When JK Shesalady races on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack, she'll look to keep her unblemished record intact and win her 14th straight race. What trainer Nancy Johansson would like to see is the same result, but a different path getting there.
Nineteen fillies dropped their name in the entry box for this year’s Fan Hanover Stakes, which features a set of $35,000 eliminations during Saturday’s program (entries - program pages).
The undefeated JK Shesalady makes her second start of the season in the first elimination, which is slated for Race 3 on the card. Tim Tetrick will look to keep the streak intact with the Johansson-trained daughter of Art Major-Presidential Lady. The career winner of $947,375, who is 13-for-13, departs from Post 3.
She was a 1:51.2 winner in her 2015 debut at Tioga Downs on May 25 in a division of the New York Sire Stakes, coming first up and pacing a sizzling :26.2 third quarter to clinch victory. That first over grind doesn't seem to phase JK Shesalady, so Trot Radio's Norm Borg asked if that trip phases the trainer.
"Obviously you don't like to be in that position but the way that she's been racing, that's kind of the position she's ended up in," said Johansson. "Everybody kind of wants to be on her back, so she gets that role. But she likes that grind and she likes her work...and I think she kind of gets a little bit of satisfaction from it, when she gets up next to them and puts them away and draws off on them."
It's an issue of necessity and not versatility for now, but Johansson doesn't see JK Sheslady towing the competition up into the flow week in and week out.
"She's doing her work so we're thrilled with that."
Johansson didn't have access to the field before the interview, but JK Shesalady will have her work cut out for her. Standing in her way on Saturday night will be the likes of Bettor Be Steppin (1:51.2 - $344,093), fellow world record holder Sassa Hanover (1:50.1 - $530,247) and recent New Jersey Sire Stakes winner The Show Returns (1:51 - $193,277). Her form coming into Saturday's stakes test is as perfect as her record, with Johansson noting that driver Tim Tetrick didn't pull the earplugs on her in her most recent qualifier or at Tioga.
"She's going to train a little bit on Wednesday, and then she's going to ship to Canada on Thursday afternoon...and then on Friday morning she'll jog a little bit."
To hear the full interview between Borg and Johansson, click the play button below.
Trot Radio - Episode 334 - Nancy Johansson
Audio Format: MP3 audio
Host: Norm Borg
(Photo courtesy Trot/Vicki Wright)
Rooting for you girl :)
Rooting for you girl :)