Grade Two Victory for Blackjackcat

Progressive gelding Blackjackcat (4g Tale of the Cat x Bootleg Annie, by Go for Gin) posted his third successive win when claiming a tenacious victory in the $200,345 Grade II Del Mar Mile on Sunday.

Trained by Mark Glatt, Blackjackcat has always shown above average ability and was third to giant slayer Accelerate in the Grade II Los Alamitos Derby last year and came into this race off a last start stakes win.

He stalked the leader and then held off all challengers to win the one mile turf feature by a head in a thrilling finish.

“We gave him a nice break after his 3-year-old campaign, got a couple races in him at Santa Anita and finally settled on his best distance, which seems to be a flat mile,” said his trainer Mark Glatt.

“Last year we were in contention to win some of the Derbies we tried, but at a mile and an eighth they were just a hair too far for him. With a little rest after that 3-year-old campaign he’s come back stronger and carries his weight better and he has proven me right.”

Blackjackcat has the overall record of five wins and four placings from 13 starts with prizemoney topping $353,270.

A homebred for Al and Sandee Kirkwood, Blackjackcat is another classy sprinter miler by evergreen sire Tale of the Cat and is from stakes-winner Bootleg Annie, who won 15 races!