LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Trainer Dale Romans captured a pair of stakes victories Saturday on the Kentucky Derby undercard as Little Mike won the $561,500 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and Shackleford took the $441,600 Churchill Downs Stakes.
Little Mike left little to chance, bounding right to the lead with Joe Bravo aboard to pull a 12-1 upset. They covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.81
A 5-year-old gelding, Little Mike improved to 10 for 17 as he held off Slim Shadey by 2 1/2 lengths with Brilliant Speed third and paid $26.40 to win.
Shackleford scored his first win since last year’s Preakness, beating Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Amazombie by one length in the Churchill Downs.
