FIFTYSHADESOFGOLD HEADED TO ACORN STAKES

FIFTYSHADESOFGOLD GETS IN FINAL TUNE-UP BEFORE ACORN

by  | 05.30.2014 | 2:27pm
Fiftyshadesofgold prevails in the Eight Belles stakes on the Oaks undercardFiftyshadesofgold prevails in the Eight Belles stakes on the Oaks undercard

The Estate of Clarence Scharbauer Jr.’s Fiftyshadesofgold, winner of the Eight Belles (Grade III) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day, breezed a half mile in :49.60 Friday morning in her final workout before shipping to Belmont Park for the $750,000 Acorn (Grade I) on June 7.

“She came out of the last race well,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “She’s been training very well since then. This was her third breeze since the race and everything’s been right on schedule. She flies to New York on Thursday and we’ve been very happy with her.”

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will be back aboard the 3-year-old daughter of My Golden Song in the Acorn. Smith has been on board for her last two efforts, the Eight Belles victory and a second-place finish behind Untapable in the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII). Overall, she’s won four of six starts.

When asked what type of trip she needed to win the race, Calhoun said, “I don’t really know who’s going to show up there. It’s going to be a very tough race, but I’ll leave that in Mike’s hands. She’s very versatile – she’s got speed if you want to use it, but also has the ability to sit off of it if we need to. One-turn mile races are usually run pretty fast with a lot of pace and I think she is very adaptable. I think the mile is actually a little better race for her than the seven eighths was.”

Additionally, Calhoun said that Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GIII) winner Marchman would be on the plane to Belmont where he will start in the $300,000 Jaipur Invitational (GIII), which also is on the June 7 Belmont Stakes undercard.