Sisterson Sees Veteran Channel Cat On Upswing Going Into Man O’ War

Trainer Jack Sisterson will saddle Calumet Farm homebred Channel Cat in search of a first Grade 1 score in Saturday's $700,000 Man o' War, an 11-furlong inner turf test for older horses at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

The 6-year-old English Channel horse made the grade under the care of newly minted Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in the 2019 Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga Race Course. The victory came as part of a profitable season in which the chestnut finished third in both the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park and the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at the Spa.

Transferred to Sisterson's care last year, Channel Cat finished a closing fifth in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale in December at Gulfstream Park and followed with an even fifth in the Grade 3 William L. McKnight traveling 1 1/2-miles at the same oval in January.

Last out, Channel Cat was a prominent second in the 12-furlong Grade 2 Elkhorn on April 17 on the Keeneland turf.

Sisterson said a revised training schedule for Channel Cat heading into the Elkhorn made a world of difference.

“We were disappointed with his effort in the McKnight in Florida. Usually, second off the layoff in our barn is a big step forward and not a regression,” said Sisterson. “I think he was breezing too fast in the mornings leading up to the McKnight, so we backed off on him and gave him two weeks off after that race to focus on the Elkhorn at Keeneland. We slowed his works right down and he thrived off that.

“His coat started to change and he put on weight,” added Sisterson. “He ran a great second in the Elkhorn and Corey Lanerie was really happy with him. He came out of that race and put on weight and looked better coming out of it than he did going into it.”

To win the Grade 1 event, Channel Cat will have to topple a field that includes the North American debut of Sovereign, a gate-to-wire winner of the 2019 Group 1 Irish Derby, and last year's Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational-winner Gufo.

Sisterson said he will leave race tactics in the capable hands of Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who will guide Channel Cat from post 5.

“The good thing with Channel Cat is that he can be forwardly placed or save ground and relax and come from off the pace,” said Sisterson. “A lot of people would agree that a European horse with speed is a lot different from an American horse with speed, so It will be interesting to see what Irad Ortiz, Jr. does with Sovereign, who has shown speed in Europe.”

Sisterson is hoping to saddle a trio of horses Saturday at Belmont, including Calumet Farm's Anejo, a first time starter by Freud out of the Thunder Gulch mare Tiffany Twisted.

Anejo, bred in the Empire State by SF Bloodstock, is listed as the first also-eligible entrant in a six-furlong turf sprint for state-bred maidens 3-years-old and up in Race 5. Luis Saez will have the call should Anejo draw into the field.

“He was such a big 2-year-old that we backed off on him and let him grow into his frame,” said Sisterson. “He's big, but he shows a lot of speed as well. He had been working forwardly on the dirt and we don't usually win first time out, but he showed enough foundation to get him going on Saturday if he gets in.”

The New York-bred sophomore colt, purchased for $150,000 at the 2019 Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale, is a half-sibling to multiple stakes winner Twisted Tom.

Sisterson will also be represented by Calumet Farm homebred Scarabea in Race 11, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on the Widener turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. By American Pharoah, Scarabea is out of the multiple graded stakes winning Galileo mare Starstruck.

The well-bred chestnut, a half-sister to stakes winner Turf War, will make her fourth career start out of a closing fourth in a nine-furlong turf event at Keeneland on April 7.

“It may not be her best distance on Saturday. I think she's better at a mile and an eighth, but they might go a touch quicker up front at the shorter distance Saturday which would help her out,” said Sisterson.

Sisterson said a good effort on Saturday could propel Scarabea to the Grade 3,$200,000 Wonder Again, a nine-furlong turf test for sophomore fillies on June 3 at Belmont.

“She'll stay all day long and whether she breaks her maiden or not on Saturday, we'll see. If she does, we might try the Wonder Again,” said Sisterson. “If she doesn't, we'll be patient with her and look to break her maiden. She's definitely a filly that as she gets older and the races stretch out a bit, she could be a force in those longer distance turf races.”

