CALGARY CAT February 15, 2010 – August 19,. 2017
CALGARY CAT won last fall’s Nearctic Stakes – Cindy Pierson Dulay Photo
Canadian horse racing lost a Champion and a fan favourite on Saturday when CALGARY CAT collapsed following the running of the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes.
The 2014 Champion Sprinter, coming off the two best efforts of his career (Beyer Figure wise) had trailed in the Play the King and then was pulled up shortly after the finish by jockey Luis Contreras. Walking home, the son of Cowtown Cat – Big Sink Star by Distorted Humor collapsed and passed away.
Owned by Cory Hoffman and Stephen Chesney and trained by Kevin Attard, the flashy chestnut earned over $960,000 in his career and was one of the most successful claims in Ontario racing in a decade.
Originally a $40,000 yearling purchase by John Oxley, Calgary Cat was claimed by Attard and the ownership team for $25,000 in November 2013.
He went on to win 12 of 32 races, 7 stakes and he placed in another 5 stakes.
Last fall, his brilliant rally in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint got him 4th place in a huge effort.
Calgary Cat will be missed.
Calgary Cat and his peeps
PLAY THE KING GRADE 2
CONQUEST PANTHERA, originally a $475,000 purchase by Conquest Stables and now racing for Gary Barber, upset the 7 furlong Play the King (Grade 2) at Woodbine on Saturday. The Mark Casse trainee by Kitten’s Joy had been raced sparingly early in his career. he raced twice in 2014 once in 2015 and once in 2016.
This year he seems to have put his issues aside and was 3rd in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland in the spring.
His 101 Beyer Figure makes him a major player for the Woodbine Mile next month.
CONQUEST PANTHERA – from Conquest Stables website
HOLY HELENA FIZZLES AT SARATOGA
Queen’s Plate winner Holy Helena, a slight favourite in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga on Saturday, faded to finish last behind Elate. Unchained Melody was eased up behind Holy Helena.
The Stronach Stables’ homebred had passed up the Prince of wales and today’s Breeders’ Stakes to take on the best of her division in the US but she stopped abruptly under new rider John Velazquez.
CHIEF KNOW IT ALL WINS CONTENTIOUS DERBY
Decision will be appealed
CHIEF KNOW IT ALL, claimed for $100,000 at Churchill Downs, won a wild finish in the 88th Canadian derby (Grade 3) at Northlands Park but the result isunder appeal by riaval owners.
The winner, a grey 3yo by Flashy Bull owned by Clayton Wiest, Randy Howg and Rollingson Stables and trained by Robertino Diodoro, battled Trooper JOhnm and Double Bear to the wire, survived a claim of foul and was deemed the winner of the $150,000 event at 1 3/8 miles.
Double Bear’s interests claimed foul for interference in the stretch but it was disallowed.
The Edmonton Journal reports the decision will be appealed:
**DOUBLE BEAR, by Kentucky Bear, has a full sister in the 2017 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale on Aug 13.
http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/local-sports/appeal-expected-after-close-finish-at-canadian-derby
