Tag: jack sisterson

Sisterson: True Timber ‘Not A One-Dimensional Sprinter,’ To Target Saudi Cup

British born Jack Sisterson, a rising star of the US training ranks, is strongly considering The Saudi Cup for his impressive Cigar Mile winner True Timber. After his 5 1/2 length victory in the Grade 1 at Aqueduct on Saturday, True Timber's handler was thrilled the 6-year-old was able to perform to such a high level.

“We were very proud of him and it was so rewarding for all the staff that put the hard work in 24/7,” said Sisterson. “He came to us from Kiaran McLaughlin in early springtime. We gave him a brief break and he was penclled in to run at Keeneland but we couldn't because of the pandemic.

“He ran in an open allowance race there in July and ran very well to be third. Any race at Keeneland is a tough one and we thought it would be a stepping stone. It shows how good a trainer Kiaran is that he came to us in such good form. His best race last year was the Cigar Mile, so it was a race we wanted to target.”

The son of Mineshaft is now heading for warmer climes.

“He's heading back home to Keeneland and then we'll be shipping him down to Florida towards the end of the week. We're going to be changing his training regime up a bit, from a sprinter to more of a miler,” said Sisterson.

“We'll then be looking at races like the Pegasus World Cup and The Saudi Cup. These are the races you dream of and it's important to capitalize when the moment's right. [The Cigar Mile] gives us the confidence to go for races like that. I don't think the trip will be an issue at all, he has the presence of a distance type of horse, not a one-dimensional sprinter.”

Originally from Durham in England, Sisterson has now been in America for 15 years.

“I came over on a soccer scholarship from the University of Louisville,” said the 35-year-old. “My family had a few horses in point-to-points back in the UK and I always wanted to be involved at some level.”

He couldn't have received a better education in US racing: “I've been incredibly fortunate to learn from the best and the support I've received has been amazing. I started off working for Todd Pletcher and then Doug O'Neill, so I've been around some incredible horses.”

A trip to Saudi Arabia wouldn't be a first for Sisterson either, as he travelled to Riyadh when working with O'Neill.

“I made it out to Saudi when we took Bailoutbobby over there for a Grade One in 2016. He had been bought by Prince Faisal and I had a great time, meeting lots of people. It would be fantastic to go over there again.”

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Cigar Mile Winner May Head For Taller Timber In Pegasus, Saudi Cup

Cigars and timber are not usually a good pairing. But Calumet Farm's True Timber proved his talent at the highest level with a 5 1/2-length win over Snapper Sinclair in Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Trainer Jack Sisterson said True Timber will fly to Keeneland on Monday and could start preparations for another challenging race, with the nine-furlong Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup on January 23 a possibility, along with the nine-furlong $20 million Saudi Cup on February 20 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“He's going on 7 [years old] and I don't want to take away what he loves to do, which is train and run,” Sisterson said. “He's not slowing down any. You need to capitalize. We'll look to bring him down to Palm Meadows in Florida and look at the Pegasus race form. We've also been invited to the Saudi Cup. We'll look at options like that and stretch him out. It'll be the first time around two turns for us, so we'll train him a little differently and see if he takes to that, and we'll go from there.”

True Timber registered his first win since September 2018, earning a trip to the winner's circle for the first time in 14 starts. The son of Mineshaft capped his 6-year-old year by capturing a race in which he's come close in the past, having run second by three-quarters of a length to Patternrecognition in 2018 and third in 2019 to Maximum Security.

“For True Timber, what impressed me the most was proving to people that he could win a big race and do it impressively,” said Sisterson. “He showed us in the morning that he has such a will to compete at a level like that. But from the outside looking in, the general public may have questioned his talent. He put forth his best effort, which we knew he had, yesterday.”

True Timber gave both his rider and conditioner an early Christmas gift. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who has been riding professionally since 2000, earned his first career Grade 1 victory after piloting the bay Kentucky bred.

The victory also marked the second career Grade 1 score for Sisterson, who took over True Timber's training duties this summer when Kiaran McLaughlin retired to become a jockey agent. Sisterson, who started on his own as a trainer in 2018, previously won the Personal Ensign with Vexatious this summer at Saratoga Race Course.

