Shackleford a Definite for Saratoga’s Travers

Dale Romans, the trainer of Shackleford, says the colt will be heading to the Travers Stakes on August 27th. The Preakness winner was shipped into Saratoga last week to begin summer training at Saratoga Racecourse. Despite, losing his last race on July 31st, Romans stated, "the Shack is ready to attack."

Shackleford just ran in the Haskell, but was lost by a neck to Coil, a Bob Baffert trained horse. Baffert also has Coil up at Saratoga, stabled in his private barn. Unlike Romans, Baffert has not committed his colt to the Travers, yet. Coil is the son of 2001 Travers winner, Point Given.

Baffert also has another horse on its way up to Saratoga, who he could very well point towards the Travers instead or have duel entries. Prayer for Relief won the West Virigina Derby this past Saturday. It is also possible Baffert could run either horse in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes on September 3rd instead of the Travers.

Romans announced Shackleford's itinerary on Sunday outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch. The Travers is equivalent in distance to the Kentucky Derby -- 1 1/4 miles.

"The Shack" only finished fourth in the derby and was fifth in the Belmont -- 1 1/2 miles.