Shaman Ghost sharpens for Suburban

ELMONT, N.Y. – After winning the 158th running of the Queen’s Plate on Sunday at Woodbine with the 3-year-old filly Holy Helena, owner Frank Stronach and trainer Jimmy Jerkens will now turn their attention to Saturday’s 131st renewal of the Suburban Handicap, which this year has a purse of $750,000, up from $500,000 in the previous three years.

Shaman Ghost, the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap and Pimlico Special this year and the Queen’s Plate in 2015, will look to give Jerkens his third consecutive victory in the Suburban, a race he won in 2015 and 2016 with Effinex.

On Sunday, Shaman Ghost worked five furlongs in 1:00.07 over the Belmont training track. Shaman Ghost came home in 24.00 seconds while being asked by exercise rider Kelvin Pahal. Jerkens said he wanted a sharp work because he’s leery of Matt King Coal being alone on the lead in what is likely to be a short field in the Suburban.

“That’s why I wanted to sharpen him up a little bit yesterday,” Jerkens said. “That horse looks like he’ll be on the lead by himself.”

Others expected for the Suburban are Follow Me Crev, third to Shaman Ghost in the Santa Anita Handicap, Keen Ice, Sunny Ridge, and Watershed.