Next Shares Earns Grade 1 Win in Shadwell Turf Mile
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Photo: Coady Photography
Next Shares wins the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland
One of the main talking points heading into the Oct. 6 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1) was that it was one of the deepest fields in the 33 years the eight-furlong test has been held over the Keeneland course. An overflow bunch of 16 passed the entry box this week.
There were some obvious standouts, notably multiple grade 1 winner Heart to Heart, but pundits could easily have made a case for half of the 14 set to go to post. Even those who went deep in their analysis, though, battled to come up with a scenario that would conclude with the venerable gelding Next Shares as the one being wheeled into the winner's circle.
Dismissed by the betting public and facing a slew of proven graded stakes performers, the 5-year-old son of Archarcharch nonetheless ended up driving home just why the centerpiece of Keeneland's opening FallStars weekend was considered among the most wide-open affairs of the jam-packed card.
With jockey Tyler Gaffalione giving him a picture-perfect, ground-saving ride, Next Shares managed to shock many of the 24,142 in attendance when he drew off for a 3 1/4-length victory in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile, upsetting his foes at odds of 23-1.
The journey that has led Next Shares to a likely next stop in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Churchill Downs Nov. 3 has spanned 20 starts, two coasts, and three trainers. After beginning his career in August 2015 with William Cowans, the dark bay/brown gelding ended up with Hall of Famer Bill Mott through the end of 2017 where he mostly toiled in the allowance ranks. When he went through the ring at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and brought a final price of $190,000, he was transferred by his new ownership group to trainer Richard Baltas' California-based stable, where the tide began to turn on his career.
In his third start for his new connections, he was beaten just a half-length while coming home as the runner-up in the March 10 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park. He had another near-miss third in the May 28 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T), but then disappointed in a pair of off-the-board outings in the Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) and Del Mar Mile Handicap (G2T).
The undulating grounds of Kentucky Downs provided Next Shares the confidence boost he needed as he captured the Sept. 6 Old Friends Stakes—his first victory since November. His speed figures told Baltas he was capable of doing more than just hanging with top-level company, and after rating midpack for most of the Shadwell Turf Mile, he let the rest of those watching in on that secret as well.
"You know, he came out of that race (at Kentucky Downs) really well. He ran his best career race last time, and you know he just had to run back to his last race, and he did, actually," Baltas said. "He had been an unlucky horse earlier in the year—second in a grade 1.
"I had a lot of confidence in this horse today because he had his career-best number, and his best number is as good as any horse in here."
Next Shares typically does his running from off the pace, but as Heart to Heart took up his usual position as pacesetter, Gaffalione kept his mount not far off the early fractions of :23.37 and :47.14, rating sixth on the inside path. Fellow grade 1 winner Voodoo Song was staying right at Heart to Heart's hip, pushing that rival down the backside, and while the latter was able to spurt away briefly entering the far turn, he was swallowed up at the head of the lane by Next Shares, who came bursting through the daylight that opened for him on the rail.
"I had a lot of horse while I was getting there. I was just hoping it would stay open long enough," Gaffalione said. "Credit to the trainer and the owners. They did a great job with him—I just had to hang on. I was a little closer (to the pace) than I thought I would be, but he was running so easily, I didn't want to take anything away from him."
As Next Shares drew off under a steady drive, 81-1 shot Great Wide Open held for second, with Qurbaan making a strong rally to take show honors. Graded stakes winner and 2-1 favorite Analyze It was fourth, with Big Score fifth.
Final time for the distance was 1:36.97 over a course rated good. The Shadwell field lost one of its expected 14 runners when grade 1 winner Divisidero was scratched by the veterinarian at the gate.
The wild scene that erupted as Next Shares crossed the wire was one that hasn't been seen at Keeneland in nearly a decade.
Michael Iavarone's red, white, and blue silks hadn't won a grade 1 at the Lexington track since Court Vision took his former IEAH team to victory in the 2009 Shadwell Turf Mile. Having re-entered the racing industry within the past year, Iavarone and his wife, Jules, bought into Next Shares following the gelding's Kilroe Mile outing and own the runner in a partnership with Jerry McClanahan, Christopher Dunn, William Marasa, Ritchie Robershaw, and Mark Taylor.
"Amazing. I'm just fortunate. These guys let me in on the horse, and I owe everything to them," Iavarone said. "Richard did a great job, and I was just along for the ride. I thought if that horse gets a little more ground, a mile could be something special for him. We got him to Kentucky Downs trying to get some fitness into him. We knew that course would play well leading up to this race, and so we used that as a tightener, and it worked out amazing."
Bred in Kentucky by Buck Pond Farm out of the Evansville Slew mare Two Dot Slew, Next Shares improved his record to five wins from 20 starts, with $1,067,697 in earnings.
"He's a gelding, so you just race them," Baltas said. "We'll probably race him one more time, put him away for a bit, and get him ready for next year. Hopefully, he comes back (in the Breeders' Cup) and he can do it again."