Weekend Stakes Beyers: Shackleford 104
 

PIM Preakness S (G1): Shackleford 104 (D. Romans/J. Castanon)
PIM Dixie S (G2): Paddy O'Prado 95 (D. Romans/K. Desormeaux)
PIM Schaefer Memorial S (G3): Apart 100 (A. Stall/G. Gomez)
PIM Maryland Sprint H (G3): Ventana 100 (B. Baffert/M. Garcia)
PIM Gallorette H (G3): No Explaining 95 (R. Attfield/J. Velazquez)
PIM DuPont Distaff S (G3): Super Espresso 100 (T. Pletcher/R. Dominguez)
PIM Black-Eyed Susan S (G2): Royal Delta 100 (W. Mott/J. Lezcano)
PIM James W. Murphy S: Chinglish 94 (M. Hennig/J. Velazquez)
PIM Chick Lang S: Vengeful Wildcat 91 (B. Perkins/C. Marquez)
PIM Jim McKay Turf Sprint S: Ben's Cat 93 (K. Leatherbury/J. Rose)
PIM Miss Preakness S: R Holiday Mood 77 ( T. Pletcher/J. Velazquez)
PIM The Very One S: Suzzona 88 (B. Feliciano/J. Pimentel)
PIM Hilltop S: Excited 88 (T. Pletcher/J. Velazquez)

WO Marine S: Queen'splatekitten 84 (T. Pletcher/E. Da Silva)

HOL Milady H (G2): Ultra Blend 97 (A. Sherman/D. Flores)
HOL Railbird S (G3): May Day Rose 97 (B. Baffert/J. Rosario)

BEL Shuvee H (G2): Awesome Maria 92 (T. Pletcher/J. Castellano)

AP Hanshin Cup H (G3): Workin for Hops 100 (M. Stidham/J. Graham)

MTH Elkwood S: Successful Mission 108 (E. Plesa/C. Lopez)

PID Ambassador of Luck S: Fugitive Angel TBD (J. Sheppard/M. Pino)
PID Presidentialaffair S: Gator Bay TBD (F. Stites/E. Rodriguez)

CRC Sara's Success S: Romacaca 94 (N. Canani/J. Rios)

CT It's Only Money S: Russell Road 91 (J. Casey/T. Dunkelberger)

DEL Pike Creek S: Snow Fall TBD (M. Stidham/R. Napravnik)

PIM DuPont Distaff S (G3): Super Espresso 100 (T. Pletcher/R. Dominguez)
PIM Miss Preakness S: R Holiday Mood 77 (T. Pletcher/J. Velazquez)
PIM Hilltop S: Excited 88 (T. Pletcher/J. Velazquez)
WO Marine S: Queen'splatekitten 84 (T. Pletcher/E. Da Silva)
BEL Shuvee H (G2): Awesome Maria 92 (T. Pletcher/J. Castellano)

I know Mott has already said the Mother Goose will be next and that makes sense.
However, given her pedigree, her performance at Belmont last fall, and her nice race on Friday, I think it would be interesting to see them take a shot with her against the boys in the Belmont Stakes. I think she might have a chance.

I friggen love this horse. I met Mark Russell, the owner, a day or two after a "more than $500,000" offer came in for the horse back in 2009. I think it was the week before the Gotham, which he ran 5th in. Anyway, the owner said "It wasn't enough money. We're gonna make a $1,000,000 with him, even if we have to do it $30k at a time."

That's exactly what they are doing with him. He keeps picking up checks.

Fun Fact: The horse is named for the road where he was born, not the owner.

So I don't make figures, and I'm not questioning those who do, but I would love to understand how Apart and Royal Delta end up with 100, but Shackleford gets a 104. Thanks.

The raw figure for Apart was a 101 and Shackleford (about) a 105 (since they don't run 9.5F very often, his 9F equivalent time of 1:49 4/5 is the best proxy.)

The real question is how Apart and Super Espresso both got a 100. The figuremaker is suggesting the track slowed down about 6-7 points between race 8 and race 10. I don't agree with that.

I know the BES was a different day, but based on what you have above, Royal Delta's 1:49 3/5 should have earned her something better than a 100, no?

Not being argumentative or putting down figure makers, just asking the question.

Different day, not comparable. You'd need to compare the time to Friday's other results.

It's just odd - at least in my head - that the slowest Preakness since 1993 would result in a lifetime top for the winner.

But also one of the lower Beyer figs.

Very fair.

That isn't an issue. Would it be fair to say it was his lifetime best effort? Without a doubt. He ran huge. The number makes a lot of sense from that perspective. And it also means Animal Kingdom ran close to his Derby win, which is also a fair assessment.

Dale Romans doesn't get enough credit. In the last five Triple Crown races he has finished third, second, third, fourth and first.

He knows how to bring them up to a big race with their top effort.

Agreed.

What's most impressive about that to me is that it has been with three different horses.