Life in Shambles seeks stakes score of his own in Curlin
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – So far, Life in Shambles has done his best work in the mornings, routinely working on even terms with Tonalist, who last month won the Belmont Stakes.
On Friday, Life in Shambles will make his third attempt at achieving stakes success of his own when he runs in the $100,000 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga. Ten were entered in the Curlin, but Commanding Curve, the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, and Cousin Stephen, a recent allowance winner at Parx, were cross-entered for Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes.
Life in Shambles, a gelding by Broken Vow, has won 2 of 5 starts, both in one-turn races at a mile. He lost a narrow head decision to Class Leader in the Sir Barton Stakes around two turns at Pimlico before running third behind Jim Dandy entrants Kid Cruz and Legend in the Easy Goer Stakes a few hours before Tonalist won the Belmont.
Since the Belmont, Life in Shambles has continued to train with Tonalist, usually starting behind Tonalist and finishing on even terms with him.
“The horse is doing well,” said Christophe Clement, the trainer of Life in Shambles. “Question mark on the distance – the only way to find out if he wants to go that far is to run him.”
Breaking from the rail in the Easy Goer, Life in Shambles was on the lead through fast fractions before fading to third. Clement would like to see Life in Shambles follow someone in the Curlin. Joel Rosario rides Life in Shambles from the outside post.
Another horse who will have to answer the distance question is Viva Majorca, a son of Tiago who is coming off a first-level allowance win going 6 1/2 furlongs June 20 at Churchill. That was Viva Majorca’s second start off a layoff precipitated by a splint-bone injury, according to trainer Ian Wilkes.
“I was ready to run him a mile last time, but I didn’t have the race,” Wilkes said. “That’s why I went back to six and a half. The way he ran, he wanted to stretch out. He didn’t want to be rushed. He wanted to take his time and come running. I think he’s going to love the stretch-out, but it’s a big step from six and a half to a mile and an eighth.”
Commanding Curve virtually is certain to run in the Jim Dandy. Cousin Stephen was cross-entered into the Jim Dandy, so his connections can take a look at both races before deciding in which to run.
Key contenders
Life in Shambles (Last 3 Beyers: 90-86-83)
* Trainer Clement is 2 for 7 with three horses in non-graded dirt stakes over the last five years.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT:No. 10 Life In Shambles. Set a first-call Moss Pace Figure of 82 in last race, fastest of any entered here and 10 points faster than par. Projects to get the early lead. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Viva Majorca (Last 3 Beyers: 90-80-96)
* Sustained a splint-bone injury following a 12-length maiden win March 29 at Gulfstream. This is his third start off that layoff and his first around two turns.
* Trainer Wilkes is 0 for 6 with three seconds in sprint-to-route moves in dirt stakes.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT:No. 2 Viva Majorca. Trainer Ian Wilkes is 7 for 14 with a $3.91 ROI (12 of 14 in the money) over the past five years stretching from a sprint to route on dirt following a winning effort. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Joint Custody (Last 3 Beyers: 91-87-83)
* Won his debut for maiden-claiming $25,000 but has since won three non-graded stakes, including an off-the-turf Stanton at Delaware on June 25.
* Trainer John Robb is winless in three stakes tries at Saratoga.
“I’m due,” Robb said. “I’ve had nothing but bad luck up there.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT:No. 9 Joint Custody. Trainer John Robb has raced three horses at Saratoga; each one finished in last place. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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