Tale of Ekati

Tale of Ekati

The Tale of Ekati Continues...


Tale of the Cat / Silence Beauty (Jpn), by Sunday Silence, 2005, B
Fee: $5,000 S&N
Tale of Ekati

The Tale of Ekati Continues...

  • Lifetime: 3 Champions, 38 stakes horses, 74% winners from starters, and $22 million in progeny earnings
  • 2023 racing: BUDRO TALKING, winner of the Jacob V. Morreale Memorial S., runner-up in the Louisiana Legends Turf S., and placed in the John Henry S.; TIVIS, runner-up in the Best of Ohio Diana S. and third in the Michael G. Mackey Memorial Angenora S. and Greg Veit Scarlet and Gray S.; Tale of May, second in the Clasico Jorge Ameglio (PR-G3) and third in the Clasico Jose Antonio Remon Cantera (PR-G2); Ekati Flatter, 2-time allowance winner; etc.
  • 2022 racing: PEPPER SPRAY, winner of the Riley Allison Derby and the Charles Taylor Derby and placed in the Sunland Park Derby (G3); TIVIS, winner of the Mahoning Distaff S. and runner-up in the Greg Veit Scarlet and Gray H.; Exxel, placed in the Tom Metzen H.B.P.A. Sprint S..; Chillaxification, placed in the Useeit S.; Diamonds N Aces, placed in the Bara Lass S.; etc.
  • Top runners include: GIRVIN, winner of the Haskell Invitational (G1), Louisiana Derby (G2), and Risen Star S. (G2); Champion 2YO colt and Champion Sprinter TALE OF AN ANGEL; Champion 2YO colt MI PRIMOGENITO; 2YO filly QUINTA NOTA, G1 winner in Peru​ defeating 3YOs; G2 winner EKATI’S PHAETON; G3 winner/G1-placed VERVE’S TALE; Preakness S. (G1) runner-up Tale of Verve, etc.
  • TALE OF THE CAT’s multiple G1 winner and millionaire—a leading 2-year-old, a dynamic 3-year-old
  • Won Futurity S. (G2) at 2. Won the Wood Memorial (G1), the Cigar Mile (G1) over older horses, and the Jerome (G2) at 3
  • Ran in 14 consecutive Graded stakes after debut 8 ¼-length MdSpWt win at 2

Alan Porter – A graded stakes winner over Champion Sprinter Kodiak Kowboy at two, Tale of Ekati captured three graded stakes, including the Wood Memorial (gr. I) and Cigar Mile (gr. I), at three.

Tale of Ekati is by Tale of the Cat, a Champion Sire of Two-Year-Olds by Storm Cat. His dam is by the breed-shaping Sunday Silence out of grade one winner Maplejinsky, and is half-sister to Champion Sky Beauty. This is also the immediate family of Champion Sprinters Dayjur and Gold Beauty, and grade one winners Pine Island, Point of Entry and Pleasant Home.

Tale of Ekati is the product of a Tale of the Cat/Hail to Reason cross, and crossing back over certain branches of the Hail to Reason line looks well worthwhile. The Stop the Music branch of Hail to Reason has done very well under Storm Cat – including Tale of the Cat – and also combines well with Halo, who is here through Sunday Silence. Sources of Stop the Music include Cure the Blues (and his sons American Chance and Take Me Out) and Temperence Hill. The Robertobranch of Hail to Reason has proved to be a particularly strong foil for Tale of the Cat and his sons, notably through Red RansomSilver Hawk (sire of Hawkster),Kris S. (including through Arch and Prized) and Dynaformer, with other possibilities including RobellinoMajor Impact and Repriced. Although they are not likely to be frequently found in male line of potential broodmare sires, Tale of Ekati might also benefit from mares carrying Sir Ivor and Drone, who both descend from Turn-to, the sire of Hail to Reason.

Tale of the Cat has sired grade one winner My Trusty Cat out of a mare by Private Account, from the Damascus line, and Private Account can be brought in through Private Terms (sire of Afternoon Deelites), Corporate ReportPersonal FlagSecret Hello and Unaccounted For (who is potentially particularly interesting). There are also two Tale of the Cat line stakes winners out of mares by Time For a Change (sire of Fly So Free and Time Bandit). Other Damascusstrains to consider are Gilded TimeCrusader SwordEastern EchoOgygianSkip Away and Skip Trial.

