We needed to refocus and he just needed to be comfortable again. We didn't want to feel like we had to run in the Belmont but, obviously, we wanted to.
"American Classic Races/American Classic Race / Breeders' Cup wins:"Kentucky Derby (2005)Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (2008, 2009)Breeders' Cup Classic (2009)
/awards = Big Sport of Turfdom Award/Big Sport of Turfdom (2009)
/honors =
/horses = A.P. Warrior, Bertrando, Giacomo (horse)/Giacomo, Life Is Sweet (horse)/Life Is Sweet, Manistique (horse)/Manistique, Scenic Blast, Tiago (horse)/Tiago, Zardana, Zenyatta , Nereid (horse)
/updated = April 25, 2007
}}
"John A. Shirreffs" (born June 1, 1945 in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas) is an United States/American Thoroughbred horse racing/racehorse horse trainer/trainer.
Based in California, Vietnam War veteran John Shirreffs began training Thoroughbreds in 1978. He has won a number of stakes races with his most important coming in the 2005 Kentucky Derby when Giacomo (horse)/Giacomo scored a major upset. In 2007, another Shirreffs-trained horse scored a major upset when Tiago (horse)/Tiago, a half-brother to Giacomo (both out of the mare Set Them Free) won the Santa Anita Derby. He is also the trainer of champion Zenyatta, beaten only once in twenty career starts, and winner of the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in 2008 and Breeders' Cup Classic in 2009.
More John Shirreffs on Wikipedia.It's a lot of work that goes into getting a horse ready, and we're really anxious to see Giacomo run again. I think everybody is. I feel the best is yet to come from this horse.
He went well, nice and even. It's a little early to say if he will make the San Fernando. There could be other options. This was only his first six-furlong work. He had worked four times at a half-mile, so he was ready to go an easy six.
We were looking for a quiet place and this is it. What's better than coming to Belmont Park and stabling in the Phipps' barn?
We feel very good about Mike riding the Belmont for us. He obviously knows the track very well.
He's really excited for this.
He doesn't have a real big engine behind. He doesn't have a big kick. He's steady, which is why I think the farther he goes the stronger he gets.
Giacomo as a two-year-old was a little immature physically. So we just -- we couldn't, you know, push him too hard until he physically developed a little more. Everything sort of snapped into place for him before the Santa Anita Derby. He came out of the Santa Anita Derby so well. Then he worked really well for the Kentucky Derby. So, you know, really felt good about that.
Mike said he was waiting for the call.
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