Sheilahs Warcloud #6 just missed the MD Million Lassie to Miss Harriett. (Jim McCue/MJC)
Twice Stakes-Placed Nearing Comeback
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Over a 24-hour period to kick off the month of August, her older sister was narrowly beaten for third in a Canadian stakes and her younger brother won his unveiling in Virginia. Soon Sheilahs Warcloud will be rejoining her siblings on the racetrack, much to the delight of Laurel Park-based owner, trainer and co-breeder Justin Nixon.
“Nobody’s happier about it than myself, I can tell you that,” Nixon said. “She’s been very good to us, so we’ve got to be very good to her.”
Bred in Maryland with Dr. Megan Kerford, Sheilahs Warcloud was a promising prospect heading into her 3-year-old season after winning her debut last summer at Colonial Downs and running second in her next three starts, two of them stakes – Laurel’s Maryland Million Lassie and Maryland Juvenile.
Named for Nixon’s mother, Sheilahs Warcloud launched her sophomore campaign with a popular 1 ½-length optional claiming allowance victory Jan. 12 at Laurel but has gone unraced since. After missing some time, she had three breezes in April before going to the sidelines again but returned to the work tab in mid-July and has been training steadily since.
Sheilahs Warcloud has been nominated to several stakes over the spring and summer including the Black-Eyed Susan (G2), Miss Preakness (G3) and, most recently, the $75,000 Miss Disco for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-old fillies July 21 at Laurel.
“She’s coming along real nice. We’re just not going to push her,” Nixon said. “I don’t have anything right now exactly picked out for her, nothing specific in mind. I think ultimately, we’d like to go back to the Maryland Million, but obviously we’d like to get a race into her before that.”
The 39th Jim McKay Maryland Million is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12 at Laurel. Sheilahs Warcloud went off favored in the Lassie, sat off a duel up front and came with a four-wide rally to draw even in deep stretch with leader Miss Harriett – a first-time starter sent off at 62-1 – but ultimately fell a neck short.
“I thought she ran great,” Nixon said. “Miss Harriett ran lights out and I thought we had her. She came out to us a little bit and maybe it just intimidated her just a touch and we couldn’t get by that filly. We ran as good as we can run and not win.”
By Madefromlucky, Sheilahs Warcloud has been sharp in her recent breezes including a five-furlong bullet in 1:00.40 Friday at Laurel. She went three furlongs in 36 seconds July 20, fastest of 12 horses; and a half-mile in 48 seconds July 28, ranking fourth of 65 horses, and 48.20 Aug. 7, third-fastest of 24.
“She’s working well and doing everything right, fingers crossed,” Nixon said. “We had a couple little bumps in the road there over the spring but we’re in good order now and progressing nicely.”
Meanwhile, 2-year-old Rogueish colt Reggie Runs Rogue graduated by 2 ¼ lengths in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight Aug. 2 at Colonial Downs the day before 5-year-old mare Gastown Babe, a six-figure earner, ran fourth in the Sweet Briar Too at Woodbine beaten a neck for third. Like Sheilahs Warcloud, both are out of the Sky Mesa mare Sky Lani. The three are stabled side-by-side-by-side in Nixon’s Laurel barn.
“Brothers and sisters, right down the row, one-two-three,” Nixon said. “Unfortunately we lost the mare, but all three of the foals we had out of the mare won at first asking. She was awful good to us and all three of them are just solid horses and great to have in the barn. We’re excited about him, we’re excited about her, and Gastown is chipping away … so hopefully she’ll keep producing.”
