Desormeaux hoping Shashashakemeup can use Sugar Bowl as stepping-stone

Trainer Keith Desormeaux doesn’t get in a hurry with his young horses. His normal method of operation: Give a horse a debut race to get the hang of things, then start bearing down.

“It’s not a secret I don’t usually win first time out,” Desormeaux said.

And yet the Desormeaux-trained Shashashakemeup was no secret in his first start last month at Churchill Downs. He broke from the rail, showed good early speed, and kicked into gear to run off to a 5 1/2-length maiden score, paying just $7.60 to win.

“I was pointing him to another race like three weeks earlier. I don’t remember the situation, but I couldn’t get in, so I had to work him two or three more times. I usually get them beat, use that first race to finish the deal,” said Desormeaux.

In one of his workouts between the intended and actual debut spots, Shashashakemeup hooked up with talented 2-year-old Mr. Monomoy.

“He stretched us a little as far as fitness,” said Desormeaux. “We held our own.”

Shashashakemeup’s second race comes Saturday in the $75,000 Sugar Bowl over six furlongs. As in his debut, he drew the rail and will be ridden by James Graham.

Shashashakemeup is by Shackleford out of Churchflower, by Pulpit. He’s “a big, nice rangy colt” and “far from a conformational throwaway,” Desormeaux said, yet sold for a mere $5,000 as a weanling. He was pinhooked as a yearling and purchased for only $45,000 by Calumet Farm, his current owner. The low sales price qualified Shashashakemeup for a restricted maiden-special-weight race in his debut, which can tamp down the quality of opposition, but the colt still earned a strong 82 Beyer Speed Figure while looking like there’s more to come.

“I absolutely think he’s a route horse, but I thought another sprint race might do him more good at this point,” Desormeaux said.

◗ It’s not easy getting third-level allowance races to go at Fair Grounds, but one of those, with an $80,000 claiming option, is the featured seventh race Friday. The race is restricted to fillies and mares, carded for six furlongs, and has Divine Queen (8-5) and Classy Act (5-2) as the lowest prices on the morning line.

◗ Promising 2-year-old filly Ursula, a romping second-start maiden winner Nov. 30 at Fair Grounds, was cross-entered in a first-level route allowance race and the six-furlong Letellier Stakes on Saturday. Trainer Mike Stidham said he’d discuss the two options with owner Mt. Brilliant Farm before deciding on a race.

◗ Two-year-old colt No Parole won his career debut, a six-furlong Louisiana-bred maiden race, by 14 1/2 lengths Sunday. His raw time of 1:10.52 on a fairly slow surface yielded a 90 Beyer.