Tale of Ekati is inbred to Mr. Prospector through two daughter, but there are more than 50 stakes winners, by stallions that are inbred to Mr. Prospector, and have another strain of Mr. Prospector in the dam. The broad cross of Tale of the Cat and his sons with Mr. Prospector line mares has not been outstanding in general, but certain branches have been effective. The most notable have been Fappiano through Quiet American and Unbridled’s Song (who is broodmare sire of three Tale of the Cat stakes winners) and Forty Niner (including through Coronado’s QuestTactical Advantage and Roar). Unbridled’s Song could be brought in through Political ForceSongandaprayerEven The ScoreEurosilverOld FashionedRockport Harbor, and Half Ours and Buddha (both giving inbreeding toStorm Cat). Other sources of Forty Niner include Distored HumorEnd SweepTrippiGold CaseBanker’s Gold and Gold Fever. There are also Tale of the Cat line stakes winners out of mares by Carson City (whose sons including City ZipFive Star DayLord CasronPollard’s VisionGood and Tough and Flying Chevron), Afleet (sire of Northern Afleet and grandsire of Afleet Alex), Gulch and his son, Thunder Gulch (sire of Point Given), Woodman (sire of Hansel andTimber Country), Miswaki (sire of Black Tie Affair and Formal Gold).

Mr. Prospector is a son of Raise a Native, and Tale of the Cat is sire of an Eclipse Award winning Champion from the Alydar branch of Raise a Native, and this line could be introduced through TurkomanStrike the GoldAlyshebaBenchmarkCriminal TypeDare and Go, Easy GoerSaratoga SixJeblar and Wheaton(giving inbreeding to the dam of Storm Cat). Still with the Raise a Native line, Tale of the Cat has a stakes winner out of a mare by Affirmed (sire of Champion Sky Beauty of the granddam of Tale of Ekati), and a stakes winner out of a mare by Our Native (both by Exclusive Native), and in general Storm Cat has done well with mares by Maria’s Mon (from the Majestic Prince branch of Raise a Native).

Although Tale of the Cat is a Northern Dancer line horse, he and his sons have enjoyed success when bred back over mares from the Northern Dancer line. Tale of Ekati, with another cross of Northern Dancer’s family through Halo, should be particularly well suited by additional Northern Dancer. From the Vice Regent, branch there is a stakes winner out of a mare by that horse, as well as from mares by his sons Regal Intention and Deputy Minister, as well as the Deputy Minister sons French Deputy and Salt Lake, with other sources of Deputy Minister that appeal including Silver DeputyDehere (who is particularly attractive here), Touch GoldAwesome Humor and Forest Camp. The cross of Tale of the Cat and his sons over mares descending from Danzig has produced nine stakes winners, including from daughter of Pine Bluff (who gives inbreeding to Halo), AnabaaPolish Navy (sire of Sea Hero and Ghazi), Eagle EyedBoundary andHonor Grades. Such as Belong to MeLangfuhr and Polish Numbers, could also be considered, while Dayjur, a close relative to the granddam of Tale of Ekati, is potentially interesting. The Chief’s Crown branch (available through Concerto and Bellamy Road) might also work well. Tale of Ekati is linebred to Northern Dancer’s son, Nijinsky II, but bringing in another branch of the line could prove worthwhile, with representatives that have worked under Tale of the Cat includingRoyal Academy (a close relative to Storm Cat), Sword DanceGreen Dancer (sire of Greinton) and Shadeed (sire of Alydeed). It would also be worth considering Sky Classic and Strawberry Road.

