Shaman Ghost grinds it out in Pimlico Special

Report: USA, Friday

Pimlico: Pimlico Special (Grade 3 hcap) 1m1½f | dirt | 3yo+

Shaman Ghost (Jimmy Jerkens/Javier Castellano) looked to hold an obvious class edge in the historic Pimlico Special and the 2-5 favourite duly got the job done – albeit narrowly over his stubborn front-running stablemate Dolphus, who battled hard in the closing stages.

Carrying the colours of Pimlico owner Frank Stronach, Shaman Ghost brought strong credentials to the $300,000 contest, having chased home Arrogate in the Pegasus World Cup before winning the Santa Anita Handicap.

After racing in mid-division in the early stages, he moved four wide down the back before making his move entering the stretch, where he was made to work hard to grind down Dolphus (received 6lb).

In front of a bumper crowd of 50,339, Shaman Ghost was on top by a neck in the end, with more than seven lengths back to third-placed Watershed. "It's terrific to run one-two – it's what we came down here for," said winning trainer Jimmy Jerkens after watching his five-year-old son of Ghostzapper add his name to a storied roll of honour featuring such luminaries as Seabiscuit, Citation and Cigar.

The winning time of 1m54.55s over a fast main track was the fastest in the five runnings since the Special was resumed in 2012 after a three-year hiatus.

"Dolphus had his own way," added Jerkens. "He wasn't exactly walking but he got the three-quarters in 1:12 and the way the track was playing today, I thought he had a shot to hang on. Shaman had just a little too much for him, but Dolphus ran terrific.

"It's great to win for Mr Stronach at his track – and it's great to keep Shaman going."

Pimlico Special result

Also on Friday

Pimlico: Black-Eyed Susan (Grade 2) 1m1f | dirt | 3yo fillies

Former British-based jockey Fergal Lynch, now stationed in the US, was narrowly denied a high-profile winner as Lights Of Medina just failed to catch Actress (Jason Servis/Nik Juarez) in Pimlico's senior race for three-year-old fillies.

With heavy rain during the meeting resulting in a sloppy surface, they went too fast up front which allowed closers to dominate proceedings. Sent off nearly 13-1, the homebred Tapit filly Actress made her move around before getting checked at the head of the stretch; switched outside, she led into the final furlong, where she held off the runner-up's late thrust by a head.

Black-Eyed Susan result