Next Shares bounces out of Breeders' Cup to upset Seabiscuit

DEL MAR, Calif. – Last of 13 in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on a turf course he did not prefer earlier this month, Next Shares found conditions in his favor in Saturday’s Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar.

On a good turf course, Next Shares closed on the rail to reach the front in the final furlong, recording a 27-1 upset in his first win since January. Recent rains left the turf course softer than normal and considerably different than the firm conditions at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 in the BC Mile when Next Shares was ridden by John Velazquez.

“We took a chance in the Breeders’ Cup and he didn’t like it very hard,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “Johnny wrapped up and took him home.”

Jose Valdivia Jr. rode Next Shares for the first time in the $201,404 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Valdivia positioned Next Shares on the rail on the backstretch, racing in fifth in the field of nine. Next Shares remained on the inside turning into the stretch and had racing room when Om, ridden by Paco Lopez, drifted out slightly while setting the pace.

“I thought I was following the right horse,” Valdivia said. “I got so lucky when Paco drifted off the inside.

“The horse saw daylight and took off. When I asked him, he gave me a big kick.”

Next Shares was timed in 1:42. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

Next Shares ($56.40) finished a half-length in front of 3-2 favorite Sacred Life, who closed well from seventh in the final furlong under Javier Castellano. Sacred Life raced in traffic at a pivotal point on the turn.

“They stopped right in front of me,” Castellano said. “From the quarter pole to the finish, you have to have momentum.”

River Boyne (9-1) finished third followed by Majestic Eagle, Prince Earl, Om, Andesh, Ritzy A.P., and Ronald R.

The Seabiscuit Handicap was Valdivia’s first win since he returned to Southern California last month from riding in the Midwest. Valdivia worked Next Shares five furlongs on turf in 1:03.60 on Nov. 24.

“When I worked him, he worked lights out,” Valdivia said.

A 6-year-old gelding by Archarcharch, Next Shares has won 7 of 29 starts and earned $1,677,771.

The Seabiscuit Handicap was his fourth stakes win in the last 15 months. Next Shares won the $250,000 Old Friends Stakes at Kentucky Downs in September 2018 and the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at 23-1 at Keeneland a month later.

On Jan. 5, Next Shares won the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita, but lost his next six starts, all in stakes, before the upset win on Saturday.

Next Shares races for Baltas and his wife Debby, Christopher Dunn, Michael and Jules Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Ritchie Robershaw and Mark Taylor.