True Timber graduated at second asking in December 2016 on the Big A inner track with Carmouche in the irons. The pair have partnered up on nine occasions for a record of 3-1-3. Carmouche entered Sunday's Closing Day leading Jose Lezcano by four wins for the fall meet's leading rider.

“It means a lot for me for my staff who does all the hard work and to have someone like Kendrick say he'd ride them back, it gave us a lot of confidence and means a lot,” Sisterson said. “To be able to team up and win a race like that, it's been a long time coming but a well-deserved victory for Kendrick, who is a talented jockey and deserves a win like that. I didn't give him any instructions. He just told me, 'I got you, brother,' before the race in a text. We are just fortunate enough to add one victory to what is hopefully a riding title for him.”

Though True Timber was on a winless streak, he still registered competitive efforts against top-flight competition, including a third in the Grade 1 Forego on August 29 over a sloppy Saratoga track. With the Cigar Mile being contested over another sloppy and sealed track, Sisterson said that experience proved beneficial in preparing him to take dirt, as he tracked in third position through the opening half-mile on Saturday behind pacesetter Mr. Buff and King Guillermo.

“I think what benefitted him the most yesterday was his outside position,” said Sisterson on True Timber leaving from post 5 in the six-horse field. “We learned in his training and in the runs that he had, he doesn't like being shut on the inside. We don't work him on the inside in company; he's always on the outside, and he breezes like a happy horse and trains like a happy horse on the outside.

“He ran a credible race in the Forego and I think if he was on the outside and not pressured, he might have hung around to not be beat as far, but he still finished a good third. I think his outside position yesterday really helped him out.”

Sisterson's other Cigar Mile entrant, Bon Raison, finished last of six but came out of the effort in good order. The 5-year-old son of Raison d'Etat entered off a 10th-place finish in last month's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland and will now receive a freshening after running nine times in 2020.

“We took a shot. He's a homebred and a beautiful horse who has talent and I think as a plan for him moving forward, he'll get a well-deserved break,” Sisterson said. “We think he has a few nice wins in him. Maybe not at that sort of caliber, but if we pick and choose our spots, we can bring him back in the springtime and have some fun with him next year.”

Also owned by Calumet, Bon Raison won against on October 16 going six furlongs against optional claimers at Keeneland.

 

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A Grade 1 First For Kendrick Carmouche As True Timber Takes Cigar Mile In Third Try

Calumet Farm's True Timber earned black type in the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile in each of the last two years. After a runner-up effort in 2018 and a third-place finish in 2019, the son of Mineshaft finally broke through on Saturday, taking command out of the turn and powering home a 5 1/2-length winner to capture the 32nd edition at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

A storm-drenched day made for a sloppy and sealed main track, but the conditions did not faze True Timber, who broke sharp from post 5 under Aqueduct fall meet-leading rider Kendrick Carmouche and tracked in third position as New York-bred Mr. Buff led the six-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 22.89 seconds and the half in 45.82.

Heading into the stretch, Carmouche set True Timber down, easily holding off late bids from runner-up and 13-1 longshot Snapper Sinclair and 4-5 favorite Performer to hit the wire in 1:36.49.

“I had perfect position leaving the gate and all the way around there,” Carmouche said. “Right before we got to the quarter pole, I pulled the trigger and I knew they were going to have to run me down from here.”

The win was a history-making one for Carmouche, who secured his first Grade 1 victory in a career that started in 2000. The Vinton, La., native had tallied six previous Grade 2 wins and will enter Sunday's Closing Day looking for another milestone, as he holds a four-win lead over Jose Lezcano [21-17] in a bid for his first career riding title at a New York Racing Association meet.

“It's my first Grade 1. I owe it all to my fans, my wife and kids and how much they stuck with me and kept me pushing and fighting in this game,” said an emotional Carmouche. “This means so much to me. This is the biggest win of my career and I hope I have many more blessed ones.

“It means a lot going into the winter meet,” he continued. “New York has really good racing and really good purses. Things are getting started back up in the country and the sky is the limit. We just have to keep on fighting.”

Carmouche needed six months to recover from a broken right leg suffered in a spill at Kentucky Downs in September 2018. He has won six graded stakes since returning and three this year, with True Timber joining Mischevious Alex in the Grade 3 Gotham and Fire At Will in the Grade 2 Pilgrim.

