Shackleford , the 2011 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner, will likely make one more start before retiring to stud at John Phillips' Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, according to trainer Dale Romans.
The son of Forestry who has earned $2,824,047 to date for owners Michael Lauffer, Bill Cubbedge, and Phillips Racing Partnership, will participate in an open house at Darby Dan Nov. 9-11. The colt will then return to Romans' barn at Churchill Downs and be prepped for either a career-ending start in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Nov. 23, or the Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct a day later.
"We might run him in the Clark," Romans said. "We'll see how he's going into the race, but the plan right now is to go into (the Clark) or the Cigar Mile. As long as he trains well, he'll have one more race."
Shackleford was off slowly and eventually finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) in his most recent start. At 1 1/8 miles, the Clark would be Shackleford's first race at more than a mile since running seventh in the 1 1/8-mile Donn Handicap (gr. I), won by Hymn Book, in February.
2011 Preakness winner Shackleford
Anne M. Eberhardt