Stronach Stables' Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper) has been green-lighted for a start in Saturday's GII Suburban H. after pleasing trainer Jimmy Jerkens with a solo six-furlong work in 1:13.20 Sunday at Belmont Park.
“If I had anything else I would have worked him in company [Sunday] because you have to urge him along pretty good to get him to work by himself, especially if the track is pulling a little deep like it was,” Jerkens explained. “But [exercise rider] Kelvin Pahal got him off the bridle in the end and he's a horse that is willing enough to get a good workout.”
Shaman Ghost's regular workmate Dolphus (Lookin at Lucky) ships to Louisville Thursday before vanning to Prairie Meadows for Saturday's GIII Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H.
Shaman Ghost was fifth in last year's Suburban before winning the GI Woodward S. Second behind Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) in the Jan. 28 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the 5-year-old is coming off wins in the Mar. 11 GI Santa Anita H. and May 19 GIII Pimlico Special.
Jerkens, who captured Sunday's Queen's Plate with Holy Helena (Ghostzapper), will also saddle Centennial Farms' Unified (Candy Ride {Arg}) on Belmont's Stars & Stripes Racing Festival program Saturday. The 4-year-old faces G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen S. winner Mind Your Biscuits (Posse) in the GII Belmont Sprint Championship, a Win and You're In event for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.
“It's a tough spot, because Mind Your Biscuits is one of the best horses I've seen in a long time,” Jerkens admitted. “You know he's going to be coming. But you have to run and see where you're at.”
Unified narrowly defeated Mind Your Biscuits in the Feb. 25 GIII Gulfstream Park Sprint S. before coming up a neck short when second behind Green Gratto (Here's Zealous) in the Apr. 8 GI Carter H.
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