Shancelot getting a break, will return in second half of year

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Shancelot is the No. 1-rated sprinter in the country, according to the latest Daily Racing Form divisional rankings. But those eagerly anticipating his 4-year-old debut will have to exercise some patience, with the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up not likely to return to action until the second half of the season.

Shancelot had originally been pointing toward both last Saturday’s Saudia Sprint in Saudi Arabia and the Golden Shaheen later this month in Dubai. But those plans were scrapped after Shancelot came up with what his trainer Jorge Navarro described as some “minor issues” while prepping for his return.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

“It’s nothing serious, just some minor things,” Navarro said Wednesday. “He’s over them already. We sent him to Kentucky for a thorough checkup and all the results came back negative.”

Shancelot, who is owned by Crawford Farms Racing, had recorded six works at Gulfstream Park West this winter, the last of which came Feb. 5 when he breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20.

“After watching the race last weekend in Saudi, we believe we have one of the best sprinters not only in the country but in the world,” Navarro said. “I train for the greatest owners, and after talking it over they decided to pull the plug on Dubai. It’s a long trip over there, and with the virus going around and everything, we just decided to do the right thing by the horse and give him a little time off and point for the second half of the year with the Breeders’ Cup Sprint being our main focus.”

Navarro said Shancelot will remain on the farm in Kentucky before rejoining his stable when he ships to his summer base at Monmouth Park sometime next month.