By Jessica Martini
Prominent owner Kaleem Shah has parted ways with longtime trainer Bob Baffert and has transferred his horses to trainers Art Sherman and Doug O'Neill.
“It was a tough decision to leave Bob and it wasn't something I wanted to do, but unfortunately it came down to that and I wish him the best,” Shah said Sunday, confirming a story first reported in Daily Racing Form.
Dortmund (Big Brown), winner of the 2015 GI Santa Anita Derby and second in the 2016 GI Awesome Again S., and 2016 GI Del Mar Futurity winner Klimt (Quality Road) have joined Sherman's string, while GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies third-place finisher American Gal (Concord Point) has been transferred to O'Neill.
“Art Sherman has obviously done very well with California Chrome and I hope he continues to do well with Dortmund and Klimt,” Shah said. “And I've been with Doug O'Neill before, so I know him. He has shown the ability to win big races and so has Art Sherman. That's what we'd all like to achieve in horse racing, so let's see how they do. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.”
“It was a big surprise for me,” Sherman, who received six of Shah's 13 horses, admitted to the Santa Anita press office. “I only met Mr. Shah one time. He was very cordial and a very nice man. It came out of the blue. I've never had a client like him with so much money.”
O'Neill added, “We're so excited, blessed and grateful. We're looking forward to being a part of Team Shah.”
Baffert has trained several top runners for Shah, including 2014 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern (Offlee Wild) and multiple graded stakes winner Fed Biz (Giant's Causeway). In addition to his Santa Anita Derby, Dortmund was third behind American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Kentucky Derby.
Shah has been a force at the top of the juvenile sales market. With Baffert as agent, Shah purchased 'TDN Rising Star' Klimt for $435,000 at the OBS March sale. He secured Beautiful Princess (Giant's Causeway) for $575,000 at that same auction. That bay filly debuted with Baffert, finishing seventh after a slow start Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.
Shah said he plans to continue shopping the juveniles sale in the new year.
“I obviously like the 2-year-old training sales and that's what the program will continue to revolve around,” he said.
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