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Shelby Mustang Tears Up Steward's Cup Juvenile Sprint

Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 13 years 4 weeks ago

Shelby Mustang came all the way from the back of the pack and charged furiously down the lane to take the $500,000 Grade I Steward’s Cup Juvenile Sprint by a head over Passer. The bay colt owned by Paul Heinrich sprinted the 5 ½ furlongs over the dirt oval at New Orleans Park in an impressive 1:04.43.

Purchased as a yearling for just a few ticks over $1 million, Shelby Mustang is by stakes winning sprinter Inspired Fox and out of Shelby Cobra, who is also a stakes winner and producer of Nicholas (by Black Night) who placed second in the Steward’s Cup Sprint.

This flashy colt boasted an undefeated record in five starts beginning when he broke his maiden in his first start, a stakes in a 3 ½ romp at Hot Springs Park. He won his next three stakes including impressive victories in the Storm and Silence Stakes and the Fleet Feet Stakes. His style of domination in his races allowed him to win the short sprints by impressive margins.

In the Juvenile Sprint, he faced a noteworthy field of eight other entries including Passer, One in the Same and Shinwa who had each won four races apiece during their careers. But Shelby Mustang went confidently to the post under regular jockey Matthew Cooper. When the gates opened, Cooper allowed Shelby Mustang to settle into the last place position, confident in the power of his closing kick. One in the Same surged to the lead while Sky of Rain and Memories of a Map followed in pursuit. One in the Same went on a free running jag by extending his lead in the backstretch and swept through the far turn building up a 4 ½ length lead.

With only the stretch to be run, many race watchers wondered if any of the other competitors could challenge him. That question was answered as swiftly as Shelby Mustang’s fleet feet began churning as he changed gears and motored down the stretch, main rippling and tail flying behind him. He quickly devoured the lead horses and then muscled it out in the final yards for the win. Passer followed him and hit the second position by a neck over third place finisher, Shinwa.

Shelby Mustang’s win stirred up the crowd to a boisterous response as he trotted off to the winner’s circle to receive his accolades. Being only a youngster, Shelby Mustang’s still got a racing career ahead of him as an impressive speedster in the making.


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