Tale of Ekati relishes one-turn Jerome

Unplaced in four starts since taking the Wood Memorial S. (G1) in April,

Charles Fipke's homebred TALE OF EKATI (Tale of the Cat) shortened up to a mile

in Sunday's

Jerome H.

(G2) and proceeded to demonstrate his prowess for one-turn races at Belmont

Park. Victorious in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden and the seven-furlong Futurity S.

(G2) over the same track last year, Tale of Ekati made it three in a row in such

conditions with a solid one-length victory in a time of 1:36 over a sloppy,

sealed

track. The 6-1 fourth choice, Tale of Ekati returned $14.40, $7.10 and $4.30

while keying the $96 exacta and $426 trifecta (6-3-5).

Belmont S. (G1) winner Da' Tara (Tiznow) was expected to set the pace, but it

was 27-1 outsider Z Humor (Distorted Humor) who rushed up to his inside to set

opening fractions of :23, :46 1/5 and 1:10 2/5. Without having the early

advantage, Da' Tara called it quits around the far turn while Tale of Ekati, who

had tracked in third, attacked from the outside turning for home. You and I

Forever (A.P. Indy), meanwhile, advanced from fourth and eventually moved inside

for his stretch bid while Canadian classic scorer Harlem Rocker (Macho Uno) took the

overland route in his attempt to run down the field from sixth. In the end,

it was all for naught as Tale of Ekati got the jump on that pair and was

strongest all the way to the wire under Javier Castellano.

You and I Forever rallied for second, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Harlem Rocker,

and paid $9 and $4.30 as an 8-1 chance. Harlem Rock, second choice at just under

5-2, was two lengths clear in third and brought back $4 to show. Z Humor held

fourth and was followed by Cool Coal Man (Mineshaft), Da' Tara and Visionaire

(Grand Slam). The latter was sent off as the 3-2 favorite, but fell far off the

pace early and endured the caboose trip throughout.

"I was pleased he handled the mud so well," winning trainer Barclay Tagg

remarked. "I knew he was dead-right for the race, and I thought it was a good

spot for him, although I knew it was very, very tough. I really have no idea

what's next for him."

Aside from his three stakes triumphs, Tale of Ekati also owns a silver medal

from last year's Sanford S. (G2). He has been unplaced in all of his other

stakes appearances, most notably in his other Grade 1 appearances: the Breeders'

Cup Juvenile, Kentucky Derby, Belmont S. and Travers S. His record now stands at

11-4-1-0 with earnings of $992,758.

The Kentucky-bred colt was produced by Silence Beauty (Jpn) (Sunday Silence),

herself a half-sister to champion Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom [Fr]), a nine-time

Grade 1 queen and earner of more than $1.3 million. Tale of Ekati's second dam

is multiple Grade 1 heroine Maplejinsky (Nijinsky II), who is a half-sister to

1990 English Horse of the Year Dayjur (Danzig). This is the family of 2005

Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) victress Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold), the

ill-fated multiple Grade 1 winner Pine Island (Arch) and multiple Grade 2

heroine Boca Grande (A.P. Indy). Tale of Ekati has a pair of half-siblings by

Perfect Soul (Ire), a juvenile colt named Ama Soul Man and a 2008 filly.