Stallwalkin' Dude still targeting Dubai Golden Shaheen

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Stallwalkin’ Dude, second as the favorite in the Grade 3 General George last Saturday at Laurel Park, is still being pointed to the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 25, trainer David Jacobson said Thursday.

Jacobson said Stallwalkin’ Dude came out of the General George “excellent,” and Jacobson is doing all the preparatory paperwork and blood work to ship Stallwalkin’ Dude to Dubai on March 14.

Jacobson said the $2 million purse and the fact that Stallwalkin’ Dude “is as good as he’s ever been, if not better” are the primary reasons he wants to run in the Golden Shaheen, a six-furlong race.

In the General George, Stallwalkin’ Dude was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by the front-running Imperial Hint.

“He ran his race,” Jacobson said. “That other horse got loose on the lead.”

Jacobson said he prefers Stallwalkin’ Dude at six furlongs rather than seven furlongs, which was the distance of the General George.

“I’ve always liked him better at three-quarters even though he’s made a liar out of me at times,” said Jacobson, noting that Stallwalkin’ Dude won the Grade 3 Bold Ruler last fall at seven furlongs. “I just think he’s got that kick.”

Jacobson said that Irad Ortiz Jr. is expected to ride Stallwalkin’ Dude in Dubai. If Ortiz does not go, Jacobson said, he would try to get Cornelio Velasquez.

Meanwhile, Jacobson said he will point Chief Lion, the winner of an allowance/optional claimer at Aqueduct on Feb. 17, to the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap here on March 11.