Roaming Union tries turf in Tale of the Cat Stakes

Trainer Kelly Breen has been on a roll at Monmouth Park, and on Saturday he will attempt to win his second stakes race at the young meet when he sends out Roaming Union in the $60,000 Tale of the Cat.

Roaming Union is part of a nine-horse field for the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds, and all of the entrants have one thing in common: Each is looking for his first stakes win. The group also includes Hazit, who won his maiden over eventual champion Good Magic last year at Saratoga; Gunnison, a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Divisidero; and Strike Me Down, a son of the Grade 2-winning mare Strike Softly.

Breen won his first stakes at the meet two weeks ago with Drop Dead Red in the Politely. He ranks second in the Monmouth trainer standings with nine wins from 23 starters for an outstanding strike rate of 39 percent.

“We had the right races go for us,” Breen said. “I think that’s had a lot to do with it.”

Tale of the Cat (Race 10)

KEY CONTENDERS

Roaming Union, by Union Rags
Last 3 Beyers: 88-62-67

◗ He rolled to a 12 1/4-length maiden special weight win going 1 1/8 miles in January at Aqueduct. The Tale of the Cat will be his turf debut, and he enters off a runner-up finish in a first-level allowance at one mile and 70 yards on May 14 at Parx. The start was his first since March.

“It was a step in the right direction,” Breen said. “His Beyer number improved. . . . He’s seems to have come out of the race in good order.

“He’s a big, long-striding, good-feeling colt, and the timing fits.”

◗ Roaming Union, who races for George E. Hall, will break from post 2 under Albin Jimenez.

“He’s been an on-the-pace kind of horse,” said Breen.

Hazit, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 81-48-80

◗ He is making his turf debut and is by a stallion who is getting 11 percent winners from his first-time turf starters and 17 percent winners overall on grass.

◗ Hazit will be stretching back out around two turns off a runner-up finish in the $75,000 Roar at seven-eighths April 21 at Gulfstream.

◗ He is out of a Grade 3-winning mare who earned $418,391.

◗ Eric Cancel has the mount for trainer Todd Pletcher.