Shared Belief Dominates CashCall

Shared Belief emphatically made his claim for early-favorite status for the 2014 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, winning the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park by more than five lengths. It was Shared Belief’s third straight win in his young career, with an average winning margin of more than 21 lengths. The 5 3/4 length win in the 1 1/16 miles CashCall was the closest margin of victory yet for Shared Belief, and came against a field that included Grade I winners Tamarando, who ran third, and Bond Holder, who finished fourth.

A winner by open lengths every time out

A Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Kentucky-bred from the Argentinian sire Candy Ride, Shared Belief broke his maiden first asking in a six furlong run at Golden Gate in October, stalking the pace through the first half-mile and then pulling away from the field to win by seven in 1:09.53. He then moved to seven furlongs at Hollywood Park last month and turned the trick again, this time winning by 7 3/4 over favored Kobe’s Back, who had captured a stakes title his very first race, but who wound up tenth after clipping heels in the CashCall.

Future wager has several strong early choices

It’s likely that Shared Belief will now take some time off before resuming preparation for the Kentucky Derby no sooner than the Grade II Bob Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in February. For now he joins Havana, second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and winner of the Grade I Foxwood Champagne Stakes, Grade II Remsen winner Honor Code, and Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Tapiture at the top of the Derby contender’s table. The next official Derby prep race will be the Jerome Stakes, January 4 at Aqueduct.