Crafty Shaw to Make '05 Debut in Hanshin Cup

The 7-year-old Crafty Shaw, who surpassed the $1-million mark in career earnings late last year, makes his seasonal debut as 119-pound highweight Saturday in the Hanshin Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Arlington Park.

The Pete Vestal-trained son of Crafty Prospector won the Hanshin Cup last year as the 9-5 favorite. Crafty Shaw has five graded stakes win, all at this level, for owner Charles Cella. The Kentucky-bred horse will take on seven rivals while breaking from the rail.

Crafty Shaw has a steady string of workouts at Churchill Downs to his credit so far this year, his latest being a :59 4/5 five-furlong move May 22. He'll spot anywhere from two to six pounds in the one-mile race.

Toting 117 are Stormy Impact (post 3) and Missme (post 7).

S J Stables' Stormy Impact will be making his 16th start at Arlington. The 6-year-old gelding by Major Impact finished first in the Mister Gus at Arlington last year, but was disqualified and placed third. He enters the Hanshin Cup for trainer Frank Kirby with back-to-back stakes wins to his resume, the latest being a three-quarter length score in the $100,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes at Fonner Park.

Missme, a Kentucky-bred son of Belong to Me is making his seventh start of the year. He most recently was third behind Limehouse and Skipaslew in the 1 1/16-mile Alysheba Stakes on Kentucky Oaks day at Churchill Downs. Trained by Lynn Whiting, 6-year-old Missme is a Whippoorwill Farm homebred.

Making his stakes debut in the Hanshin Cup is Melnyk Racing Stables' Gouldings Green, a 4-year-old son of Charismatic. The 4-year-old was second behind Royal Assault in a Keeneland allowance in April, then won a one-mile allowance test at Churchill May 6. The $260,000 Keeneland September sale yearling was bred in Kentucky by Marvin Delfiner and is trained by Tony Reinstedler.

Hanshin Cup Handicap (gr. III), Arlington Park, $100,000, one mile, 3-year-olds and up, Saturday, May 28, approx. post 5:07 p.m. CDT
PP - Horse - Weight - Jockey
1 - Crafty Shaw - 119 - Craig Perret
2 - Home of Stars - 115 - James Graham
3 - Stormy Impact - 117 - Tim Thornton
4 - Gouldings Green - 113 - Carlos Marquez Jr.
5 - Pass Rush - 115 - Shaun Bridgmohan
6 - Lord of the Game - 116 - Eusebio Razo Jr.
7 - Missme - 117 - Calvin Borel
8 - Nkosi Reigns - 114 - Chris Emigh