Promises Fulfilled outclassed the field in Saturday’s $300,000 John A. Nerud S. (G2), scampering to a 4 1/2-length win in the seven-furlong contest.
The 4-year-old Shackleford colt is now a five-time graded stakes winner and has earned $1,437,280 for his owner Robert J. Baron. Shackleford leads all Fourth-Crop Sires of 2019 with three graded stakes winners and is in the top five by winners, black type horses and progeny earnings.
The Nerud is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race, guaranteeing Shackleford a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) this November.
On the muscle right from the break, Promises Fulfilled was allowed to set a comfortable half-mile of :46.09, then easily shook clear at the top of the stretch to get the seven panels in 1:21.75.
“He broke so sharp,” winning jockey Luis Saez said. “The last time (June 8 in the G1 Met Mile), he missed the break, but today he broke so clean, he was right there. When he came to the stretch and he switched leads, he was running. I still had a lot of horse. It’s very hot today. He got a little tired when he crossed the wire, but that’s normal.”
Bred by David Jacobs, Promises Fulfilled is out of Marquee Delivery and is a half-brother to five-time stakes winner Marquee Miss.