Next Shares pulled off the upset in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday. (Photo credit: Keeneland.).
Michael and Jules Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Christopher Dunn, William Marasa, Ritchie Robershaw and Mark Taylor’s Next Shares rode a rail-skimming trip to a 3¼-length victory over Great Wide Open (IRE) to win the 33rd running of the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) before a sun-baked Saturday afternoon crowd of 24,142.
The day featured five graded stakes worth $2.35 million, including four Breeders’ Cup Challenge races in which winners earned automatic berths in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs Nov. 2-3.
Keeneland smashed its Fall Meet Pick Four and Pick Five wagering records, both set on Fall Stars Saturday in 2016. Today’s $350,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four handle of $742,450 broke the previous record of $479,166. Wagering on the $250,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Five totaled $619,106 to best the former record of $496,723.
Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Next Shares covered the mile on a turf course labeled good in 1:36.97 to earn a berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) to be run Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. He gave Gaffalione his first Keeneland stakes victory.
Other “Win and You’re In” victors were KRA Stud Farm’s Knicks Go in the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) for 2-year-olds; Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables’ A Raving Beauty (GER) in the $400,000 First Lady (G1) for fillies and mares; and Juddmonte Farms’ Golden Mischief in the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) for fillies and mares.
Also securing a graded stakes victory Saturday afternoon was Ironhorse Racing Stable’s Bucchero, who successfully defended his title in the $200,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select.
Shadwell Turf Mile Replay
In the Shadwell Turf Mile, Heart to Heart and Voodoo Song raced through fractions of :23.37 and :47.14 as Gaffalione bided his time in midpack. On the far turn, Heart to Heart disposed of Voodoo Song and opened a daylight margin turning for home where he drifted slightly to the outside.
Gaffalione took advantage and shot Next Shares through the opening, quickly established command and never was threatened in the run to the wire.
A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Archarcharch out of the Evansville Slew mare Two Dot Slew, Next Shares improved his record to 20-5-4-2. Saturday’s $600,000 check hiked his earnings to $1,067,697.
Next Shares returned $48.80, $22.20 and $13. Great Wide Open, ridden by James Graham, returned $58.60 and $26.60 with Qurbaan finishing another 1½ lengths back in third under Mike Smith and paying $7.40 to show.
It was another half-length back to favored Analyze It with Big Score, Mr. Misunderstood, Synchrony, Almanaar (GB), Heart to Heart, Multiplier, Bound for Nowhere, Voodoo Song and Imperative following in order.
