Jack Sisterson

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Four days short of two years after her death, Marylou Whitney managed to upstage Thursday's feel-good, season-opener at Saratoga Race Course. Pretty Birdie (Bird Song), bred and owned by Marylou Whitney Stables, struck just the right emotional note--bridging the past and the present--with her gate-to-wire victory in the 103rd running of the GIII Schuylerville S. "It's a little bittersweet. I wish she was here," Whitney's husband John Hendrickson said. "She would love this. Saratoga is open and she's won a race. Things are the way they...

At the conclusion of the May 1 GI Old Forestor Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs there was no room to spare between Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) and Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending (Kingman {GB}) who crossed the wire in unison and the duo will attempt to separate themselves in Saturday's GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. at Belmont. Domestic Spending is trained by Chad Brown, who has won the 1 1/2-mile race on seven occasions, including the last two most recent renewals. On the board in...

Johnny V. did it again. A week after wiring the GI Kentucky Derby aboard Medina Spirit (Protonico), John Velazquez sent Calumet Farm homebred Channel Cat (English Channel) to the front in Saturday's GI Man O' War S., and just held on by a nose over favored Gufo (Declaration of War). Channel Cat, off at 8-1, dueled from the inside through an opening quarter in an eye-catching :22.69 in this 1 3/8-mile affair. He began to shake clear rounding the clubhouse turn and slowed it down some to a testing half...

GI Cigar Mile hero True Timber (Mineshaft) was not entered for Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup S. after cooling out slightly lame Wednesday morning prior to the draw, trainer Jack Sisterson announced via Twitter. With the defection of True Timber, GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile victor Knicks Go (Paynter) was installed as the morning-line favorite in the 12-horse Pegasus. "True Timber came up slightly off cooling out this morning," Sisterson tweeted. "While it appears he might be able to run in the Pegasus, we always prioritize the best interest of...

Calumet Farm's True Timber (Mineshaft) impressed trainer Jack Sisterson Saturday morning with a swift five-furlong breeze in preparation for a third start in the Jan. 23 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. Working in company with multiple-stakes winner American Tattoo (Arg) (Not For Sale), True Timber covered five furlongs in 1:00.20 under exercise rider Mark O'Dwyer at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County. "He worked great this morning," said Sisterson. "It was probably one of the better breezes he's done with us. He went...

Sent off the 16-5 second favorite to build on a front-running maiden victory over course and distance in his turf debut Dec. 19, Calumet Farm homebred Kentucky Pharoah (American Pharoah) repeated the dose Saturday, earning his first stakes success in the Dania Beach S. at Gulfstream. Quickly into stride from gate two, Kentucky Pharoah had early company to his inside in the form of favored Fighting Force but was intent on rolling forward and was a clear leader turning up the backstretch. Bowling along at a good clip while racing...

True Timber (Mineshaft) has been knocking at the door of a Grade I win throughout his career, including in-the-money finishes in the last two renewals of the GI Cigar Mile H. The Calumet Farm runner broke through at the highest level in a big way at Aqueduct Saturday, romping in the mud to take this year's edition of the prestigious Cigar Mile. With his last victory coming in a Belmont optional claimer in September of 2018, True Timber was overlooked at 7-1 in this event, which lost three contenders Saturday...

Two years ago, when it was announced that legendary Calumet Farm was hiring Jack Sisterson as its primary trainer, there was skepticism. At just 33 years old, with only experience as an assistant to his name, it was fair to question whether or not Sisterson was prepared to carry the flag for such a powerful racing and breeding brand. Those questions have now been answered--resoundingly in the affirmative, as just a short while later, Sisterson has not only proved equal to the task, but appears on his way to the...

Trainer Jack Sisterson joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss recent GI winner Vexatious and Sisterson's role in returning Calumet to glory.

Champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) was bet like she could not lose Saturday's GI Personal Ensign S. at 1-5, but apparently no one told 9-1 shot Vexatious (Giant's Causeway). The Calumet runner refused to yield to the Eclipse winner in the final furlong of the Saratoga stretch to secure a spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Stakes winner Motion Emotion (Take Charge Indy) went straight to the front with Vexatious stalking in a close-up second and Midnight Bisou just off of them in third through...