8/29/2020

  3  GP     The FL Sire Stakes – Affirmed

$200.000     2yo Foaled in FL     7f   Dirt           118lbs +penalties

I told you I can’t handicap 2yo races… I said Shimkal Storm was the one to beat, placed him at 8/5 odds then picked another horse… and he made me pay.  Making it three wins in four starts, the Arindel trained gelding looked uninterested early, but knew when the cash was on the line, closing fast and taking The FL Sire Stakes – Affirmed by a length in a final time of 1:25¹ for the soggy seven panels.  Last City had the lead in the lane but could not hold off the winner, settling for the place, a length better than Humble Beginnings in third.

The field loaded up in the chute for the one-turn seven furlong dash and away in good order with Boom Shakalaka on the early gas, Cloud Computing, Last City and Taunt giving chase, down to the rail for Evergreen, Joker On Jack and Legend Larry.  Back towards the outside for Shimkal Storm and Humble Beginnings and Smoke Dawg was the early trailer.

The freshmen made their way down the backside and were nearing the far turn with a half mile to run, Boom Shakalaka in front by two lengths, Last City on the rail, Taunt three wide and Cloud Computing between that pair, another two lengths back to Evergreen, Jocker On Jack just to his inside, Shimkal Storm on the outside, Legend Larry hugging the rail, Humble Beginning on his flank ad Smoke Dawg continued to bring up the rear.

Around the big sweeping far turn and to the top of the lane with three-sixteenths to run, the dash for cash was on and they were all ready to go…  Last City up to stick a neck in front of Boom Shakalaka, a length and a half back to the Calvary charge of Shimkal Storm down the outside, Taunt next to that one, Cloud Computing inside of that one, Joker Jack and Legend Larry, Evergreen trying to find more down the center of the track and Humbling Beginnings widest of all as Smoke Dawg continued to be the back marker.

Now inside the final 150-yards and to the finish, Shimikal Storm just digging in with every stride and he struck the lead late, continued on to the wire and took the win by a length.  Last City continued on well from his inside position and took the place over Humble Beginnings, closing late outside.  Joker On Jack took the fourth spot, Boom Shakalaka with some late run to be fifth, Legend Larry sixth, Evergreen seventh, Smoke Dawg eighth, Cloud Computing tiring to be tenth and Taunt closed this one out.

Shimkal Strom is a 2yo black gelded son of Commanding The Storm – Shimkal Return, by Zero Return, and he was bred in Fla by his owner, Arindel.  This was his third win from four starts, back-to-back Fla bred stakes wins, three wins overall, and he now has $197.740 in earnings.

$2 Mutuel Prices: 

Track: Muddy            Time: :23³  :47³  1:12³  1:25¹
$1 Exacta: 5 – 4 Paid 10.90                 $1 Trifecta: 5 – 4 – 6 Paid 67.20
Scratched: None

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded