A Final Look Back at a Midwestern Summer at the Spa

Midwest Pride

Invades the Breeders’ Cup

By Tom Ferry

Caleb's Posse: Caleb's Posse pulls away from runner-up Shackleford to win the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. (Photo: Tom Ferry)

Giant Oak: Giant Oak breezes during an early morning at Churchill Downs. (Photo: Tom Ferry)

Pachattack: Pachattack prepares for the Ladies Classic. (Photo: Tom Ferry)

Stephanie's Kitten: Stephanie's Kitten drives to the finish in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
(Photo: Tom Ferry)

After a strong showing during the summer meet at Saratoga, Midwest connections had every reason for optimism heading into the 2011 Breeders’ Cup World Championships held November 4-5 at Churchill Downs.

Those high hopes were realized with championship wins by Stephanie’s Kitten and trainer Wayne Catalano, and Caleb’s Posse and trainer Donnie Von Hemel. Midwest favorites Giant Oak and Pachattack also left their mark with strong third place finishes.

In recent years, Wayne Catalano and his two-year-old filly trainees have been regular visitors to the Breeders’ Cup winner circles. Dreaming of Anna captured the Juvenile Fillies championship in 2006 and She Be Wild brought home the trophy in 2009. Both fillies also captured Eclipse Awards during those same two-year-old seasons.

Stephanie’s Kitten, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, provided Catalano 2011 promise in the (G2) Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, coming off of a grade one triumph in the Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland on October 7. On Breeders’ Cup day, the two-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy out of Unfold the Rose mounted a thrilling stretch run and stormed past runner-up Stopshoppingmaria to win the championship by three-quarters of a length in a time of 1:38.80.

“She was amazing,” said winning jockey John Velazquez. “As soon as I asked her to go in between those other two horses, she responded right away. She’s game for anything I ask her to do.”

The victory gave Wayne Catalano his third Breeders’ Cup title in five years. “She ran her heart out,” said Catalano. “I’m so happy for Mr. Ramsey. He loves the game. And winning is the thing for him, it’s not even the money.”

The triumph was Stephanie’s Kitten’s third in five starts, bringing her career total to $817,526.

A win in the (G1) King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga and a third place finish in the (G2) Indiana Derby sent Caleb’s Posse into the (G1) Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on a high note. Trained by Donnie Von Hemel and owned by Oklahoma horsemen Everett Dobson and Don McNeill (McNeill Stables and Cheyenne Stables), Caleb’s Posse hung at the back of the pack early on in the race with fractions of 22.49 and 45.36 and then passed runner-up Shackleford down the stretch to win convincingly by four lengths.

“You could see coming down the stretch that he had dead aim on the leader,” said trainer Von Hemel. “The last sixteenth of a mile, we just got to celebrate.” For the longtime trainer and Nebraska Hall-of-Famer, the million-dollar race on Breeders’ Cup day was the biggest of his career. And the significance was not lost on jockey Rajiv Maragh either. “To win a race of this magnitude is special, really special,” said Maragh.

Caleb’s Posse’s victorious moment may earn him an Eclipse Award at the end of the year. While some feel he may be a front-runner for champion 3-year-old, Von Hemel has a different take. “You guys will have to decide, but I think you can probably make a case for champion sprinter this year. I look at this one-turn mile as a sprint.”

5-year-old Midwest favorite Giant Oak continued his 2011 run of consistency with a strong third place finish in the (G2) Breeders’ Cup Marathon. Wins in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap in February and a third place finish at Saratoga in the (G1) Whitney Invitational highlighted an eight-race campaign for the millionaire son of Giant’s Causeway. In the Marathon, Giant Oak battled to the finish but lost out to 41-1 upset winner Afleet Again and fell short of second place by a head to Birdrun.

“This horse tries hard every time,” said jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. “He got a little strong with me early on, but then he settled into a good rhythm.” A recent accidental injury at Hawthorne Racecourse has likely sidelined Giant Oak for the remainder of 2011, but there is a chance he might return to racing in 2012.

After a summer spent at Arlington Park and Saratoga, and runner-up finishes in the grade one Juddmonte Spinster and Personal Ensign stakes, the five-year-old mare Pachattack, trained by Chicago-based trainer Gerard Butler, took aim at the (G1) Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic. While Pachattack ran well enough for third, she was no match for Royal Delta who was a 2 ½ length winner over runner-up It’s Tricky.

It was a satisfying conclusion for Gerard Butler. “I’m so proud of her,” said Butler. “I didn’t know at one stage whether we’d get fourth or third. She just loves this place and she loves this ground.”

At the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sales, Pachattack was sold for $1.2 million. Purchased by Flaxman Holdings Ltd., the winner of 5 races in 26 starts will remain in training and will be sent to the barn of trainer Graham Motion.