Preakness winner Shackleford sires first winner

Preakness Stakes winner Shakleford sired his first winner today when the colt Little Nappy held on by a nose to win the third race at Gulfstream, a $40,000 maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds.

Owned by Little Dreams Racing and trained by Carlos Vaccarezza, Little Nappy came from just off the pace to take the lead on the turn, opened up a two-length lead in midstretch, and then held on to win over first-time starter Skinflint (by Super Saver). He completed the 4 1/2 furlongs in :52.62 and paid $30 to win in the seven-horse field. He had run sixth, beaten 16 1/2 lengths, in his career debut at Gulfstream on May 12 while racing wide.

New York-bred Little Nappy had been sold by his breeder, Spruce Lane Farm and Shackleford Syndicate, to Machmer Hall for $57,000 at the 2015 Keeneland January sale, and then resold by Machmer Hall for $8,000 at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale.

Shackleford, a son of Forestry out of the Unbridled mare Oatsee, stands at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Ky., for a fee of $20,000, and he has 119 foals in his first crop and 87 foals in his second. He has had three starters so far.

Shackleford, bred and raced by Mike Lauffer and William Cubbidge, was trained by Dale Romans and was a highly versatile, consistent, and high-class runner. He won six of 20 starts and earned $3,090,101, winning or placing in 10 stakes, all of which were graded, while racing from ages 2 through 4. On dirt, he was first, second, or third in 11 of 15 starts.

Shackleford was second to Dialed In in the Florida Derby, and then fourth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths by Animal Kingdom, in the Kentucky Derby. In the Preakness, Shackleford pressured pacesetter Flashpoint from the start, took the lead in the stretch, and held off favored Animal Kingdom to win by a half-length at odds of 12-1. He subsequently finished fifth in the Belmont Stakes.

Later at 3, he was second to Coil in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational and finished the year by running second to Caleb’s Posse in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

At 4, Shackleford won the Grade 2, 7-furlong Churchill Downs Handicap, the Grade 1, one-mile Metropolitan Handicap, and finished the year with a triumph in the Grade 1, 1 1/8-mile Clark Handicap.

His dam, Oatsee, was broodmare of the year in 2011 and is the dam of Grade 1 Alabama Stakes winner Lady Joanne (by Orientate), Grade 2 Falls City Handicap winner Afleeting Lady (Afleet Alex), Grade 3 Indiana Oaks winner Baghdaria (Royal Anthem), and stakes winner Stephanoatsee (A.P.Indy).