Shared Belief is ‘perfect’ following CashCall Futurity
score
You’d think that when a trainer runs first, second and
third in a graded stakes, the stable area would be abuzz with the news the
following morning.
There was a buzz all right, but for a different reason.
Though Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer completed
the trifecta in Saturday’s Grade 3 Native Diver with Blueskiesnrainbows, Hear the Ghost and Rousing Sermon, respectively, the
achievement was dwarfed by the trainer’s scintillating victory with Shared
Belief in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity.
The CashCall was Shared Belief’s third blowout win in as
many starts. He’s won his races by a combined 20 1/2 lengths after his 5 3/4 length
win in the CashCall.
“I think he deserves the Eclipse (as champion two-year-old
male),” stated Dan Ward, Hollendorfer’s long-time assistant. “He was never asked
and I think this race was easier on him than the other two. His time was fast
and he beat a really good field.”
Hollendorfer was a bit more reserved on the subject.
“I
think the other side (referring to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day)
would have a different argument,” he said.
So far, Shared Belief has proven his speed, class and
stamina. The next question is how he will handle dirt. His October 19 maiden victory was on
the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields and he earned his first win over
Cushion Track in the Hollywood Prevue on November 10.
“He’ll ship to Santa Anita next week and then we’ll see how
he trains on dirt,” Ward said. “The logical races to run in are the (Grade 2,
$300,000) San Felipe Stakes (on March 8), (Grade 1, $1 million) Santa Anita
Derby (on April 5) and then if everything goes well, on to Kentucky.”
Never one to put the cart before the horse, Hollendorfer
pointed out other options.
“There are a lot of three-year-old races at the beginning
of the year,” he said. “We’ll probably stay in California but we’ll also look
elsewhere.”
Ward suggested that Shared Belief came out of the race
better than he went in.
“He came back perfect,” he said. “He’s not a huge
horse, but he’s growing all the time.”
Ward said that Del Mar Futurity and Real Quiet Stakes
winner Tamarando, who finished third, seven lengths behind his stablemate, also
returned well and would be pointed for California-bred races at the upcoming
Santa Anita winter/spring meet, which begins December 26. Ward added that Blueskiesnrainbows, Hear the Ghost and
Rousing Sermon all came out of the Native Diver in “great shape.”
An honorable mention in the CashCall goes to Candy Boy, who
finished second at 26-1 after breaking his maiden by 8 1/4 lengths on November 22
over track and distance. The
John Sadler trainee gave sire Candy Ride an exacta sweep.
“The winner was impressive, but my horse ran very well,” Sadler observed. “He was clear of the third-place finisher and well clear of the
fourth horse. I think he’s a Derby-type horse.
“He came back well, but Kobe’s Back had a superficial cut on his ankle.”
Kobe’s Back finished 10th after clipping heels on the backstretch.
Tap It Rich, the 5-2 second choice in the Futurity,
finished 11th and was unmanageable for much of the race.
“He’s fine this morning,” said Mike Marlow, assistant to
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. “After his first race, he’s become real
aggressive and has been lugging in and out fighting the rider. He’s a project.”
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