Santa Anita: Slim Shadey gets green light for Breeders' Cup Turf folllowing John Henry victory

Benoit & Associates

Slim Shadey scores under Garrett Gomez in the John Henry Turf Championship.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Slim Shadey has taken a liking to the right turf course in 2012.

For the second time this year, Slim Shadey won a graded stakes over 1 1/4 miles on turf in Sunday’s $150,000 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita. A 4-year-old gelding, Slim Shadey will make his next start in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf here on Nov. 3.

Slim Shadey will be easy to find in the BC Turf. He is likely to be on the lead in the race over 1 1/2 miles on turf.

In the Grade 2 John Henry, Slim Shadey ($8.40) led throughout, holding an advantage of as many as eight lengths on the backstretch.  Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Slim Shadey led by 4 1/2 lengths with a quarter-mile remaining and held off a sustained threat from 3-2 favorite Turbo Compressor to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Slim Shadey was timed in 1:59.17.

Gomez said he had confidence to take Slim Shadey to the front.

“Just before I crossed over the dirt, I let him out a notch,” he said. “I said, ‘Let’s see if he’s got confidence.’ ”

Interaction finished third in the field of nine. Casino Host, the winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, finished fifth and was later vanned off. He was reported to be “slightly off in his left fore,” track stewards said.

Slim Shadey, by Val Royal, has won 4 of 22 starts and $508,600.

Owned by Phil Cunningham and trained by Simon Callaghan, Slim Shadey ended a five-race losing streak, all in stakes, in the John Henry. He won the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes over 1 1/4 miles here in January, his first career stakes win.

Slim Shadey was later second in two Grade 1 races – the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs in May and the Charles Whittingham Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park in June.