Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHURCHILL DOWNS S.-GII, $441,600, CDX, 5-5, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:21, ft.
1--SHACKLEFORD, 118, c, 4, by Forestry
        1st Dam: Oatsee (SP, $106,945), by Unbridled
        2nd Dam: With Every Wish, by Lear Fan
        3rd Dam: Amo, by Hold Your Peace
($275,000 RNA yrl '09 KEESEP). O/B-Mike Lauffer & Bill Cubbedge (KY); T-Dale L Romans; J-Jesus Lopez Castanon; $265,578. Lifetime Record: GISW, 15-4-4-1, $2,291,381. *1/2 to Baghdaria (Royal Academy), MGSW, $725,433; Lady Joanne (Orientate), GISW, $987,094; and Afleeting Lady (Afleet Alex), GSP, $159,332. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.


2--Amazombie, 123, g, 6, Northern Afleet--Wilshe Amaze, by In Excess (Ire). ($32,000 RNA 2yo '08 BESJAN). O-Thomas C Sanford & William Spawr; B-Gregg Anderson (CA); T-William Spawr; $85,670.
3--Gantry, 118, g, 5, Pulpit--Rhum, by Go for Gin. ($140,000 yrl '08 KEESEP). O-Brittlyn Stable Inc; B-D J Stable LLC (KY); T-Ron Faucheux; $42,835.

Margins: 1, 5, 3/4. Odds: 1.80, 2.10, 12.10.
Also Ran: Alma d'Oro, Smiling Tiger, Apriority, Hamazing Destiny, Will's Wildcat. Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs, the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree or the video, sponsored by Taylor Made Sales.
   The hard-knocking Shackleford, fourth in last year's GI Kentucky Derby and fifth in the GI Belmont S., was looking for his first victory since winning the GI Preakness S. last May. The strapping chestnut was runner-up in the GI Haskell Invitational, GII Indiana Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Mile to end 2011 and he opened his sophomore campaign with an uncharacteristic off-the-board effort when seventh in the Feb. 11 GI Donn H. He was coming off a third-place effort in the Apr. 7 GI Carter H. Longshot Will's Wildcat (Eurosilver) was on the lead through an opening quarter in :21.96, with Shackleford and Eclipse sprint champion Amazombie in close attendance. Amazombie stuck a head in front after a half in :44.17 and was quickly challenged by Shackleford. The two engaged in a ding-dong battle down the lane, with Amazombie briefly getting on top before Shackleford fought back and began edging clear in the dying strides. "He gave me a heck of a move right from the gate," said winning rider Jesus Castanon. "I sat right off them, and when I asked him to pick it up, he was game. The horse on the outside [Amazombie] came on top of me and my horse fought back. You couldn't ask for better. He's back!" Winning trainer Dale Romans added, "This is special, I tell you. He's the big horse in our barn. He's the Grade I winner. He deserves to be back in the winner's circle. Every race, he tries so hard. He had been in nine Grade Is. He's still the star of the barn." As for what is next for Shackleford, Romans added, "We're going to keep him short for a little while now. Maybe we'll try the Met Mile next. He can do just about anything." Connections of Amazombie offered no excuses for the champion. "He just ran a dynamite race, like he always does," said rider Mike Smith. "We just ran into a very good horse." Trainer Bill Spawr added, "We don't have much excuse. The other horse was very good. We had no problems. It looks like 6 1/2 [furlongs] is really his limit. We are extremely proud of him, And it's nice to be here at Churchill Downs."