Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman’s Calgary Cat exploded down the lane to capture Sunday’s Grade 2 $207,200 Kennedy Road Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Kevin Attard, the victory marked a second graded win this season for the former claimer who may have secured champion sprinter honours with the performance. Claimed for $25,000 on November 15, 2013, Calgary Cat notched a three-length score in the Grade 3 Bold Venture Stakes on September 13.
Go Blue Or Go Home set splits of :21.90 and :44.15 in the Kennedy Road under pressure from Sparrowhawk with Black Hornet tracking their early foot from third position.
Calgary Cat, last of eight at the half for Eurico Rosa da Silva, improved through the turn and waited patiently as the field straightened away for the stretch run as Sharp Sensation took aim at the diminishing lead of Go Blue Or Go Home.
However, there would be no denying the late charge of Calgary Cat once set down by da Silva as the chestnut powered past Sharp Sensation to notch a two-length win in 1:08.46, just two-fifths of a second off of Essence Hit Man’s track record of 1:08.16.
Sharp Sensation secured second by a 1/2-length over Bear No Joke with Black Hornet in fourth. Following an inquiry into the stretch run, the stewards deemed that Bear No Joke interfered with Black Hornet in the stretch run and reversed their positions.
Calgary Cat, by Cowtown Cat out of Big Sink Star, arrived at the Kennedy Road from a third-place finish in the grassy Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes.
“I was shocked he lost on the turf last time, but he got the job done today,” said da Silva.
Attard was pleased with the effort of the former claimer turned star sprinter.
“He trained exceptionally well from the spring time, but I honestly didn’t believe he was going to be a Grade 2 winner at that point,” recalled Attard. “We thought he had a good season ahead and we did it the right way. He went through his conditions, got his confidence and he’s really developed into a great horse.
“There was a lot on the line today and I was happy to see Sharp Sensation (entered) as he’s been getting a lot of press about being champion sprinter, but I think today it was decided that Calgary Cat is the top sprinter.”
Calgary Cat, bred in Ontario by WinStar Farm, banked $120,000 in victory while improving his record to 7-3-1 from 15 starts.
He returned $5, $3 and $2.30, pairing with Sharp Sensation ($3.20, $2.80) for a $19.50 (5-3) exactor. A 5-3-8 (Black Hornet, $3.20 to show) triactor was worth $60.40, while a $1 Superfecta [5-3-8-4 (Bear No Joke)] came back $99.30.
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