Ironicus gearing up for Shadwell Turf Mile

Ironicus is set to have another breeze on Sunday in advance of his next anticipated start, the Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile on October 8 at Keeneland, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said on Wednesday morning.

In his first work since finishing second to Flintshire in the Grade 1 Manhattan on June 11, after which he was rested to recover from a popped splint, Ironicus breezed three furlongs in 37.98 seconds on the Oklahoma training track on Monday.

"I thought it went very well and he came back good," said McGaughey of Monday's work.

With a 6-5-1 record in 13 career starts, including three graded stakes victories, Ironicus will be going in search of his first Grade 1 in the Shadwell Turf Mile, a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race for the 2016 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita.

"I have him penciled in there just because I know where it is; it's where I'd like to be able to get into," McGaughey said. "If there was something in New York, I would have run him there, but there isn't."

Ironicus is scheduled to ship to Belmont on Tuesday.

McGaughey added that Onus, fourth in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa,is a possibility for the Grade 3, $200,000 Noble Damsel on September 10 at Belmont Park. Owned by Stuart Janney, Onus won the Grade 3 Commonwealth Oaks last year and an allowance at Belmont in May to start her 4-year-old campaign.

All in Fun had been under consideration for the Grade 3, $200,000 Glens Falls on Saturday, but McGaughey said he will look to the Belmont Fall Meet for the 4-year-old Tapit chestnut filly.