With Everfast 'in great shape,' Sisterson has a goal race in mind

Trainer Jack Sisterson has nominated five horses for May 23 stakes races at Churchill Downs, but he's not sure yet which of them might run.

Take, for example, Calumet Farm's Everfast, who is a possibility for the $100,000 Blame, a 1-mile race for older horses newsly written for Churchill's abbreviated Spring Meet schedule. The 4-year-old son of Take Charge Indy last raced off a six-month layoff on April 18, losing by a neck in allowance optional claiming company at Oaklawn.

"We’ll see how he trains. He came out of the race in great shape. I’d had the Pimlico Special penciled in for him because he ran so well in the Preakness," Sisterson said, referring to Everfast's second-place finish in the second leg of the Triple Crown last year when trained by Dale Romans. The Pimlico Special usually is run on the day before the Preakness.

"And obviously with the virus thing popping up, that plan sort of went out the window," Sisterson added. "But I’m touching base with Maryland racing and if they were to put the Pimlico Special, whenever it's dated, I’d like to pencil that in for him and work back.

"I think we’ve got a long career ahead of him, and I don’t want to run him back too quick," Sisterson said. "He’ll let me know if he’s ready to run or not. But I’ve got a long-term goal for him. I don’t want to push him to do something he’s not ready to."

Sisterson also nominated Vexatious for the $100,000 Shawnee, a 1 1/16-mile race for older fillies and mares. The 6-year-old daughter of Giant's Causeway had one start this year, coming in fifth in a 1-mile allowance optional claiming race at Oaklawn on April 30.

For each of these horses, Sisterson said, "We're sort of in a waiting thing. The horses that are nominated, they're all sort of question marks. We've got nothing inked in yet to run. If they're doing well and they breeze well seven days out, we'll give them all a shot. If not, we'll look for other spots for them. ... We definitely want all of the ones that we nominated to run if they're doing well."

Sisterson, who stables at Keeneland, added: "It's just great to get Kentucky racing back up and running."