Shared Belief Works, Pointing for Lewis
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Undefeated CashCall Futurity (gr. I) winner Shared Belief, a leading candidate for year-end Eclipse Award honors as outstanding male juvenile, worked five furlongs handily Jan. 3 in 1:00 2/5 over the main track at Santa Anita Park.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said afterward that the newly-turned 3-year-old son of Candy Ride is pointing to Santa Anita's $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 8.
"It was a very nice work, and the last part, a very nice turn of foot. I think we're going to look at that race first," the Hall of Fame trainer told the Santa Anita publicity office in reference to the Lewis Stakes.
Hollendorfer said Shared Belief would likely skip the $100,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) at one mile Jan. 11.
Corey Nakatani was aboard Shared Belief for the workout, which was the 11th fastest of 40 at the distance on the morning. It was dark bay gelding's second drill at Santa Anita since his 5 3/4-length romp as the even-money choice in the 1 1/16-mile CashCall Futurity Dec. 14 on the Cushion Track at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Shared Belief has won all three of his races by a combined margin of more than 20 lengths, including a victory in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) prior to the CashCall. He would be making his first appearance on dirt in the Lewis, a big first step toward a possible start in the 2014 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Bred in Kentucky by Pam and Marty Wygod out of the Storm Cat mare Common Hope, Shared Belief is owned by a partnership that includes his trainer, television and radio personality Jim Rome’s Jungle Racing, KMN Racing, Jason Litt, Alex Solis II, and George Todaro. He was purchased privately following a debut maiden win at Golden Gate Fields Oct. 19.
Sweet Lulu, winner of the Test Stakes (gr. I), worked four furlongs for Hollendorfer in :46 2/5. She is a candidate for the Santa Monica Stakes (gr. II) at seven furlongs Jan. 25.