Shared Belief sharp in major Breeders' Cup work

ALBANY, Calif. - Shared Belief was scheduled to have four works here at Golden Gate Fields between last month’s Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita, and next week’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, also at Santa Anita. But there was no doubt the work on Tuesday morning was the most important, according to trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer, and Shared Belief responded with a sharp drill that indicates he will be the deserved favorite in the $5 million Classic Nov. 1.

Shared Belief, working six furlongs, started about five or six lengths behind a pair of workmates, then, by design, came through inside them before finishing up powerfully and galloping out strongly under jockey Russell Baze. His official time was 1:14.40. Daily Racing Form had him a touch faster, 1:14.29, and had him going out seven furlongs in 1:26.52.

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“That was our major work,” Hollendorfer said. “Just a half-mile next week, and then down to Santa Anita.”

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Shared Belief has trained exclusively here since injuring his right front foot while training at Santa Anita earlier in the year. Hollendorfer said the synthetic Tapeta surface at Golden Gate “is kinder to his feet.”

This was the third straight Tuesday that Shared Belief had worked. Per usual, he came out just after 7 a.m., just as the sun was rising in the hills east of the track. Baze and Hollendorfer thought it prudent to have Shared Belief come inside his workmates, rather than go around, in case he finds himself in a similar spot in the Classic.

“Russell and I talked that over,” Hollendorfer said. “He hadn’t done that in awhile. I wanted him to see the rail in case he has to in the race.”

Baze said Shared Belief “slipped right through there.”

“I’m very happy with the work,” Baze said. “He never hesitated going through there. We’ve been bringing him around horses in his works. I asked Jerry if he thought we should teach him again to come up the inside. I worked him one time several months ago when he kind of hesitated. But he’s a lot more mature now.

“He’s a fun horse to work. It’s great to work him, because you know you’re going to win at least one race that day.”

Mike Smith will ride Shared Belief in the Classic.

Shared Belief had what appeared to be a taxing race in the Awesome Again, prevailing despite being hounded for much of the race by the longshot Sky Kingdom. Hollendorfer said he has been happy with the way Shared Belief has acted since that race.

“It was a hard race, but I don’t think it took a lot out of him,” Hollendorfer said. “He came out of the race well, and he’s been acting well.”

Shared Belief, last year’s champion 2-year-old male, has won all seven of his starts, including four this year, to leave him as one of the leading contenders for both Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male. Those titles likely will be decided in the Classic, with his rivals expected to include California Chrome, Bayern, and Tonalist.

Pre-entries for the Classic and the other 12 Breeders’ Cup races are set to be announced Wednesday morning.