Shackleford: A Charismatic Superstar

Shackleford
Photo by Terri Cage

With his energetic parade before the gathered crowd, his big white blaze, his shining copper coat, and his charismatic personality and presence, it is easy to fall in love with Shackleford. A colt I have followed since his maiden victory, the 2011 Preakness Stakes (GI) victor has certainly made a name for himself, and not just for his racing talent, but for his appeal and the energy he displays on the track. Due to his compelling characteristics and racing brilliance, Shackleford has garnered a large fan base, which affectionately refers to him as “Shack.”

After Shackleford captured the Preakness in a stirring victory over Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Animal Kingdom, however, it began to seem impossible for the lovable chestnut colt to find the winner’s circle again. Between his Preakness triumph and the Breeders’ Cup six months later, Shackleford raced four times, finishing off the board twice and crossing the wire second in two graded stakes races, including the Haskell Invitational Stakes (GI).

In the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI), Shackleford helped set the pace with The Factor and as the horses turned for home, Shackleford held a 2 ½-length advantage on the others. He ran very well down the stretch, but was outrun by Caleb’s Posse, a colt he had finished in front of in the Indiana Derby (GII) when the two ran behind Wilburn.

Shackleford began 2012 on a sour note, finishing seventh in the Donn Handicap (GI) prior to a third-place result behind Jackson Bend and Caleb’s Posse in the Carter Handicap (GI). “Shack” finally returned to his winning ways a year after he contested in the Kentucky Derby, gamely battling champion sprinter Amazombie down the stretch in the Churchill Downs Stakes (GII) before prevailing by a length.

Following Shackleford’s gutsy return to the winner’s circle, trainer Dale Romans prepared the classic-winning colt for a start in the legendary Metropolitan Handicap (GI) – better known as the Met Mile – at Belmont Park on Memorial Day. The colt was slated to run against three other grade one winners, including his rival Caleb’s Posse. The field was sure to make the race one of the best of the year, but no one could predict just how thrilling it would be.

Shackleford broke very sharply, going straight to the lead down Belmont’s backstretch to set a brisk first quarter of 22.77. Extending his advantage on the others to 1 ½ lengths as the field began their journey into the wide, sweeping turn at Belmont, Shackleford completed the initial half-mile in a blistering 44.73, meaning he had completed the second quarter-mile .81 seconds faster than the first one. With John Velazquez aboard for the first time due to an injury suffered by regular rider Jesus Castanon ten days earlier, Shackleford proceeded to hold the lead as the field turned for home. His white blaze leading the charge of six talented Thoroughbreds into the long Belmont homestretch, Shackleford began to open up on the others, but Caleb’s Posse was charging on the outside, growing closer to Shackleford with each and every stride. However, Shackleford dug in to hold off Caleb’s Posse, who appeared to have hung just slightly, to win by a nose before galloping out well ahead of the others. The final time for eight furlongs was a spectacular 1:33.30, just over a second off the track record.

In his past two victories, Shackleford has conquered two Breeders’ Cup winners, Sprint victor Amazombie and Dirt Mile champ Caleb’s Posse. In addition, he has defeated two Eclipse Award champions – Amazombie and Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom.

The Met Mile has long since been considered a “stallion-making” race, producing several victors that went on to be very successful sires, including Langfuhr, In Excess, Gulch, Conquistador Cielo, Fappiano, In Reality, Buckpasser, and Native Dancer. Not only does a victory in the Met Mile bode well for Shackleford’s chances at becoming a lucrative sire when he stands stud at Darby Dan Farm, but so does his pedigree.

Both of his parents have been very successful producers themselves. His sire, Forestry, has sired such grade one winners as Diplomat Lady, Discreet Cat, and Forest Danger. His dam, Oatsee, was voted 2011 Broodmare of the Year and has produced the graded stakes winners Baghdaria and Lady Joanne.  

Notably, Forestry’s sire – Shackleford’s grandsire – is Storm Cat, one of the greatest sires to ever live. The very successful stallion was also very productive as a sire of sires, producing such studs as Bluegrass Cat, Giant’s Causeway, and Hennessy. This certainly augurs well for Shackleford, as Storm Cat is the grandsire of such productive stallions as Johannesburg and Shamardal.

Shackleford’s damsire, Unbridled, sired the dam of Tapit, who was the third-leading North American sire of 2011. Unbridled himself was a very effective sire of sires, producing the successful sires Broken Vow, Empire Maker, and Unbridled’s Song. Shackleford’s fifth dam, Tamerett, could also serve as a catalyst in Shackleford’s stud career, as another direct descendant of the dam of the great racehorse and sire Known Fact is the legendary sire Gone West.

Shackleford, a fan favorite at the racetrack, is a horse that will not soon be forgotten, as we have not yet heard the last from him – on the track or in the breeding shed. With a win in the Met Mile, Shackleford earned a position in the starting gate in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park this fall – a race in which he will be seeking revenge. Racing fans will eagerly follow the stunning colt throughout the rest of 2012, reflecting on his outstanding victories in not only the Preakness, but the Met Mile as well. And when the popular chestnut retires to the breeding shed, fans will await his foals, which will grace racetracks as spectators flock to see them, ready to see them carry on Shack’s charisma and brilliance.

Shackleford
Photo by Terri Cage

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The Shackleford Experience

Photo by Mary Cage

Stout, copper, white-faced, and feisty are all words that can describe 2011 Preakness Stakes (GI) winner Shackleford. A colt that I have followed since his maiden win, Shackleford has captivated me throughout his racing career. I know I’m not the only one that has been fascinated by the beautiful chestnut, as I’ve met many people that have admitted that they love “Shack Attack.”

Perhaps fans’ love for the Dale Romans trainee stems from Shackleford’s liveliness. Often, the son of Forestry can be spotted rearing, bucking, or prancing. His antics, speed, and determination are what make him Shackleford.

After his gutsy maiden win at Churchill Downs in the November of his two-year-old year, Shackleford made his way to Gulfstream Park in Florida, where he impressively won an allowance race to kick off his three-year-old season.  With that allowance win, he began appearing on lists of Kentucky Derby (GI) hopefuls.

However, a disappointing fifth place finish in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII) nearly dashed his Derby dreams. Shackleford had one more shot: the Florida Derby (GI). He was dismissed at nearly 69-1.

It was as if everyone had lost faith in him. However, I had not. Needless to say, I was overjoyed when the beautiful blaze-faced front runner finished a head behind eventual Kentucky Derby favorite, Dialed In. Watching the gallop out, I was thrilled to see that he galloped out in front of the other horses.

Photo by Mary Cage

Approaching the Derby, people were either jumping on the Shackleford bandwagon or completely dismissing him. As for me, I was thrilled that he had made it to the Derby and made him my top pick off of pedigree, looks, and performances. After all, his dam Oatsee had already produced the stakes-placed Afleeting Lady  (who is now graded stakes-placed), the multiple graded stakes-winning Baghdaria, and the grade one-winning Lady Joanne. In addition, Shackleford was the best-looking horse in the Derby field, exhibiting a long, thin neck, strong legs, balance, and incredible muscling.

Shackleford may not have won the Derby, but he put in a stellar performance, giving all he had to finish an impressive fourth. He was saving his best for the next leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness. Gamely holding off the Derby winner, Animal Kingdom, Shackleford came home victorious in the 136^th Preakness.

In the post parade for the Preakness, Shackleford showed us the best of his antics. By the time he loaded in the starting gate, he was lathered in sweat. Many, including me, worried that he had taken too much out of himself in the post parade. Of course, that wasn’t the case. He was just being Shackleford.

Though “Shack Attack” hasn’t won since, he has made good showings in many graded stakes races this year, including a close second in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (GI), a second in the Indiana Derby (GII), and a second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI).

Yet, Shackleford’s showings in prestigious races aren’t the only things intriguing about him. Fans are drawn to his playful behavior and how hard he tries. I must admit, I’m one of those fans.

Photo by Mary Cage

In the post parade, Shackleford may work up a sweat and nearly unseat his rider, Jesus Castanon, but he’s just being him. Even Jesus Castanon can’t help but smile when the colt lets out a buck or leaps in the air. At the Breeders’ Cup, I was riveted by the gleaming chestnut and noticed many other fans were as well. When his name was announced during the post parade, a cheer went up from the crowd. The people love this horse.

Another special characteristic of Shackleford is how hard he tries. As one focuses on that big white blaze of his, his chestnut legs work like pistons, reaching for more ground as he gallops toward the wire. His auburn ears pin back as he runs with focus, determined to hold off any horse that comes at him. He may not get it done every time, but he will give it his all. That’s the Shackleford fans have come to know and love.

This horse should be publicized to a greater scale, as he already has a large fan base there. Promoting this horse could really help the sport, as he is obviously already a fan favorite. We're not going to have another Zenyatta, but why not have a Shackleford?

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Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

In previous years, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hasn’t been regarded as a race that attracts some of the highest quality horses. However, this year is different. Throughout the latter part of the year, the Dirt Mile has garnered some of the top horses in the nation. In 2011, the Dirt Mile will have one of the toughest fields in the entire Breeders’ Cup.

