Shogood relies on speed, talent to take Arlington-Washington Futurity

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- Shogood got keyed up before the Arlington-Washington Futurity, didn’t come back to jockey Chris Emigh as quickly as the rider would have liked after making the lead – and still won the Grade 3, $100,000 race by 2 1/2 lengths.

Speed and talent will make up for the mistakes of an inexperienced racehorse, and Shogood has both.

“He’s got more power than any 2-year-old I’ve ever ridden,” said Emigh, who started his career in 1989.

Second to the talented 2-year-old The Zip Zip Man in his career debut, Shogood was known to be available for sale shortly after that June 19 race. Owner Bill Stiritz and his private trainer Scott Becker put in a call, were told a sale already had been arranged, but found out not long after that the deal had fallen through. Stiritz bought the colt, an Illinois-bred by Nobiz Like Shobiz out of Good and Rough, and was quickly rewarded with a sharp front-running win in a July 16 maiden race.

The Arlington track favored speed the day he won, and Shogood was jumping from a maiden race into a Grade 3 Saturday, but he had little trouble taking care of 10 rivals. Shogood laid down legitimate splits of 22.89 seconds, 46.34, and 1:10.86, and never took heat from anyone. Emigh said Shogood went faster early than he wanted, but coming into the far turn, he finally relaxed.

“He got a real breather there around the three-eighths,” Emigh said.

And that was enough. Fatigued or no, Shogood had plenty left to holds off a 46-1 shot named Vanm Damme, who finished best of anyone going from fifth at the stretch call to second, 2 1/2 lengths in front of third-place Missile Bomb. The winner was timed in 1:24.19 for seven furlongs and, after taking heavy late betting action, paid $6.40 to win.

Cocked and Loaded, the 6-5 favorite, came up three wide on the turn and briefly looked like he might get into the race, but he flattened out turning for home and checked in fifth.

“Very disappointing,” said trainer Larry Rivelli. “[Jockey Jose Valdivia] said he was trying to get out or something, and he’s never done that.”

Becker, who is based in downstate Illinois, said he was in no rush to find another spot for Shogood. The $1 million Delta Jackpot on Nov. 21 at Delta Downs is one potential goal for a fall campaign, Becker said.