How to bet the 2026 Shakertown Stakes

A full cast of turf dashers will speed 5 1/2 furlongs on the Keeneland green in Saturday’s $400,000 Shakertown (G2).

West Coast invader #4 Yellow Card (10-1) has endured some less-than-ideal voyages in his career, but has still displayed a high level of ability for trainer Michael McCarthy. By Lost Treasure, the bay has faced some of the swiftest turf sprinters in the states and held his own, as he displayed with a fine closing run in the Clocker’s Corner S. at Santa Anita in his first run of 2026. 

Shakertown Wagers

• $10 win and place #4 Yellow Card ($20)
• $3 Exacta: key box 4 with 1,2,12 ($18) 
• $1 Trifecta: 1,4 with 1,2,4,12 with 1,2,4,12 ($12)

Yellow Card, who was a sharp second to the excellent Reef Runner in September, has gone close and placed in two of his three previous graded runs to date and seems poised to give a nice account of himself in this heat. The Kentucky-bred comes in fresh with room for improvement, having just a dozen lifetime runs to his credit, and I feel that he will be in the right spot at the top of the lane while getting first run on the deeper closing types. Flavien Prat will guide the leading selection. 

I feel that #1 Clock Tower (20-1) is very interesting in his first run since May, and I will be using him in the plays at an expected huge number. One of two in the cast for Wesley Ward, the Grade 3 hero was a winner in his lone turf sprint to date when bagging the Paradise Creek S. at Aqueduct in his 2025 finale, and I think that he will excel sticking to short trips going forward. The Not This Time gelding drilled a bullet on the course leading up to this start, and Walter Rodriguez will have to send him from the break, which will be to his benefit. 

Canadian champion #2 My Boy Prince (6-1) has changed tactics in his last pair of dashes on the turf when rallying from off the pace, and I like his versatility. Trained by Mark Casse, the multiple Grade-1 placed son of Cairo Prince has posted a pair of swift morning moves at Palm Meadows recently and seems poised to make a major impact in the tilt with clear sailing. Jose Ortiz will be in the silks and will likely have him close to the fence leading up to the stretch run. 

#12 Usually Wrong (9-2) is five-for-seven with a second on the grass in his lifetime and comes in with a four-race win streak, with the last three on the sod at Fair Grounds. The dark bay son of Lookin At Lucky has the speed to overcome the widest post, and he will be in the thick of it turning for home with regular pilot Isaac Castillo taking the reins once again.