Sisterson, Calumet gearing up for the meet

Jack Sisterson was at Santa Anita on Saturday to saddle Calumet Farm’s Notable Exception for a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes. But meanwhile, Sisterson’s operation was busy, sending out 15 Calumet horses from his private Rice Road barn to work Saturday morning at Keeneland.

Among the workers was Lexitonian, who breezed a half-mile in 48.20 seconds in advance of an expected start in the Grade 2 Phoenix Stakes on Friday, opening day at Keeneland. Lexitonian finished third in the Phoenix last year, beaten less than a length by Engage and Whitmore, during a campaign in which he won stakes at Pimlico and Laurel.

Lexitonian has been based at Keeneland since March while making trips out of town to win at Oaklawn, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, and Saratoga. He finished second by a nose to Collusion Illusion in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on Aug. 1 at Del Mar.

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Lexitonian narrowly missed giving Sisterson a second Grade 1 on the day, and the second of his career, in the Bing Crosby. Earlier on the opposite coast, Vexatious upset champion Midnight Bisou in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga.

Vexatious worked a half-mile on Saturday, going in 47.60 in her second work since finishing fifth behind champion Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 La Troienne on Sept. 4. She is expected to train up to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

◗ Bowies Hero, the defending winner of the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile, worked five furlongs on the Keeneland turf Saturday morning in preparation for a return engagement, covering five furlongs in 1:02.20 for trainer Phil D’Amato. The 6-year-old is winless in four outings since last year’s Shadwell.