It’s no secret to followers of this blog that I’m a huge fan of Shared Belief. He was first named Horse of the Week back in mid-December of last year after his big win in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity. The gelding actually landed in this space a few weeks prior to that as one of ‘Three to Watch’ for the 2014 Classics.
For me it all goes back to his second career victory in the November 10, 2013 Hollywood Prevue (G3) on which I commented:
“(Shared Belief) showed an especially explosive turn of foot when let loose just after turning for home in the Prevue”.
Despite his obvious talent there have been questions all along the way for Shared Belief. His first three victories were all on synthetic surfaces and he had to continue his physical development as racing history is littered with top juveniles who did nothing at three and beyond. Having answered the ‘dirt question’ with a typically brilliant performance in the Los Alamitos Derby (G2) over the solid colt Candy Boy, there were still lingering questions about his ability to negotiate a classic distance (even with his own connections).
Shared Belief emphatically countered those distance doubts in Sunday’s Pacific Classic (G1) where he overcame an awkward start and outside post while earning 115 Beyer Speed Figure, highest of any three-year-old in 2014. This horse does everything emphatically, doesn’t he?
“He just ran a terrific race,” said Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith after the race. “He’s a special horse. I heard someone say this might be the coming out of a superstar. I think now this horse deserves that accolade. I’ll tell you what: he’s as good a young horse as I’ve sat on in a while.”
Shared Belief’s brilliant 2013 late-season surge earned him an Eclipse Award as the best juvenile male in North America. Will it happen again in 2014? California Chrome certainly has the more extensive resume so far with runaway wins in the three important Grade 1’s – the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1). Art Sherman has ‘Chrome’ pointed to the $1,000,000 Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby for his return from Triple Crown grind and now the connections of Shared Belief are considering that race as well. I, for one, have my fingers crossed we’ll see this happen. Both fingers crossed, actually.
-originally posted on http://www.myfantasystable.com
Matt O'Neil Consulting 