1), Carter H. (G1) and Indiana Derby (G2).
Shackleford races for Michael Lauffer, W.D. Cubbedge and Phillips
Racing Partnership, and is trained by Dale Romans. His connections
have stated that their two main objectives this year were the Met Mile
and the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), to be run at Santa Anita.
Click here for Shackleford.