Formidable Shaman Ghost faces nine rivals in GIII Pimlico Special

TSV Staff Selections —-

Stronach Stables 5-year-old son of Ghostzapper, Shaman Ghost, squares off against nine rivals in the running of the Grade 3 Pimlico Special Handicap run at a mile-and-three sixteenths; listed as the seventh race on the Black-Eyed Susan card, it’s set to go at 2:39 EDT; let’s have a look at the contenders.

PIMLICO

Race 7), 1‰ Mile.-G3 Pimlico Special H. Grade III. Purse $300,000 FOR
THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD. Post Time: ( 2:39)/ 1:39/12:39/11:39

6) Shaman Ghost, Jerkens/Castellano; multiple Grade 1 winner and runner-up in the G1 Pegasus World Cup to Arrogate, enters in top form having gutted out a solid win in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap back in March. There’s a lot on the line this summer, and one has to wonder why not a return trip to the G1 Brooklyn next month; a bullet work last week suggests he needs to go now, and if does, they’re running for second.

3), Watershed, McLaughlin/Lopez; winner of 2-of-3, including a driving victory last out in the Grade 3 Ben Ali; trainer says he’s ready to fire but 5-year-old out of Bernardini hasn’t had much success at these extended routes.

2), Eagle, Howard/Velasquez, J; Candy Ride 5-year-old is a consistent Graded Stakes player, hitting the board in five of his last nine graded attempts. Exits a solid placing in the Ben Ali, and with the extra distance and addition of Johnny V in the irons, he’s a threat.

9), Conquest Windycity, Walsh/Saez; after placing to open his 2017 campaign, Tiznow colt put it together drawing away from a strong Keeneland OC field.

The field from the Rail out:

1), Dolphus (Jerkens/Maragh)
2), Eagle Howard/Velasquez, J)
3), Watershed (McLaughlin/Lopez)
4), Discreet Lover (St.Lewis/Flores)
5), Noble Bird (Casse/Leparoux)
6), Shaman Ghost (Jerkens/Castellano)
7), Name Changer (Goldberg/Toledo)
8), Bodhisattva (Corrales/Perez)
9), Conquest Windycity (Walsh/Saez)
10), Fellowship (Decker/Rosario)

Selections: 6, 3, 2, 9

Cover Photo: Shaman Ghost; Coglianese/Chelsea Durand Photo