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Stream Cat seizes Crown Royal

Stream Cat (outside) reels in Crown Royal victory (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) Making his first start since checking in eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) last October, STREAM CAT (Black Minnaloushe) brushed aside adversity to score a cozy neck victory in the $114,300 Crown Royal American Turf S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on Friday. With hot jockey Julien Leparoux aboard, the Patrick Biancone charge stopped the teletimer in 1:42 1/5 for the 8 1/2-furlong test on firm turf. Getting away slow from the gate, Stream Cat bobbled twice and was bumped by Warrior Within (Catienus). Leparoux settled him at the tail of the six-horse field as Gaelic Storm (El Prado [Ire]) and Tahoe Warrior (Carson City) alternated for the lead through fractions of  :24 3/5, :48 4/5 and 1:12 4/5. Coming out of the far turn, the tracking Go Between (Point Given) surged to assume command and opened up a one-length advantage while getting the mile in 1:36 1/5. Stream Cat had begun to thread his way from the rear when he became embroiled in another bumping match, this time with Giant Basil (Giant's Causeway), but he did not let that interfere with his forward progress. In deep stretch, the dark bay colt was gaining ground smoothly, and under confident handling, he overhauled Go Between by a neck to win going away at the wire. "Everybody wanted the lead, and I just waited," Leparoux said. "When I asked my horse on the turn, he ran good for me. I know for myself that he was a very good horse because I rode him in the morning."

Another 2 3/4 lengths back, Gaelic Storm plugged on for third, three lengths clear of Giant Basil, who had a troubled trip from the start. Tahoe Warrior was fifth, followed home by Warrior Within. Act of God (Black Minnaloushe), Malameeze (Saint Ballado) and Sacred Light (Holy Bull) were scratched.

Sent off at a lukewarm 4-1, Stream Cat paid $10.20, $4.20 and $3.80 while spearheading exotics of $26.60 (exacta), $199.60 (trifecta) and $439.20 (2-5-6-7 superfecta). The 7-5 favorite Go Between gave back $2.80 and $2.40, and Gaelic Storm yielded $3.60 as a 10-1 outsider in the wagering.

Owned by Fab Oak Stable, Fabien Ouaki, Robert E. Hurley and John F. Goldthorp, Stream Cat was bred in Kentucky by Matthews Breeding and Racing Ltd. He was purchased for $120,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, then failed to reach his reserve when bringing a bid of $125,000 at the 2005 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

The winner is out of the Irish River (Fr) mare Water Course, who has also produced the English hurdling stakes winner Deep Water (Diesis [GB]), stakes-placed Paradise Garden (Septieme Ciel) and an unnamed yearling filly by Hold That Tiger. This is the family of multiple Grade 2 winner and sire Mt. Livermore (Blushing Groom [Fr]) and French Group 1 winner Magical Wonder (Storm Bird).

Stream Cat's scorecard now stands at 6-3-0-1 with $223,828 in the bank. As a juvenile, he demonstrated versatility by breaking his maiden in the With Anticipation S. on the lawn at Saratoga, capturing the Kentucky Cup Juvenile S. (G3) on the Polytrack at Turfway, and closing from well back for third in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) on the main track at Keeneland.

After his unplaced effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he had surgery to remove a bone chip from his right front knee, which delayed his return to action.

"I think he's a good horse," Biancone said. "He could go either way (turf or dirt), but with the injury he had after the Breeders' Cup, we missed the proper Triple Crown."

Stream Cat's immediate future will lie on the grass.

"We are going to try for the Triple Crown on the turf," Biancone said. "There are two $1 million races at Colonial Downs (June 24 Colonial Turf Cup and July 15 Virginia Derby [G2]). That's what we'll aim for."

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