Fourstardave probably next for Ironicus

ELMONT, N.Y. – Ironicus, who ran a solid second to Flintshire in the Grade 1 Manhattan at 1 1/4 miles last Saturday, likely will shorten up to a mile in the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave at Saratoga on Aug. 13, trainer Shug McGaughey said Thursday.

“I just don’t really want to run him a mile and a half,” said McGaughey, alluding to the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on Aug. 27.

McGaughey didn’t close the door on the Arlington Million, run at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 13, but wants to keep Ironicus on firm ground.

Ironicus entered the Manhattan having won four of his previous five starts, the lone loss being a neck defeat to Grand Arch in last year’s Fourstardave.

In the Manhattan, Flintshire got a clear outside run while Ironicus had some traffic trying to rally along the rail.

“Maybe if we get the same trip he had, it could have been different, but Flintshire’s a good horse,” McGaughey said.