Shackleford targeting Carter

Preakness winner Shackleford will be among the star studded cast of horses

lining up for the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter on Wood Memorial Day at Aqueduct on

April 7.

Trainer Dale Romans identified two main factors that went into the decision

to run the four-year-old Forestry colt in the prestigious seven-furlong race.

"He has already proven that he can run well going one turn," Romans

explained. "This is also a great spot to prep for the (Grade 1) Met Mile (on May

28 at Belmont Park)."

The Carter will be Shackleford's second start of the year, following a

seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on February 11 at Gulfstream

Park.

"He has run subpar before and has always come back to redeem himself," Romans

said of the Michael Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge-owned speedster. "We're looking

for a big effort (in the Carter)."

Shackleford closed out his ambitious 2011 campaign with a second-place finish

in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs. He hasn't run in a

seven-furlong race since breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs on November 27,

2010.