Shared Belief has solid work for Charles Town Classic

Shared Belief, the top handicap horse in the United States this year, is nearing a start in the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic in West Virginia on April 18 in peak form.

That was the assessment of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer after the 4-year-old gelding worked six furlongs in 1:14.60 at Golden Gate Fields on Tuesday.

“We’re looking at a horse that is very fit,” Hollendorfer said. “We’re not bearing down on him to get him fit. I think he’s doing just fine. I’m happy with him.”

Jockey Russell Baze worked Shared Belief on Tuesday. Typical of recent workouts, Shared Belief began behind two stablemates in a planned exercise and closed through the stretch to finish in front.

“He laid back behind a couple of horses and came up on the inside,” Hollendorfer said. “He finished really good.”

Shared Belief will have one more workout at Golden Gate Fields before he is shipped from Oakland, Calif., to West Virginia, Hollendorfer said. Owned by a partnership, Shared Belief will be a strong favorite in the Charles Town Classic.

Already this year, Shared Belief is unbeaten in two starts, beating 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome in the $590,000 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 7 and winning the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7. Shared Belief was the champion 2-year-old male of 2013 and has won 10 of 11 starts and $2,932,200. His only loss was a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November.