The 4-year-old thoroughbred Shinny arrived at Canterbury Park this spring with trainer Robertino Diodoro having recently won a route race at Turf Paradise as the 4/5 favorite. In all, he had five wins from 13 starts. He had run for as little at $3,500, the price for which Diodoro had claimed Shinny, making him eligible for starter allowances where he could not be claimed. Diodoro took advantage of that situation and entered Shinny for May 25 in a $5,000 starter for his first Shakopee race.
The betting public knew the horse was in the right spot, appreciated that accomplished rider Lindey Wade was aboard, and sent the horse off as the 6/5 choice. Shinny, owned by Rosette Racing, won easily by two lengths. He was back again June 10 in the same spot, went favored and won again. This became a trend. June 27, favored, won. July 11, favored, won. Wade was aboard each time. Four in a row at Canterbury.
Shinny would not run again until August 12, this time in a $10,000 starter, a jump up in class. Not a single horse selector on the Canterbury grid picked him to win that night, much to their chagrin, including track analyst Brian Arrigoni. “Shinny was so good. He got passed, was a half-length behind, and immediately he came right back,” Arrigoni said following the race where Shinny went on to win by two lengths. “He was so game,” said the analyst. Five starts, five wins.
Wade won’t disagree with that assessment. He is riding at Canterbury for the first time this season and sits atop the jockey standings with fourteen days remaining in the meet. The success of Shinny, under the guidance of Wade, has bolstered the rider’s win total.
Shinny may not have glitzy stakes victories of other horses and is a longshot to be voted Older Horse of the Meet or Turf Horse, but he pays the bills, does everything that is asked of him, and simply wins. Look for him to race again soon.
