Shared Belief to stay in country after Big 'Cap win

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Shared Belief will follow his commanding Santa Anita Handicap victory this past Saturday with more starts in the United States and not overseas.

Hall of Fame trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer put to rest any notion that his 4-year-old gelding will travel to the Persian Gulf for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 28.

"No, we're not going to Dubai," Hollendorfer said. "There are lots of races in this country to run in with plenty big enough purses. We just don't want to make a trip over there."

Shared Belief, ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, rolled to a 4 1/4- length victory in the 1 1/4-mile, $1 million Big 'Cap. The 4-year-old gelding came out of the race in good shape. It was Smith's third straight win in the race after winning with Game On Dude the previous two years.

"He came out of the race very good. We're very grateful to have a good horse like him," Hollendorfer said.

The Big 'Cap win was the 10th in 11 career starts for 2013's champion 2-year- old and boosted his earnings to $2,932,200. Hollendorfer said Sunday in a radio interview that the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap on April 11 would likely be next for his stable superstar.

Shared Belief defeated 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome in the San Antonio on Feb. 7 as both horses began their 2015 campaigns. "Chrome" skipped the Big 'Cap to prepare for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 28.

"He's a once-in-a-lifetime horse. You won't see another like him," said Hollendorfer's assistant Dan Ward.