Shaman Ghost goes west to win the 2017 Santa Anita Handicap
Shaman Ghost made a powerful move aided by a skillful ride from four-time Eclipse Award winner Javier Castellano to win the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1). The victory for the Jimmy Jerkens trained son of Ghostzapper came in his first trip to the west coast racetrack.
On paper, it was a two-horse race between Shaman Ghost and Midnight Storm and the betting public agreed with favoritism going back and forth between those two as post-time approached. In the end, they got it correct as Shaman Ghost was made the 6-5 top choice with Midnight Storm at 7-5.
Seven of Midnight Storm’s ten wins came on the turf and this was only his second career start going the ten-furlong distance. In 2015, he finished last in the Pacific Classic. Shaman Ghost, on the other hand, had a win and a second to his credit at the classic distance.
If Midnight Storm was going to win the Big ‘Cap he would do it running on the lead and so when the gates opened, Rafael Bejarano sent him to the lead from the number one post position. There the son of Pioneerof the Nile would stay with Isotherm on his outside hip through the first mile. Shaman Ghost would settle behind those two while running along the inside about 1 ½ lengths behind the leader.
The early fractions were steady at 23.54, 47.52, 1:11.76, and 1:36.18. Isotherm was unable to sustain his effort and faded in the final turn. Castellano began to ask Shaman Ghost to make his move under some very strong urging. Castellano guided the Canadian-bred to the outside as they entered the stretch, but Midnight Storm maintained the solid lead.
Heading down the stretch Shaman Ghost, who can be difficult to handle at times, began to drift out significantly. Castellano used his skillful hands to coax Shaman Ghost inward while just showing the whip to his mount a couple of times. Midnight Storm fought gamely, but Shaman Ghost was an overwhelming force approaching the wire. The winning margin was three-quarters of a length and the final time was 2:01.57.
“He broke alertly and was put in good position early in the race,” said Castellano. “I let it play by ear to see how he developed in the race. I tried to focus on the horse that was on the lead in the race. He was really nice and comfortable nearly the whole race. Turning for home, I searched a little bit and I stepped him up outside. When I asked the horse he responded so well today.”
The Santa Anita Handicap has an illustrious history. Seabiscuit’s victory in the 1940 Big ‘Cap completed a comeback as a seven-year-old and it was the subject of the 2003 Academy Award Best Picture nominated movie, Seabiscuit. Back in the early days of the Santa Anita Handicap, the race was known as “The Hundred Grander”, a reference to the exceptional purse of $125,000. The Big ‘Cap was the only major race to have alluded him up to that point in his career and he won that day before a crowd of over 78,000 people. ‘The Biscuit’ was retired shortly after that historic victory.
Between 1979 and 1982, the Santa Anita Handicap was won by three Hall of Famers in Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, and twice by John Henry. Other repeat winners have been Lava Man in 2006-2007 and Game On Dude in 2011 and 2013-2014.
Jerkens talked about the career of Shaman Ghost, “He’s been consistent his whole career. He certainly was consistent as a three-year-old. He just progressed the way classy horses do. I haven’t had much luck coming out here. I was third in the Breeders’ Cup with a filly back in 2009 and Effinex ran good last year. This was nice to come out here and win this. It really is.”
In his career Shaman Ghost’s record now stands at 15: 7-2-2 with earnings of $3,539,311. The Big ‘Cap is his second grade one victory to go with his 2016 Woodward win.
Shaman Ghost returned $4.60, 2.60, and 2.40 across the board. The $2 exacta of the top two choices paid what could be viewed as a generous $11.00. Follow Me Crev rallied from eighth place to complete the $2 trifecta that produced a $65.80 payout.