Shared Belief romps in comeback

ALBANY, Calif. - Last year's champion juvenile Shared Belief turned in a sterling performance Monday, scoring a 4 1/4-length victory in an allowance sprint at Golden Gate Fields. The race was the first since last December for Shared Belief, who battled foot problems earlier this year.

Shared Belief, who won his debut by seven lengths at Golden Gate Fields last October before winning the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue and Grade 1 CashCall Futurity, crushed older foes Monday to improve his record to 4 for 4.

He won the six-furlong race in 1:09.78 in front-running fashion, matching his 23.32 opening quarter with a 23.32 closing quarter sandwiched around a 23.14 middle quarter. He paid $2.40 to win.

Shared Belief had been sidelined since January when an abcess in his heel turned into a quarter crack and prevented him from training for three months.

Winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was more surprised by the way the race unfolded than he was by the final result. Hollendorfer expected Juan Hernandez to take Shared Belief's stablemate Moonshine Bay to the lead, but instead Shared Belief and Russell Baze found themselves in front.

"You can't fault what Russell did," Hollendorfer said. "He broke sharply, and, when the other horse didn't go, that's what he's supposed to do."

Baze had Shared Belief under a snug hold early and while staying a bit wide. Ourwestcoastghost was a length behind in second through the opening quarter and was only a half-length back at the quarter pole before Baze let Shared Belief run a bit. Ourwestcoastghost finished second, a head in front of Moonshine Bay in third.

"He's a blast to ride," said Baze. "It was a nice bunch of older horses, and he did it well within himself. He was blowing a little bit after the wire, but after going 1:09 and change on this track, he should have been."

Shared Belief earned $21,000 to increase his bankroll to $472,200. He is owned by Jungle Racing, KMN Racing, Hollendorfer, Jason Litt, Alex Solis II and George Todaro.

Hollendorfer said he was happy to get Shared Belief's season going.

"We want to get the horse moving to do something during the middle of the year and the end of the year," said Hollendorfer. "It was just an unfortunate turn of events for the first half of the year."