Calgary Cat, Canada’s reigning champion sprinter, split rivals at the top of the lane and swept past Essence Hit Man en route to a comfortable victory in Wednesday night’s $107,400 Ontario Jockey Club Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Kevin Attard for owners Stephen Chesney and Cory S. Hoffman, Calgary Cat arrived at the six furlong ‘Poly’ sprint from an impressive score in the Achievement Stakes when a 1/2-length better than next out stakes winner Phil’s Dream.
Hoffman and Chesney claimed Calgary Cat for $25,000 on November 15, 2013 and the champion chestnut has gone on to win eight of 12 starts for his new connections.
The Ontario Jockey Club Stakes featured the much anticipated return of Essence Hit Man, Canada’s champion sprinter of 2011 and 2012, who last raced on November 30, 2013 when second in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes.
As expected, Essence Hit Man, with Luis Contreras up, was quickest from the gate setting splits of :23.20 and :46 flat with Speightsong and Puntrooskie pressing the early pace. Calgary Cat, expertly ridden by Eurico Rosa da Silva, advanced through the turn from fifth position following the rallying Sorry About That.
Essence Hit Man maintained a 1/2-length lead at the top of the lane, but Calgary Cat, full of run, surged between Speightsong and Sorry About That before kicking clear of Essence Hit Man for a 2 3/4-length win. Essence Hit Man stayed on gamely to win a place photo over Sorry About That. Calgary Cat covered six furlongs in 1:09.50.
Da Silva was pleased with the effort of the versatile Calgary Cat.
“I was a little bit closer as the pace wasn’t as hot today. He was very comfortable where he was and when I asked him, he gave his best. He finished the race very strong,” said da Silva.
The Cowtown Cat chestnut won five of seven starts last season, including wins in the Grade 3 Bold Venture and Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes, to secure Sovereign Award honours as the nation’s top sprinter. Calgary Cat appears to be well on his way to defending that title with three wins from four starts this meet including scores in the Jacques Cartier and Achievement Stakes.
Calgary Cat, bred in Ontario by WinStar Farm LLC, banked $60,000 in victory while improving his record to 10-3-1 from 19 starts.
He paid $3.90, $2.30 and $2.10, combining with Essence Hit Man ($3.30, $2.70) for a $12.30 (4-1) exactor. A 4-1-5 triactor (Sorry About That, $4.30 to show) was worth $107.30.
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