[OLD HEAD]

Horse Racing
Belmont Stakes 2008
Tale Of Ekati
06/02/2008


Tagg pleased with Tale of Ekati’s final drill for Belmont Stakes


Tale of Ekati’s final major workout in preparation for the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 7 was much closer to what trainer Barclay Tagg envisioned than the Tale of the Cat colt’s two previous timed drills.

Tale of Ekati breezed six furlongs in 1:11.99 on Sunday on the main track at Belmont Park, which was rated as muddy. The move came six days after Tagg said he was not pleased with Tale of Ekati’s six-furlong breeze in 1:18.97 at Belmont.

“This was the move I was hoping for last week,” said Tagg, who also was unhappy after the colt’s four-furlong workout in :46.84 handily on May 20 at Belmont. “Now, you can only hope that it wasn’t too much for him. Everything seems to be going well now, and we’re back on schedule.”

Tale of Ekati won the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) on April 5 and enters the Belmont off a fourth-place finish on May 3 at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), which was won by Big Brown.

Unbeaten Big Brown went on to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) by 5 1/4 lengths on May 17 and will attempt to become only the second horse to sweep the Triple Crown with an unblemished record. Seattle Slew in 1977 was undefeated when he accomplished the feat.

Tagg understands the unique challenge of winning the Triple Crown with three races at different distance in five weeks. He trained Funny Cide to victories in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness before his Triple Crown bid ended with a third-place finish in that year’s Belmont Stakes, which was won by Empire Maker.

“The Belmont is a tough race, and Big Brown is a tough horse,” Tagg said. “But if you’ve got a horse that is doing well, you have to take a chance. We’re back on schedule today, and this horse loves Belmont Park. I hope he runs his race.”

Tale of Ekati won his career debut at Belmont Park by 8 1/4 lengths and won the Futurity Stakes (G2) at Belmont in his third career start.


Thoroughbred Times

Good Luck!