Unbeaten Shagaf Faces Stiff Test in Wood Memorial

Shagaf, pictured winning the Gotham Stakes, tries Grade 1 competition for his first time in Saturday's Wood Memorial Stakes. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Tom Pedulla, America's Best Racing
Shadwell Stable and trainer Chad Brown always held Shagaf in high regard. They will learn whether their hopes are justified when the homebred son of Bernardini competes in the $1-million Wood Memorial on April 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
“It’s definitely going to be a litmus test to see how good he is,” said Rick Nichols, the U.S. racing manager for Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell operation. After going undefeated through three starts, Shagaf is expected to go off as the favorite in the Wood for regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. after he drew the rail in a field of eight.
Nichols was grim-faced when he called Sheikh Hamdan on April 2, minutes after Mohaymen finished a disappointing fourth to victorious Nyquist in the Xpressbet.com Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park for his first defeat in six starts.
Nichols is optimistic he will be able to give Sheikh Hamdan a more favorable report after the 1 1/8-mile Wood. “I think the farther Shagaf goes,” he said, “the better he is going to be.”
The youngster debuted at one mile and rolled by six lengths last Nov. 22 at Aqueduct. After a two-length allowance win on Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park, he rallied to defeat Laoban by a length and a quarter in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 5. His handiwork in the Gotham was particularly impressive because speed had held throughout the card.
“He’s already made a lot of progress from when he broke his maiden last year until now, both mentally and physically,” said trainer Chad Brown. “I do see a lot of room for further improvement.”
Brown also will start Flexibility. The Bluegrass Cat colt, owned by Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, showed promise in winning the Jerome before a lackluster fourth-place finish in the Withers. The Wood represents his first start since the Withers.
“We always planned on giving him that little break you see in between the Withers and the Wood,” Brown said. “Unfortunately, it looks like the Withers was one race too many with not enough spacing.”
Flexibility, ridden by Manny Franco, worked four furlongs in 48 2/5 seconds in company with Shagaf on April 2. “His energy level is terrific,” Brown said.
Trainer Todd Pletcher will be represented by Outwork. The Uncle Mo homebred for Repole Stable flashed potential when he ran second in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 5. “We hope that that race, and the works he’s had since then, will move him forward,” Pletcher said. Outwork will start from far outside for John Velazquez.  
Lady Sheila Stable’s Matt King Coal, a Florida-bred son of Bluegrass Cat, represents another intriguing starter. Trainer Linda Rice was forced to improvise since he missed his initial target, the Jerome on Jan. 2 at Aqueduct, due to a fever. She opted to run in a 1 1/16-mile first-level optional claiming race on March 6 at Aqueduct that he won by one length against a difficult field instead of the Gotham.
“We’re excited about the Wood,” Rice said. “It’s a little added distance, tougher competition, but we’re as ready as we can be.” Jose Ortiz has the riding assignment.
Tale of S'avall, a homebred son of 2008 Wood winner Tale of Ekati for owner Charles Fipke, faces an all-or-nothing proposition if he is to advance to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on May 7. The Wood is worth 100 points to the winner, 50 for second, 20 for third and 10 for fourth, according to the system established by Churchill Downs.
After struggling home fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby, Tale of S’avall will need a top-two finish to ensure his place in the Derby starting gate. “The Derby is very difficult to get into,” said trainer Barclay Tagg. “I’d like to get there the right way.”
$1-million Wood Memorial StakesSaturday, Race 10, Aqueduct, 5:30 p.m. ET1 1/8 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds

PP

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

Owner

Odds

1

Shagaf

Irad Ortiz Jr.

Chad Brown

Shadwell Stable

2-1

2

Adventist

Kendrick Carmouche

Leah Gyarmati

Treadway Racing Stable

10-1

3

Trojan Nation

Aaron Gryder

Patrick Gallagher

Julie Gilbert and Aaron Sones

30-1

4

Tale of S'avall

Cornelio Velasquez

Barclay Tagg

Charles Fipke

20-1

5

Flexibility

Manuel Franco

Chad Brown

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence

8-1

6

Matt King Coal

Jose Ortiz

Linda Rice

Lady Sheila Stable

3-1

7

Dalmore

Junior Alvarado

Keith Desormeaux

Big Chief Racing, Keith Desormeaux, and Ronald Ortowski

12-1

8

Outwork

John Velazquez

Todd Pletcher

Repole Stable

5-2