Shared Belief probable for Charles Town Classic

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Arcadia, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Shared Belief, convincing winner of the Santa Anita Handicap, isn't done growing which is bad news for the competition.

Just over a week after winning the 1 1/4-mile Big 'Cap, Dan Ward, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, reported on Shared Belief.

"He's filling out and getting bigger and better," said Ward. "He's a horse that's easy on himself and not hard to handle."

If Shared Belief is getting "bigger and better," what does that leave for the rest of the handicap division this year?

Ridden by Mike Smith, Shared Belief, co-owned by Hollendorfer, came from off the pace in the 1 1/4-mile Big 'Cap on March 7 to register a 4 1/4-length victory versus a dozen competitors. The 4-year-old gelding, 2013 champion 2- year-old, went three wide around the final turn, drew even with Moreno at the top of the stretch and rambled home unchallenged.

"I had a lot of confidence and a lot of horse at the end but the other horse, Shared Belief, was just too much today," said Santiago Gonzalez, Moreno's jockey.

In last week's opening NTRA Poll, Shared Belief received all 47 first-place votes and is expected to return to the races in April either in the Oaklawn Handicap on April 11 or the Charles Town Classic on April 18.

"We love the horse and we want to keep the horse close to home," co-owner Jim Rose said after winning the Big 'Cap.

The 4-year-old has already earned $900,000 this year with his victories in the San Antonio Invitational over 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome and the Santa Anita Handicap. Shared Belief has banked $2,932,200 with just one loss in 11 career starts.