Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens recorded his fifth win in the $150,000 Shuvee Handicap (gr. II) {VIDEO} for fillies and mares at Belmont Park Saturday when Joseph Allen’s Teammate outfought favored Sugar Shake to win by one-half length.
Sitting just off the pace established by 7-10 choice Sugar Shake, 4-year-old Teammate put a head in front in the stretch and held off a determined Sugar Shake in a time of 1:38 for the one-mile test on a fast main track.
“I thought Cornelio did the best job he could,” said Jerkens, referring to winning jockey Cornelio Velasquez. “He was trying not to be on the lead, but not too far back to let the other one get away.”
"We chased her most of the race and at the three-sixteenths pole, we finally started getting to her," Velasquez said. "It was a big effort from both horses."
Sugar Shake, trained by Bobby Frankel, established fractions of :23, :46 4/5 and 1:11 3/5. Sugar Shake and Teammate ran 1-2 the entire way.
Jerkens’ previous Shuvee wins include Missy’s Mirage (1992), Sky Beauty (1994), Shiny Band (2002) and Society Selection (2004). D. Wayne Lukas and Shug McGaughey, a pair of Hall of Fame trainers themselves, have each won four Shuvees.
Up next for the homebred Teammate will likely be the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at 1 1/16 miles on June 16. The gray filly is by A.P. Indy--Starry Dreamer (Rubiano).
Teammate paid $9.70, $3.40 and $2.50 to win as the second choice in the wagering. Sugar Shake returned $2.50 and $2.20, and Rahy's Appeal paid $2.80 to show. Silmaril, Last Romance and Swap Fliparoo followed.
(Chart, Equibase)
Teammate edges out Sugar Shake in the Shuvee Handicap.
