Tale of Ekati Back to Best

6th October 2008

Classy three year-old Tale of Ekati (3c Tale of the Cat x Silent Beauty, by Sunday Silence) returned to his best at Belmont on Sunday to capture the Group Two Jerome Handicap by a length.

Winner of the Group Two Futurity Stakes over this course as a two year-old and then successful at Group One level earlier in the year in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, Tale of Ekati seemed to lose momentum after his gallant fourth in the Kentucky Derby.

Unplaced in three subsequent starts, Tale of Ekati was not fancied by punters for this assignment, but after travelling in third place he forged to the lead at the top of the straight and coasted home unchallenged to win by a length.

“I was pleased he handled the mud so well,” said winning trainer Barclay Tagg.

“I was disappointed that the track was so muddy so late in the day, but fortunately, he handled it well. I knew he was dead-right for the race, and I thought it was a good spot for him, although I knew it was very, very tough.

“I really have no idea what’s next for him.”

Bred and raced by Charles Fipke, Tale of Ekati has the smart record of four wins and a second from 11 starts with prizemoney of $992,758.

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 four stakes-winners during the past weekend for outstanding sire Tale of the Cat, who also featured with US Group Three winner Queen of the Catsle and Southern Hemisphere stakes-winners Tell a Tale and Real Saga.