Shaker Shack Shook Off the Competition in NYSSS Park Avenue

OZONE PARK, NY – Shaker Shack and Jose Ortiz shook off early and late challenges to win the New York State Stallion Series Park Avenue at Aqueduct on closing Sunday.

This was her first stakes start for trainer Patrick Reynolds.

“The blinkers helped a lot,” Ortiz said. “A lot of credit to Trevor who told me that the blinkers would help her a lot, and they did. Patrick did an amazing job like he always does. He doesn’t have a lot of horses, but I sure love to ride for him.”

Shesadirtydancer, Bustin Bay, and Laura’s Bellamy completed the order of finish. Heavily favored Laobanonaprayer finished last.

This is Shaker Shacks 2nd win of the year to improve her career record to 5-2-2-0. This 3-year-old Bustin Stones filly has now earned $156,445 for owners Roddy J. Valente and Darlene Bilinski.

“We worked her out of the gate and Trevor suggested that [adding blinkers]. Jose is so good out of the gate and he knows how to relax them. The blinkers helped,” Reynolds said. “She’s not one of those horses who comes over here prancing and dancing and really tough. I put the rider up and she’s all business.
“She’s a perfect filly to have and easy to train,” Reynolds added. “The owners have been terrific. They bred her and she’s part of the New York program. It was their decision to come here and I went along with it. I knew the 1-horse [Laobanonaprayer] was tough, but it was a little short for her. We got away and hung on and won.”

Reynolds said Shaker Shack shows similar determination during morning training.

“Even in her workouts, she would hang in there with $50,000 horses before she ever ran,” Reynolds said. “I worked her with an older horse before I ran her and she was game all the way.”

Shaker Shack returned $12.80 to win, $5.30 to place, and $4.90 to show.