Jose Lezcano is named to ride from post 3 in a field of 10.

Sisterson said Calumet Farm homebred Lexitonian is possible for the Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap on Belmont Stakes Day on June 5, following a strong second in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day when defeated a head by Flagstaff.

“On his day, he can compete with the best of them. He's a fighter and he puts his heart on the line,” said Sisterson.

Lexitonian entered the Churchill Downs from an even fourth in his seasonal debut in an optional-claiming sprint at Gulfstream Park in March.

“The goal was always the Churchill Downs and he had time between starts and we were able to work him three times,” said Sisterson. “We knew second off the layoff is good with him. This was the first time since we've had him that he didn't win second time off the layoff for us, so we thought it would be a much improved performance, which it was.”

The 5-year-old Speightstown chestnut boasts a record of 17-4-2-2 with purse earnings of $465,182. Lexitonian made the grade in the 2019 Grade 3 Chick Lang at Pimlico Race Course.

Sisterson said the Metropolitan Handicap and the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up on July 31 at the Spa, are potential targets.

“Timing wise, the Met Mile would be perfect,” said Sisterson. “If he trains forwardly we would consider it. There's also the Aristides [May 29] at Churchill as a prep for the Vanderbilt at Saratoga for him. I just want to space his races accordingly, so he can get the Grade 1 because I think he deserves it.”

Sisterson said True Timber, who was last seen winning the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap at the Big A in December under Kendrick Carmouche, is enjoying some downtime.

“True Timber has been turned out at my barn here at Keeneland since we decided to give him a break,” said Sisterson. “He's a bright eyed, happy horse. Hopefully, we can get him back going this month and back to Aqueduct at the end of the year to defend his Cigar Mile.”

The 7-year-old Mineshaft bay sports a record of 29-5-5-9 with purse earnings in excess of $1.2 million.

Bon Raison, who finished sixth last out in the Cigar Mile, is set to return to training next week. The 6-year-old son of Raison d'Etat, a Kentucky homebred, has a career ledger of 45-11-4-7 with purse earnings of $682,034.

“Bon Raison will be back on the work tab in a week or two and will come to Saratoga during the summer with us,” said Sisterson.

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True Timber ‘Slightly Off,’ Ruled Out Of Pegasus World Cup

Trainer Jack Sisterson revealed via Twitter on Wednesday that Grade 1 Cigar Mile winner True Timber will be forced to miss this Saturday's G1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. The 7-year-old son of Mineshaft came up “slightly off” after training on Wednesday, Sisterson wrote, and the trainer “elected to defer to caution and not compete in the Pegasus.”

Sisterson added: “Although it would have been a life changing experience having a runner in the Pegasus, True Timber gave us the excitement leading up towards the Pegasus. Best of luck to all the runners in the Pegasus. We and True Timber will be rooting for you!”

Owned by Calumet Farm, True Timber's record includes five wins, five seconds, and nine thirds from 29 starts for earnings of $1,215,150.

The remaining Pegasus field includes: Knicks Go, Sleepy Eyes Todd, Harpers First Ride, Code of Honor, Jesus' Team, Tax, Math Wizard, Mr Freeze, Independence Hall, Kiss Today Goodbye, and Coastal Defense.

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Jesus’ Team In ‘Perfect’ Pegasus World Cup Drill; True Timber, Mr. Freeze Also Prep

Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team breezed a half-mile at Palm Meadows Saturday morning in preparation for a start in next Saturday's $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The Jose D'Angelo-trained 4-year-old was timed in 48.50 seconds. Regular exercise rider Simon Rodriguez was aboard for the workout at Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

“Jesus' work today was perfect. I think, with this work, he will be ready for the Pegasus World Cup,” D'Angelo said.

Jesus' Team, who broke his maiden for a $32,000 claiming price at Gulfstream last March, has been stakes-placed in his last five starts, including a third-place finish in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) and a second-place finish behind Knicks Go in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The Kentucky-bred colt most recently captured the Dec. 2 Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream.

