Worth tacking this onto this thread as Spa is where the amazing comeback occured. Shakespeare will be starting September 16 in the Woodbine Mile and is installed as the morning line favorite!
Bloodhorse 9-14-07 “Intrigue Abounds in Woodbine Mile”
Perhaps the best storyline comes from Shakespeare, a 6-year-old colt who sat out 21 months with a tendon injury before gallantly returning to the winners circle in his first race back Aug. 2 at Saratoga.
Unbeaten in his first five career starts, including the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. I) in October 2005, Shakespeare was injured in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. I) four weeks later. At that time, the son of Theatrical-Lady Shirl was trained by Bill Mott. But after William Schettine and Dell Ridge Farm acquired the Kentucky-bred, he was shipped to Kiaran McLaughlin’s stable. Shakespeare resumed training in May before his dramatic comeback victory last month, in which he burned a mile in 1:34 in allowance competition.
“He’s a very, very talented horse and he has a lot of ability,” marveled McLaughlin. “He’s come back great. He does things effortlessly.”
Shakespeare, who registered a 105 Beyer Speed Figure in his return, was installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite and will leave from post 3 with Garrett Gomez aboard.
Looks like a GREAT race with Kip Deville and others in the race!
Flashback as originally posted August 2, 2007 –
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;2601073]
“Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look,
He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.”
Is this the next Da Hoss or something out of the Biblical character of Lazarus?
Shakespeare winner of Belmont’s Grade 1 Turf Classic in October of 2005, had not raced since the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Turf when he finished off the boards soiling his record at 6 starts 5-0-0.
So almost 2 years later your man comes back … taking the 8th race at Saratoga a $79k 1-mile allowance race on turf
His trainer - Kiaran McLaughlin
The time? 1:34.14 which is three-fifths of a second off the track record in his first start in almost 2-years. Rust? What rust?
With that much go-baby-go it makes you wonder if Kiaran shouldn’t have followed through with the entry [he did nominate him] of Shakespeare for Saratoga’s 23rd edition of the Grade 2, $150,000 Fourstardave at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf August 5th.[/QUOTE]
