Tale of Silence surprises with thrilling Westchester win

ELMONT, N.Y. – Tale of Silence and Vulcan’s Forge were the two longest-priced horses in the Grade 3 Westchester at Belmont Park on Saturday. They were last, and second to last, early. But at the moment it counted, Tale of Silence came out on the right end of a four-horse blanket finish with Vulcan's Forge finishing second.

Conquest Big E was hustled to the front in the one-mile Westchester by jockey Jose Batista with come-backing Preakness winner Cloud Computing and Tommy Macho reserved early while racing second and third. It was a sizable gap back to 12-1 Tale of Silence in fourth with Vulcan’s Forge a good distance farther back in last at 14-1.

Tommy Macho moved up under Tyler Gaffalione to press Conquest Big E on the far turn after a half-mile in 45.92, while jockey Manny Franco angled Cloud Computing to the outside and began to advance three wide.

Conquest Big E was finished at the top of the stretch as Cloud Computing and Tommy Macho hooked up eye to eye following six furlongs in 1:10.87. Tale of Silence and Vulcan’s Forge were beginning to make up ground with Trevor McCarthy taking Vulcan’s Forge to the outside and Dylan Davis staying to the inside with Tale of Silence.

Vulcan’s Forge and Tale of Silence steadily gained through the final furlong while Cloud Computing and Tommy Macho continued to fight it out, bumping several times in deep stretch. Vulcan’s Forge appeared to make the lead just before the wire but Tale of Silence won a tight head bob and a nose decision.

It was a nose back from Vulcan’s Forge to Tommy Macho and another head back to Cloud Computing in fourth.

“We let him get comfortable and into his own stride,” Davis said of Tale of Silence. “I knew it was hot up front.

“Turning for home there was a big gap down along the inside and he shot right for it, he didn’t pay no mind. He knew what he had to do today.”

Tale of Silence, who is owned by Charles Fipke and trained by Barclay Tagg, paid $26.60 in the five-horse field. He was timed in 1:36.14.
Tale of Silence is now 3 for 15. The win broke a six-race losing streak.

“He likes this track. He likes that big wide turn,” Tagg said. “One mile, one turn, that’s his game.

“The boy rode him very, very well. We told him to take him back and sit there. And when you feel you can’t wait any longer, wait a little longer.”

Moe Trouble was a vet scratch several minutes before post time.