Shadwell stepping up Alkhaatam in Churchill's Stephen Foster

A move out of New York and into a new barn has resulted in two commanding wins for Shadwell Farm’s Alkhaatam. 

Now the 4-year-old son of Tapit is set to step into graded stakes competition.

Alkhaatam is a probable for Churchill Downs’ Grade 2, $600,000 Stephen Foster on June 15, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Rick Nichols, vice president/general manager at Shadwell Farm, said he and trainer Daniel Peitz decided in recent days Alkhaatam was ready for a step up.

“It’s time to see what he can do in group company,” Nichols said Tuesday. “He’s a nice horse.”

Alkhaatam started his career in New York with one race each at Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga. He finished fourth in the 2017 Remsen Stakes (G2) and third in two maiden special weight races.

While in New York, Alkhaatam ran for trainer Chad Brown.

“Chad didn’t think he was going to work out in New York,” Nichols said. “So we re-allocated him to Danny and he just really seems to run well for Danny.”

Alkhaatam’s debut for Peitz came March 29 in a $90,000 maiden special weight event at Oaklawn Park, his first race as a 4-year-old. Jockey Channing Hill guided him along the rail for a 7 1/4-length victory over second-place Zip Your Lip.

Alkhaatam followed that with another win May 12 in an $87,000 allowance race at Churchill Downs. 

The early leader, Alkhaatam took back before going three-wide into the stretch, then drawing away for a 3 1/4-length victory over runner-up Colour Guard.

Alkhaatam takes his two-race winning streak into the Stephen Foster, where graded stakes-winning rivals await. 

Notable probables include Seeking the Soul, winner of the 2017 Clark Handicap (G1) and 2018 Ack Ack Stakes (G3); Yoshida, champion of the 2018 Turf Classic (G1) and Woodward (G1); and Quip, winner of March’s Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and the 2018 Tampa Bay Derby (G2).

Tenfold, who won the Pimlico Special (G3) on May 17 and the 2018 Jim Dandy (G2) is another possible entrant.

Nichols noted the Stephen Foster will mark Alkhaatam’s first two-turn race.

“I wish we’d have already taken him around two turns before we put him in there,” Nichols said, “but I think he’ll be all right.”

Almanaar coming off record performance

Another Shadwell runner, Almanaar, set a record Saturday in winning his 7-year-old debut.

Almanaar covered the 1 1/8 miles on the Monmouth Park turf in 1:45.75, posting a new track record under jockey Joe Bravo as he won the Monmouth Stakes (G2) by a neck over Synchrony. The previous track record was 1:45,92, set by They Call Me Giant in June 2010.

“You don’t break track records very often,” said Nichols, who noted the firm turf played to Almanaar’s liking.

A gelding sired by Dubawi, Almanaar now has two stakes wins to his name. He also claimed the 2017 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1).

Almaanar’s victory Saturday followed finishes off the board in October’s Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), November’s Breeders’ Cup Mile and December’s Fort Lauderdale (G2).

Trainer Brown won the 2018 United Nations (G1) at Monmouth with Funtastic. Almanaar could give Brown a chance to defend his title in the June 22, though Nichols said no final decisions have yet been made for Almanaar’s next race.

“I’m not real sure what’s in his mind yet,” Nichols said of Brown. “We’ll give the horse a few days, see how he comes out of the race and then go from there.”

Haikal healing after Derby scratch

Shadwell was set to be represented May 4 in the Kentucky Derby by Haikal, whose three career wins include the Gotham (G3) on March 9 at Aqueduct.

But the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained colt was scratched one day before the race after an abscess formed on his left-front hoof.

“He’s doing great,” Nichols said of Haikal. “Originally, we thought there might have been a hairline fracture at the back of the right cannon bone. A lot of times, those don’t show up for a week or 10 days after the fact on X-ray. We walked him for 10 days, X-rayed him and he X-rayed clean. 

“He just jarred up his front ankles a little bit, kind of bruised them up. But he’s relaxing out in the paddock right now and we’re going to give him two months off, then put him back to work.”

Nichols said he plans for Haikal to start training again in early July.