Tale of Ekati Foals

[Saban]

Dark Vader finished 2nd in the West Virginia Cornhusker Handicap (G3) by a neck last Friday (7/5/19).

Girvin's first year at stud this year. I wonder what kind of book of mares he has?

[Saban]

Despite not getting very big books of mares in recent years, Tale of Ekati does get a good one now and again, like Girvin, Verve's Tale ($636K), Tale of S'avall, Tale of Verve, who finished 2nd to American Pharoah in the Preakness, and Dark Vader should win a graded stake before he is through, maybe more than one.

[Saban]

Despite not getting very big books of mares in recent years, Tale of Ekati does get a good one now and again, like Girvin, Verve's Tale ($636K), Tale of S'avall, Tale of Verve, who finished 2nd to American Pharoah in the Preakness, and Dark Vader should win a graded stakes before he is through, maybe more than one.

[Saban]

Totally Obsessed is a 3 year old full sister to Dark Vader and has won 4 out of 5 races this year including a 75K stakes race, mostly in Ohio. She has won 178K and change so far. Should win more.

If I owned Dark Obsession, dam of Totally Obsessed and Dark Vader, I would keep on breeding her to Tale of Ekati.

[Saban]

Avalina won the $75,000 Parx Springs Oaks on 5/20/19 by more than 8 lengths. That is now 3 wins and a second in 5 races for the 3 year old daughter of Tale of Ekati.

[Saban]

The Beauty's Tale is entered in the $100,000 Ellen's Lucky Star Stakes at Indiana Grand Race Course on 7/17/19.

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Here is kind of a funny one. Dark Vader and Draft Pick are stable mates (same trainer). Draft Pick was bought for 450K at the yearling sales. Dark Vader was bought for 150K at the 2yo in training sales. Both colts were born in 2015, Draft Pick in February and Dark Vader in March.

Despite the prices at the sales, Dark Vader seemed to have Draft Pick's number as two year old colts as Dark Vader finished ahead of Draft Pick in 2 races in 2017. Dark Vader broke his maiden in his 4th MSW race whereas it took Draft Pick 6 races to break his. Actually, Dark Vader raced in a stakes race and on turf before getting his first win in a MSW race.

Since then, Draft Pick has won a graded stakes race (G3 Affirmed Stakes) whereas Dark Vader has come close, but no cigar. This year, Dark Vader has finished 2nd by a head in an allowance race and 2nd by a neck in the $300,000 grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows. Draft Pick has won an allowance race this year and don't know when he will compete in his 2nd 2019 race.

I believe that they are both very good horses, but since they have not raced against each other, Draft Pick has done better with his graded stakes win. I still think that Dark Vader is a little better than Draft Pick, but he still has to win a graded stakes race. Hope he does soon.

[Saban]

A couple of Tale of Ekati's daughters are entered in stakes races on Sunday (7/21). They are Totally Obsessed who is entered in the Norm Barron Queen City Oaks at Belterra Park for a purse of $75,000.

Blazinbeauty is entered in the Boeing Stakes at Emerald Downs for $50,000.

[Saban]

Here is kind of a funny one. Dark Vader and Draft Pick are stable mates (same trainer). Draft Pick was bought for 450K at the yearling sales. Dark Vader was bought for 150K at the 2yo in training sales. Both colts were born in 2015, Draft Pick in February and Dark Vader in March.

Despite the prices at the sales, Dark Vader seemed to have Draft Pick's number as two year old colts as Dark Vader finished ahead of Draft Pick in 2 races in 2017. Dark Vader broke his maiden in his 4th MSW race whereas it took Draft Pick 6 races to break his. Actually, Dark Vader raced in a stakes race and on turf before getting his first win in a MSW race.

Since then, Draft Pick has won a graded stakes race (G3 Affirmed Stakes) whereas Dark Vader has come close, but no cigar. This year, Dark Vader has finished 2nd by a head in an allowance race and 2nd by a neck in the $300,000 grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows. Draft Pick has won an allowance race this year and don't know when he will compete in his 2nd 2019 race.

I believe that they are both very good horses, but since they have not raced against each other, Draft Pick has done better with his graded stakes win. I still think that Dark Vader is a little better than Draft Pick, but he still has to win a graded stakes race. Hope he does soon.

Even if Dark Vader does end up winning more than Draft Pick, Draft Pick figures to end up with a better breeding deal than Dark Vader, now that Draft Pick is a graded stakes winner. Dark Vader could end up winning more graded stakes than Draft Pick, and may be the better racehorse, but Draft Pick has a more fashionable pedigree with his 80K sire (Candy Ride) compared to Dark Vader's 5K sire (Tale of Ekati). This is especially important for breeders that are breeding more for the sales ring than the racetrack. I do think that Tale of Ekati with his 5K fee is one of the best bargains in thoroughbred breeding, but Candy Ride is considered the more fashionable stallion.

