Shagaf Proves Best in Gotham Stakes

Shagaf sweeps to victory in the Gotham Stakes. (Photo courtesy of Coglianese Photo/Joe Labozetta)
By Tom Pedulla, America's Best Racing
NEW YORK – Shadwell Stable, which already counted Mohaymen as a prime Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands contender, gained a second potential Derby starter when Shagaf swept past Laoban by 1 ¼ lengths in the $400,000 Gotham Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Shagaf overcame a speed bias on Aqueduct’s fast inner track that had been pronounced throughout the wintry afternoon to improve to three for three for trainer Chad Brown. Adventist finished third with Withers Stakes winner Sunny Ridge a non-threatening fourth.
Mohaymen boasts a perfect record through five starts with a battle against six-for-six West Coast star Nyquist looming in the Florida Derby on 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 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 homebred son of Bernardini for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, owner of Shadwell Stables. 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 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 last 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 Park on Jan. 29 before making his long-awaited stakes debut in the 1 1/16-mile Gotham for Irad Ortiz Jr., his regular rider.
Shagaf broke from post two 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 of a mile. Laoban began to soften after three-quarters of a mile went in 1:11.69.
Shagaf charged into the stretch three wide. He gradually wore down Laoban in the final strides to gain 50 Kentucky Derby points, according to the system established by Churchill Downs. That should be more than enough to ensure his place in the starting gate when the opening leg of the Triple Crown is contested on May 7.
2016 GOTHAM STAKES

Video courtesy of the New York Racing Association
Shagaf covered the distance in 1:45.90. He returned $4.50 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.90 to show. Laoban held well for second having ventured east after running third in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 9. Trainer Eric Guillot said he would seriously consider the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Race Course for Laoban’s next start.
Brown liked everything he saw in 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 at Aqueduct on 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.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
SHAGAF

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire