Next Shares Rolls to Surprising Win in Seabiscuit
Image:
Description:
Photo: Benoit Photo
Next Shares wins the Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar
The connections of Next Shares figure to have sweet memories of the 6-year-old gelding's bookend starts in 2019.
What happened in between those two stakes will be placed in a different file, but that was easily glossed over Nov. 30 when the son of Archarcharch took the lead in midstretch and rolled to a half-length victory in the $201,404 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar.
The victory snapped a streak of six unplaced finishes—five in grade 1 company—and accounted for Next Shares' first win since a nose victory in the San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) way back on Jan. 5 at Santa Anita Park.
In his previous start, he was 13th and last in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T).
"I think the rain helped this horse. He likes it softer," trainer Richard Baltas said. "At the Breeders' Cup, it was super hard and (jockey) John Velazquez said he didn't like it. I never gave up on him. It was pretty rewarding today."
Owned by Baltas, Debby Baltas, Christopher Dunn, Jules Iavarone, Michael Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Ritchie Robershaw, and Mark Taylor, Next Shares was an 8-5 favorite when he captured the San Gabriel but was dismissed at 27-1 in the 1 1/16-mile Seabiscuit and paid a far more generous $56.40 to win under Jose Valdivia Jr. He shared the highweight of 120 pounds with three other starters in the field of nine.
Though Next Shares will turn 7 in January and, by virtue of winning the 2018 Old Friends Stakes at Kentucky Downs, has a home awaiting him at Old Friends Farm, Baltas indicated the gelding will continue racing in 2020.
"He's very sound and had a rest, so as long as he's healthy and doing good, he'll race," Baltas said.
Winner of the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) in 2018, Next Shares was seventh in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) in his first start after the San Gabriel. He was given nearly four months off after finishing 10th in the Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) but was no better than sixth in his three starts before the Seabiscuit.
The fifth foal of the Evansville Slew mare Two Dot Slew, Next Shares has won seven of 29 starts, with $1,677,771 in earnings. After Next Shares, who was foaled in 2013, Two Dot Slew did not produce a foal until she dropped a Conveyance filly in 2018. She was barren in 2019 and was bred to Super Saver for 2020.
Sacred Life, a 4-year-old Siyouni colt, had a rough trip while rallying from seventh at the eighth pole to finish second for trainer Chad Brown as the 3-2 favorite. Owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Bethlehem Stables, Sacred Life lacked room while inside on the final turn, then had to wait for room again in the stretch before swinging out and closing fast to grab the place spot.
It was the third time in four United States starts that Sacred Life settled for runner-up honors.
River Boyne, a 4-year-old Dandy Man colt, was a head back in third for trainer Jeff Mullins.
The final time was 1:42 on a course rated good.