Shared Belief headed for Kentucky Derby

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Inglewood, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - CashCall Futurity winner Shared Belief will make his next start as a 3-year-old with the Kentucky Derby the ultimate goal.

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Shared Belief won the Futurity by 5 3/4 lengths over Candy Boy with Corey Nakatani riding. The even-money favorite in the 12- horse field, the 2-year-old gelding covered the 1 1/16 miles over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track in 1:42.16, the fastest time since Pioneerof the Nile went 1:41.95 in 2008.

"He came back perfect," assistant trainer Dan Ward said Sunday. "He's not a huge horse, but he's growing all the time.

"I think he deserves the Eclipse (as champion 2-year-old male). He was never asked and I think this race was easier on him than the other two. His time was fast and he beat a really good field."

Co-owned by Jim Rome, Shared Belief broke his maiden over the synthetic surface at Golden Gate Fields on Oct. 19 by seven lengths and posted a 7 1/4- length victory in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes Nov. 10.

"He'll ship to Santa Anita next week and then we'll see how he trains on dirt," said Ward. "The logical races to run in are the San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita Derby and then if everything goes well, on to Kentucky.

"There are a lot of 3-year-old races at the beginning of the year. We'll probably stay in California but we'll also look elsewhere."