Stallwalkin' Dude needs to pick it up to defend title in Tale of the Cat
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Stallwalkin’ Dude came into the 2015 Tale of the Cat off a series of good efforts that included a pair of graded stakes placings, and he parlayed that good form into a nose decision over Scarly Charly. But when he returns to defend his title Friday at Saratoga, Stallwalkin’ Dude will go into the six-furlong dash off a trio of off-the-board outings and likely will be among the outsiders in a wide-open field of 11 older sprinters. The $100,000 Tale of the Cat, race 9, is restricted to horses who have not won a graded stakes on the year.
Stallwalkin’ Dude had finished second in the Grade 2 True North and third in the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint Championship prior to winning the Tale of the Cat from just off the lead here one year ago. He goes into Friday’s race off a fourth-place finish under Javier Castellano in an optional claimer at Belmont Park on July 14. Joe Bravo rides on Friday.
“He wound up setting a fast pace in his last start, and coming off a little freshening, he wasn’t ready for that,” said trainer David Jacobson, who’ll also send out Chief Lion in the Tale of the Cat. “I think Bravo will ride him a little differently this time. He’ll be sitting a little bit off the pace, just as he did when he won this race last summer.”
Chief Lion figures to be part of a lively pace with a group that includes Green Gratto, Easy to Say, Lewys Vaporizer, and No Hiding Place. Chief Lion is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park after seeming to be cruising past eventual winner Delta Bluesman on the turn.
“I was very disappointed in his race in Florida,” said Jacobson. “I think he’s better than that, but it was brutally hot that day, and while it was the same for all of them, that kind of thing affects some horses differently than others. It figures to be cooler here Friday, and if we get a wet track, which we certainly could, I wouldn’t be too upset either.”
Dads Caps finished second, beaten a neck by Joking, two starts back in the True North before running third as the 3-2 favorite in the July 14 optional claimer over a muddy track at Belmont Park. Dads Caps finished 3 3/4 lengths in front of Stallwalkin’ Dude in that race and three lengths behind winner The Truth Or Else, who returns in the Tale of the Cat. Dads Caps breaks from post 11.
“He’s been such a special horse to us, I just hope he gets a dry track this time,” said trainer Rudy Rodriguez. “I like his post. From outside, he should be able to get a good stalking position. He doesn’t need to be on the lead like he was in his last start.”
A sizzling pace would favor The Truth Or Else, who rallied from more than a dozen lengths off the lead to win the optional claimer, and would benefit the multiple stakes winner Viva Majorca.
Key Contenders
Stallwalkin’ Dude, by City Place
Last 3 Beyers: 82-73-93
◗ His victory in the 2015 Tale of the Cat makes him the only member of this year’s field with a win over the track.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Stallwalkin’ Dude and No. 7 Chief Lion. Trainer David Jacobson is 10-5-1-0 with a $4.25 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprint listed stakes at Saratoga. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Chief Lion, by Wildcat Heir
Last 3 Beyers: 94-100-102
◗ He had a three-race win streak snapped in the Smile Sprint, including a pair of victories since being haltered for $62,500 out of a win this spring at Santa Anita.
Dads Caps, by Discreet Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 89-102-59
◗ Breezed five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.20 over the Oklahoma training track Aug. 4.
The Truth Or Else, by Yes It’s True
Last 3 Beyers: 97-77-85
◗ Earned by far his career-best Beyer Speed Figure in his last start and must not bounce while returning in less than a month.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 The Truth Or Else. Trainer Ken McPeek is 45-2-6-7 with a $0.45 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints at Saratoga. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Viva Majorca. Trainer Ian Wilkes is 29-11-2-3 with a $3.06 ROI over the past three years going turf to dirt and route to sprint. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan