A decision on whether multiple Grade 1 winner Shackleford will run in Saturday’s
Cigar Mile Handicap will be made tomorrow, trainer Dale Romans said this
morning from Kentucky.
“There are a lot of factors going into the decision,” said
Romans, who also is considering the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs
for the 2011 Preakness and 2012 Metropolitan Handicap winner. “He likes it at
Aqueduct, and he likes it at Churchill Downs. There’s a plane to New York on Tuesday, so we’ll make a
decision by Monday.”
On Saturday, Shackleford went a half-mile in 47.40 on the
main track at Churchill Downs with exercise rider Tammy Fox aboard. The breeze
– his first since a seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on
November 3 – was the second-fastest of 57 at the distance.
“He worked really well and seemed to come out of it fine
this morning,” said Romans.
Owned by Mike Lauffer, Bill Cubbedge
and the Phillips Racing Partnership, Shackleford has won more than $2.8 million
with a record of 5-5-1 from 19 career starts. In his only appearance at
Aqueduct, he was third after a wide trip in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap in
April.