Here are my top four picks for the Dirt Mile:

1. Jackson Bend: As a three-year-old, Jackson Bend went winless in eight starts, though he won $351, 130. This year, the colt has already won two starts, one of which was a grade one. He seems to have found his niche at one-turn races. Jackson Bend’s first win in twenty-one starts came in the James Marvin Stakes at Saratoga, in which the little chestnut exploded in the stretch to win by a going-away 2 ½ lengths. His next start was the Forego Stakes (GI), in which he won even more impressively than the James Marvin to win by 3 ¼ lengths in a final time of 1:22.08 for seven furlongs. In his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup, Jackson Bend finished a good second to superstar Uncle Mo in the one mile Kelso Handicap (GII).

Many would rather see Jackson Bend in the Sprint, but I believe Nick Zito is making a good decision by placing him in the Dirt Mile. The colt, though he has an amazing turn of foot, needs a little bit of extra ground to get there. He will have no problem with the mile distance, as he was drawing away at seven furlongs, has won at a mile and one-sixteenth, and finished a close third in the mile and three-sixteenths 2010 Preakness Stakes (GI).
Check out the post I wrote about Jackson Bend after he won the Forego at:
http://pastthegrandstand.blogspot.com/2011/09/little-colt-that-could.html

2. Wilburn: Every year, there are a few three-year-olds that emerge later in the year, after the Triple Crown is over. This son of Bernardini is one of those colts. Out of graded stakes-winning Moonlight Sonata and a half to graded stakes-winning Beethoven, Wilburn is coming off a dominant win over Shackleford in the Indiana Derby (GII).

This is Wilburn’s first year of racing. He broke his maiden impressively at Santa Anita in March, finishing in a final time that was just .84 seconds off the track record. The colt already has a win over the Churchill surface, having won an allowance optional claiming at a mile and one-sixteenth on May 15. In September, Wilburn recorded his first stakes win in winning the Smarty Jones Stakes by nearly two lengths. Then came his breakthrough victory in the Indiana Derby.

The bay three-year-old is training extremely well for trainer Steve Asmussen. Though Asmussen does not often work his horses quickly, Wilburn’s most recent work was a 1:00.80 five furlong work at Churchill Downs on October 24. This is a quickly improving colt and he will be one to watch on November 5.

3. Trappe Shot: Many people thought this Tapit colt would become the top sprinter in the nation after his dominant win in the True North Handicap (GII) on Belmont Stakes day, but it seems as if it is not to be. After his True North victory, he finished a close second in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (GI) prior to crossing the wire in a disappointing fourth in the Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (GI).

With that record in his last three starts, Trappe Shot is obviously talented in one-turn races. Though his last four starts have been at the distance of three-quarters of a mile, Trappe Shot finished second in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (GI) last year after winning the mile and one-sixteenth Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park. The powerfully built chestnut is training well under the care of Kiaran McLaughlin, having worked 49.83 for a half-mile in his latest work, which came on Saturday. He will have to find his top form again, but when he’s at his best, he is very tough to beat.

4. Shackleford: Obviously, the stocky chestnut with a wide white blaze is known for being the winner of this year’s Preakness. He has not been victorious since that prestigious triumph, but he has put in good performances. “Shack Attack” is also returning to his home track, Churchill Downs, for the Breeders’ Cup, which could give him an edge.

After finishing fifth in the grueling Belmont Stakes, which was clearly much too long of a race for Shackleford, the son of Forestry returned in the Haskell. He finished a good second to Coil, but completely bombed in the Travers Stakes (GI). After over a month off, the feisty colt finished a decent second to Wilburn in the Indiana Derby.

Shackleford, who I’ve followed since his maiden victory at Churchill Downs last November, will be tough at his home track. He completed a bullet work for five furlongs at the Louisville track on Saturday, appearing relaxed in his new blinkers. He knows this track better than any other horse in this race and we all know how important home field advantage is.

Honorable Mentions:
The Factor: The Factor was also supposed to be one of the top sprinters in the nation, especially after he won the Pat O'Brien Stakes (GI) at Del Mar. However, it was not meant to be. He needs the lead and is more likely to get it here, so he’ll probably end up in the Dirt Mile rather than the Sprint. He’s training very well and is definitely hard to pass in the stretch.
Caleb’s Posse: He’s probably known as the colt that beat Uncle Mo in the popular Mike Repole-owned colt’s return in August. However, there’s more to Caleb’s Posse than that. The colt is very talented and though he is coming off a flat performance in the Indiana Derby, he may be quite underrated.

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