Vanderbilt under consideration for Shackleford

Vanderbilt under consideration for Shackleford

Instead of going straight to the Grade 1, $500,000 Forego on September 1 as

originally planned, multiple Grade 1 winner Shackleford may run next Sunday in

the Grade 1, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap.

"There is a slim chance that Shackleford might show up in the Vanderbilt,"

trainer Dale Romans said Friday morning. "A lot depends on how he breezes at

Churchill (Saturday). It has been in the back of my mind for a while."

Owned by Bill Cubbedge and Michael Lauffer, Shackleford most recently ran

perhaps the top race of 2012 to this point, defeating Caleb's Posse by a nose in

the prestigious Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on May 28 at Belmont. He defeated

sprint champion Amazombie by a length in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Sprint at

seven furlongs two starts back.

Romans previously indicated that the four-year-old son of Forestry would

await the Forego, but he has seen signs that the 2011 Preakness winner might be

ready sooner.

"He's starting to come out of his shell and I don't think it will be as

taxing on him as the one and one eighth miles of the (Grade 1) Whitney (which

will be held the day before the Vanderbilt)," Romans said. “He's a horse that

likes to run, and if nothing else, it would be a good prep for the Forego. He

only has three or four more races left in his career, so we might as well get

them."

If Shackleford does run in the Vanderbilt, it would be the first time in his

career trying six furlongs. Because he was not nominated for the race, he would

need to be supplemented for $8,000.

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