Wondrwherecraigis Wins Tale of the Cat for Munnings

Munnings struck again on Friday when Wondrwherecraigis (4g Munnings x Social Assassin, by Giant’s Causeway) led gate-to-wire in the Tale of the Cat Stakes at Saratoga.

Looking for his third win in four starts this year, there was no wondering where Wondrwherecraigis wanted to run in the six furlong dirt race when he immediately took the lead.

Piloted by Luis Saez, the gelding had a rough start but was soon away and off with the lead. Racing a few paths wide throughout, he tried to drift in the stretch but was straightened up by Saez to continue extending his lead.

In the end, the Brittany Russell-trainee won by 2 ¾ lengths for Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables, and Michael Caruso. With the Tale of the Cat victory, he took his record to five wins from eight career starts with one other top three finish for nearly $200,000 in earnings. The victory was the first Saratoga stakes win for Russell, who has trained the horse throughout his career.

“This horse is special, and we've had him in the barn for a long time,” she said. “The partners have let us do what we've needed to with him and it's just rewarding to see patience pay off. You win a stake at Saratoga, that's a big deal. It's so nice to see something go the right way for such a cool horse. He's a gelding and if we keep doing things right by him, he'll be around for a while."

She pointed out the Grade III DeFrancis Memorial Dash as a potential next start for the gelding.

Bred by Fleur de Lis Stables, Wondrwherecraigis is the first foal out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Social Assassin, who is a half-sister to Grade II-placed McKale and stakes-placed Orquidias Biz. Social Assassin’s dam is a half-sister to three-time Grade I winner Affirmed Success and two other stakes performers.

Another one of that mare’s half-sisters is the dam of Grade I-placed Taste Like Candy and granddam of American Pharoah’s stakes-placed Prince of Pharoahs.