Jim Bakke and Gerry Isbister's Mr Freeze, who finished second behind Mucho Gusto in last year's Pegasus, breezed five-furlongs in 59.83 seconds Saturday morning at Gulfstream for his second Pegasus start. The Dale Romans-trained son of To Honor and Serve produced the fastest of 40 workouts recorded at the five-furlong distance. Romans also sent Pegasus also-eligible Coastal defense to the Gulfstream track for a half-mile breeze in 47.11 seconds.

Calumet Farm's True Timber breezed five-furlongs in 1:01 at Palm Meadows Saturday for a third start in the Pegasus. The Jack Sisterson-trained 7-year-old son is coming off a victory in the Dec. 5 Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct by 5 ½ lengths.

The son of Mineshaft, who was transferred to trainer Jack Sisterson's stable upon the retirement of Kiaran McLaughlin in the spring, finished seventh and eighth, respectively in his first two Pegasus tries.

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent his three candidates for the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) to the Palm Beach Downs track for final five-furlong tune-ups for the 1 3/16-mile turf feature. Largent, who captured the Dec. 12 Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream, and multiple graded-stakes winner Social Paranoia, who came off a 5 ½-month layoff to win a Dec. 16 optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream, were timed in 1:01.49. Colonel Liam, who captured the Dec. 26 Tropical Park Derby by 3 ¼ lengths, was clocked in 1:01.49.

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True Timber Heads PWC Works

Calumet Farm’s True Timber (Mineshaft) impressed trainer Jack Sisterson Saturday morning with a swift five-furlong breeze in preparation for a third start in the Jan. 23 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. Working in company with multiple-stakes winner American Tattoo (Arg) (Not For Sale), True Timber covered five furlongs in 1:00.20 under exercise rider Mark O’Dwyer at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

“He worked great this morning,” said Sisterson. “It was probably one of the better breezes he’s done with us. He went in company with another older horse, American Tattoo, and Mark sort of tapped his hip and he came home in :11 [seconds] and galloped out very strong. I was quite surprised the way he went. Usually, he’s rather workmanlike and…slow, but he was extremely fast this morning.”

The 7-year-old, who captured the Dec. 5 GI Cigar Mile at Aqueduct. had previously turned in two half-mile workouts in :53.45 [Dec. 18] and :51 [Dec. 24], respectively.

“He’s seven years old and he knows exactly what his job is. We just train him the way he wants to be trained and keep him happy,” said Sisterson, who took over the training of True Timber following the retirement of Kiaran McLaughlin toward the middle of 2020. “He seems to be turning the corner for us.”

In his two previous starts in the Pegasus, True Timber finished seventh in 2019 and eighth last year.

Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Jesus’ Team (Tapiture) breezed six furlongs in 1:13.40 at Palm Meadows Saturday morning in preparation for a planned start in the Pegasus World Cup. Regular exercise rider Simon Rodriguez was aboard for the workout.

“The hard work was last week. He did it in the way I want [Saturday],” said trainer Jose D’Angelo of Jesus’s Team, who produced a five-furlong bullet workout Jan. 2. “I wanted an easy work. I think he’s ready. He’ll just have one more four-furlong work to main his condition.”

The 4-year-old, who broke his maiden for a $32,000 claiming price at Gulfstream last March, has been stakes-placed in his last five starts, including a third-place finish in the Oct. 3 GI Preakness S. and a second-place finish in the Nov. 7 GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland. The colt most recently captured the Dec. 2 Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream.

“It’s very exciting. It is the most important race of our calendar in South Florida at Gulfstream Park,” D’Angelo said. “I think it’s a big test for both me and Jesus.”

Victoria’s Ranch’s King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) breezed five furlongs in 1:00.93 Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park for a possible start in the Pegasus World Cup. Winner of the 2020 GII Tampa Bay Derby, he finished fourth behind True Timber in the Cigar Mile while coming off a seven-month layoff.

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go (Paynter) breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 at Fair Grounds Saturday morning in preparation for the Pegasus.

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