Shackleford on a streak

Freshman sire Shackleford enjoyed an outstanding holiday weekend, breaking through with his first three winners in as many days.

The Forestry horse, who stands at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Ky., was represented by his first winner last Friday, when Little Nappy took a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park. The colt is out of the Seeking the Gold mare French Laundry.

Shackleford added a second winner the following day when the filly Shackin Up won her career debut by 8 3/4 lengths on the Arlington Polytrack. The filly is out of stakes winner Into Reality, making her a half-sister to stakes winner Meadowood.

On Sunday, Oxblood won a maiden race by a nose at Woodbine. The gelding is out of the Grade 3-placed Congrats mare Scarlet Starlet.

Further indicating that Shackleford’s first crop is growing in reputation, the young stallion is coming off a solid showing at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training. Of his nine juveniles to go through the ring, eight sold, topped by a $250,000 colt and a $190,000 colt.

Shackleford, who is out of Broodmare of the Year Oatsee, won or placed in seven Grade 1 events during a three-year career, highlighted by triumphs in the 2011 Preakness Stakes and 2012 Metropolitan Handicap.

“Shack was a fun, cool horse to get on. He had a lot of personality,” said Tammy Fox, partner and assistant to trainer Dale Romans and Shackleford’s regular exercise rider. “He had a lot of guts to him, a lot of heart.

“He was the type of horse [who] fought every step of the way because he had to be on the lead. That right there in itself, it just shows the determination that he wanted to win.”