BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Shards, a multiple stakes-placed Florida-bred gelding and 2023 Breeders’ Cup alumn, makes his first start since July in a top condition, $62,500 optional claiming at Turfway Park Wednesday night. The 5-year-old gelding trained by Kelsey Danner is one of nine 4-year-olds and older who will compete for the winner’s share of the $106,000 purse in the six-and-a-half-furlong test on all-weather course.
The reliable son of Bucchero has finished in the top three in four previous starts on the Turfway synthetic, the last of which occurred in a three-and-a-half-length victory against second condition, $40,000 optional claimers going six furlongs there in March of last year. He also won at the same distance there against first condition, $25,000 optional claiming rivals in December of 2024 and was third in last year’s $106,125 Forego at Turfway in February. He was second to Okiro in the $235,000 Animal Kingdom going six furlongs at Turfway in March of 2024.
He returns to synthetic after racing on the turf in his last three starts of 2025. He was just a length-and-a-quarter off winner My Boy Prince when sixth in a blanket finish in the $150,000 Elusive Quality going six furlongs during the Belmont at Big A meet on May 3 and was fourth in an upper tier, $100,000 optional claiming on the Churchill Downs grass on three weeks later. In one race since, he was out of the money in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup going seven furlongs at Woodbine in July.
Owned by Crowns Way Racing, NBS Stable and Kevin Marko, Shards is out of Cynthia’s Fury, by Utopia (Jpn) and was bred in Florida by Craig L. Wheeler. He has earned $191,666 from three wins, two seconds and three thirds in 13 career starts, including his fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint won by Big Evs.
NBS Stable and John Ballantyne took Shards for $175,000 out of the Tom McCrocklin consignment at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale.
Shards will be ridden by Joseph Ramos from post seven and is 10-1 on the morning line.
Danner will also saddle 3-1 morning line favorite Run Carson who most recently finished sixth in an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming going six-and-a-half furlongs at Turfway Park on January 14.
The 5-year-old son of Maclean’s Music was second in one other start this year under the same conditions at six furlongs on December 18 at Turfway coming off a six-month break.
He finished last year running third behind winner Joe Siesty in the $224,000 Mighty Beau going five furlongs on the turf at Churchill Downs on June 7.
Run Carson has won four with three seconds and three thirds with earnings of $390,130 for owner NBS Stable.
Victor Carrasco will ride Run Carson for the first time and they have drawn the outside post nine.
Rounding the field are Green Light with jockey Luan Machado, Jareth Loveberry takes the call on Built, Possiblemente will have Rafael Hernandez in the irons, Walter Rodriguez will be aboard Runaway Again, Alder will have Gerardo Corrales in the saddle, Ferando De La Cruz guides Churchtown and Mischeivous Rouge will have Chris Emigh riding.
Return to the February 17 issue of Wire to Wire
