Stakes Success for Tale of a Champion

Brilliant turf sprinter Tale of a Champion (4h Tale of the Cat x If Angels Sang, by Seattle Slew) posted his first Black Type victory when taking out the $100,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint at Calder on the weekend. Prepared by Christos Gatis, Tale of a Champion made it four wins from five starts when surging clear to win the five furlong dash by a length and a quarter in a tick over 55 seconds. “Going into the race, some people said more distance was better, but today five furlongs was perfect,” said winning rider Luis Saez. “He didn’t break fast, but he always felt good, and I was able to put him sixth or seventh early and he was comfortable to run there. And when I came on the turn, I started to ask him a little, and he responded perfectly. Honestly, I thought he won the race won pretty easy.” Tale of a Champion is th 75^th stakes-winner worldwide for Tale of the Cat and is the first stakes-winner for his dam If Angels Sang, a blue-blooded mare who comes from the family of champion sires Storm Cat and Royal Academy.