Shakhimat took the lead on the far turn and repelled the late bid of Galton to win the G3 Tropical Turf Stakes by three-quarters of a length at Gulfstream Park.
Breaking alertly under jockey Edgard Zayas, the four-year-old son of Lonhro sat just off the leader, Western Reserve, through the early stages of the race. As the field neared the half-mile marker, Zayas gave his mount the signal and Shakhimat responded, overtaking Western Reserve to take the lead.
Shakhimat continued to increase his advantage through the far turn, entering the homestretch with a one-and-a-half length lead. In deep stretch Shakhimat turned back the challenge from Galton to win by three-quarters of a length.
Bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, Shakhimat is out of Reggae Rose, a winning daughter of Touch Gold. Reggae Rose is a half-sister to Celtic New Year, winner of the G2 Del Mar Handicap, and hails from the immediate family of champion and multiple G1 winner, Perfect Sting.
Lonhro is the sire of 69 stakes winners and has an outstanding winners-to-runners ratio of better than 70 percent.
