Shahama's stalking strategy gets her Monmouth Oaks win

Juju’s Map dropped from 7-5 to 4-5 when the last round of betting hit the win pool before the start of the Monmouth Oaks, but that was no smart money. Shahama, the race’s natural favorite, stalked Juju’s Map from the start, collared her at about the quarter pole, and went on to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Monmouth Oaks by 2 1/2 lengths on Sunday.

Juju’s Map, so highly regarded this spring that she went off the 1-2 favorite when finishing third last month in the Grade 2 Mother Goose, had no stretch punch for the second straight start and faded to third. Shotgun Hottie, second last out in the Delaware Oaks, nabbed second, three-quarters of a length in front of Juju’s Map. Shahama earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

Runaway Wife was fourth, more than six lengths behind Juju’s Map, as she regressed from her good second in the Indiana Oaks. Impossible longshot Office Etiquette brought up the rear after Silverleaf was scratched.

Shahama ($5.40) was bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock, but began her career in Dubai this past December, reeling off four open-lengths wins at Meydan Racecourse, the last in the Grade 3 UAE Oaks. Her owner, KHK Racing, sent her from Dubai-based trainer Fawzi Nass to Todd Pletcher in March, and after training with elan leading into the race, Shahama finished a mildly troubled and creditable sixth in the Kentucky Oaks.

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In the Mother Goose, she made an early bid along with Juju’s Map that left her vulnerable to Gerrymander, who made her move in the homestretch to win the Mother Goose, but Shahama was second to none Sunday.

Under Jorge Vargas Jr., Shahama, unmistakable with her big white face, always kept Juju’s Map in her sites and around the far turn obviously was going the better of the pair.

“I was traveling good the whole time and I kept her just outside because Todd told me she doesn’t like kickback from the dirt,” Vargas said.

Shahama, purchased at a 2-year-old auction for $425,000, is by Munnings out of Private Feelings. Nest, winner of the Coaching Club American Oaks last weekend, rules the roost among 3-year-old fillies in the Pletcher barn. But Shahama is pretty good herself.