Sisterson, Blended Citizen reunite for Keeneland's Sycamore Stakes
Before going out on his own in 2018, the last horse Jack Sisterson saddled for his former boss, trainer Doug O’Neill, was Blended Citizen.
Fast forward a little more than a year and guess who has taken up residence in Sisterson’s Calumet Farm barn adjacent to Keeneland?
“Blended Citizen came here about two weeks before he ran at Kentucky Downs," said Sisterson, with the 4-year-old last competing in the Kentucky Turf Cup (G3) on Sept. 7.
Next up is Thursday's 150,000 Sycamore (G3). Sisterson was with Blended Citizen at Keeneland in the spring of 2018 when the colt was on the Kentucky Derby trail.
“He just blossomed here last spring and he trains so well here on the dirt,” Sisterson said of Blended Citizen, who won the Peter Pan (G3) in Sisterson’s final role as an assistant. “They like to keep him here as long as possible.”
Owned by Sayjay Racing, Greg Hall and Brooke Hubbard, Blended Citizen has spent 2019 racing on grass, the surface he will be on for Thursday’s 1½-mile test.
“He broke his maiden on the grass and then he won the Jeff Ruby on the all-weather track at Turfway,” Sisterson said. “In the Blue Grass he was fifth behind Good Magic, but that race was better than it looked on paper.”
Sisterson already has struck stakes gold for O’Neill this meet when he saddled McShane Racing’s Stubbins for his course record-setting victory in the Woodford (G2) on Oct. 5.
Blended Citizen, by Proud Citizen, has been supplemented to Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale from Nov. 6-17. He is Hip 2761A consigned by South Point Sales Agency, agent.