I think that is why Draft Pick is getting the better racing opportunities. For instance: Dark Vader won his 2nd race, an allowance race, a day before Draft Pick broke his maiden in his 6th race. Then, Draft Pick gets to race in the grade 3 Affirmed Stakes in Southern California (which he won) while Dark Vader was shipped to Belmont in New York to race in the non-graded Easy Goer Stakes. Next, Draft Pick raced in the Los Alamitos Derby while Dark Vader was shipped to Indiana to race in the Indiana Derby. I guess that it always comes down to money.

[Saban]

Core Beliefs is another 4 year old horse from the same barn as Dark Vader and Draft Pick. Core Beliefs has won two graded stakes, a grade 3 and a grade 2. His sire is Quality Road whose stud fee is 150K and he was bought at a 2 year old sale for $350,000. Anyway, Core Beliefs and Draft Pick both have what would be considered a better female line than Dark Vader (more stakes horses and better producers) as well as the much more expensive sires (150 K and 80K compared to 5K for Dark Vader's sire Tale of Ekati).

So, the greater female lines also make Core Beliefs and Draft Pick more likely to be successful sires than Dark Vader regardless of how they they do on the racetrack. Peter Eurton, their very good trainer, said that when Draft Pick worked with Dark Vader and Core Beliefs, you could not tell who was better. He has some very good 4 year old colts in his stable.

One thing going for Dark Vader is that he is a gorgeous horse. That would help him as a stallion prospect. He should win at least one graded stakes race before he is through. Just hope he stays healthy.

[Saban]

Not a good day for Core Beliefs and Draft Pick, who were both entered in the 200K grade 2 San Diego Handicap today. It turned out to be a 4 horse race after scratches. Draft Pick finished 3rd and Core Beliefs finished 4th. Core Beliefs stumbled coming out of the gate, and that probably hurt him.

Kind of glad that Dark Vader wasn't entered because it not only might have been a hard race to win, but I think that it was very hot. Still don't know where he is racing next. Hope it is a grade 3 race with an unusually weak field.

[Saban]

A couple of Tale of Ekati's daughters are entered in stakes races on Sunday (7/21). They are Totally Obsessed who is entered in the Norm Barron Queen City Oaks at Belterra Park for a purse of $75,000.

Blazinbeauty is entered in the Boeing Stakes at Emerald Downs for $50,000.

Blazinbeauty finished 3rd in the Boeing Stakes today.

The races were cancelled due to the weather today at Belterra Park.

Diamond Crazy is entered in the 10th race at Saratoga, a $92,000 allowance race on 7/24.

[Saban]

Puffer Fish is entered in a 40K allowance race at Presque Isle Downs tomorrow.

[Saban]

Dark Vader is nominated to the 200K Grade 3 West Virginia Governor's Stakes at the Mountaineer Racetrack on 8/3/19. That doesn't mean that he is definitely going to be in that race, but I believe that he can if he wants to be, barring injury or illness.

I haven't seen Dark Vader on the work tab since his last race on 7/5. I know that his last race might have been tough on him having lost by a neck in the 1 1/8 mile Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows, but I thought that he might have had a public workout by now.

Good luck to Dark Vader, no matter what his situation is.

[Saban]

Dark Vader had a 4F workout at Del Mar today. That does not mean that he will definitely run in the West Virginia Governor's Stakes on August 3, but he will run in it if his handlers want him to.

[Saban]

Peace of Ekati is entered in race 6 at Woodbine tomorrow (7/26/19), a $67,000 allowance race at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

Mortal Storm is entered in race 9 at Laurel Park tomorrow (7/26/19), a $42,000 allowance race at 7 furlongs.

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Peace of Ekati (4 year old. colt) finished 2nd in a $67,000 allowance race at Woodbine today.

Tale of Vienna (4 year old gelding) won a $40,000. optional claiming race at Woodbine today.

Royal Asscher (5 year old mare) is entered in the 75 k Added Ellegance stakes tomorrow at 7F at Gulfstream Park.

Tancahua (4 year old gelding) is entered in a $31,800 allowance race at 5.5F at Thistledown tomorrow.

[Saban]

Totally Obsessed, 3 year old filly and full sister to Dark Vader, is entered in the 75K Norm Barron Queen City Oaks at 1 1/16 miles at Belterra Park tomorrow (race 5). That race was cancelled about a week ago due to extreme heat.

La Femme Royale, 4 year old filly, is entered in a 32K allowance race at 6F at Presque Isle Downs tomorrow (race 6).

Tancahua, 4 year old gelding, finished 3rd in a $31,800 allowance race at 5.5 F at Thistledown Race Course today.

[Saban]

Totally Obsessed won the 1 1/16 mi. 75K Norm Barron Queen City Oaks today at Belterra Park.

This makes her a multiple stakes winner and bodes well for her full brother, Dark Vader, if he becomes a stallion after he is done racing. Dark Vader is multiple graded stakes placed. The best thing that Dark Vader can do now is win a graded stakes race.

[Saban]

Dark Vader is not entered in the West Virginia Governor's Stakes on 8/3. Don't know when and where he is racing again. Maybe he will show up in an allowance race some place next.