Shaman Ghost in Good Order After Woodward Win

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens reported that Shaman Ghost was in good shape the morning after his head victory over Mubtaahij and Frosted in the Sept. 3 Woodward (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.

"He's fine. He walked good this morning," said Jerkens.

Breaking the seven-figure mark in earnings, Shaman Ghost picked up his first grade I win and sixth career victory, which also includes his 2015 Queen's Plate triumph at Woodbine, and lifetime earnings of $1,292,811. Although the 4-year-old Ghostzapper   colt has raced on the dirt at distances ranging from seven furlongs to 1 1/2 miles, the Woodward was Shaman Ghost's first attempt at 1 1/8 miles—an attempt that even impressed his veteran trainer.

"It was good to see him throw in a good mile and an eighth yesterday, because it is different from the other big races that he's won," said Jerkens. "Yesterday, at the far turn, the pace started to quicken and he had to be right there with them to do it. Javier (Castellano) got after him and he responded, so it was really good to see that instead of staying in that same lope all the way. He's always been game. If you look at his form, even last year, he's relentless. He showed us a lot yesterday, that's for sure."

Jerkens added that Shaman Ghost could be possible to make his next start in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I) at Belmont Park Oct. 8, a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 5 at Santa Anita Park.

"(It's) not definite, but would have to consider it for sure," he said of the Gold Cup. "It's the next logical step; the big purse that it is, plus the mile and a quarter. Distance isn't a problem for him so long as he gets in a nice rhythm the whole way."

Stablemates Mubtaahij and Frosted also came out of their respective second and third placings in the Woodward in good order, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Sunday morning.

McLaughlin noted that he was far from discouraged by Frosted's effort as the 2-5 favorite, in which the 4-year-old Tapit   colt appeared poised to strike in the stretch under a hand ride from Joel Rosario but couldn't get to the wire in time to finish a close third behind his stablemate and winner Shaman Ghost.

"He carried six more pounds than Mubtaahij, four more pounds than the winner, and ran 40 feet further than the winner," said McLaughlin. "So we feel like he was the best horse, but it's horse racing—he got beat."

"He didn't break sharp and that changed everything," he added. "He doesn't like the whip so that's why he didn't hit him. A lot of people were probably wondering why, but he doesn't like the whip."

Plans for Frosted's next start have yet to be determined, McLaughlin said. The Godolphin Racing colorbearer is already armed with all-fees-paid berths into both the Breeders' Cup Classic and the $1 million Las Vegas Dirt Mile (gr. I) at Santa Anita on November 4-5.

Mubtaahij, meanwhile, will be pointed to the Jockey Club Gold Cup next month following his impressive runner-up effort.

"Mubtaahij ran great—he ran 43 feet further than the winner," McLaughlin reported. "It was unlucky that didn't win, but they ran a winning race, both of them did. (Mubtaahij) wants the mile and a quarter at Belmont, so he'll run back."