Shanghai Bobby, the Harlan’s Holiday 2-year-old champion colt of 2012, returned from a six-month layoff on Friday at Belmont Park to win the $100,000 Aljamin S. in a swift 1:15.79 for 6 1/2-furlongs (VIDEO).
With his 132 winners accounting for 21 stakes wins this year, Harlan’s Holiday ranks in the top 5 in both categories on the 2013 General Sire list.
Undefeated at two after a five-for-five campaign that culminated with a courageous win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Shanghai Bobby’s Kentucky Derby (G1) dreams were derailed when the dark bay colt suffered a pelvic fracture in the Florida Derby (G1) in March.
Owned by Starlight Racing, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Shanghai Bobby tracked Dad Caps until mid-stretch, then took over to hold off the late charge of Slan Abhaile by a neck to earn a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
“You’re always concerned when you haven’t run a horse in (six) months, champion 2-year-old, and all of that,” Pletcher said. “We felt like we had him ready enough and he showed up and ran his race.”
“He ran really well off the layoff,” Pletcher continued. “I thought he ran well enough today to put us in the mix for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) or the Dirt Mile (G1), but we’ll see how he bounces out of it.”
Shanghai Bobby is now 6-1-0 in eight starts, earning $1,857,000.
