Hard to Get Beyond ‘Belief’

Jungle Racing LLC, KMN Racing LLC, Hollendorfer, Litt, Solis II and Todaro’s undefeated superstar Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) should prove one tough customer in Santa Anita’s GI Awesome Again S., a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. Despite not starting until late May this year, last year’s champion juvenile has won his three 2014 outings by a combined 11 1/4 lengths. He cruised in a Golden Gate sprint allowance May 26, and took to the dirt and this distance to trounce Candy Boy (Candy Ride {Arg}) by 4 1/4 lengths in the inaugural Los Alamitos Derby July 5. Rather than shipping cross-country for the GI Travers S., Hall of Fame conditioner Jerry Hollendorfer decided to remain in California and take on older horses in Del Mar’s GI Pacific Classic S. Aug. 24. That decision paid off, and yielded a career-best 115 Beyer Speed Figure for Shared Belief, who defeated fellow sophomore and BC Classic hopeful Toast of New York (Thewayyouare) by 2 3/4 lengths. Imperative (Bernardini) and Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor) were third and sixth, respectively, that day. The former, who is trained by George Papaprodromou for KM Racing Enterprises, Inc., has improved markedly since being claimed for $50,000 from Darley and Eoin Harty and switched to the main track. He was second at odds of 26-1 in the track-and-trip GII San Antonio S. Feb. 8, and upended recently retired Game On Dude (Awesome Again) in the GII Charles Town Classic Apr. 19. A distant third behind Majestic Harbor in the 10-panel GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita June 28, the bay could only manage eighth in Del Mar’s GII San Diego H. July 26 before his bounce-back effort in the Pacific Classic. Gallant Stable LLC’s Majestic Harbor earned a 111 Beyer for his 6 1/4-length Gold Cup drubbing, and sports an overall record over the Santa Anita main track of 5-2-1-1. He’s winless in five tries at nine furlongs, however, and may want a bit more ground. Bob Baffert saddles a pair of runners in San Diego romper Fed Biz (Giant’s Causeway)–most recently second in the GII Pat O’Brien S. on the Pacific Classic undercard; and Sky Kingdom (Empire Maker), a graded winner going 1 1/2 miles here who was most recently fourth in the Sept. 6 Los Alamitos Mile. Fed Biz must avoid an early battle with Argentinian MG1SW Mystery Train (Arg) (Not For Sale {Arg}), who essentially dueled Baffert trainee Game On Dude into submission in the Pacific Classic. “There is a lot of speed,” nothed Baffert. “There’s ridiculous speed in there, like Mystery Train, but not real speed. Fed Biz is speed. He likes to run going long, he likes to get out there, so we’re just going to let him bounce away from there, especially from his [number one] post position.”