Shekky Shebaz takes them all the way in Lucky Coin

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With Grade 1 winner World of Trouble sidelined with a foot injury, owners Michael Dubb, Sol Kumin and Michael Caruso and trainer Jason Servis needed to fill the void in their turf sprint division roster.

Perhaps they did with Shekky Shebaz, who flashed his speed under Jose Ortiz to record a 1 3/4-length victory in Friday’s $100,000 Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga. Final Frontier finished second by 2 3/4 lengths over 7-5 favorite Disco Partner.

Square Shooter and Strike Power completed the order of finish. Fig Jelly, Fixed Point, Mustaaqueem, and Lonhtwist all scratched.

Dubb purchased World of Trouble privately after that horse won a maiden $25,000 claiming race and finished second in a restricted stakes for Florida-breds. His first turf try came here last summer when he won the Quick Call Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs.

Since then, World of Trouble has become a multiple stakes winner, having this year alone won Grade 1 races on both turf and dirt. However, he is currently at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland attempting to rehab an injured foot, Servis said.

Dubb and partners, via agent Bradley Weisbord, purchased Shekky Shebaz after he won a $25,000 claiming race on turf here on July 27 for trainer Adam Rice. That was his first turf race after running exclusively over the synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs.

“Adam told me he might sell and I think Bradley and Adam got together and got it sold,” said Jose Ortiz, who is Adam Rice’s brother-in-law and rider of Shekky Shebaz. “Michael [Dubb] has done good with turf sprinters, he gave him a chance and he didn’t disappoint.”

Friday, Shekky Shebaz jumped out in front and easily cleared the field through an opening quarter in 22.40 seconds. He maintained that one-length advantage through a half-mile in 44.39 and was never truly challenged through the lane.

Shekky Shebaz, a 4-year-old gelding by Cape Blanco, covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.18 and returned $7.50.

“I knew he’s a very good horse out of the gate and with Jason I was expecting him to break a little bit quicker, which he did, and put me there a little easy and from the half-mile I just let him get comfortable and roll,” said Ortiz, who won three races on Friday’s card.

The win was one of three for Servis as well. He won the fifth with Arch of Troy ($11.20) and the ninth with Leitone ($10.40). Servis now has 13 wins at the meet, tying him for third with Steve Asmussen and Christophe Clement.

“He was allowed to go 22 and change, who would have thought of that happening in that race?” Servis said. “That horse might be all right.”

Shekky Shebaz certainly had a better trip than Servis. Based at Monmouth Park, Servis tried to make it to Saratoga in time for Friday’s races, but said he got caught in hellacious traffic and wound up going straight to his Saratoga rental.

“I just pulled into the driveway,” Servis said.