Tale of the Cat has two stakes winners out of mares descending from Northern Dancer through Topsider, as well as stakes winners from mares descending fromSadler’s Wells and Nureyev, who are from the same family as Topsider. Sadler’s Wells might work particularly well through El Prado (sire of Medaglia d’Oro,Kitten’s Joy and Artie Schiller) and Perfect Soul (a parallel Northern Dancer/Storm Cat cross to Storm Cat). Tale of the Cat has a grade one winner out of a mare by Peintre Celebre, a son of Nureyev, a strain that could also be introduced via Atticus (bred on the same cross as Storm Cat), TheatricalSpinning Worldand Fasliyev. There is also a Tale of the Cat stakes winner out of a mare by Dixieland Band (sire of Dixie UnionDixie HeatDixie BrassCitidancer and Dixieland Heat), stakes winners out of mares descending from the brothers El Gran Senor and Try My Best, and although he would not often be found in the male-line of the present broodmare population, the strain of The Minstrel, would work very well here.

Storm Cat and his sons have done very well with mares from the Bold Ruckus line, at Tale of the Cat and a son both have graded winners out of mares by Beau Genius, suggesting mares by such as Bold ExecutiveHighland RuckusKiridashi and Katahaula CountyBold Ruckus is a son of Boldnesian, also the grandsire of Seattle Slew. The Seattle Slew strain has not been the strongest for Tale of the Cat himself, but he does have a stakes winner out of a mare by Seattle Slew(broodmare sire of a grade one winner by a son of Tale of the Cat); a grade one winner out of a mare by Capote (also broodmare sire of a grade one winner by a son of Tale of the Cat) and a stakes winner out of a mare by that horse’s son, Boston Harbor. Tale of the Cat’s dam is a sister to the dam of Pulpit, who is bySeattle Slew’s sireA.P. Indy, and as Tale of the Cat has a graded placed horse out of mare by A.P. Indy and a stakes placed horse out of a mare by Pulpit, this line could be worth experimenting with.

Tale of the Cat and his sons have a good strike-rate with mares from the In Reality line, with stakes winners out of mares by Valid Appeal (sire of Successful AppealValid Wager and Valid Expectations), and Honour and Glory and Waquoit (from the Relaunch branch, which can also be found through Skywalker,BertrandoOfficerCee’s Tizzy and Tiznow). There are also Tale of the Cat line stakes winners out of mares by In Excess and his son Indian CharliePleasant Tapand his sire Pleasant Colony (sire of Pleasantly Perfect); and Lord At War.

TALE OF THE CAT (USA)
b. 1994
STORM CAT (USA)
br. 1983
STORM BIRD (CAN)
b. 1978
NORTHERN DANCER (CAN)
SOUTH OCEAN (CAN)
TERLINGUA (USA)
ch. 1976
SECRETARIAT (USA)
CRIMSON SAINT (USA)
YARN (USA)
b. 1987
MR. PROSPECTOR (USA)
b. 1970 [BC]
RAISE A NATIVE (USA)
GOLD DIGGER (USA)
NARRATE (USA)*
dkb/br. 1980
HONEST PLEASURE (USA)
STATE (USA)
SILENCE BEAUTY (JPN)
b. 1997
SUNDAY SILENCE (USA)
dkb/br. 1986
HALO (USA)
dkb/br. 1969 [BC]
HAIL TO REASON (USA)
COSMAH (USA)
WISHING WELL (USA)
br. 1975
UNDERSTANDING (USA)
MOUNTAIN FLOWER (USA)
MAPLEJINSKY (USA)
b. 1985
NIJINSKY (CAN)
b. 1967 [CS]
NORTHERN DANCER (CAN)
FLAMING PAGE (CAN)
GOLD BEAUTY (USA)*
b. 1979
MR. PROSPECTOR (USA)
STICK TO BEAUTY (USA)

