IEAH Stables’ and others’ Shaggy Mane, trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., showed early speed and weakened to finish third, beaten 8 ¼ lengths, when making her most recent start in the Grade 2, $170,000 Shirley Jones Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, March 29.
     Under jockey Cornelio Velasquez, Shaggy Mane, 3.50-1 on the tote, broke second from the three-post and made her way to set the pace (22.28) under pressure from Featherbed, and then as part of a three-way scramble (44.81) when they were joined by Baroness Thatcher. Shaggy Mane didn’t keep pace through the stretch as Sugar Swirl rallied to the lead (1:09.48) and drove clear for a 5 ½-length victory over Baroness Thatcher. The winner completed the seven-furlong distance in 1:22.57 over a fast main track, and earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure; Shaggy Mane received a 76.
     Sugar Swirl is a 5-year-old mare by Touch Gold – Astrapi, by Distinctive Pro. She paid $3.40 to win as the favorite in the betting.
     The Equibase chart for the race read, “Shaggy Mane vied for the lead along the inside to the top of the stretch, then tired.” She earned $22,000 in purses.
     The race was open to fillies and mares, ages 4 and up, and attracted six runners.
     LAST UPDATED: April 3, 2008