“I got hurt and things got set back a little bit, but with the type of person that I am – working hard and having a lot of heart and fight – it got me back to where I am today,” Carmouche said.

Winning trainer Jack Sisterson had reason to be confident in True Timber's ability to handle an off track, following his third-place finish in the Grade 1 Forego in August at Saratoga Race Course, garnering a season-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I got to give credit to True Timber, the farm, the incredible staff I have, and of course Kendrick,” said Sisterson, who took over True Timber's training duties in the summer when Kiaran McLaughlin retired to become a jockey agent. “I had all the confidence in the world when Kendrick texted me, 'I got you brother, don't worry', with a little peace sign.”

Returning to another sloppy track, True Timber won for the first time in 14 starts dating to September 2018 at Belmont Park. The now 6-year-old had finished second or third eight times in that stretch, including three consecutive third-place efforts to cap 2019 in the Grade 2 Kelso, Grade 3 Bold Ruler and Cigar Mile.

“As soon as I got the horse, the Cigar Mile was a year-end goal,” Sisterson said. “A lot of emphasis has to be put on how good a trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is. He had this horse before I did and sent him to me in such good shape. This shows how good of a trainer he really is.”

Sisterson won his second career Grade 1 after he won the Personal Ensign with Vexatious in August at Saratoga.

Off at 7-1, True Timber returned $16.60 on a $2 win wager. He improved his career earnings to $1.21 million.

“We'll make sure he comes out of it in good shape and talk to the farm about what the future might be,” Sisterson said. “Physically, he's beautiful to look at, and he's in great shape.”

Snapper Sinclair, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and ridden by Manny Franco, edged Performer by a neck for second.

“I was happy with the position that I got,” Franco said. “The pace in front of me was quick and I just tried to give my horse a breather. When I made my move, he really responded for me. I knew the horse in front had a lot and would be hard to catch, but my horse ran a great race.”

Performer, ridden by Joel Rosario from the inside post, saw his five-race winning streak snapped but kept intact his pristine record of on-the-board efforts, moving to 5-0-2 in seven starts.

“He broke just OK and I was a little further back than I wanted,” Rosario said. “It took him a little time to handle the track. Sometimes when the track is wet it's hard to come from where he was. He made his run from the outside and seemed to be comfortable there. But it was tough to catch up with the leader.”

King Guillermo, Mr. Buff and Bon Raison completed the order of finish. Firenze Fire, Mind Control and Majestic Dunhill scratched.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct with Closing Day of the 18-day fall meet, offering three stakes on the nine-race card, including a pair of $250,000 New York Stallion Stakes Series races with the Great White Way and Fifth Avenue and the $100,000 Garland of Roses. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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True Timber Relishes the Slop in Cigar Mile Romp

True Timber (Mineshaft) has been knocking at the door of a Grade I win throughout his career, including in-the-money finishes in the last two renewals of the GI Cigar Mile H. The Calumet Farm runner broke through at the highest level in a big way at Aqueduct Saturday, romping in the mud to take this year’s edition of the prestigious Cigar Mile.

With his last victory coming in a Belmont optional claimer in September of 2018, True Timber was overlooked at 7-1 in this event, which lost three contenders Saturday morning due to track condition, including second-choice Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior). Racing two-wide, the bay stalked from third as come-backing sophomore King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) and hard-knocking New York-bred Mr. Buff (Friend of Foe) battled through a :22.89 first quarter. Mr. Buff edged ahead of his younger foe through a half in :45.82 with True Timber maintaining his position in third and favored Performer (Speightstown) trailing the field.

Ranging up outside the top two approaching the far turn, True Timber turned for home in front and splashed clear of the field in the lane under confident handling from Kendrick Carmouche to pull off the upset by 5 1/2 lengths. Snapper Sinclair (City Zip), a 13-1 shot, completed the exacta and Performer got up for third.

“I’ve got to give credit to True Timber, the farm, the incredible staff I have, and of course Kendrick [Carmouche],” said winning trainer Jack Sisterson. “I had all the confidence in the world when Kendrick texted me, ‘I got you brother, don’t worry’, with a little peace sign.”

