Shackleford was trained by Dale Romans, who raced the colt twice as a 2-year-old with one win. As a 3-year-old, he prepared for the Kentucky Derby with a second place finish in the Florida Derby. He came fourth in the 2011 Kentucky Derby and then won the Preakness Stakes with odds of 13-1. In doing so, Shackleford became the beneficiary of the largest payoff purse in Preakness history, winning not only the $600,000 winner's purse, but also $550,000 as the XpressBet Bonus winner. Late in the year, he finished second in the Haskell Invitational and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. As a four-year-old he won the Metropolitan Handicap in June and the Clark Handicap in November and then was retired. In 2020, he was exported to stud in South Korea.
Background
Shackleford was bred in Kentucky by Mike Lauffer & Bill Cubbedge. He was sired by Forestry out of the mare Oatsee, who was purchased in 2006 by Shackleford's breeders for $135,000. After giving birth to Shackleford, Oatsee was bred to A.P. Indy and sold, in foal, for $1.55million. His pedigree traces to major sires of significance, including his grandsireStorm Cat and his damsireUnbridled.
Lauffer was previously a co-owner of the filly Rachel Alexandra, prior to her 2009 Preakness win.[3] Lauffer and Cubbedge put Shackleford up for sale as a yearling at the Keeneland auction, but when the bids failed to reach the reserve price of $275,000, they bought back the colt and kept him.[4]
2010: two-year-old season
Shackleford is trained by Dale Romans. The colt's first race was on October 16, 2010, where he finished ninth in a 7⁄8-mile (1,400m) $44,000 maiden special weight race at Keeneland Race Course on a synthetic surface. That race was won by eventual Blue Grass Stakes runner-up and Kentucky Derby starter Twinspired.[5] In November 2010, his second start, Shackleford won a $59,000 maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs on dirt at 7⁄8-mile (1,400m), taking the rail down the stretch and prevailing over a field of 11.[6]
2011: three-year-old season
Shackleford's first start as a three-year-old was an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on February 5, 2011, at 1+1⁄8-mile (1,800m). He was ridden by his soon-to-be regular jockey, Jesus Castanon. In that race, he broke well and stalked the leader from second position, then put on a burst of speed and drew clear to win.[7][8] Romans next entered Shackleford in the Grade IIFountain of Youth Stakes on February 26 at Gulfstream Park. In that race, he was far back early and attempted to rally on the far turn but was hung out wide. He faltered in the stretch and finished fifth to Soldat.[9]
In April 2011, Shackleford was entered in the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Florida Derby, again at Gulfstream. He drew post number5 and was listed at post time as a 60-1 longshot. Breaking slowly, he floated wide going into the club house turn. On that turn, he took over the lead from Arch Traveler and To Honor and Serve in a field that stretched 14lengths back to Dialed In at the rear. Shackleford led down the back stretch and around the final turn, setting a 1⁄2-mile (800m) fraction of 46.3 and a 3⁄4-mile (1,200m) in 1:10.6. At the top of the lane, he was challenged by To Honor and Serve and repelled him. Three strides from the wire, he was caught by eventual Kentucky Derby co-favorite Dialed In and just missed the win, finishing second by a head.[10][11]
That second-place finish earned Shackleford a purse of $200,000 and enough graded earnings to enter the Kentucky Derby. In addition, by virtue of his start in the Fountain of Youth Stakes and his top-three finish in the Florida Derby, the colt became eligible for the XpressBet Consolation Bonus $550,000, part of the Preakness 5.5 Million Dollar Bonus program, if he won the Preakness Stakes. The bonus would pay $500,000 to the owner and $50,000 to the trainer of a Preakness winner who had finished in the top 3 of either the Florida Derby or the Santa Anita Derby and finished in one of a set of other listed races.[12]
Triple Crown races
Shackleford (left) leading Astrology in the stretch during the 2011 Preakness Stakes.
