Shackleford, who was beaten less than four lengths in this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1), returns to Churchill Downs for the first time since that race for a start in Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). The 3-year-old Forestry colt won the Preakness S. (G1) two weeks after the Derby.

Owned and bred in Kentucky by Mike Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge, Shackleford broke his maiden at Churchill Downs last November. He wintered in Florida and was second in the Florida Derby (G1) prior to returning for the Run for the Roses. After the Triple Crown, Shackleford second in the Haskell I. (G1) and Indiana Derby (G2).

The Dirt Mile is seventh race on the Saturday card, with a post time of 4 p.m. Shackleford drew post 2 in the field of nine.

Shackleford is the lifetime leading earner for his sire Forestry, who ranks in the top 15 on the North American general sire list, with progeny earnings of more than $5 million.