Real Slim Shadey Shows Up in John Henry
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
Slim Shadey, freshened following a
disappointing run in the Grade I Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar on July 21,
pulled jockey Garrett Gomez to the lead in the Grade II, $150,000 John Henry
Turf Championship at 1 ¼ miles and never looked back, wiring
a nine-horse field by 2 ¼ lengths while getting the distance in 1:59.17.
“Simon (trainer, Callaghan) wanted
me to be laying close with him, if not, then just off the horse on the lead,”
said Gomez. “Today he was fresh and he really caught me unexpectedly…I
had trouble getting him to settle into a good stride. He kind of just
pulled me around there and stretched me out pretty good, but he still finished
well and that’s a plus.
“We’ll regroup and hopefully be
ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”
Slim Shadey carved out interior
fractions of 24.02, 46.92, 1:10.53 and 1:34.44. Off as the second betting
choice at 3-1, he paid $8.40, $3.80 and $3.40.
Trained by Callaghan and bred in
England by his owner, Phil Cunningham, Slim Shadey’s run in the Eddie Read came
just two weeks after he had run fifth as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade I, 1 3/8
miles turf United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park, leading Callaghan to
characterize “Slim Shadey’s Del Mar effort as “flat,” which resulted in the
freshening that preceded the John Henry.
Callahan said that Slim Shadey’s
next start will come in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at 1 ½ miles on Nov. 3 at Santa
Anita.
“He’s shown that he’s a very good
horse today and we’ll look forward to the Breeders’ Cup now,” said Callaghan.
A 4-year-old gelding by Val Royal,
Slim Shadey earned $90,000 in winning the John Henry, padding his career
bankroll to $508,600, from a record of 22-4-4-0.
Turbo Compressor, off as the 3-2
favorite and expected by many to make the early John Henry lead, sat a
comfortable second under Joe Bravo and though he tried, could never threaten
the winner.
“When you come in as the favorite,
everybody is going to gun for you,” said Bravo. “I thought he was going
to make up the ground at the top of the lane but the winner just had too much
left.”
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Turbo
Compressor last started at Saratoga on Aug. 18, running ninth and last at 2-1
in the Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes, which followed a win in the Grade I United
Nations at Monmouth.
Turbo Compressor paid $3.00 to place
and show.
Argentine-bred Interaction settled
of the early pace and rallied through the stretch to be third with Victor
Espinoza, 1 ½ lengths behind Turbo Compressor and 3 ¾ lengths back of the
winner. Off at 10-1, he paid $4.80 to show.
Bourbon Bay, the 4-1 third choice in
the wagering, didn’t show his customary speed and finished next to last with
leading rider Rafael Bejarano.
Santa Anita will kick off a five-day
race week on Thursday, as there will be special Columbus Day racing on Monday,
Oct. 8. First post time each day will be at 1 p.m.
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