Shadwell Stable’s Shakis got a flawless ride from red-hot jockey Alan Garcia to run past unsuspecting War Monger and go on to a repeat victory in the 50th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap at nine furlongs on the inner turf course at Saratoga Race Course.

The Bernard Baruch was part of a 12-race card, featuring the 139th running of the Grad 1, $1 million Traver Stakes presented by Shadwell Farm.

With his one-length victory, the 8-year-old, Irish-bred Machiavellian horse became only the third horse to win back-to-back runnings of the Bernard Baruch, joining Win (1984-’85) and Hap (2000-’01).

“He’s very sound and he trains good,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin of his third winner on the Travers Day card. “We just wish they ran the Bernard Baruch twice a year.

“He’s really been unlucky. His first race back, he was 10-wide at Keeneland. Then, we went to Pimlico and he had a rough trip. He ran back in three weeks on short rest going 10 furlongs. (But) this is what he wants to do. Alan did a great job.”

If Shakis had been unlucky before, that wasn’t the case on Saturday.

With Thorn Song on the lead, the timer went in 23.40, 48.17, 1:11.67 and 1:35.26. But War Monger was a strong second throughout and took the lead easily. He just never saw Shakis, who had come from eighth to win in 1:46.78.

“I didn’t think we had any chance at the top of the stretch,” McLaughlin said. “I was afraid that they weren’t going fast enough up front; I was looking for a faster pace.

“This just worked out great. This is very special because so many people from Shadwell are here because they are sponsoring the Travers. That makes it special. They are great people to work for. There are like 30 people from Shadwell, and for many of them, this is there first (Saratoga) experience. Sheikh Hamdan (bin Rashid al Maktoum) is a great owner and it is nice to win for people who are so good to you.”

Another who was good to McLaughlin was Garcia. Shakis was his fourth winner of the afternoon.

“I’m very happy,” Garcia said. “Mr. McLaughlin has done a wonderful job with this horse. He gave me the instructions and told me to forget about his last two races. He’s in better form. He was flying at the end. Everything went as planned.”

War Monger was three-quarters of a length ahead of Operation Red Dawn. Close behind were Thorn Song, Elusive Fort (SAF), favored Proudinsky (GER), Drum Major, Sensational Humor, Distorted Reality and Yate’s Black Cat.

“I thought he ran an incredible race from the outside post,” said trainer Bill Mott of War Monger. “I was worried about him breaking from the 10 post. He was in good position throughout. Coming for home, he kicked it in and ran hard.”