Shekky Shebaz says goodbye in Lucky Coin

The four scratches in Friday’s $100,000 Lucky Coin Stakes didn’t eliminate any of the favorites in the 5½-furlong turf sprint. They did, however, eliminate at least one (Fixed Point) and possibly two (Fig Jelly) horses who on paper might be inclined to argue the pace.

Shekky Shebaz hasn’t always been front-running type, but in his most recent start – a $25,000 claimer at Saratoga – the son of Cape Blanco took a field of 10 gate to wire at the same 5½ furlongs. On Thursday, Shekky Shebaz burst out of the gate, quickly established a length-and-a-half advantage, leading his four rivals on a merry chase that only ended when Shekky Shebaz streaked across the finish line 1 ¾ lengths in front.

Final Frontier finished second, 2 ¾ lengths ahead of Disco Partner, the 7-5 favorite. Square Shooter and Strike Power brought up the rear. Time of the race over firm going was 1:01.18.

“He came into the race good,” said Henry Argueta, assistant to winning trainer Jason Servis. “We only had him for a few weeks, but he was training well into the race and was in good shape. [Winning rider] Jose [Ortiz] let him go to the front and he got the job done.”

“I knew he was a very good horse out of the gate,” said Ortiz, who was aboard Shekky Shebaz for the fifth time, “and with Jason [as the trainer] I was expecting him to break a little quicker, which he did. He put me there very easily. From the half-mile pole, I just gave him control.”

Shekky Shebaz, who cost a bargain-basement $5,000 as a yearling, improved to 5-4-2 in 15 starts, with lifetime earnings of $186,375. It was the first added money win for the 4-year-old gelding, who made his first 13 starts on the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle Downs. Shekky Shebaz now races for Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables LLC and Bethlehem Stable.