Shakhimat looks to end long drought in turf sprint

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The classy stakes winner Shakhimat will try to end a long drought in the featured second-level optional claimer on Monday’s civic holiday card at Woodbine. The race is scheduled for six furlongs on the main turf.

A 6-year-old trained by Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, Shakhimat captured the $250,000 Coronation Futurity by 9 3/4 lengths in his third start at 2. He was subsequently made the Queen’s Plate winter-book favorite and eventually finished fifth behind Sir Dudley Digges and Amis Gizmo in the 2016 Queen’s Plate, three starts after taking the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland.

Shakhimat ended a nine-race losing skid in a second-level optional-claiming turf route here in September 2017. On Dec. 16, 2017, at Gulfstream, he won the Grade 3 Tropical Turf in front-running style with a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, which matched the career-high number he got in his previous victory.

Shakhimat is winless in 14 starts since the one-mile Tropical Turf. He was campaigned as a grass sprinter in his last three outings, beginning with a seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 Connaught Cup Stakes on June 1.

Shakhimat prevailed in a front-end battle before weakening to second behind longshot Eskiminzin in a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer two starts ago. He came from off quick fractions to finish a close fourth most recently in a five-furlong optional-claiming dash on the inner turf course.

Shakhimat is eligible for Monday’s headliner due to the clause in the conditions that allows for nonwinners of a race in the past year to compete. He breezed a half-mile over the turf training course in 47.40 seconds last weekend, which should set him up for a peak performance under apprentice Kazushi Kimura.

Trainer Mike Keogh entered the fast-working comebacker Sweet Grass Creek and City Boy, who could be the pacesetter.

San Nicola Thunder finished second in Shakhimat’s last outing. He dead-heated for the win in a tough starter handicap on the Tapeta on May 29.

Boreal Spirit edged out Shakhimat for third while finishing just a neck behind San Nicola Thunder in his season opener.

The once-beaten Reconfigure is jumping up off a fast score in a six-furlong turf sprint and a $25,000 claim by trainer Robert Tiller.

The Norm McKnight-trained Hollow Point toppled $40,000 conditioned opposition in his last outing June 23.

Almasty, who hasn’t started since December 2016, is making his first start for trainer Ross Armata Jr.