Shackleford not yet retired

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Former Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford is being prepared to enter retirement but has not run his final race on the track. The 4-year-old colt is a likely starter in this month's Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.

"We might run him in the Clark," trainer Dale Romans said. "We'll see how he's going into the race, but the plan right now is to go into (the Clark) or the Cigar Mile (at Aqueduct on Nov. 24). As long as he trains well, he'll have one more race."

First on Shackleford's calendar is a visit to Darby Dan Farm this weekend when breeders will have an opportunity to check out the 4-year-old colt as a potential stallion.

"We wanted to give breeders the opportunity to see him," said Robert Hammond, General Manager of Darby Dan. "Ever since his Met Mile win, the interest has been gratifying, and we anticipate a strong initial book of mares from accomplished breeders."

Owned by Michael Lauffer, Bill Cubbedge and Phillips Racing Partnership, Shackleford is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile as the 5-2 co-favorite. Last year he was second in the race behind Caleb's Posse.

Shackleford has posted five wins in 19 career starts for $2,824,047 with five seconds and a third.

After winning two of three races as a 2-year-old, the colt hit the 2011 Triple Crown trail and registered a fifth in the Fountain of Youth and was runner-up to Dialed In in the Florida Derby.

With Jesus Castanon riding, Shackleford was fourth in the Kentucky Derby as a 23-1 longshot behind Animal Kingdom. He won the Preakness as a 12-1 outsider over favorite Animal Kingdom. Three weeks later Shackleford was sixth in the Belmont Stakes with Animal Kingdom right behind in seventh.

He closed out his 2011 campaign with second-place finishes in the Haskell, Indiana Derby and Dirt Mile, and an eighth-place result in the Travers.

This year, Shackleford has wins in the Churchill Downs Stakes and Met Mile.