(
)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It has been a long time between drinks for the 4-year-old colt Shackleford, who snapped a seven-race losing streak dating back to his upset victory in last year’s Preakness when he won yesterday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

“He deserves to be back in the winner’s circle,” said his trainer, Dale Romans, who saddled Dullahan in the Derby. “He’s still the star of the barn.”

Bet down late from 5-2 to 9-5 favoritism in the seven-furlong race, Shackleford showed his customary speed under regular rider Jesus Castanon, laying just off the furious first-quarter-mile (21.96 seconds) set by Will’s Wildcat. After a half in 44.17 seconds, 2-1 Amazombie, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill, poked his head in front under Mike Smith, and the battle was joined.

Amazombie and Shackleford slugged it out from the far turn to the wire, with Shackleford clawing ahead in the final yards to win by a length, the seven furlongs run in a sizzling 1:21.06. He paid $5.60 topping a $16.20 exacta.

“You couldn’t ask for better,” Castanon said. “He’s back.”

Woodford Turf Classic

In one of the great rides of his long career, Joe Bravo, the pride of New Jersey’s racing colony, triggered a huge upset to win the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on long shot Little Mike, going wire-to-wire without giving the favorites breathing space.

Sent off at 12-1 against a field that boasted some of the best turf horses in the country, Bravo bounced Little Mike smartly out of the starting gate from post 1, angled him to the firmer going in the middle of the course, opened daylight on everyone and that was it. They went once around the track for the 1 ¹/‚ˆ-mile race and Little Mike and Little Joey made it a one-horse parade, winning off in 1.48.8 on a good turf.

No one got close to challenge. On the turn, Bravo pressed the pedal and Little Mike, a five-year-old gelding, opened up even more on his struggling rivals. The duo coasted through the stretch to post an easy 2 1/2- length victory over Slim Shadey, a 10-1 California shipper, who was half a length in front of Brilliant Speed, off at 7-1.

Turallure, a million-dollar earner, beaten a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill last year, was hammered to 2-1 favorite but never threatened and lumbered home seventh. Get Stormy, who won this race last year, got away at 10-1 and finished even further behind in ninth.

Little Mike is owned by Priscilla Vaccarezza and trained by Dale Romans. But Bravo, a noted grass rider, has been aboard him since he broke his maiden at Monmouth in August 2010. All told, he has ridden him 12 times, in New York, New Jersey and Florida for 10 wins. You could call him Bravo’s meal ticket. For yesterday’s win, Bravo picked up a nifty $30,000 riding fee.

No wonder the jockey pumped his arm in exhilaration after passing under the wire.

“I’ve been riding for 24 years and I can’t say a horse will stick out more in my mind than Little Mike,” Bravo said.

Romans said he thought Little Mike was the fastest horse in the race.”He had a condylar fracture last year, so this is a pretty sweet victory. He’s a super horse and deserves this Grade 1.”

Little Mike paid $26.40, topping a $403.60 exacta.

Human Distaff

Breaking the track record set on Derby Day in 2001, the 4-year-old filly Groupie Doll took command on the turn under Rajiv Maragh and drew off down the stretch to dominate the Grade 1, $300,000 Humana Distaff by 7 1/4 lengths in 1:20.44 for seven furlongs.

Trained by her owner-breeder William “Buff” Bradley, Groupie Doll was favored at 3-1 in the field of nine fillies and mares, many of them boasting more impressive resumes than the winner.

The runner-up in 7-furlong race, Musical Romance, was the champion female sprinter of 2011, when she won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs.

Also eating Groupie Doll’s dust were two-time Grade 1 winner Switch, second in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint the past two years, and last year’s Humana Distaff winner, Sassy Image.

“I told Rajiv to put her in the race early, but he got to the front earlier than I thought he would,” Bradley said. “When I saw that, I said, ‘she’s going to gallop.’ She was just dragging Rajiv out there.”

Groupie Doll, who previously won the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland when blinkers were added to her equipment, paid $8.20 keying a $41.60 exacta.

Distaff Turf Mile

One of New York’s old racing firms vaulted the Big Apple into the headlines on the Derby undercard when their honest filly Hungry Island came from near last to run off with the Grade 2, $200,000-added Distaff Turf Mile at better than 5-1.

Owned by Emory Hamilton, trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by John Velazquez, Hungry Island chalked up her first success since winning the Lake Placid at Saratoga last August. She previously had three races since for a fourth and two thirds, which explains why bettors let her go at 5-1.

They dumped the big money on Marketing Mix, sending her off at 3-2 after coming off a big win on the Keeneland turf. She finished a well-beaten fourthafter tracking the pace set by Daisy Devine.

She paid $13.80, topping a $91.80 exacta.

The winner ran the mile in 1.36.20 over a track labeled good after heavy overnight rains. It took her lifetime record to 12-5-2-4. She has missed hitting the board only once — when she was fourth.

“Everything worked out perfectly,” said Velazquez. “I’m so happy to be back here after the incredible whirlwind of emotions last year, when I had a mount In the Derby, then I didn’t have a mount, and I ended up winning it. Shug has been so good to me over the years I’m grateful for what he’s done for my career.”