Charles E. Fipke’s Tale of Ekati, winless in four starts since taking the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5, ended his losing streak Sunday with a one-length victory over You and I Forever in the 139th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Jerome Handicap for three-year-olds at a mile on Belmont Park’s main track.
The Tale of the Cat colt returned $14.40, as he turned back to the shortest distance he has faced since winning the Grade 2, seven-furlong Futurity as a two-year-old here on September 15, 2007.
Still, tale of Ekati was in the right position and in the right part of the track. Even when You and I Forever made his move inside, Tale of Ekati was home in 1:36.17 to give jockey Cornelio Velasquez his third winner of the afternoon.
“I was pleased he handled the mud so well,” said winning trainer Barclay Tagg. “I was disappointed that the track was so muddy so late in the day, but fortunately, he handled it well. I knew he was dead-right for the race, and I thought it was a good spot for him, although I knew it was very, very tough. The jockey rode him just the way I asked him. I said to Cornelio `If you can sit third or fourth on the outside, do it.’ He had the perfect post position for a mile out of the chute. It was just ideal. I really have no idea what’s next for him.”
Harlem Rocker was third, followed by Z Humor, Cool Coal Man, Da’Tara and the disappointing Visionaire, the favorite of the crowd of 4,107.
“(Jockey Alan Garcia) said he didn’t respond,” said Visionaire’s trainer, Michael Matz. “I don’t know if something wasn’t to his liking. He has run well in the slop before. I don’t know.”
JEROME HANDICAP QUOTES
Winning trainer Barclay Tagg of Tale of Ekati (No. 6): “I was pleased he handled the mud so well. I was disappointed that the track was so muddy so late in the day, but fortunately, he handled it well. I knew he was dead-right for the race, and I thought it was a good spot for him, although I knew it was very, very tough. The jockey rode him just the way I asked him. I said to Cornelio `If you can sit third or fourth on the outside, do it.’ He had the perfect post position for a mile out of the chute. It was just ideal. I really have no idea what’s next for him.”
Winning jockey Cornelio Velasquez (third winner of the afternoon): “I had perfect position. I stayed on the outside and waited until the quarter-pole to ask him. He did the rest.”
Michael Matz, trainer of beaten favorite and last-place finisher Visionaire (No. 4): (Jockey Alan Garcia) said he didn’t respond. I don’t know if something wasn’t to his liking. He has run well in the slop before. I don’t know.”
