Upwardly mobile pair of Shahroze, Not in Charge meet on turf
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The turf season may be winding down in these parts, but the careers of Shahroze and Not in Charge may just be revving up. These two 3-year-old geldings are the main protagonists in a first-level allowance/optional $25,000 claimer at 1 3/16 miles over Aqueduct’s outer turf course Wednesday.
Fourteen of the 28 races from Wednesday through Friday at Aqueduct are carded for the turf. There is a chance of light rain Wednesday morning, but the rest of the week looks dry.
Shahroze, trained by Graham Motion, won his U.S. debut over firm turf Oct. 22 at Belmont, laying close to a soft early pace and then running a sub-23-second final quarter to win a 1 1/4-mile maiden race by a half-length.
“I was very impressed with how he won,” said Motion, who trains Shahroze for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Head of Plains Partners. “I thought he did it nicely, and the right way.”
Shahroze made his first three starts in Europe for trainer Michael Halford. Motion said the horse came to him shortly after his third start. Shahroze was gelded prior to his first U.S. start.
Motion also said that Shahroze scoped with “a trace amount” of blood after his win and will race on Lasix for the first time Wednesday.
Not in Charge, trained by Alan Goldberg for Richard Santulli’s Colts Neck Stable, has a win and a neck loss in his last two starts, both at 1 1/4 miles during the Belmont fall meet. In his victory Sept. 24, Not in Charge took advantage of a sharp early pace, made a bold middle move to make the lead before the quarter pole, and held Im the Captain Now at bay.
In his most recent start, on Oct. 25, Not in Charge couldn’t catch the loose-on-the-lead Memories of Peter, falling a neck short.
“He made a run at the horse on the lead, I thought he was going to go by him, but the other horse didn’t stop,” Goldberg said. “I’m glad I’m going to get to run him again. I think he’ll run a good race.”
Astounding and Focus Group are other contenders in this field of seven.
:: Watch Wednesday's Penn National card live, beginning 6:05 p.m. ET
KEY CONTENDERS
Shahroze, by Holy Roman Emperor
Last 3 Beyers: 87-NA-NA
◗ Figures to lay up close in what looks on paper to be a paceless race.
◗ Came off a six-month layoff to win Oct. 22.
◗ Javier Castellano replaces Irad Ortiz Jr., who is named on Astounding for Jason Servis.
DRF FORMULATOR fact: Over last three years, Motion is 5 for 17 with a $3.71 return on investment putting a horse on Lasix for the first time coming off a win.
Not in Charge, by Lemon Drop Kid
Last 3 Beyers: 90-86-71
◗ Goldberg said Not in Charge was gelded prior to his second start this winter in Florida, and he believes that has made a difference in the horse’s development.
“He was kind of a clown,” Goldberg said. “He didn’t do many things right. He’s pretty professional now.”
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