Tale of Ekati Outduels War Pass in G1 Wood Memorial
6th April 2008
Exciting colt Tale of Ekati (3c Tale of the Cat -- Silence Beauty, by Sunday Silence) made a strong run up the rail and outdueled favorite War Pass in a stirring finish in the Group One Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on Saturday.
The three-year-old colt rated behind War Pass through a blazing half-mile in :46.07, then reeled him in and pulled ahead in the stretch to win the 1 1/8-mile test by a half length.
His win gave trainer Barclay Tagg his second successive victory in the classic race for three year-olds having scored last year with Nobiz Like Shobiz.
“We always thought he was a good horse,” said Tagg.
“He showed up today big time.”
Unplaced when he lost all chance after being tardy from the barriers in the Group Two Louisiana Derby won by Pyro on March 8, Tale of Ekati bounced back to his best juvenile form in the Wood Memorial and is now on track for a start in the Group One Kentucky Derby.
Bred and raced by Charles Fipke, Tale of Ekati has the smart record of three wins and a second from six starts with prizemoney of $769,200.
A colt with a real stallion’s pedigree, Tale of Ekati is from the Sunday Silence mare Silence Beauty, a half-sister to champion mare Sky Beauty, a multiple Group One winner of 15 races and the dam of Group Three winner Hurricane Cat.
His grand-dam Maplejinsky is a dual Group One winner by Nijinsky, and a half-sister to champion sprinter Dayjur.
Tale of Ekati is one of 44 stakes-winners worldwide for Tale of the Cat and is his fourth Group One winner joining Glamour Puss, Trusty Cat and Lion Heart , whose oldest American progeny are two year-olds and Australian progeny are yearlings.
Tale of the Cat has seven yearlings catalogued for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
