Espresso Shot to shorten up in distance rather than try Kentucky Oaks

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Espresso Shot, who was beaten five lengths when finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes here on Saturday, will not point to the Kentucky Oaks and will likely shorten up to a one-turn race for her next start, said Daniel Zanatta, co-managing partner of Final Furlong Racing Stable, part-owner of the filly along with Maspeth Stables and Parkland Thoroughbreds.

The $125,000 Bouwerie, a seven-furlong race at Belmont Park on May 27, is the likely next target for Espresso Shot, Zanatta said.

Zanatta didn’t totally discount the Black-Eyed Susan, a two-turn 1 1/8-mile race at Pimlico on May 17, but said, “We might want to steer clear of two-turn races for now.”

Espresso Shot was coming off a pair of one-turn mile victories, including one in the Busher Stakes on March 3, which gave her 50 points toward the Kentucky Oaks. Her connections ran her in the Gazelle to see how she would handle the two turns and Espresso Shot basically ran evenly throughout, making up a few lengths in the stretch while never a threat to win.

Zanatta said with the slower pace he figured Espresso Shot would be closer to the pace early, but she was fifth, 3 1/2 lengths back. Espresso Shot didn’t run that well in her only start around two turns on turf either.

“The race didn’t set up for her, it may not be the ideal configuration for her anyway,” Zanatta said. “I’m not losing faith in her at all. She’s still a pretty damn good horse.”

Zanatta said depending how Espresso Shot performs in the Bouwerie, she may be given another shot in a one-turn graded stakes such as