Shadwell's Shagaf Prevails in Gotham Stakes

Shadwell Stable, which already counted Mohaymen as a prime Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contender, gained a second potential Derby starter when Shagaf swept past Laoban to win by 1 1/4 lengths in the $400,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) March 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Shagaf overcame a speed bias on Aqueduct's fast inner track that was pronounced throughout the wintry afternoon to win his stakes debut and improve to three for three for trainer Chad Brown. Adventist finished third, with Withers Stakes (gr. III) winner Sunny Ridge a non-threatening fourth.

Mohaymen boasts a perfect record through five starts, with a battle against undefeated champion Nyquist looming in the Florida Derby (gr. 1) April 2 at Gulfstream Park.

Mohaymen, a $2.2 million yearling purchase trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, continues to be viewed as the East Coast's premier 3-year-old. But Rick Nichols, the U.S. racing manager for Shadwell, does not think homebred Shagaf is far behind.

"I think they are pretty much in the same league," Nichols said. "Chad is so confident in him. He feels the horse has so much ability. Up until today, he was pretty much unproven, but I think he proved a lot today."

Shagaf is a son of Bernardini   for Sheikh Hamdan, owner of Shadwell. Sheikh Hamdan is Dubai's Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance and Industry. And like every other Thoroughbred owner, he is driven by the dream of winning the Kentucky Derby.

"He's been trying to do this for 30 years," Nichols said, "and now he's got two nice horses."

Shagaf did not make his first start until Nov. 22, when he rolled by six lengths in a mile contest at Aqueduct. He took an allowance race by two lengths at the same distance at Gulfstream Jan. 29 before making his long-awaited stakes debut in the 1 1/16-mile Gotham with Irad Ortiz Jr., his regular rider.

Shagaf broke from post 2, as Ortiz looked to save ground early. He raced a bit greenly as he sat mid-pack on the backside and received a significant amount of dirt in his face for the first time in his young career. Laoban took the seven-horse field through fractions of 23.33 for the opening quarter and 47.16 for the first half-mile. Laoban began to soften after six furlongs in 1:11.69.

Shagaf charged into the stretch three wide. He gradually wore down Laoban in the final strides to win and gain 50 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying points system established by Churchill Downs. In terms of points, that should be more than enough to ensure his place in the starting gate when the opening leg of the Triple Crown is contested May 7.

Shagaf covered the distance in 1:45.90. He returned $4.50 to win, $3.60 to place, and $2.90 to show. Maiden Laoban held well for second. He ventured East after running third in the Sham Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park Jan. 9. Trainer Eric Guillot said he would seriously consider the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland for Laoban's next start.

Brown liked everything he saw from Shagaf.

"He's probably the only horse who beat the inside bias all day," he said. "He showed a lot of heart. He's everything we thought he was."

Conquest Big E, Rally Cry, and Vincento completed the order of finish. Mo Power was scratched by trainer Todd Pletcher.

Brown said Shagaf will remain in New York to prepare for the Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct April 9.

"We were always going to commit to leaving him here," the trainer said. "He broke his maiden on the outer track here at Aqueduct and for Shadwell, it just goes to show you the versatility of their operation. To have two undefeated horses, one that was purchased at auction and one that was homebred, they do it both ways."

Sheikh Hamdan may watch his royal blue colors with mixed emotions when the Derby arrives. "If they dead heat, it would be great," Nichols said.

Laoban paid $10.80 to place and $5.10 to show. Adventist returned $3.60 to show.

Shagaf is out of the stakes-winning Unbridled's Song mare Muhaawara, who is out of multiple grade I winner Habibti, by Tabasco Cat.