The gritty Shackleford ended his campaign on a winning note Saturday afternoon when he held off sustained bids from Take Charge Indy and Bourbon Courage to win the $400,000 Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs by a length.
Ridden to victory by Jesus Castanon, Shackleford got off to a very good start and found himself in front by a length and a half following an opening quarter mile in :24.31 seconds. Take Charge Indy and Mission Impazible were his closest pursuers, while Eye of the Leopard, Lunar Victory, and Bourbon Courage comprised the group of mid-pack runners. Cease, Stealcase, and Fast Falcon were the early trailers.
Shackleford continued to lead the way through rather slow fractions of :48.65 and 1:12.49, and thus had a great deal left in the tank when Castanon asked him to run in the homestretch. The big chestnut colt opened up a commanding advantage in mid-stretch, passing the eighth pole clear by 2 1/2 lengths, but Take Charge Indy and Bourbon Courage were closing in well on the outside and appeared capable of pulling off the upset. However, Shackleford proved extremely game in the homestretch, holding off their challenges despite drifting outward to win by a length in 1:49.12 seconds.
Take Charge Indy edged out Bourbon Courage for second by a head, while Lunar Victory finished another 6 3/4 lengths back in fourth. Mission Impazible, Cease, Stealcase, Fast Falcon, and Eye of the Leopard completed the order of finish.
The winner is trained by Dale Romans and owned by Michael Lauffer and W.D. Cubbedge,
-Keelerman
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