Shaman Ghost puts in strong work for Pimlico Special

Shaman Ghost, the Santa Anita Handicap winner, drilled five furlongs in 59.07 over the Belmont Park training track Wednesday morning in preparation for his start in the $300,000 Pimlico Special on May 19.

Shaman Ghost went in company with Flying Bullet, a 4-year-old maiden winner. Shaman Ghost went in splits of 12.37 seconds, 23.82, 35.33 and got his last quarter in 23.74 seconds. He pulled away from Flying Bullet by five lengths at the wire and then galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.29.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said he wanted to get a good, stiff work into Shaman Ghost because it will be two months between starts for the 5-year-old son of Ghostzapper.

“He went good, galloped out nice,” Jerkens said. “I didn’t expect him to go that fast, but I guess the track was fast after the harrow.”

Jerkens said Javier Castellano, who rode Shaman Ghost in the Santa Anita Handicap, will be aboard again in the Pimlico Special. Jose Ortiz rode Shaman Ghost to a runner-up finish behind Arrogate in the $12 million Dubai World Cup.