Shakertown could play out number of ways

The 2020 Breeders’ Cup comes back to Keeneland this year, and the $1 million BC Turf Sprint in November might not come up much tougher than the Grade 2, $150,000 Shakertown Stakes on Saturday.

Bound For Nowhere stands as a worthy 5-2 co-morningline favorite in the 5 1/2-furlong Shakertown, but there are plenty of places to turn in a field of 14. Shared Legacy and Corruze, 50-1 shots, have next to zero chance, but six others rate as marginal contenders, and five more besides Bound for Nowhere have legitimate win claims.

As a 4-year-old, Bound For Nowhere crushed 11 foes, including really good ones like Bucchero and Disco Partner, in the Shakertown. A year ago, he led until the final strides before Imprimis, who was in roaring form, nailed him. Bound for Nowhere made his fourth trip overseas last summer, running poorly in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot. He was back in action last October, dominating a Belmont allowance race, but was defeated at odds of 1-2 on March 21 in the Grade 3 San Simeon at Santa Anita, his lone start this year. Put it all together, and is Bound For Nowhere, still lightly raced at age 6, showing signs of decline?

“All indications in his morning workouts are he’s the same horse,” owner-trainer Wesley Ward said.

Ward wasn’t pleased with the ride Bound for Nowhere got in the San Simeon.

“He needed a cool-sitter and a go-getter in that race, and the guy kind of panicked when he didn’t break well,” Ward said.

Julio Garcia, who is 4 for 4 in turf sprints riding Bound for Nowhere, gets the mount back.

“Julio doesn’t ride too many these days, but he’s a guy who’s been on this horse every day for four years,” Ward said. “The horse is a 17-hand rhinoceros. Julio weighs 107 pounds, and he rides him with two fingers.”

Bound for Nowhere races prominently; TimeformUS pace figures say co-favorite Wildman Jack, Just Might, and Tiger Blood are the other main pace players. Wildman Jack has the strongest credentials among that group, with an excellent win in the straight-course, Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint this winter in Dubai. He’s drawn poorly in post 2 and could either get into a duel or find himself buried behind horses.

Trainer Rusty Arnold’s entrants, Totally Boss and Leinster, both are good enough to win, although Leinster drew poorly in post 13.

“It’s a tough spot, and he’s going to have to work out a trip, but he’s got speed and can get some position,” Arnold said of Leinster, who probably was moved too early into a strong pace when finishing second in the Woodford Stakes on this course last fall.

Totally Boss had little chance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint breaking from post 1 to end his 2019 campaign and was eliminated in his 2020 debut, a Churchill allowance race, when Shakertown entrant Real News lost his action and came out in front of him on the far turn. Holy Boss has a wicked kick on his best day and can get up with a clean trip.

“He went into his last race great, and we’re still very high on him,” Arnold said.

Extravagant Kid won the Churchill allowance that included both Arnold horses. He’ll need plenty of luck breaking from post 1 – but whomever wins the Shakertown will do so because things shook out their way.