Shackleford added a second grade I stakes victory to his record this afternoon when he held off a late-charging Caleb's Posse to win the $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) by a nose.
Ridden to victory by John Velazquez, Shackleford got off to an excellent start in the one-mile race and quickly raced away to set the early pace while being pressured by Jackson Bend. Favored To Honor and Serve was racing in third along the rail, followed closely by Saginaw and Caixa Eletronica. Those five were separated by only about two lengths, with a gap of five back to stretch-running Caleb's Posse.
Through stiff fractions of :22.77, :44.73, and 1:08.52, Shackleford continued to lead the way gamely, with Jackson Bend still pushing him hard on the outside. Rounding the turn, Caixa Eletronica made a sweeping bid to reach contention as well, and To Honor and Serve shifted to the outside for a run at the leader. Entering the homestretch, it appeared as though Shackleford would be passed by numerous horses in the stretch.
However, the gritty colt gamely turned back the challenges and continued to lead into deep stretch. Suddenly, on the far outside, Caleb's Posse surged into contention, closing the gap with every stride. It looked as though Caleb's Posse would secure the victory, but Shackleford tenaciously held him off to win by a nose in the quick time of 1:33.30.
To Honor and Serve finished third, followed by Caixa Eletronica, Jackson Bend, and Saginaw. The winner is trained by Dale Romans and has now won three graded stakes races, the others being the 2011 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and the 2012 Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II).
-Keelerman
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