D'Amato backs off Shea Brennan; won't start in Echo Eddie

ARCADIA, Calif. – Shea Brennan, a stakes winner against California-breds at Los Alamitos in December, will not start in Saturday’s $125,000 Echo Eddie Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

“I had to back off on him,” trainer Phil D’Amato said on Sunday.

Shea Brennan, who races for owner and breeder Nick Alexander, finished first in the California Cup Derby at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in January, but was disqualified and placed second for causing interference in the stretch.

D’Amato said Shea Brennan is likely to start before the end of the Santa Anita spring meeting on June 15 in advance of the $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 1.

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