Shaman Ghost and Dolphus side by side in work
ELMONT, N.Y. – The last time Shaman Ghost and Dolphus came charging down the stretch together was in the Pimlico Special, where Shaman Ghost edged his stablemate by a neck in the Grade 3, $300,000 race.
On Thursday morning at Belmont Park, Shaman Ghost and Dolphus came charging down the stretch together on even terms while working for their next engagements.
Shaman Ghost and Dolphus were basically together through a six-furlong move in 1:14.80 over the Belmont training track. Shaman Ghost is pointing to the Grade 2, $750,000 Suburban here on July 8, while Dolphus is being considered for the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap the same day at Prairie Meadows.
In Thursday’s work, the pair went their first three furlongs in 36.09 seconds and their last three furlongs in 38.71 while both in hand. Rajiv Maragh was on Dolphus, and Kelvin Pahal was on Shaman Ghost.
“They both were due for a halfway decent work,” trainer Jimmy Jerkens said. “They’re not horses that are going to get too rank, so I thought it would be okay.”
About an hour later, Jerkens sent out Unified for a slow six-furlong work on the main track that went in 1:17.15. Working by himself, Unified went in splits of 13.46 seconds, 26.95, 39.81, and 52.14 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:30.97. Unified is pointing to the Grade 2, $350,000 Belmont Sprint Championship on July 8.
“I don’t want every work to be fast,” Jerkens said. “You work them fast all the time, then they just get keyed up. His next couple right before the race will be good.”