Shancelot's speed figures indicate massive performance
The 3-year-old colt Shancelot earned some of the highest numbers of the year when romping to a victory Sunday in Saratoga's Amsterdam Stakes (G2). And in the case of America's pre-eminent speed figure makers, he registered the highest digit in many years.
The Beyer team awarded Shancelot a 121, the highest figure in a sprint since Midnight Lute received a 124 when winning the 2007 Forego (G1), per David Grening, reporter for the Daily Racing Form.
In recent years across all divisions, Frosted notched a 123 Beyer with his runaway victory in the 2016 Met Mile (G1), while Arrogate's record-setting Travers Stakes (G1) win that season resulted in a 122. And then there's Shancelot, who broke on top from the outside Amsterdam post position and never looked back.
Fractions were timed in 21.79, 43.94 and 1:07.63, with the 3/4-mile split faster than Imperial Hint's final time from Saturday -- 1:07.92 -- going what was the fastest six furlongs in Saratoga history to win the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1). Shancelot finished up 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.01.
DRF's Beyer team is in at least mild disagreement with other leading figure makers.
Brisnet sees a much smaller gap between Shancelot (114) and Imperial Hint (113). According to Brisnet's Ed DeRosa, the 114 is tied for the fastest 6 1/2-furlong speed rating on record by a 3-year-old, matching Boone's Mill (1995 at Turfway Park) and Tricky Devil (2004 at Keeneland).
Meanwhile, TimeformUS made Imperial Hint its fastest horse of 2019 with a 136, while Shancelot received a 133 on that scale.
"You know, Private Zone was good. Sharp Azteca was good. X Y Jet is still good," Navarro said. "Going into the race, I knew he was running against some good horses, I thought, 'Am I going to be wrong?' I guess not."
The Amsterdam margin of victory over multiple stakes winner Nitrous was 12 1/2 lengths, with Saratoga's H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) on Aug. 24 -- Travers day -- next on the calendar. First, "We'll go through everything with him -- make sure everything is fine," Navarro said. "That's our plan."
Shancelot, a $50,000 yearling purchase, returned to the auction ring as a 2-year-old to fetch $245,000. He's campaigned by Ivan Rodriguez, Albert Crawford and Michelle Crawford.
Prior to Sunday, Shancelot debuted in what Navarro termed one of the top maiden special weight flights of Gulfstream Park's championship season, defeating Bodexpress by a neck on Feb. 16. The colt earned a trip to graded company with a 6 1/4-length score defeating winners June 23 at Monmouth Park.