Race Record

Age Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earned
2 4 2 (1) 1 (1) 0 $313,200
3 8 3 (3) 0 0 $859,558
4 3 0 0 0 $10,234
Totals 15 5 (4) 1 (1) 0 $1,182,992
Won at 2
  • Futurity S. at Belmont Park (G2, 7f, by 1 length, defeating Kodiak Kowboy, Mythical Pegasus, Paint, The Leopard, Stand Pat)
  • A maiden special weight race at Belmont Park (5.5f, by 8 1/4 lengths in career debut, defeating Anakim, Globalization, Flying Dismount, Lumen, Take Down Two)
2nd at 2
  • Sanford S. at Saratoga (G2, 6f, to Ready’s Image, defeating The Roundhouse, Sok Sok, Fed Watcher, Ascot Hall, Twenty Eight Hours, Shotten Heimer, Little Nick)
4th at 2
  • Breeders’ Cup Juvenile S. at Monmouth Park (G1, 8.5f, to War Pass, Pyro, Kodiak Kowboy, defeating Z Humor, Old Man Buck, Overextended, Shore Do, Salute the Sarge, Wicked Style, Globalization)
Won at 3
  • Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct (G1, 9f, defeating War Pass, Court Vision, Giant Moon, Anak Nakal, Spurrier, Roman Emperor, Texas Wildcatter, Inner Light)
  • Cigar Mile H. at Aqueduct (G1, 8f, defeating Harlem Rocker, Bribon (FR), Arson Squad, Kodiak Kowboy, Storm Play, Monterey Jazz, Visionaire, Wanderin Boy)
  • Jerome H. at Belmont Park (G2, 8f, defeating You and I Forever, Harlem Rocker, Z Humor, Cool Coal, Da’ Tara, Visionaire)
4th at 3
  • Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs (G1, 10f, to Big Brown, Eight Belles, Denis of Cork, defeating 16 others)

Tale of Ekati News

Darby Dan Farm announces 2024 stallion roster and fees

Darby Dan Farm has set 2024 stud fees for its roster of 12 stallions that will stand the upcoming breeding season…

Tale of Ekati’s Tivis digs deep for third career stakes win

Tivis, a 4-year-old daughter of Tale of Ekati, chalked up her third lifetime stakes win with a very determined effort in the $75,000 Mahoning Distaff S. on Nov. 21…

Pepper Spray shows his class in the Charles Taylor Derby

Tale of Ekati’s Pepper Spray racked up his third career stakes win Sunday in the $75,000 Charles Taylor Derby with a late surge…

Tale of Ekati’s Pepper Spray stays perfect in Riley Allison Derby

Pepper Spray won for the third time in as many starts with a hard-fought score in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby on Jan. 30 at Sunland Park…

Undefeated Tale of Ekati 2yo wins stakes debut

Pepper Spray won his Dec. 18 stakes debut at Turf Paradise with a very game effort…

Tale of Ekati filly wins duel for first stakes victory

Bobbin Tail and Shesabidformidable staged stretch-long battle before Bobbin Tail prevailed by a neck on the wire to give the 3-year-old Tale of Ekati filly her first stakes win…

Undefeated Tale of Ekati filly very sharp in stakes debut

Tivis drew away smartly from the field in the final furlong of Saturday’s $75,000 Southern Park S. at Mahoning Valley to register her first stakes win…

Tale of Ekait filly surges late for first stakes win

The Beauty’s Tale overcame a very wide trip to win Wednesday’s $75,000 Florence Henderson S. at Indiana Downs…

Tale of Ekati’s Budro Talking tallies second stakes win

Budro Talking scored a come-from-behind win in the Louisiana Cup Turf Classic Saturday night at Louisiana Downs…

Fipke cancels stud fee contracts for 2020 breeding season

In recognition of the economic hardship brought on by the global coronavirus pandemic, all stallions owned by Charles E. Fipke will stand the 2020 season at no charge. The stud fee will be waived for breeders who have already signed contracts, and zero fee contracts will be issued for any new seasons for the remainder […]

Darby Dan Farm sets 2020 stallion roster and fees

Darby Dan Farm has set 2020 stud fees for its roster of nine stallions that will stand the upcoming breeding season, led by Dialed In, who will stand for $20,000 S&N. The roster also features Shackleford and Klimt who will each stand for $10,000 S&N; Tapiture, a leading freshman sire of 2019, will stand for […]

Tale of Ekati filly earns second stakes win of ’19

Totally Obsessed held off the late challenge of H. F. Carmel to win Sunday’s $75,000 Queen City Oaks by three-quarters of a length to give the 3-year-old Tale of Ekati filly her fifth win in six outings this year. Now a two-time stakes winner, the dark bay is 6-2-0 in 12 starts and has earned […]