Undrafted Opens Season in Shakertown

Undrafted, a close third in the 2014 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) last time out, is among 13 turf sprinters entered for the $125,000 Shakertown (gr. IIIT) April 4 a Keeneland Race Course. 

 

Run at 5 1/2 furlongs, the Shakertown is carded as the eighth race on Saturday's 11-race program, which is anchored by the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I). Post time for the Shakertown is approximately 4:42 p.m. EDT.

 

Trained by Wesley Ward for Wes Welker, Undrafted has a 4-1-7 record from 17 career starts, including the Jaipur Invitational (gr. IIIT) last June at Belmont Park, his lone graded stakes win. The 5-year-old Purim gelding trained over the Keeneland turf course prior to his Breeders' Cup outing Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park, where he raced off the early pace before closing gamely between horses to be just outfinished by Bobby's Kitten and No Nay Never. 

 

Undrafted worked Tuesday morning over the grass on the first day of turf training at Keeneland, covering five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 around the "dogs" while working in company.

 

John Velazquez, who was aboard Undrafted in the Jaipur victory and last year in the Breeders' Cup, has the call Saturday from post 13.

 

Among Undrafted's dozen opponents is James Covello, AJ Suited Racing Stable, and Brian Lynch's Australian import Power Alert. The son of Alert, who won four of 13 starts in his native country, has made two U.S. starts, annexing both five-furlong contests at Gulfstream Park. In his most recent start he hit the front a furlong out in the March 14 Silks Run Stakes, defeating Amelia's Wild Ride and Mongolian Saturday, the respective runner-up and third-place finisher who both reoppose in the Shakertown.  

 

Also in the field is Speechify, winner of the 2014 Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III); two-time stakes winner Tightend Touchdown, who is multiple graded stakes-placed, Brazilian champion sprinter Berlino Di Tiger, previously a grade III winner at Churchill Downs; and 2014 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes winner Zee Bros.