Something Extra makes all in Shakertown

Something Extra ran his rivals off their feet in the Shakertown (Keeneland/Coady Photography) The third time in the $125,000 Shakertown (G3) at Keeneland was the charm for the seven-year-old gelding Something Extra (Indian Charlie), who outran nine rivals to take the 5 1/2-furlong turf dash on Saturday after running second in the 2013 edition of the race and third last year. Over a course labeled good a day after absorbing torrential rains, Something Extra demonstrated how quickly the turf had dried out when setting fractions of :21 1/5 and :44 2/5 while holding a one-length advantage. Shaking loose to go up three lengths in deep stretch, Something Extra had enough in the tank to hold off a late charge from 44-1 longshot Channel Marker (Purim) to win by a half-length. Completing the distance under Shaun Bridgmohan in 1:02 4/5, Something Extra returned $18.40 at odds of 8-1 for the partnership of John Menary and trainer Gail Cox.

“He was pretty content there (on an easy lead),” Bridgmohan said. “He broke
so sharply. Gail and I spoke about it and all she said was ‘just make sure he’s
happy.’ He was happy being there.”

Undrafted (Purim) finished third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Channel Marker, and
was followed by 5-2 favorite Power Alert (Alert), Tightend Touchdown (Pure
Precision), Zee Bros (Brother Derek), Go Blue Or Go Home (Bluegrass Cat),
Berlino Di Tiger (Tiger Heart), Choctaw Chuck (Bwana Charlie), and Amelia’s Wild
Ride (D’wildcat). Heaven’s Runway (Run Away and Hide), Mellow Fellow (The
Cliff’s Edge), and Mosler (War Front) were scratched.

This was the fifth career stakes win and first in the U.S. for Something
Extra, who previously captured the 2012 editions of the Connaught Cup (Can-G2)
and Mt. Sassafras, the 2013 Connaught Cup, and 2014 Highlander (Can-G2), all at
Woodbine. He’s placed in nine other stakes, but was 10th in his most recent
outing in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita in November,
although he was beaten only 3 1/2 lengths. His record now stands at 29-9-8-5,
$865,656.

Bred in Kentucky by Gulf Coast Farms, Something Extra was reared by the
stakes-placed Our Mariah (Mt. Livermore), who has also produced the
stakes-placed Entwistle (Strut the Stage).

Other luminaries hailing from this female family are dual champion sprinter
Housebuster (Mt. Livermore) and Grade 2 winners Nicole H (Mr. Greeley) and Quero
Quero (Royal Academy).

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