FLYING THE FLAG

By Steve Sherack

It shouldn't be too difficult picking off at least two runners representing the home team during this weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships. 

Carrying the patriotic silks of Kaleem Shah, the freakishly fast 3-year-old Bayern (Offlee Wild) will take on the best that the world has to offer in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic while the versatile Fed Biz (Giant's Causeway) lines up for a third consecutive renewal of Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. 

“This is where the world's best horses, trainers, jockeys and owners all come together,” said Shah, who became a U.S. citizen in the early 1990s. “It would be an honor for anyone, I would think, to win these kinds of races.” 

The native of Bellary, India, continued, “I just love seeing my red, white and blue silks out there. It showcases my love for this country.” 

Armed with a trio of degrees from Bangalore University (B.S., Electrical Engineering), Clemson University (M.S., Computer Engineering) and George Washington University (M.B.A., International Finance), Shah founded CalNet in 1989. The communications company provides intelligence analysis and a wide variety of other services for its clients, which most notably includes the U.S. Federal Government. 

“We proudly support our armed forces throughout the world,” Shah commented. “We provide services in three different areas–information technology, intelligence analysis and linguistic services. Besides that, I can not talk into much further detail other than saying that we proudly support our troops.” 

The 52-year-old father of two understandably caught the racing bug from his old man Majeed Shah, who was one of the top trainers in India. Despite all of his success as a conditioner–which included campaigning a pair of Triple Crown winners–the elder Shah wanted a different life for his son. 

“As a young kid as far back as I can remember, maybe when I was four years old or so, I used to go with my dad to the stables,” Shah explained. “Being one of the leading trainers in India, he would always have a top 2- or 3-year-old in the barn. I'd go to the track with him, but he made it very clear that he would not let me be a part of horseracing.” 

Shah continued, “He felt that I'd be better served by going the academic route and he wanted me to concentrate on my studies, and for that, I'm grateful. He always told me that should I be fortunate enough down the road and want to get into horseracing as an owner, so be it. But training was out of the question. He put the fear of God in me and made sure that I hit the books hard.” 

Obeying his father's wishes, Shah made his initial foray into ownership through trainer Jim Murphy, and later with Dale Capuano, and maintained a small string on the East Coast in the late 1990s. After meeting Hall of Famer Bob Baffert through Hill 'n' Dale Farm's Donato Lanni at a 2-year-old in training sale in Florida, Shah was ready to take his game to the next level. 

Shifting his operation to the West Coast and giving Baffert free rein at the sales, Shah had his first taste of Saturday horses with 2010 GII West Virginia Derby hero and Hill 'n' Dale stallion Concord Point (Tapit); multiple graded stakes winner May Day Rose (Rockport Harbor); GISP runners Irrefutable (Unbridled's Song) and Lady Pecan (Concerto); and graded stakes placed runners American Story (Ghostzapper), Brigand (Flatter), Smash (Smart Strike), Tweebster (Tapit) and Uncle Sam (Tapit). Shah captured his first victory at the top level as an owner with “TDN Rising Star” and $390,000 FTMMAY graduate Eden's Moon (Malibu Moon) in the 2012 GI Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita. She subsequently brought $1,525,000 from Mandore International Agency at the 2012 FTKNOV sale. 

“Bob [Baffert] certainly has a very keen eye for horses–he's the best that I've ever known,” Shah said. “It's been a wonderful ride with him. The key in this business is picking the right stock.” 

Led by his aforementioned pair of Breeders' Cup contenders, everything has really come together for Shah in 2014. “TDN Rising Star” Bayern stamped himself as one of the top sophomores in the nation with overpowering front-running victories in the seven-furlong GII Woody Stephens S. on the GI Belmont S. undercard and GI William Hill Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth July 27. A disappointing 10th as the 2-1 favorite when stretched to the Classic distance in the GI Travers S. at Saratoga, he rebounded in style with a track-record setting performance in the GII Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Sept. 20. The $320,000 FTMMAY graduate is listed at 6-1 on the morning-line for the Classic. 

“There are some very good horses in the race,” Shah acknowledged. “I'm hoping for the best; Bayern certainly has been working like a beast. While we respect the competition, if he runs true to his form, he should be tough.” 

Fed Biz, meanwhile, posted a breakthrough 5 1/4-length win while making his seasonal debut in Del Mar's GII San Diego H. July 26. Following a clear-cut second behind defending Dirt Mile champ Goldencents (Into Mischief) in the seven-furlong GII Pat O'Brien S. Aug. 24, he gave the unbeaten Breeders' Cup Classic morning-line favorite Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) quite a run for his money when a courageous second after setting a pressured pace in the 1 1/8-mile GI Awesome Again S. last time Sept. 27. After a pair of disappointing performances in the Dirt Mile the past two years, the $950,000 KEESEP graduate heads in for round three in career form. He is the 7-2 second choice on the morning-line. 

“Fed Biz ran a winning race last time, it was a tough beat for him,” Shah said. “He did all the dirty work hooking up with the other speed horse. Goldencents is a horse that I have tremendous respect for. It will be a tough race, no doubt, but Fed Biz should be up to the task, we hope, and be right there at the finish.” 

The success hasn't stopped there for Shah and company in 2014. 

“TDN Rising Star” Awesome Baby (Awesome Again), a $220,000 KEESEP yearling, began her sophomore campaign with a three-race winning streak, including the GII Santa Ynez S., GIII Santa Ysabel S. and the Sunland Park Oaks before hitting the sidelines in the spring. Can the Man (Into Mischief), third in the 2013 GI Del Mar Futurity, got the money in the GIII Affirmed S. at Santa Anita in June. “TDN Rising Star” and $450,000 OBSAPR juvenile Declassify (Orientate) added to Shah's good fortune with a narrow decision in the GI Triple Bend S. in Arcadia June 28. The future also looks quite bright for Luminance (f, 2, Tale of the Cat), who stamped herself as one to watch next year after delivering a “TDN Rising Star” performance at first asking at Del Mar this summer. 

Being able to share the ride with his wife Lubi, son Arman and daughter Sophie has made it that much sweeter for Shah. 

“My [16-year-old] son Arman loves horse racing,” Shah said proudly. “He is the one who picked Bayern from the 2-year-old in training sale–he likes to watch the [breeze] videos. He is an integral part of the enjoyment that I get out of horseracing. As soon as they cross the wire, he'll start talking to Bob [Baffert] about what races could be next.” 

With all of his aforementioned success in 2014 and a pair of live Breeders' Cup entrants sitting on go, this easily has to be Shah's most enjoyable year as an owner so far, right? 

“Hey, every year being able to own racehorses in this country is an enjoyable one for me,” Shah concluded. “I just love to see my horses run. We've been very fortunate and blessed.”