Shackleford targeting Carter

Last updated: 3/10/12 1:17 PM

Shackleford will make his next start in the Carter, with an early season goal of the Met Mile
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)

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.

The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner, Caleb’s Posse, is also expected among the
entrants in the Carter after suffering a neck defeat in his 2012 debut, the
Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct on March 3.

Multiple Grade 3 veteran Calibrachoa, who just held to win the Tom Fool, is
also likely for the Carter, along with Emcee and Capt. Candyman Can, the Tom
Fool’s third- and fourth-place finishers, respectively.

In addition to the Carter, Aqueduct’s April 7 card features the Grade 1, $1
million Wood Memorial, highlighted by champion and Grade 3 Gotham winner Hansen;
the Grade 3, $250,000 Comely for three-year-old fillies, expected to feature
Grade 2 victress Millionreasonswhy; and the Grade 3, $250,000 Bay Shore for
three-year-old sprinters, which could attract Grade 1 scorer and last-out Grade
2 San Vicente winner Drill.