Freshened Vagabond Shoes Returns in Arcadia
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Vagabond Shoes is scheduled to make his first start since finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) when he runs in the $200,000 Arcadia Stakes (gr. IIT) for older horses Feb. 1 at one mile on the Santa Anita Park turf.
"He can run a mile," trainer John Sadler said of the 7-year-old Irish-bred gelding, noting Vagabond Shoes had extensive experience at the distance while running in France.
"He's an older horse and he had a hard campaign last year," Sadler added in explaining the brief absence. "We've got him fresh for this year."
Owned by Hronis Racing, Vagabond Shoes was a group III winner at Chantilly and has the Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) as his lone U.S. victory in eight starts. He also ran second in the Eddie Read Stakes (gr. IT) and John Henry Turf Championship (gr. IIT) prior to the Breeders' Cup.
Vagabond Shoes, a chestnut son of Beat Hollow out of the Singspiel mare Atiza, owns a 7-5-3 line from 28 lifetime starts and earnings of $545,489. He last worked Jan. 20 on the Santa Anita main track, going six furlongs in 1:13 2/5.
Probable for the Arcadia: No Jet Lag, Corey Nakatani; Procurement, no rider; Regally Ready, Mike Smith; Si Sage, Martin Garcia; Suggestive Boy, Joe Talamo; Tom's Tribute, Gary Stevens; Vagabond Shoes, Victor Espinoza; Willyconker, no rider; and Winning Prize, Rafael Bejarano.
Regally Ready worked four furlongs Sunday in :48 4/5 for Steve Asmussen, while Tom's Tribute went five furlongs for Jim Cassidy in 1:02 3/5.