Unified, Shaman Ghost ready for Stars & Stripes Day assignments

Centennial Farm's Grade 2, $350,000 Belmont Sprint Championship contender Unified has enjoyed an easy second half of the week following a sharp blowout Wednesday at Belmont Park, said trainer Jimmy Jerkens on Friday morning.

The 4-year-old Candy Ride colt went 35.02 seconds over the training track in a three-furlong blowout, a normal tool in Jerkens' training canon. 

"He's had a long time between races and I like to do it if they haven't run in a while," said Jerkens. "It all depends on what they've done leading up to the race too, but if more than a week goes after their last work and the race is coming up in a few days, I like to do a little something. Just to make sure he has his air, make sure he's sharp enough."

Unified is installed as the 5-2 second-choice behind 9-5 morning-line favorite Mind Your Biscuits in Saturday's Sprint, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 4 at Del Mar.

Meanwhile, Jerkens' other Stars & Stripes Racing Festival entrant, Shaman Ghost, turned in a strong gallop Friday, wrapping up his preparations as the 4-5 favorite for the Grade 2 Suburban.

"He's been doing good," Jerkens said of the 5-year-old son of Ghostzapper. "He didn't have a blowout or anything, but we let him stretch his legs around the final turn here this morning."

Source: NYRA Communications