Barn Tour: Sisterson updates True Timber, Lexitonian, others
Jack Sisterson has become a rising star in the training ranks over the past several years as the primary trainer for Calumet Farm. The Englishman, now residing in Kentucky, has some of his top stable stars still waiting for their 2021 debuts, as well as some up-and-comers worth watching.
Sisterson gave HRN an update on some of the top talent in his barn.
Older horses
The winner of multiple stakes races, including the 2019 Chick Lang (G3), finished 2020 on a sour note at Keeneland, crossing the wire ninth in the Phoenix (G2) on Nov. 2. The 5-year-old son of Speightstown returned to work on Saturday, posting a three-furlong drill in 39.75 at Palm Meadows.
Sisterson said the colt, whose most recent win came in an allowance race at Churchill Downs in May, is doing well to start to the year.
“He’s doing great,” Sisterson said. “Had his first work back down here at Palm Meadows. No real set race in mind. He’ll be springtime Keeneland, Kentucky Derby-time Churchill.”
Sisterson said the 2021 goal for Lexitonian could be going to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, a path that could involve the Bing Crosby (G1) where he finished second last year.
The 7-year-old winner of the Cigar Mile in his most recent trip was set to run in the Pegasus World Cup in January, but suffered a setback and was pulled from the race. Sisterson said the son of Mineshaft has recovered nicely and will be making his 7-year-old debut, though with no set time frame in mind.
“He’s just having a bit of a break at the moment,” Sisterson said. “We’ll just take it week-by-week, see how he is. He’s doing great, enjoying the time off, so we’ll just keep discussing.”
Another one of Sisterson’s older stable stars, Vexatious, has not yet returned to the work tab in 2021, though he said that could be coming in the near future.
Winner of the 2020 Personal Ensign (G1) in August at Saratoga, she finished fifth in her most recent trip, a Kentucky Oaks Day run in the La Troienne at Churchill Downs. Similar to Lexitonian, Sisterson said he would expect to see the mare back in Kentucky for her 7-year-old bow.
“The Springtime, Churchill, Keeneland sort of time,” Sisterson said. “We’ll definitely be pointing her to Saratoga, she loves it there and she seems to handle the dirt well up there, so we’ll try and get her back to peak fitness and back to the Personal Ensign at Saratoga.”
One who has already made their 2021 debut is Channel Cat, who ran fifth in the W. L. McKnight Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 23. Sisterson said the 6-year-old son of English Channel came out of the race well.
“He’s doing great,” Sisterson said. “Definitely a lot of run still left in him. We’re not sure exactly of the plan or the next race for him but if I had to say, probably the Elkhorn (G2) at Keeneland might be his next run.”
The 5-year-old son of English Channel, who previously won the 2018 Cecil B. Demille (G3), earned his first victory since the 2019 Woodchopper Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream, wiring a field that included 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Structor.
Sisterson said the dominant performance was what he had been waiting for from the horse.
“We expected a big performance this weekend knowing that he had a race under his belt (fifth-place in the Tropical Turf on Jan. 9),” Sisterson said.
3-year-olds
Winner of the Jan. 2 Dania Beach at Gulfstream, he finished fifth in his most recent effort, the Jan. 30 Kittens Joy over the same lawn. Sisterson said it was a mistake entering the son of American Pharoah in the race, as it was his third start in less than six weeks.
Sisterson said he could resurface in the Transylvania (G3) on April 2 at Keeneland.
“He does like the fast ground and quick track at Gulfstream,” Sisterson said. “I was thinking summertime, he might handle a track like Del Mar and shoot for the Oceanside, which leads to the Del Mar Derby (G2).
Bear’s Breeches
A 3-year-old who recently broke her maiden is this English Channel filly, winner of a one-mile maiden race at Turfway Park on Jan. 30.
“She’s down here at Gulfstream now and she’s breezing on the turf at Palm Meadows,” Sisterson said. “We don’t really have anything set in stone with her, but I wanted to get her down, start breezing on the grass to see what sort of talent, and she’ll be able to tell us where she wants to go after that.”
When asked what up-and-comers had him most excited for the future, Sisterson pointed to the Sea The Stars colt, What Say Thee, who finished fourth in his debut at Gulfstream on Saturday.
Sisterson said the colt has the talent to be a major player on turf this season.
“He’ll improve a lot as you step him up in distance,” Sisterson said. “I’ve got a race marked out at Keeneland for him going nine furlongs and fingers crossed we go to the big grass series in New York for him”