Santa Anita: Sham a possibility for Shared Belief

ARCADIA, Calif. – Shared Belief, a leading candidate for the Eclipse Award as the outstanding 2-year-old of 2013, had his first workout on dirt at Santa Anita on Saturday and could race on the surface as early as next month, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Shared Belief was timed in 1:02.20 for five furlongs, his second workout since winning the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 14.

Hollendorfer said after the workout that he has not finalized a schedule for Shared Belief, but said the $100,000 Sham Stakes over a mile on Jan. 11 is a possibility.

“I would consider the race in January,” Hollendorfer said. “I haven’t really mapped out a schedule for him. He seems to be doing well.”

Another option would be to wait for the $200,000 Robert Lewis Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 8.

Shared Belief is unbeaten in three starts, all on synthetic tracks. Hollendorfer described the workout as “an easy five-eighths.”

Shared Belief had worked on synthetic tracks at Golden Gate Fields and Hollywood Park prior to Saturday.

Two youngsters with stakes potential

The 2-year-olds Chitu and Cool Samurai won races on Friday that could lead to starts against Shared Belief.

Chitu ($3.40) remained unbeaten in two starts after a win in an optional claimer over six furlongs. Ridden by Martin Garcia, Chitu was second on the backstretch, following a quick pace of 21.52 and 44.03 seconds set by Benny Time. Chitu took the lead with a furlong remaining and won by a half-length over Street Icon.

“I was pretty impressed with him going that fast,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He had every right to pack it in.”

Chitu was timed in 1:08.86, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 83. Chitu beat maidens in his debut at Hollywood Park on Dec. 7. A colt by Henny Hughes, Chitu was purchased for $300,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale last March.

Baffert said Chitu will make his next start in a stakes. The $300,000 Southwest Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 17 was mentioned as a possibility.

Cool Samurai won a maiden race over a mile in his second career start on Friday. Ridden by Mike Smith, Cool Samurai ($5.80) closed from last in a field of five to win by a half-length over the Baffert-trained The Admiral, the 4-5 favorite. Cool Samurai was timed in 1:36.47, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

Trainer John Shirreffs said after Friday’s race that he would like to start Cool Samurai in an allowance race in early 2014. He considers the colt to have significant promise.

“He’s a distance horse,” Shirreffs said. “I can’t wait to go further. Wait until he goes a mile and an eighth.”