Santa Anita: Shakin It Up relishing new winter calendar

ARCADIA, Calif. – Shakin It Up has emerged as the dominant 4-year-old male in California this winter, with wins in the $301,500 Malibu Stakes over seven furlongs Dec. 26 and the $200,750 Strub Stakes on Saturday.

But comparisons to winners of those races from past years are impossible.

The Strub Stakes was run over 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, having been run over 1 1/8 miles from 1998 to 2013 and at 1 1/4 miles in most years before that. This year, Santa Anita officials shortened the Strub and moved it from its traditional date in early February to mid-January. The Strub replaced the San Fernando Stakes for 4-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles, a race that had been run in mid-January but has been discontinued.

Bob Baffert, who trains Shakin It Up for Mike Pegram and Dennis Cardoza, said he “was totally against” the elimination of the San Fernando. “I was overruled,” he said.

If the old format had been in place, Baffert said Sunday that Shakin It Up “wouldn’t have run” Saturday.

“It would have been Govenor Charlie,” he said.

Shakin It Up seems to be thriving under the new calendar. In the Grade 2 Strub, Shakin It Up won around two turns for the first time. He had an ideal trip under jockey Mike Smith, stalking the early pace and winning by 2 1/4 lengths over stablemate Govenor Charlie.

Baffert said Sunday that he does not have a race goal for Shakin It Up but has not ruled out the $300,000 San Antonio Stakes over 1 1/8 miles against older horses Feb. 8. Baffert already trains the likely favorite for that race, 13-time stakes winner Game On Dude.

“You have to be ready to go at any time,” he said of race planning. “Horses get sick, and they get quarter cracks.”

Game On Dude has been in steady training for the San Antonio for the past month.

Shakin It Up and Govenor Charlie are by Midnight Lute, the champion sprinter of 2007 who was trained by Baffert. Govenor Charlie and Shakin It Up were first and fourth in the Sunland Park Derby last March. Shakin It Up did not start again until the Malibu. Govenor Charlie was eighth in the Preakness Stakes last May before being given a break. The Strub Stakes was Govenor Charlie’s first start since the Preakness.

“We thought they were high-caliber horses before they went on the bench,” Baffert said Sunday.

Baffert said last week that Shakin It Up was rested for most of last year after experiencing stiffness following the Sunland Park race.