Lucky Coin Stakes a golden opportunity for Shekky Shebaz

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – If Shekky Shebaz is going to regain the stakes-wining form he displayed a year ago, it’s going to happen Sunday, when he seeks a repeat victory in the $85,000 Lucky Coin Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Saratoga.

Last year, Shekky Shebaz was stepping up in class when he won the Lucky Coin for trainer Jason Servis in a performance that stamped him as a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, in which he finished third.

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Sunday, Shekky Shebaz will be taking a drop in class when he runs in the Lucky Coin, coming out of a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Troy Stakes where he was elevated to second after being impeded by Imprimis in midstretch. It was after that incident that Shekky Shebaz did his best running, missing second by a head.

“His best run was the last sixteenth of a mile,” said Christophe Clement, who has been training Shekky Shebaz since late spring.

The Troy came three weeks after Shekky Shebaz finished third behind Archidust and American Sailor in the Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth. Archidust came back to win the Get Serious Stakes at Monmouth, while American Sailor was elevated to first after finishing second in the Troy. Neither one is entered in this spot.

Clement said Shekky Shebaz is “much better now than what he was when he came to me from the farm.”

“He actually looks better and he’s trained better,” Clement said. “I’m running him back a little bit quick, but that’s the way it is.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Shekky Shebaz from the rail.

Readyforprimetime came off a nine-month layoff to win a second-level allowance here July 29, his second win from as many starts sprinting at Saratoga. Overall, he is 3 for 3 at 5 1/2 furlongs.

“I think he really relishes a firm course, and as it gets later in the year these courses don’t dry out that well,” said Linda Rice, trainer of Readyforprimetime, who is 3 for 4 since the addition of blinkers.

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There does appear to be plenty of speed in the Lucky Coin, with Gidu and Fixed Point in the field.

That could help Pulsate, who got shut off in the stretch in the Troy in the incident that caused Imprimis to be disqualified. He is making his third start off a layoff for Robert Ribaudo and gets the services of Luis Saez.

Fig Jelly goes first off the claim for Orlando Noda, who has had a terrific meet with nine winners. Joel Rosario rides.

Battle Station and Pagliacci complete the field.