Shang Shang Shang to Face Males in Skidmore Stakes

Trainer Wesley Ward said a good run from his group 2 winner Shang Shang Shang in the $100,000 Skidmore Stakes Aug. 17 could set the 2-year-old daughter of Shanghai Bobby  up for a start in the Breeders' Cup in November at Churchill Downs.

However, he added that she will only run against the males in the 5 1/2-furlong turf race at Saratoga Race Course if track conditions are right.

"If it's a fast turf, we're running. If it's in the mud and they take it off the turf, we're running. But if it's a yielding turf, we're not running," Ward said. "All plans could change."

After finishing 1-2 with Stillwater Cove and Chelsea Cloisters in the Bolton Landing Stakes—a race Shang Shang Shang was cross-entered in—Ward said he felt the filly needed one more work. She breezed four furlongs over the turf course in :50.44 Aug. 14.

"She's doing great. Jumping around in the paddock schooling today. She is fantastic," he said of her current condition and how she handled traveling to and from Europe. "She's a real easygoing filly. Nothing bothers her. Like I said, she was jumping around in the paddock today, but she wasn't nervous. Never turned a hair at all. Just happy."

The Shanghai Bobby  filly enters the Skidmore after winning the June 21 Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. She broke her maiden by 2 1/4 lengths in her first outing April 26 at Keeneland going 4 1/2 furlongs on dirt. Ward also sends out Gins and Tins, a 2-year-old Scat Daddy gelding who will make his stakes debut after breaking his maiden July 14 by four lengths at Monmouth Park.

Shang Shang Shang will leave from post 2 with Joel Rosario aboard. Gins and Tins will depart from post 3 with Eric Cancel in the irons.

Swamp Rat and Yes and Yes will be representing the Phil Gleaves barn, both coming off maiden victories at double-digit odds at Belmont Park.

Swamp Rat was sent off at odds of 24-1 and rallied from behind to win his debut by 2 3/4 lengths June 17. He will depart from post 8 with Julien Leparoux aboard.

Yes and Yes won his May 25 debut by a nose, leaving the gate at odds of 36-1.

"(Yes and Yes) wasn't as far back as Swamp Rat in his debut because he's got a bit more speed," Gleaves said. "He looked good winning his race. He's stepping up in distance for this race, and depending on how he goes, we'll consider the (grade 3, $150,000) With Anticipation. Same as for Swamp Rat, getting to that race for him starting here is our goal."

Yes and Yes will leave from the rail with Rajiv Maragh in the irons.

Also entering a pair of runners for Calumet Farm is trainer Todd Pletcher with Good Good and Lexitonian, the latter of which is entered for the main track only.

A son of Quality Road , Good Good won his debut on the dirt June 30 at Gulfstream Park. Lexitonian won his debut June 27 at Belmont and returned to finish sixth in the July 21 Sanford Stakes (G3).

"We worked (Good Good) on the dirt here when we were considering the Saratoga Special (G2) and then we worked him on the turf here. I thought he actually worked better on the turf, so we're opting for this spot," Pletcher said. "It seems like some Quality Roads, like (Stillwater Cove) that won the (Bolton Landing Stakes) yesterday, have done well on the turf. I thought with his physique, he might take to it."