Shaman Ghost disappeared in the Woodward Stakes last Saturday at Saratoga but it was not easy. The James Jerkens student was mid-pack early, moved fourth at the top of the lane, but he powered home for the score.
The way Shaman Ghost disappeared in the Woodward was not kind on the hearts of those that bet on him. The son of Ghostzapper was patiently handled by jockey Javier Castellano. He had to race 4 lengths wide but was forced to shut down when the race favorite Frosted starting to lugged in causing interference. Shaman Ghost then refused to lose fighting his way between horses to get up by a scant head.
Mubtaahij was another head back, Frosted was another head back and Breaking Lucky finished 4th at 48-1, less than a length from winning the whole thing. Shaman Ghost earned a decent 106 Beyer Speed Figure. The winner of the Woodward last year, Liam’s Map, earned a 114 Beyer and won his next and final start with the same figure taking the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
In 2014 Itsmyluckyday won Woodward with a 108 Beyer but never won another race.
Jerkens switched things up in the Woodward adding fresh Lasix and it may have made a difference. This is a runner that has been well managed and he has a classic winning style. His journey has not always been successful though.
After a rather dull fourth in his debut, Shaman Ghost disappeared from the racing seen for a couple of months in 2014. He returned to make his final start of 2014 in a sprint at Gulfstream Park and again was a dull 6th.
Shaman Ghost disappeared again after just one race last year. He took off from January to March and that freshening allowed him to turn the corner. In that March race, Shaman Ghost disappeared from this rivals winning in his first dirt route drawing away at 12-1.
Expertly managed after that win, Jerkens put his charge though his first condition and then won the Grade 3 Marine on the synthetic at Woodbine in May of 2015.
Again patience was a key as Shaman Ghost disappeared until July and then won the million-dollar Queen’s Plate. In his first start of 2016, Shaman Ghost obviously needed a race and was a closing third. He closed into a very moderate pace in June in the Brooklyn Handicap and came away from his rivals late.
In his next race, the July 9 Suburban, there was not a lot of speed and that compromised Shaman Ghost’s chances. He tried to maintain contact but faltered when the real racing began.
As far as Frosted is concerned. He didn’t have a great trip in the Woodward. He was 2-5 at the betting windows but didn’t bring his A game. The runner broke awkwardly tossing his head at the break. He was being ridden confidently while 8 wide and he had trouble ‘switching leads’.
When a runner is on the wrong ‘lead’ it can be akin to putting your weight on the wrong foot swinging a golf club or trying to dunk a basketball off the wrong foot. In horseracing, if a runner is not ‘switching leads’ properly, it can lead to tiring.
Frosted was still drifting in the final stages and was just out worked to the finish line. He will live to fight another day. His trainer Kiaran McLaughlin could opt for the Breeders’ Cup Classic or the Dirt Mile.
Jerkens, who learned at the feet of his Hall of Fame training father Allen, was very happy that Shaman Ghost’s showed a bit of tactical speed. The runner maintained contact when the Woodward pace quickened and he showed a nice turn of foot instead of just being a one-paced performer. The Ghost has won close decisions in the past so he has always been game and gritty.
Shaman Ghost’s conditioner can call an audible from here on in. The next logical step would be the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on October 8. The purse is an incentive and the mile and a quarter distance of the Grade 1 Gold Cup is well within Shaman’s Ghost’s wheelhouse. The race is also a ‘win and you’re in’ qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Shaman Ghost disappeared from the cameras after the Woodward but he will be more than ready for his next appearance no matter where his connections decide to point him.
