"The King is Dead...Long Live The King"...ahh, not quite

         In an era of race management when less is considered better, where caution so commonly precludes daring, and where medication and veterinary participation often appears to trump conditioning and old fashioned horsemanship, the careers of Shackleford and Amazombie stand as shining examples of what can and should be great about horse racing. 

     The beautiful Shackleford, now a regally mature 4 year old colt, has thus far faced the starter on 15 occasions, his most recent outing coming in the G2 (surely soon to be G1) Churchill Downs Handicap on Derby day.  Breaking his maiden in his 2nd outing at Churchill late in his 2 year old campaign, this chestnut beauty stepped into the gate 10 times in last season's sophomore season, never once missing a dance.  He participated in each of the Triple Crown races, deservedly winning the G1 Preakness in a stirring finish over G1 Kentucky Derby victor Animal Kingdom, that victory preceded by a head defeat to Dialed In in the G1 Florida Derby and a hard fought, pace setting 4th place finish to the aforementioned subsequent Eclipse winning Animal Kingdom in the Derby.  Testing the very bounds of his pedigree, he finished a very creditable 5th in the G1 Belmont after setting and forcing the pace in the early running of that Classic event, stopping only when his genetic code screamed, "no more."  A brief 6 week freshening found him again back at the wars, participating in the G1 Haskel (2nd, beaten a neck), G1 Travers, G2 Indiana Derby (2nd to Wilburn defeating Caleb's Posse), finally culminating his season with an excellent 2nd to Caleb's Posse in the G1 Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile.
    
     Already this season, in his 4 year old campaign, he had participated in 2 G1 races prior to the Churchill Downs Handicap, having finished unplaced in the 1 1/8th G1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream in February, followed by a close 3rd, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths, in the G1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on April 14th of this year.  It was no surprise, therefore, that his showdown with 2011 Eclipse award winning sprinter, Amazombie, was eagerly anticipated.  Whether he was quite good enough to defeat that champion at his own game was uncertain.  What was very certain was that he would give everything he had, that he would lay it all on the line in his quest for victory, for he appears to know no other way to run.  How can one not love and admire him for those qualities, for these characteristics indeed define the highest in man and racehorse.

     No less could be said about the grand gelding Amazombie, the reigning Eclipse award winning sprinter from California, himself an older version of Shackleford, racing now at age 6 and showing no sign of declining ability nor lessening desire.  He also had previous 2 starts in his 2012 campaign, his return to battle coming in the G2 San Carlos at Santa Anita in late February where he finished a very good 3rd to the highly primed The Factor, followed 6 weeks later by a relatively easy victory in the G2 Portrero Grande at Santa Anita where he covered 6 1/2 furlongs in a blistering 1:14.16.  Sporting a most impressive career record of 25-11-4-6 while competing against the very best sprinters in North America, it was clear that this grand warrior also came to the 78th running of The Churchill Downs Handicap in highest form.  The stage was set, therefore, for a showdown between these two, the younger Shackleford, a Classic winner at 1 3/16ths miles who otherwise battled hard but unsuccessfully at route distances, attempting now to find his proper niche in the racing world, and the older Amazombie, primed to defend his position against any pretenders to his sprinting crown, burdened on this day with a 5 pound penalty for being so good, so honest, so consistent, the penalty based upon some logic that is so illogical and antiquated as to defy common sense.

Shakleford, post parade, Jesus Castenon up

        

Amazombie, post parade, Mike Smith up

     The race exceeded expectation, with Shackleford jumping quickly to the fore with Amazombie in hot pursuit, and around the far turn, 1/2 mile from home, these two were running virtually as one, locked in fierce combat.  Turning for home, 1/4 mile to run, Shackleford to the inside held a short lead over Amazombie who was lapped on his shoulder, and they resolutely widened on the others as they challenged each other and the gruelling Churchill stretch.  They old race caller's term, "stride for stride, noses apart," was never more appropriate, for this is what transpired as these two grandest of Thoroughbreds charged down the stretch... 

     I have often, in my mind, equated the distance of Thoroughbred races to human equivalents.  For the latter I believe that no race is more gruelling, more exhausting, than the 400 meter sprint, 1/4 mile at 95 % top speed, no opportunity to relax, no opportunity to regroup and take a much needed deep breath, no opportunity to gain relief for painful, rapidly fatiguing muscles suffering from lactic acid accumulation resulting from their prolonged anaeobic efforts.  Instead, the daunting challenge calls for them to "Sprint, Sprint, Sprint," constantly under pressure from others equally committed and equally determined, perhaps equally talented, one faltering stride or any indication of weakness resulting in near certain defeat.

      Such is how I envision the 7 furlong sprint for Thoroughbreds, with fractions not unlike those for a 5 or 6 furlong dash...21.96, 44.17, 1:08.18...with the necessity to now finish one more final 1/8th and, if victory is to be yours, finish it fast!  And finish they did, a final clocking of 1:21.06, Shackleford on the rail ever so slowing inching away from the gallant Amazombie to his outside, the margin at the wire perhaps 3/4 length after 1 minute and 21 seconds of near constant maximal exertion, the margin of victory likely the difference of an inside run as opposed to outside, 118 pounds as opposed to 123.  I read somewhere, written by one of our leading trade journalists (who should caution to be more precise with the use of language), that Shackleford "out gamed" Amazombie.  Out gamed?  Nonsense!  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Did he "out finish" him?  Yes.  Did he "outrun" him?  Yes, that must also be fair to say.  But "out game" him, show more courage than he?  No bloody way!  Amazombie ran further by virtue of the luck of post position draw, and carried more weight (5 pounds) by virtue of superior recent accomplishment (and for this achievement was penalized ???).  Defeated, yes.  Out gamed?  What a foolish statement.

     Were these differences enough to account for the outcome, victory for Shackleford, defeat for Amazombie?  No one could say definitively but, given the running of the race and the margin of victory, I cannot help but feel that were the roles reversed the outcome would have been different, for surely 5 pounds over 7 furlongs must equal at least 3/4 length?  But such is the nature of racing, and such comments are in no way meant to diminish the tremendous victory by Shackleford who I believe to be an immensly talented, versatile and thoroughly courageous Thoroughbred, traits which should be in much demand when his time comes to retire to the breeding shed.  Rather, I think that we had best not crown a new sprinting King quite yet, for I suspect the old boy Amazombie will have quite a bit to say yet about such things down the road, especially since the Breeder's Cup will be run at his home track at Santa Anita.  The old fellow might do well, however, what with all the hotshot sprinters around the country waiting in the shadows, to catch Shackleford's ear and suggest to him that he just might want to again consider the Dirt Mile as his year end target.  It could well be that come this Novemeber Shackleford will require no weight concession and post position will cease to be an issue so, if the opportunity were to arise, why not give some free elderly advice to the youngster and suggest he look elsewhere than the sprinting title for his Eclipse?  Never hurts to offer a little free advice, now does it?  Cagey old fox, that Amazombie!     
    

turning for home, Shakleford on the rail, Amazombie outside

approaching the 1/8th pole

a nose apart, as close as courageous Amazombie can get

Shackleford inches ahead, now a head at the 1/16th pole

a head becomes a neck...

then 3/4 length at the wire

replay of finish

a very happy Jesus Castenon and a very tired Shackleford return victorious

     These photos were taken from our seats in row J of 3rd floor Clubhouse, so were from quite a distance.  They are not as sharp as one would like, but hopefully serve well enough to showcase this brilliant race.

Murray West