Royal Posse / Adam Mooshian Photo

Royal Posse looks for repeat in Evan Shipman

by Brian Bohl

A small but experienced field of five will look to close their meet on a high note on Friday in the $100,000 Evan Shipman for New York-breds at Saratoga Race Course.

Back to defend his title in the 1 1/8-mile Evan Shipman is the Rudy Rodriguez-trained Royal Posse.

Since being claimed for owner Michael Dubb for $20,000 last May, the now 5-year-old son of Posse has been first or second in 11 straight starts for Rodriguez, including victories in the Evan Shipman, the Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream Park, the Mr. Sinatra at Aqueduct and, most recently, the Alydar on August 2, in which he posted a personal-best Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

During that span, Royal Posse has earned $511,400, much of it coming in New York-bred company.

"Royal Posse has done well in New York-bred races, so we'll go for it again," Rodriguez said.

He drew post 3 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons.

Rodriguez's other entry, Good Luck Gus, will be extending to a distance at which he's had success at the Spa. The winner of the 2015 Albany at 1 1/18 miles, Good Luck Gus will be making his first start since a third-place showing in the Saginaw on July 8 at Belmont Park.

"There was nothing for him at the beginning of the meet, but this is a good race for him to get back," Rodriguez said. "Hopefully he shows up. It looks like he's training good.

"It's hard to find a race that's 1 1/8 miles, but Saratoga is one of the only places that has it," he added. "He looks like he wants to go that far. Hopefully he can put himself together. The race will be tough, but he can compete with those horses."

Good Luck Gus, who like his stablemate is owned by Michael Dubb, will depart post 4 in tandem with Javier Castellano.

Ostrolenka will return to stakes company on a quick turnaround following a third-place finish in an allowance race on August 22. Trainer Todd Pletcher said he's hoping for a fast track, as Ostrolenka's only experience running at 1 1/8 miles came in the 2014 Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct.

Ostrolenka, who won an optional claimer over one mile and 70 yards on June 26 at Monmouth, will leave from the outside with Hall of Famer John Velazquez.  

"It's coming back on short rest, but he did win around two turns at Monmouth," Pletcher said. "He's never won at a mile-and-an-eighth. He only raced once at that distance, but it was on a wet track and he doesn't like running on those."

Wake Up in Malibu will look to go 2-for-2 in stakes races in leaving from post 2.  Trained by Charlton Baker, Wake Up in Malibu won the Saginaw on July 8 before finishing fourth in an optional claimer on August 10.

In his return to stakes company, Wake Up in Malibu will be ridden by Manny Franco.

Crackerjack Jones drew the rail for trainer Christopher Progno. The Smarty Jones 6-year-old chestnut gelding handled a step up in class to stakes company with a third-place finish in the John Morrissey on July 28. Oscar Gomez has the mount.

The Evan Shipman is named for the former racing columnist of the Morning Telegraph, who died in 1957. A friend of Ernest Hemingway, Shipman was an aspiring poet in Paris in the 1920s, was wounded in the Spanish Civil War and served in a tank battalion during World War II. Upon his return to the United States he began covering thoroughbred and standard-bred racing for the Morning Telegraph. The Evan Shipman was not run in 2008 and 2009, and was moved from Belmont Park to Saratoga Race Course in 2010.