Arzak Records Keeneland Double In Shakertown

Despite getting a bit warm pre-race, Sonata Stable's Arzak proved best of a 12-horse field in Saturday's Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland Race Course. Off at odds of 7-2, Arzak was just off the pace early and shook loose in the lane, holding off the late run of 2-1 favorite Mischief Magic to win by just over a length at the wire.

The 6-year-old son of Not This Time is now the owner of a unique double at the Lexington, Ky. track: he also won the G2 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland last fall. Arzak is the fourth horse to complete the Woodford-Shakertown double; he follows Golden Pal (2021-2022), Silver Timber (2009-2010), and Morluc (2001-2002).

Trained by Michael Trombetta and ridden to victory by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Arzak ran 5 1/2 furlongs over Keeneland's "good" turf course in 1:02.93. 

Ortiz gave Arzak a good trip in the turf sprint, breaking sharply and waiting patiently in fourth around the far turn before angling off the rail. Arzak responded brilliantly, grabbing the lead at the head of the stretch and keeping to task all the way through the wire.

Late-running Mischief Magic closed well to earn second, while Eamonn (21-1) was absolutely flying late to score third. 

Fractions on the race were :21.61 and :44.73.

Bred in Kentucky by John C. Oxley, Arzak is out of the Tapit mare Delightful Melody. His second dam, Bending Strings, is a multiple Grade 1-placed, multiple graded stakes-winning daughter of American Chance bred and raced by John Gunther.

Arzak won his first stakes race at age three, and his first graded stakes at age four, but his fifth year was his best on-track thus far, with the G2 Woodford win and a sixth-place finish in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, beaten just two lengths. Overall, Arzak has won eight of his 25 career starts for earnings of over $800,000.