In the 2011 Kentucky Derby, Shackleford broke well and outran Comma To the Top for the lead passing the stands for the first time. He continued to lead around the clubhouse turn and into the stretch. With about200 yards (183m) to go, he was overtaken by the eventual winner, Animal Kingdom, who won by 2 3/4 lengths. Meanwhile, Shackleford, now in second place with about50 yards (46m) left to go, was caught by Nehro and Mucho Macho Man. He finished fourth by a length and a half in the field of 20.[13][14]
Two weeks later, at the 2011 Preakness Stakes, Shackleford went off at odds of 13–1. He broke from the 5 gate in a capacity field of14. Passing the grandstand for the first time, Flashpoint took the lead with Shackleford at his flank in a fast 22-3/5 for the first1⁄4-mile (402m). Down the backstretch, the leaders slowed the pace, clocking3⁄4-mile (1,200m) in 1:12.01.[15] At the top of the home stretch, Shackleford took the lead. Astrology challenged him until the 200 yards (183m) mark. Castanon then used the whip and Shackleford accelerated, holding off the strong late charge of Animal Kingdom to win by half a length.[13][15][16]
Bets on Shackleford paid $27.20, $10.20 and $6.80.[3] With that win, Shackleford became the beneficiary of the largest payoff purse in Preakness history. He won $600,000 for coming in first in the Preakness and $550,000 as the XpressBet Bonus winner for a total payout of $1,150,000.[12][13]
On June 11, 2011, the three year-old finished fifth in the Belmont Stakes after holding the lead for much of the race on a sloppy track. As the pacesetter, Shackleford led throughout most of the 1-1/2 mile race, which started with a moderate quarter-mile in :23.9, then slowed to a leisurely :49.0 for the opening half, 1:14.5 for three-quarters, and 1:39.9 for a mile. After leading the first nine furlongs, he faded in the stretch. Winner Ruler On Ice as well as Stay Thirsty, Brilliant Speed and Nehro passed him.[17]
Triple Crown summary
Shackleford's first- and fourth-place finishes in Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby respectively handed the Triple Crown's consolation title to Animal Kingdom. But Shackleford ended the trifecta of classic races with the a second-place finish in the Triple Crown Productions' Highest combined Triple Crown finish for the 2011 season. He was outfinished three year-old archrival Animal Kingdom by three points, 15 points to 12 points. Ruler on Ice finished third with ten points and Nehro finished fourth with six points. That finish put Shackleford squarely in contention (along with Animal Kingdom) for the "Eclipse Award" as the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse.
On February 11, Shackleford was seventh out of a field of eleven horses in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap run at Gulfstream Park. Ruler on Ice also ran and finished eighth.[25] On April 7, 2012, Shackleford ran in the $400,000 Grade 1 Carter Handicap at seven furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack. Longshot Jackson Bend won by a nose over Caleb's Posse, with Shackleford another length and a half back in third.[26]
Returning to Churchill Downs on Derby Day, May 5, 2012, Shackleford raced in the $400,000 Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes at seven furlongs on the dirt. In that race, he beat the favorite, American Champion Sprint Horse Amazombie, by a length. The two horses separated themselves from the rest of the field by five lengths with Shackleford on the inside. Just inside the sixteenth pole, he edged away and beat Amazombie under jockey Mike Smith by a length. Gantry was another five and a half lengths back in the third. The time was 1:21 on a fast track.[27]
On Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, Shackleford raced in what analysts called the deepest field of the year featuring favorites To Honor and Serve, Caleb's Posse, Jackson Bend and Caixa Eletronica in the $750,000 Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap (known by most as the Met Mile run at one mile on the dirt at Belmont Park). Shackleford had just enough left to withstand the furious late rush of Caleb's Posse, stopping the clock in 1:33 1/5 over the fast track to win by a nose. Favorite To Honor and Serve was another three and half lengths back in third. With this win, Shackleford turned the tables on old rival Caleb's Posse, who beat him in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The horses met each other four times, with each winning two races. However, Caleb's Posse retired soon after the Met Mile.[28]
