Mandella pivoting to Shoemaker Mile with Seal Team
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Seal Team was withdrawn from Saturday’s Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita after trainer Richard Mandella said he was unsatisfied with a blood test taken from the 6-year-old horse in days before the race.
Another opportunity is not far away.
Mandella mentioned the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf on May 25 as a goal. Seal Team was third by 1 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf on April 18.
“I took a blood on him a couple of days ago and it was just a little off,” Mandella said. “Coming back in two weeks, I didn’t want to take a chance.
“He’ll go to the Shoemaker.”
The $300,000 Shoemaker is the track’s richest annual race on turf.
Seal Team, who races for Ramona and Perry Bass, has won 3 of 12 starts and earned $323,776. He won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on turf at Santa Anita in November 2023, but has lost his last seven starts. Seal Team was sixth of nine, beaten 1 1/2 lengths in the 2025 Shoemaker Mile.
The Shoemaker Mile is one of three graded stakes on the May 25 program, along with the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on dirt.
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