Shekky Shebaz can continue ascent in Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational

ELMONT, N.Y. – Dual-surface Grade 1 winner World of Trouble is still recovering from a foot injury that will apparently sideline him for the remainder of the year. As far as Saturday’s $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational is concerned, his connections may have a suitable replacement in Shekky Shebaz.

Purchased privately by Michael Dubb, Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables and Michael Caruso’s Bethlehem Stables following a victory in a $25,000 claiming race at Saratoga in July, Shekky Shebaz paid immediate dividends winning the Lucky Coin Stakes on Aug. 30 at Saratoga.

Trainer Jason Servis said Dubb told him the horse’s speed figures qualified him as a horse with stakes potential.

“Mike bought him, we ran him through our program, he ran lights out,” Servis said. “We thought he would; he was doing great. He had everything his way that day. We’re looking forward to running him.”

With Gidu and Fully Vested in the field, there is other speed to make sure Shekky Shebaz doesn’t have things his own way Saturday.

Disco Partner, the 7-year-old $1.4 million-earning New York-bred, has won the last two runnings of the Belmont Turf Sprint and he is back on Saturday. However, he is winless in six starts since he won last year’s Belmont Turf Sprint. At Saratoga, he was third to Shekky Shebaz in the Lucky Coin following a narrow loss to Leinster in the Grade 3 Troy.

“He’s never run as well at Saratoga as he has at Belmont,” said trainer Christophe Clement, referring to Disco Partner’s 9-for-15 record at Belmont. “He loves Belmont Park, he loves the cooler weather, he looks great, he’s sound.”

With regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. electing to stay with Shekky Shebaz, Junior Alvarado has picked up the mount on Disco Partner.

Hawkish makes his return to the races off a five-month layoff, or since undergoing throat surgery following a victory in the Cliffhanger at Monmouth Park. Trainer Jimmy Toner acknowledges that this race is shorter than Hawkish prefers, but he wanted to get him started.

“I feel confident enough that he can handle it,” Toner said.

Final Frontier finished second to Shekky Shebaz in the Lucky Coin for trainer Tom Albertrani, who also sends out Fully Vested. They Shot Sonny completes the field.

Karak stands out in Matron

Karak figures to be an odds-on choice in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Matron Stakes, a six-furlong turf stakes for juvenile fillies trainer Wesley Ward hopes to use to get to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint next month at Santa Anita.

Karak is the lone stakes winner in the field of six, having taken the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3. Karak pressed a very hot pace that day.

“I was happy with the win, but I would have liked to have seen the boy sit back there and make a run,” Ward said. “At Keeneland she sits back and comes with a run in the morning. I know she was the favorite and you have to call audibles when you’re riding the race, but I was looking a little further down the road than trying to win that race.”

Karak is drawn in post 5 of 6 and may prove to be the main speed on Saturday under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Time Limit, who has shown speed on dirt, tries turf for the first time. Her trainer, Mike Maker, also sends out A Freud of Mama.

Completing the field are Alms, a debut winner for trainer Mike Stidham here on Sept. 19, Classy Sadie, and the maiden Pure Wow.