Keeneland: Chamberlain Bridge back to try Shakertown again

Chamberlain Bridge found glory last year in Kentucky, although not at Keeneland. The millionaire gelding lost three times in eight 2010 races, with two of those defeats coming here.

But trainer Bret Calhoun apparently figures if the blueprint works, don’t revise it. Chamberlain Bridge ran fourth in both Grade 3 turf sprints here last year, the Shakertown in the spring and the Woodford in the fall, before capturing the biggest prize in the division, the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill last November.

Chamberlain Bridge, with Jamie Theriot back to ride, will break from the outside post in a field of nine when making his second start of the year in the Grade 3, $100,000 Shakertown (race 6) at 5 1/2 furlongs. The 7-year-old Kentucky-bred has raced just once since his BC triumph, capturing a small stakes in February at Sam Houston as a huge favorite.

Several familiar rivals will reconvene with Chamberlain Bridge in this 15th running of the Shakertown, most notably Silver Timber, who swept the Shakertown and Woodford last year. Leparoux has the mount back for trainer Chad Brown on Silver Timber, an earner of more than $700,000.