Shaman Ghost took opportunity, paid off with Big Cap win

The absence of Arrogate and Hoppertunity from the Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday made it an appealing spot for Shaman Ghost, who shipped West and won the race, one of two Grade 1 wins on the card for jockey Javier Castellano.

Shaman Ghost had finished second to Arrogate in the Pegasus World Cup in his prior start. He was not committed to the Big ’Cap until it was certain Arrogate was passing to go to Dubai.

Shaman Ghost was scheduled to leave California on Tuesday. His trainer, Jimmy Jerkens, said Shaman Ghost would be on a flight with several horses that are going to Ocala, Fla., and from there Shaman Ghost would van the rest of the way to the Palm Meadows training center in South Florida, where Jerkens is based for the winter.

Jerkens said he had not made any plans for Shaman Ghost, but did mention races such as the Oaklawn Handicap next month, which Jerkens won last year with Effinex, and the Brooklyn at Belmont Park in June, part of the Belmont Stakes card and a race Shaman Ghost won last year.

“He’s a throwback, like the kind of handicap horses we used to have,” Jerkens said.