On November 23, Shackleford ended his career with a victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs with new jockey and hall of famer.Johnny Velazquez
on board. He defeated Take Charge Indy by one length in the 1-1/8 mile race that he completed in a time of 1:49.12 seconds.[29][30]
Stud career
Shackleford was retired to stud duty in November 2012, and was sent to the Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He stood for an initial fee of $20,000.[31] He was sold to the Korea Racing Authority in January 2020 and was exported to South Korea.[32]
Shackleford sired his first winner on May 27, 2016 when juvenile colt Little Nappy won a 4+1⁄2 furlongs (3,000ft; 910m) maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.[33]
Shackleford was sired by Forestry,[2][10] and out of Oatsee, a daughter of Unbridled. Oatsee was purchased in 2006 by Shackleford's owners for $135,000, and after giving birth to Shackleford, was bred to A.P. Indy and sold, in foal, for $1.55million.[4]
Shackleford inherits speed through his sire,[2] Forestry, who had his most notable wins at one-turn events: the Grade1 7⁄8-mile (1,400m)King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga and the Grade2 1+1⁄16-mile (1,700m)Dwyer Stakes at Belmont. Most of Forestry's notable progeny are similarly described, with a few exceptions.[2][37] In addition, Forestry's maternal grandsire was Pleasant Colony,[1] who won both the Kentucky Derby and, like Shackleford, the Preakness Stakes. Shackleford inherits stamina through his dam.[2] His breeding is considered most similar to Etched, another son of Forestry who is a two-time Grade2 winner at 1+1⁄8-mile (1,800m). Both inherited stamina from Unbridled-line mares, with Etched having Unbridled's Song as a grandsire and Shackleford's grandsire being Unbridled himself.[2] Oatsee has transmitted Unbridled's stamina, producing six racing foals of whom four have been winners including Lady Joanne, who won the Alabama Stakes and Baghdaria, winner of the Silverbulletday Stakes, Grade3 Iowa Oaks and G3 Indiana Oaks.[2][10] Unbridled was a 1+1⁄4-mile (2,000m) specialist who won both the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic in 1990. Unbridled has sired progeny who separately won each of the Triple Crown races, including Grindstone, Red Bullet, and Empire Maker,[2] achieving the feat only three years after his grandsire Mr. Prospector did with Fusaichi Pegasus, Tank's Prospect and Conquistador Cielo. Shackleford's pedigree chart is as follows:[1]
Mr. Prospector was a Thoroughbred racehorse who became an outstanding breeding stallion and notable sire of sires. A sprinter whose career was cut short by repeated injuries, he won seven of his 14 starts, including the Gravesend Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Whirlaway Handicap at Garden State Park.
Unbridled was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic.
Flower Alley is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Winner of the Travers Stakes during his racing career, he is best known as the sire of 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner I'll Have Another.
Lil E. Tee was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who in 1992 scored one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Kentucky Derby.
Forty Niner was an American champion thoroughbred racehorse and influential stallion.
Unbridled's Song was an American thoroughbred racehorse who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Florida Derby and Wood Memorial. He was the favorite for the 1996 Kentucky Derby but suffered a cracked hoof in the weeks before the race and finished fifth. He finished his racing career with five wins from twelve starts and earnings of $1.3 million. He subsequently became a highly successful sire, with major winners including Breeders' Cup champions Arrogate, Forever Unbridled, Midshipman and Liam's Map. He also sired the filly Eight Belles who came second in the Kentucky Derby. He was posthumously the leading sire in North America of 2017.
Macho Again is a retired American thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was sired by the 2000 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Macho Uno, who in turn was a son of leading sire Holy Bull. He is out of the mare Go Donna Go, who is the daughter of Wild Again.
