Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Has a Special Ring to It

Since 1999, trainer Julio Canani has won the $350,000-added Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile three times.

Six years ago, Canani won with eventual Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Silic, then scored again with the French bred the following year and won with Ladies Din in 2002.

In the last two years, the Peruvian-born trainer has been second with Special Ring and third with Tsigane and Special Ring is back for another shot at the Grade 1, which will be run for the 62nd time today at Hollywood Park.

Owned by Prestonwood Farm LLC, Special Ring, an 8-year-old Nureyev gelding, hasn’t been out since finishing 2004 in extremely dull fashion. He was 13th of 14 in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, then was last in the Citation Handicap here on Nov. 27.

A winner twice in eight starts over the Hollywood Park turf, Special Ring has a history of running well fresh and has trained well for his return. Tyler Baze will ride the bay, who has won 10 of 28, for the first time in the Shoemaker, which was known as the Premiere Handicap until 1989.

The 2-1 favorite on Russ Hudak’s morning line is Singletary. Owned by Little Red Feather Racing and trained by Don Chatlos Jr., the 5-year-old Sultry Song horse was second to Designed For Luck in this race a year ago and is 0 for 2 on the Hollywood Park grass.

Best known for winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile at 16-1 last fall, Singletary will be reunited with jockey David Flores for the first time since that upset at Lone Star Park. In his last race, Singletary won the Arcadia Handicap on April 9 at Santa Anita.

Castledale, who won the 2003 Generous in his first U.S. race in his only other start on the Hollywood Park turf, Whilly, King Of Happiness, a game winner of the Inglewood Handicap over stablemate Red Fort on April 30, Fast And Furious and Buckland Manor complete the field.

Four races later, eight fillies and mares will get together in the day’s other Grade 1, the $350,000-added Gamely Breeders’ Cup Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Nadeshzda, who was second to Megahertz in the Santa Barbara Handicap on April 17 at Santa Anita, is the 2-1 favorite against Amorama, Mea Domina, Flip Flop, Miss Terrible, Halo Ola, Solar Echo and Uraib.

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All The Boys, an 8-year-old gelding who had earned over $343,000, was euthanized after suffering an injury to his right hind leg while competing in Sunday’s fourth race.

A Maryland-bred son of Foreign Survivor, All The Boys finished his career with nine wins from 33 starts.

Owned by Bob Bone and Jeff Mullins, who had claimed him for $50,000 on Feb. 3 at Santa Anita, All The Boys was claimed again on Sunday. In a three-way shake, he went to Bushwood Racing Partners and trainer Gary Mandella.

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Kresgeville, a 30-1 shot who had won three of five in Arizona, held off 7-2 favorite Brooke’s Halo to win the $94,350 Manhattan Beach Stakes by a nose on Sunday at Hollywood Park.

Owned by the Sandra Hall Trust and trained by Bradley Rollins, the 3-year-old Bertrando filly gave jockey Jocelyne Kenny-Martin her first win at Hollywood Park.

Making her turf debut, Kresgeville, who had won the $24,000 Left Latch at Turf Paradise in her most recent start only nine days earlier, ran the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.17.

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Ecclesiastic, an 8-1 shot, outfinished 2-1 favorite Old Forester by a head to win the $111,600 Jaipur Handicap at Belmont Park.

Ridden by Cornelio Velasquez for owner Joe Allen and trainer Allen Jerkens, Ecclesiastic ran the seven furlongs on turf in 1:20.71 in the Grade III.

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Triple Crown ratings

Tribune Co. ratings for 3-year-olds leading to the Belmont Stakes:

*--* N. Horse Jockey Trainer St W P S Last Next Race Race 1. Jeremy Tim 11 7 2 1 Preakness Belmont Afleet Rose Ritche (1st) Stakes, June Alex y 11 2. Mike E. John 9 2 2 3 Preakness Belmont Giacomo Smith Shirre (3rd) Stakes, June ffs 11 3. Ramon Robert 10 3 5 2 Preakness Undecided Scrappy Domingu Bailes (2nd) T ez 4. Corneli Kiaran 9 3 3 2 Preakness Undecided Closing o McLaug (9th) Argument Velasqu hlin ez 5. Mark Jeff 9 3 1 2 Kentucky Belmont Buzzards Guidry Mullin Derby (5th) Stakes, June Bay s 11 6. Javier Nick 6 4 0 0 Kentucky Undecided Bellamy Castell Zito Derby (7th) Road ano 7. Don’t Tyler Ron 7 3 1 1 Kentucky Undecided Get Mad Baze Ellis Derby (4th) 8. Sun Rafael Nick 9 3 0 2 Preakness Undecided King Bejaran Zito (4th) o 9. Shaun Thomas 5 3 2 0 Peter Pan Undecided Oratory Bridgmo Albert Stakes han ani (1st) 10. Rafael Nick 4 3 0 0 Sir Barton Belmont Pinpoint Bejaran Zito (1st) Stakes, June o 11

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Triple Crown panel: Bill Christine, Los Angeles Times; Tom Keyser, Baltimore Sun; Dave Joseph, South Florida Sun-Sentinel; Neil Milbert, Chicago Tribune; Paul Moran, Newsday.