Shivermetimbers auditions for stakes race

ARCADIA, Calif. – Shivermetimbers has not won since November, but has kept pretty good company in recent months. Shivermetimbers was fourth behind McKinzie in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes in January, seventh behind Lombo in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes in February, and second to the highly regarded Justify in an optional claimer March 11.

There will be no trip to the Kentucky Derby for Shivermetimbers, but an appearance in an optional claimer for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on Sunday could lead to a start in a graded stakes.

“We’re trying to get him a spot to build his confidence up,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “It’s a long year and this is a colt that could be developing. There are plenty of options.”

Shivermetimbers will face enough of a test in Sunday’s sixth race at a mile. The field of eight includes two highly promising runners trained by Bob Baffert: Ax Man and Call West.

Ax Man won a maiden race by 9 1/4 lengths on Jan. 1, but was fourth at 2-5 in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs on Feb. 10. This will be his first start around two turns.

Call West won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs on March 10 by 2 1/4 lengths in a fashion that suggested the colt is at the start of a promising career.

Hollendorfer said Shivermetimbers was briefly considered for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby, but Hollendorfer and owners Mark DeDomenico and the West Point Thoroughbreds syndicate decided the Sunday race was a better spot.

“We’re going to give him every chance to do well,” Hollendorfer said.