Stream Cat seizes Crown Royal
Getting away slow from the gate, Stream Cat bobbled twice and was bumped by Warrior
“Everybody wanted the lead, and I just waited,” Leparoux said. “When I asked
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Another 2 3/4 lengths back, Gaelic Storm plugged on for third, three lengths
clear of Giant Basil, who had a troubled trip from the start. Tahoe Warrior was
fifth, followed home by Warrior Within. Act of God (Black Minnaloushe),
Malameeze (Saint Ballado) and Sacred Light (Holy Bull) were scratched.
Sent off at a lukewarm 4-1, Stream Cat paid $10.20, $4.20 and $3.80 while
spearheading exotics of $26.60 (exacta), $199.60 (trifecta) and $439.20 (2-5-6-7
superfecta). The 7-5 favorite Go Between gave back $2.80 and $2.40, and Gaelic
Storm yielded $3.60 as a 10-1 outsider in the wagering.
Owned by Fab Oak Stable, Fabien Ouaki, Robert E. Hurley and John F. Goldthorp, Stream Cat was bred in Kentucky by Matthews Breeding and Racing Ltd.
He was purchased for $120,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale,
then failed to reach his reserve when bringing a bid of $125,000 at the 2005
Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
The winner is out of the Irish River (Fr) mare Water Course, who has also
produced the English hurdling stakes winner Deep Water (Diesis [GB]),
stakes-placed Paradise Garden (Septieme Ciel) and an unnamed yearling filly by
Hold That Tiger. This is the family of multiple Grade 2 winner and sire Mt.
Livermore (Blushing Groom [Fr]) and French Group 1 winner Magical Wonder (Storm
Bird).
Stream Cat’s scorecard now stands at 6-3-0-1 with $223,828 in the bank. As a
juvenile, he demonstrated versatility by breaking his maiden in the With
Anticipation S. on the lawn at Saratoga, capturing the Kentucky Cup Juvenile S.
(G3) on the Polytrack at Turfway, and closing from well back for third in the
Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on the main track at Keeneland.
After his unplaced effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he had surgery to
remove a bone chip from his right front knee, which delayed his return to
action.
“I think he’s a good horse,” Biancone said. “He could go either way (turf or
dirt), but with the injury he had after the Breeders’ Cup, we missed the proper
Triple Crown.”
Stream Cat’s immediate future will lie on the grass.
“We are going to try for the Triple Crown on the turf,” Biancone said. “There
are two $1 million races at Colonial Downs (June 24 Colonial Turf Cup and July
15 Virginia Derby [G2]). That’s what we’ll aim for.”