Shashashakemeup Shocks in Oaklawn Park Allowance

Calumet Farm's Shashashakemeup, seen this year in two Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) preps, surprised with a 49-1 upset April 5 at Oaklawn Park, scoring in a first-level $61,000 allowance optional claiming event for 3-year-olds at six furlongs.

The 4-5 favorite, Ginobili, who was second last out in the Feb. 9 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, broke near the back and found himself behind traffic, ultimately crossing the finish line fifth.

Shashashakemeup entered off a fourth-place run in a March 20 allowance-level race sprinting on turf at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. That effort followed an 11th-place run in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) and sixth-place effort in the Lecomte Stakes (G3). The Shackleford colt was a debut winner for trainer Keith Desormeaux in November at Churchill Downs, where he scored a frontrunning 5 1/2-length victory at seven furlongs on the main track before heading to Fair Grounds to finish fourth in the Sugar Bowl Stakes after a bobbled break.

Jockey Stewart Elliott was aboard Shashashakemeup Sunday. They were eighth of 10 early as Sycamore Run showed the way through fractions of :21.66 and :45.73 and moved up to sixth with three-eighths of a mile to run. Ginobili broke next to last and was fourth through the first quarter-mile, then shuffled back to seventh a half-mile in.

Sycamore Run came up empty in the stretch, and Marvin took over, with American Butterfly chasing. Shashashakemeup turned for home four wide, then began to make up ground past the grandstand, which has been without spectators since March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The colt blew on by and crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front. The final time was 1:10.95 on a track rated good.

Marvin stayed on for second, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of American Butterfly in third. Rager rallied from last to finish fourth.

The victory improved Shashashakemeup's earnings to $75,820 with two wins in six starts.

Shashashakemeup was bred in Kentucky by Larkspur Thoroughbreds and Darby Dan out of the Pulpit mare Churchflower. Calumet purchased the dark bay/brown colt for $45,000 from Potrero Stables' consignment to the 2018 Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearlings Sale. He was originally bought by Potrero Stables as a weanling for $5,000 from Darby Dan Farm's consignment to the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.