Shake Em Loose Eyes Triple Crown Berth In Tesio Stakes

Rudy Sanchez-Salomon will continue chasing the dream when the owner/trainer sends out his claimer-turned-multiple stakes winner Shake Em Loose  in search of a third straight victory and Triple Crown race berth in the April 16 $125,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park.

The gelded son of 2013 Malibu Stakes (G1) winner Shakin It Up   has won three of four starts since being claimed for $16,000 out of a maiden victory last November.

Two of those wins have come in stakes—the seven-furlong Heft at odds of 59-1 racing first time for his new connections to end 2021, and his two-turn debut in the 1 1/16-mile Private Terms Stakes March 19 over 2-year-old Maryland-bred champion Joe .

"He's doing great. I hope he's going to run the same as his last couple races here. I've been lucky and blessed, so we'll see," Sanchez-Salomon said. "I'm a little more confident since the last race, but you never know. It's always another day."

Shake Em Loose entered the stretch of the Private Terms in front and was able to fend off a rally from Joe to win by 1 3/4 lengths. In his prior start, he made a bold move around the turn to take the lead and rolled by 3 3/4 lengths in a one-mile allowance optional claiming race.

"The last race didn't take too much out of him. He did get a little tired right after, because he had to dig down that day but, man, he fought for it. He didn't want to get beat," Sanchez-Salomon said. "When the other horse got close to him, he switched leads and took off again."

Charlie Marquez, aboard for the last two starts, gets a return call from Post 2 in a field of nine at topweight of 124 pounds.

The Elkstone Group's Maryland homebred Joe (Declaration of War ), named for President Joe Biden, had won three straight races heading into the Private Terms, including Laurel's seven-furlong Maryland Juvenile Championship Stakes Dec. 18. The Tesio will be his third straight try around two turns, having won impressively in his first attempt by 2 1/2 lengths Jan. 23 at Laurel in an allowance optional claiming race.

"I don't think the distance should bother him," trainer Michael Trombetta said. "Being a two-turn race, and he's done it now a couple of times, it should be to his benefit."

Victor Carrasco, up for each of Joe's five starts, rides back from Post 4 at 118 pounds.

Trombetta also entered R. Larry Johnson's Mr Jefferson , another Maryland homebred exiting a pair of off-the-board finishes over wet tracks in the Jan. 1 Jerome Stakes and Feb. 5 Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack to start the year. Fourth to recent Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) winner Mo Donegal  in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen Stakes (G2) in December, Mr Jefferson (Constitution) won a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming allowance at Laurel in his prior start.

"He should be fresh and ready to go," Trombetta said. "The last time he had a little issue ... so hopefully the addition of Lasix and being back on the Laurel track he should do much, much better."

Jaime Rodriguez is named to ride from Post 6 at 118 pounds.

The other Triple Crown-nominated horses in the Tesio are Happy Tenth Stable's Smarten Up  and Alexandria Stable and Carguys Racing's Secret Alliance .

Completing the field are Pam and Martin Wygod'sSouth Street , Lugamo Racing Stable's Baltimore Bulleit , Felissa Dunn's Vine Jet , and Emerald Racing Stable's Noneedtoworry .