American Gal set for deliberate 2018 campaign

American Gal, who reemerged as one of the country’s top female sprinters with her decisive victory Saturday in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs, will campaign sparingly in 2018.

“We’ll pick our spots with her, the Ballerina and Breeders’ Cup are our two main goals,” trainer Simon Callaghan said.

The Grade 1 Ballerina is Aug. 25 at Saratoga; the BC Filly and Mare Sprint is Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.

“We’ll decide what we do in between, it probably won’t be more than three races” total, Callaghan said.

Kaleem Shah bred and owns American Gal, winner of the Grade 1 Test Stakes last summer at Saratoga and 5 for 8 overall with earnings of $904,980.

Meanwhile, a pair of Callaghan graded winners are nearing their first starts as 3-year-olds. Moonshine Memories, two-time Grade 1 winner of the Del Mar Debutante and Chandelier Stakes, was supplemented to the $75,000 Angels Flight Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. She is expected to start favored.

The colt Run Away, 4 for 6 last year including the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes, will target the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes on the Preakness undercard May 19 at Pimlico.