Stakes Success for Tale of the Cat 3YO

Given TDN Rising Star status when he won by 14 lengths in March, Favorite Tale (3g Tale of the Cat x Tricky Elaine, by Grindstone) confirmed his potential when winning the $98,000 Gold Fever Stakes at Belmont on the weekend. Prepared by Guadalupe Preciado, Favorite Tale disappointed last start when tried in stakes-company for the first time, but bounced back from that below par showing to win this six furlong sprint by a length. “He might have run a little too close to the Bay Shore, when he ran back on 12 days rest,” said Guadalupe Preciado. “We didn’t think he ran that hard the race before, but we made a mistake and we’re learning. This was the race we were hoping to see from him the first time we ran in New York. We'll see how he comes back and go from there.” Favorite Tale has won four of five starts earning $148,400 and is one of five winners from Grade III placed Tricky Elaine, a half-sister to US Horse of the Year Favorite Trick. Favorite Tale is the 95th stakes-winner for Tale of the Cat, who at age 20 is closing in on a century of stakes-winners.