He continued, “As soon as I got the horse [this spring], the Cigar Mile was a year-end goal. A lot of emphasis has to be put on how good a trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is. He had this horse before I did and had him sent him to me in such good shape. This really shows how good of a trainer he really is.”

The Cigar Mile was the first Grade I score for the popular Carmouche, who currently sits atop the fall meet standings with one day left in the meet.

“I owe it all to my fans, my wife and kids and how much they stuck with me and kept me pushing and fighting in this game,” said Carmouche. “This means so much to me. This is the biggest win of my career and I hope I have many more blessed ones.”

As for his trip aboard True Timber, Carmouche said. “We got an outside position this time with the horse being inside the last two times that I rode him at Saratoga and Belmont. I was very pleased with the draw we got and we had a couple scratches because of the sloppy track. I had perfect position leaving the gate and all the way around there. Right before we got to the quarter pole, I pulled the trigger and I knew they were going to have to run me down from here.”

Second in the 2018 Cigar Mile and third to champion Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) in last year’s edition, True Timber kicked off 2020 with an eighth-place finish in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. Jan. 25 and was fourth in the GII Gulfstream Park Mile Feb. 29. Transferred to Sisterson after McLaughlin retired from training to take the book of jockey Luis Saez Apr. 1, the 6-year-old was third behind subsequent MGSW C Z Rocket (City Zip) when cut back to a sprint distance in a Keeneland optional claimer July 12. Completing the trifecta in a sloppy renewal of Saratoga’s GI Forego S. Aug. 29, True Timber was fourth to Firenze Fire in Belmont’s GII Vosburgh Invitational S. Sept. 26 and was second in the Lafayette S. at Keeneland on Breeders’ Cup Saturday Nov. 7.

Pedigree Notes:

True Timber is the seventh Grade I winner, 22nd graded victor and 52nd black-type scorer for Mineshaft, who, along with Honor Code, looks to carry on the legacy of his legendary late sire A.P. Indy at Lane’s End. The winner’s dam Queen’s Wood (Tiznow) was purchased by Haymarket Farm for $47,000 in foal to Quality Road at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale as part of the complete dispersal of VinMar Farm LLC. The resulting foal is the now-3-year-old gelding Motown Music, a $250,000 KEESEP acquisition by China Horse Club and WinStar Farm, who won two of his three starts this year. Her unraced juvenile colt by Into Mischief was purchased by the same connections for $560,000 at KEESEP and is named Floodgate. Queen’s Wood did not have a foal in 2019 and aborted her Malibu Moon foal this year. The 12-year-old mare was bred back to Omaha Beach earlier this term. True Timber hails from the family of MGISW stallion Pleasantly Perfect (Pleasant Colony); European champion Elusive Kate (Elusive Quality); and Group 1-winning sire Distant View (Mr. Prospector).

Saturday, Aqueduct
CIGAR MILE H.-GI, $250,000, Aqueduct, 12-5, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:36.49, sy.
1–TRUE TIMBER, 119, h, 6, by Mineshaft
1st Dam: Queen’s Wood, by Tiznow
2nd Dam: Salon Prive, by Private Account
3rd Dam: La Trinite (Fr), by Lyphard
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
WIN. ($170,000 Wlg ’14 KEENOV). O-Calumet Farm; B-Mr. &
Mrs. Marc C. Ferrell (KY); T-Jack Sisterson; J-Kendrick
Carmouche. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 29-5-5-9, $1,215,150.
Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Snapper Sinclair, 117, h, 5, City Zip–True Addiction, by Yes
It’s True. ($30,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP; $180,000 2yo ’17 OBSAPR).
O-Bloom Racing Stable LLC (Jeffrey Bloom); B-K & G Stables
(KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $50,000.
3–Performer, 118, c, 4, Speightstown–Protesting, by A.P. Indy.
O-Phipps Stable & Claiborne Farm; B-Phipps Stable (KY);
T-Claude R. McGaughey III. $30,000.
Margins: 5HF, NK, 6HF. Odds: 7.30, 13.40, 0.85.
Also Ran: King Guillermo, Mr. Buff, Bon Raison. Scratched: Firenze Fire, Majestic Dunhill, Mind Control.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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