Halladay Seeks Another Grade 1 in Shadwell Turf Mile

Having won this summer's Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, Halladay aims to expand his bankroll and his reputation as a top-class turf horse in the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) at Keeneland Oct. 3. The 4-year-old is matched against 10 rivals, including Bowies Hero and Raging Bull, grade 1 winners in the U.S., plus Without Parole and Ivar, group 1 winners in Britain and Brazil, respectively.

The richest of five stakes races at the Lexington oval Saturday, the Shadwell offers a paid, automatic berth into the Breeder's Cup FanDuel Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) at Keeneland Nov. 7. Halladay doesn't need the ticket—he secured entry to the Breeders' Cup by winning the Fourstardave, another "Win and You're In" qualifier.

In winning the Fourstardave, Harrell Venture's Halladay put his controllable speed to use under Luis Saez before turning back Got Stormy when his female rival threatened in midstretch.

The Fourstardave was the first graded stakes win of his 14-race career, but not his first top-notch performance. The War Front  colt has won three of his past four, all with Saez in the saddle, posting Beyer Speed Figures of 102 or higher in each of those victories. Only a close fourth over that stretch in the Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2T) when he was rated off the pace was he not triumphant, and even that was just a 1 1/2-length defeat, one that earned him a 98 Beyer.

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who won the 2005 Shadwell Turf Mile with Host, attributes the gray's progress to maturity and being more controllable.

"He has a lot of natural speed, but early on he wanted to be a little bit headstrong," he said. "So we've been focused on trying to get him to relax and take advantage of his natural speed."

He has found a good partner in Saez, who returns Saturday. Saez won the 2015 Shadwell Turf Mile on the Brian Lynch-trained Grand Arch.

Saez "has gotten along with him very well. He seems to suit him nicely," Pletcher said. "Luis is a complete rider but is especially effective with horses that have natural speed."

Drawn inside in post 2, Halladay would seem a candidate to dictate the pace. There is a reasonable amount of speed in the lineup, but most who could potentially challenge him early are drawn toward the outside, including Spectacular Gem, Analyze It, and Ivar.

The latter will have his blinkers removed, an equipment change that often leaves a speed horse more settled.

Raging Bull also races with blinkers off, though the equipment change on this late runner comes following a lackluster effort in the Fourstardave in which he ran fifth. He has won grade 1s with and without blinkers.

He was the starting highweight at 123 pounds in the Fourstardave, while Halladay carried 118. All 11 starters carry 126 pounds Saturday.

Analyze It is one of four entries for trainer Chad Brown, the others being Without Parole, Raging Bull, and Flavius. Raging Bull and Analyze It are Keeneland course winners. 

The Shadwell Turf Mile is a rare major turf race at Keeneland that Brown has not yet won. Analyze It's fourth in the 2018 renewal is the trainer's best finish from six starters.

Bowies Hero has had local success, taking the 2019 Shadwell Turf Mile in an 8-1 upset. He is 0-for-4 since for owners Agave Racing Stable, ERJ Racing, Madaket Stables, and Rockin Robin Racing Stable.

Trained by Phil D'Amato, he will try to join Gio Ponti  (2010-2011) and Dumaani (1995-1996) as the only repeat winners in the race.

The 35th running of Shadwell Turf Mile, down from its customary purse of $1 million amid COVID-19, is the 10th of 11 races at Keeneland with post time set for 5:57 p.m. ET. 

Racing at Keeneland is taking place without fans this fall as a COVID-19 safety measure, and the bulk of the track's wagering will come from advance deposit wagering platforms. Keeneland is offering complimentary race-day programs online.

Entries: Shadwell Turf Mile S. (G1T)

Keeneland, Saturday, October 03, 2020, Race 10

• Grade IT
• 1m
• Turf
• $750,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:57 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Casa Creed (KY)	Martin Garcia	126	William I. Mott	12/1
2	2Halladay (KY)	Luis Saez	126	Todd A. Pletcher	5/2
3	3Without Parole (GB)	Julien R. Leparoux	126	Chad C. Brown	12/1
4	4Bowies Hero (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	126	Philip D'Amato	15/1
5	5Born Great (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	126	Brendan P. Walsh	20/1
6	6Raging Bull (FR)	Joel Rosario	126	Chad C. Brown	6/1
7	7Flavius (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	126	Chad C. Brown	9/2
8	8Analyze It (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	126	Chad C. Brown	9/2
9	9Parlor (KY)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	126	Michael J. Maker	6/1
10	10Spectacular Gem (KY)	James Graham	126	James E. Baker	15/1
11	11Ivar (BRZ)	Joseph Talamo	126	Paulo H. Lobo	12/1