10-year-old Life in Shambles continues quest for $1 million

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.– At one point early in his career, Life in Shambles was best known as the regular workmate for 2014 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist. But that was ages ago, or seemingly so. Now 10, Life in Shambles continues to bang out a pretty darn good living on the racetrack while making a push to reach the magic $1 million milestone, and he’ll try to inch a little closer to that goal in Saturday’s co-featured 10th race at Gulfstream Park.

Life in Shambles, who has banked $936,341, will compete in the first of two allowance races on the 12-race card. He faces seven rivals, including his uncoupled stablemate Ludington, while going six furlongs for a $47,000 purse.

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A son of Broken Vow, Life in Shambles has cycled back to top form, having posted a pair of seconds and victory in his last three starts, with his Beyer Speed Figures climbing steadily during that period. The 87 he posted for a 2 1/4-length tally against $35,000 selling foes here Jan. 30 is the top last-out number in the field.

A popular item at the claim box over the past year despite his advanced age, Life in Shambles is currently under the tutelage of Peter Walder, who haltered the old pro back for $25,000 out of a fourth-place finish on closing day of the 2020 Saratoga meet. Walder previously had the horse for Winning Move Stable for three starts here earlier in 2020.

“We had him before, wanted him back because we just liked him and knew he had an affinity for Gulfstream,” Walder said. “And we really wanted him to hit the million-dollar mark for us. The problem for this horse will come next year because he won’t be allowed to compete here at Gulfstream at the age of 11, which seems to be a ridiculous rule considering he’s obviously sound and loves to run. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Ludington also is a major player in the race while seeking to rebound from a sixth-place finish against high-level allowance company March 28 after being hard used contesting a fast pace. The loss snapped a two-race win streak for Ludington, who posted a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure in February defeating slightly weaker allowance opposition than he’ll encounter Saturday.

“He’s another training great over this track,” Walder said. “He’s happy as can be. I’m just drawing a line through the last one – it was a really tough race – and hoping he finds this company more to his liking.”

Reservenotattained also seeks to get back on the winning track after fading to finish third as the even-money choice in a $16,000 starter-allowance dash five weeks earlier. Reservenotattained had entered that race having won his three previous starts, among them a six-furlong starter event on Jan. 8 for which he was assigned a stellar 99 Beyer Figure.

With an honest pace expected, stretch-runners like Uncork the Bottle and Joe Di Baggio demand respect. Uncork the Bottle won for $16,000 last out and was claimed by Elizabeth Dobles from Saffie Joseph Jr.

Sir Kahn, Running for Riz, and Louisiana invader Man of Honor round out the field.

◗ The 11th race, for older horses at one mile on the grass, lured nine for the turf and two for the main track, and looks wide open.

Another lively pace is expected, with key contenders Light Fury, Everyonelovesjames, Dundalk, and Kaufy Bean all possessing plenty of early foot and seemingly at their best when on or near the lead.

The projected pace scenario would figure to enhance the chances of Mystic Lancelot, who rallied to miss by a neck under similar conditions last month, and Advanced Strategy, who finished just a neck behind Mystic Lancelot after forging to the lead nearing midstretch. Cairo Campaign goes in quest of his third straight victory.