Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Shackleford , second by a neck to Coil in the July 31 Haskell Invitational (gr. I), arrived at Saratoga shortly after 4 p.m. EDT Aug. 1 to prepare for his next start.
Whether that start will be against fellow 3-year-olds such as Coil and Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. I) winner Stay Thirsty in the Travers (gr. I) Aug. 27, or against older horses one week later in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) has yet to be determined, trainer Dale Romans said.
“The obvious thing is to go in the Travers and take on the 3-year-olds,” Romans said in a statement. “But then we’ve had a few discussions about the Woodward, which gives us an extra week; it’s 1 1/8 miles, and we’d get a little bit of weight. It’s something to look at.”
Shackleford was full of energy following the van ride from Monmouth Park, bucking and playing as he got a bath and a walk, and then settling in to his stall.
“Nothing takes anything out of him,” Romans said. “He looks safe and sound and looks happy to be here in Saratoga.”
Romans said Shackleford will return to the track Aug. 3 for a jog and resume more serious training at the end of the week.
“We wouldn’t have to make a decision about his next start until the week of the race,” he said. “We’ll see who’s in each race and see which one makes the most sense.”