Calgary Cat starts turf campaign in Elusive Quality

ELMONT, N.Y. – Though 10 of Calgary Cat’s 12 victories have come over a synthetic surface, trainer Kevin Attard believes the 7-year-old gelding has developed a preference for turf.

Calgary Cat finished his 6-year-old season with a victory in the Grade 2 Nearctic at Woodbine and a late-running fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. With his objective being turf for Calgary Cat in 2017, Attard has chosen Saturday’s $150,000 Elusive Quality at Belmont Park to launch the gelding’s campaign.

The Elusive Quality, at seven furlongs, drew a field of seven for turf and two more for the main track only. The forecast calls for dry conditions, so the race figures to remain on the grass.

From November 2014 through last July 23, Calgary Cat had 10 consecutive races over Woodbine’s synthetic surface, winning five. Attard felt last summer that Calgary Cat struggled with the track at Woodbine, so he put him back on turf in the Troy Stakes at Saratoga. Calgary Cat finished fifth, beaten only three-quarters of a length by Disco Partner, whom he meets again Saturday.

“I thought he ran a super race in the Troy,” Attard said Thursday by phone from Woodbine. “I might have told the jock to keep him wide, and we lost too much ground. In hindsight, I should have kept my mouth shut.”

Calgary Cat went back to Woodbine and finished fourth in a stakes on synthetic before winning the Nearctic. In the Breeders’ Cup, Calgary Cat was last of 14 at the top of the lane but came with a late run to finish fourth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths.

“I don’t know if he got lost down the hill,” Attard said. “He’s typically not that far back.”

Rajiv Maragh will ride Calgary Cat from what will be post 6 after the two main-track-only horses scratch.

Disco Partner will be making his first start for trainer Christophe Clement after going 5 for 15 under the tutelage of Jim Ryerson. Disco Partner won the Troy and finished fourth in the Belmont Turf Sprint last fall before being put away for the year.

Completing the field are Siding Spring, Kharafa, Great Wide Open, Hammers Vision, and Never Gone South.

KEY CONTENDERS

Calgary Cat, by Cowtown Cat

Last 3 Beyers: 101-97-86

◗ He returns from a 175-day layoff.

“He had a good winter; I had him at Gulfstream,” Attard said. “Hopefully, he’s tight enough to go seven-eighths off the bench.”

DRF FORMULATOR fact: Over the last three years, Attard is 8 for 39 with a $3.55 ROI when bringing horses back off layoffs of 61 to 180 days.

Disco Partner, by Disco Rico

Last 3 Beyers: 99-102-90

◗ Returns from a 203-day layoff over a course he’s won on three times.

“I hope he’s 100 percent fit,” Clement said. “I have a question mark on the ground if it’s soft and a question mark on the seven-eighths. I think he’s better shorter than longer.”

DRF FORMULATOR fact: Over the last three years, Clement is 11 for 33 with a $2.66 ROI in turf sprints.

Siding Spring, by Warrior’s Reward

Last 3 Beyers: 90-95-86

◗ Had a two-race winning streak snapped when he finished fourth in the Grade 3 Appleton at Gulfstream going a two-turn mile. He could play out as the primary speed under John Velazquez.