Preakness Stakes 136 -- J

(G1), PIM, $1,500,000, 3YO, 1 3/16M, 5-21.

Many who saw Michael Lauffer and W.D. Cubbedge's homebred SHACKLEFORD

(Forestry) prior to Saturday's

Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico discounted

the sophomore from a having a shot in the race after his pre-race

antics. Bucking and sweating heavily while trainer Dale Romans attempted

to saddle him up, the chestnut was eventually led out of the infield

and onto the track before he could be cinched up.

Even in the post parade, the commentators reflected on how the horse

was rattled and "not focused," to quote analyst Gary

Stevens, entering the gate.

None of that mattered once the doors opened on the 136 edition of the

Preakness.

Just like the Kentucky Derby (G1) two weeks ago, Shackleford gunned

straight for the front when the bell rang. However this time he found

company to his inside in the form of Flashpoint (Pomeroy), who grabbed a

slim advantage. Those two hooked up through a swift opening quarter of

:22 3/5 but had slowed things down by the time Flashpoint posted

fractions of :46 4/5 and 1:12.

The pace took its toll on Flashpoint, who began fading rounding the turn, but

Shackleford was more than ready to take up the lead. Maintaining his momentum

into the lane with regular rider Jesus Castanon aboard, the gleaming chestnut

turned back a challenge from Astrology (A.P. Indy) and continued homeward.

Animal Kingdom, by this point, had made up some ground, angled out

and split horses leaving the turn. The late runner came powering down

the center of the track and appeared for a moment ready to overhaul

Shackleford. Despite drifting a bit nearing the wire, Shackleford dug

deep and held his rival by a half-length on the wire to finish up the 1

3/16-mile classic in 1:56 2/5 over the fast dirt.

As the 12-1 sixth choice Shackleford paid $27.20, $10.20 and $6.80 while

keying a $114.80 exacta, $1,401.80 trifecta and $6,212.60 superfecta

(5-11-1-10). Animal Kingdom was a game second as the 2-1 favorite, returning $4.20 and

$3.60, and 15-1 Astrology filled the third spot to give back $8.

Dialed In (Mineshaft), sent off the second pick at 4-1, came next under the wire, with Dance City (City

Zip), Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno), King Congie (Badge of Silver), Mr.

Commons (Artie Schiller), Isn't He Perfect (Pleasantly Perfect),

Concealed Identity (Smarty Jones), Norman Asbjornson (Real Quiet), Sway

Away (Afleet Alex), Midnight Interlude (War Chant) and Flashpoint

completing the order of finish.

By virtue of his running in the Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of

Youth S. (G2), where he finished second and fifth, respectively,

Shackleford received a $500,000 bonus to add to his winner's share of

the $1 million purse. The colt boosted his lifetime earnings to

$1,471,666 and

his career line now reads 7-3-1-0.

Instead, Shackleford made his stakes bow in the Fountain of Youth, where he

never really factored after running in fifth throughout. Castanon put him on the

lead in the Florida Derby next out and the three-year-old responded with a near

miss head second in that nine-furlong test. He broke running in the Kentucky

Derby last out and held for a game fourth in the Run for the Roses before taking

this classic in gutsy fashion.

Shackleford was a $275,000 RNA at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale,

and is out of the stakes-placed Unbridled mare Oatsee. That makes him a

half-brother to Lady Joanne (Orientate), the winner of the 2007 Alabama S. (G1),

as well as multiple Grade 3 heroine Baghdaria (Royal Academy). The trio have a

pair of younger half-brothers in an unnamed juvenile by A.P. Indy and a yearling

by Johannesburg.