Dallas Stewart trains a string of thoroughbred horses in Kentucky from bases at Churchill Downs, Turfway Park, Keeneland Race Course, Fair Grounds Race Course, Arlington Park and Saratoga Race Course. Before venturing out on his own, he spent 12 years working under the tutelage of leading trainer D. Wayne Lukas. There, he oversaw such horses as Lady's Secret, Thunder Gulch, Serena's Song, Timber Country, Tabasco Cat, and many other Grade I winners.
Candy Ride is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who went undefeated in six starts on both turf and dirt racing surfaces in Argentina and the United States. In Argentina, he won the Gran Premio San Isidro and the Joaquin S. de Anchorena, setting a world record of 1:31.01 for 1,600 meters on the turf in the latter. He was named Argentina's Champion Miler of 2002. Relocated to the United States in 2003, he won the American Handicap and set a track record in the Pacific Classic Stakes. Retired to stud in Kentucky, he developed into a top 10 sire whose notable offspring include American Horse of the Year Gun Runner.
Fappiano was an American Thoroughbred racehorse whose most important win was the 1981 Metropolitan Handicap. When retired to stud, he became a major sire whose offspring included Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled. He was named for Joseph C. Nichols (1905–1984), a long-time sportswriter for The New York Times, who was born Giuseppe Carmine Fappiano.
Blame is a retired American champion Thoroughbred racehorse, a winner of nine races in 13 starts including the prestigious Breeders' Cup Classic.
The 2011 Kentucky Derby was the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby, on May 7. The race was won by Animal Kingdom, ridden by John Velazquez, trained by H. Graham Motion and owned by Team Valor.
Animal Kingdom is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2011 Kentucky Derby and 2013 Dubai World Cup.
Jackson Bend is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who finished third to Lookin At Lucky in the Grade I $1,100,000 Preakness Stakes a Classic U.S. Triple Crown race held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Bred by Jacks or Better Farm Inc. in Ocala, Florida, he was out of the mare Sexy Stockings, whose sire was Tabasco Cat, a dual-classic winner in 1994.
Ruler on Ice is a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 2011 Belmont Stakes. He was bred and foaled in Kentucky by Brandywine Farm in partnership with Liberation Farm on. He is a chestnut gelding sired by Hill 'n' Dale Farms' Roman Ruler out of the Saratoga Six-bred mare, Champagne Glow. The colt was consigned as lot 988 at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling auction, where he was purchased by George and Lori Hall for $100,000. Ruler on Ice only won one minor race after winning the Belmont and was retired from racing in July 2014. He lives in Versailles, Kentucky at the farm of his owners.
Stay Thirsty is an American Thoroughbred racehorse sired by the leading stallion Bernardini. He was bred in Kentucky by John D. Gunther and John Darren Gunther. His dam, Marozia, was sired by Storm Bird. Stay Thirsty was consigned as lot 1147 by Glenwood Farm to the 2009 Keeneland September yearling auction and was bought for $160,000 by Whitehorse Stables. His trainer, Todd Pletcher, bought him for his owner, Mike Repole, for $500,000 at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton sale of 2-year-olds in training in Florida.
Will Take Charge is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the horse is best known for his wins in the 2013 Travers Stakes and Clark Handicap and for being beaten by a nose in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic. He was named American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse for 2013. He was retired in September, 2014, and stands at stud at Three Chimneys Farm.
Gunnevera is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Orphaned from an early age, he became the leading juvenile earner from the first crop of Dialed In. He was a contender on the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby, winning the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes as a two-year-old and the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park during his three-year-old season. Given a layoff after finishing seventh in the Derby and fifth in the Preakness Stakes, he returned in August to win the Tangelo Stakes before finishing second in the Travers Stakes.
Dialed In is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the 2011 Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes, before finishing 8th in the Kentucky Derby. He is also the sire of multiple graded stakes winner Gunnevera.
Cross Traffic is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Grade I Whitney Invitational Handicap at Belmont Park in 2013 as a four-year-old.
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