'Humbled' Sisterson Sends Out Three in Grade 1 Forego

If you are a four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer like Chad Brown, starting an entry in a grade 1 stakes is hardly a rare feat.

Just last weekend, Brown sent out four starters in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T).

Yet for Jack Sisterson, in just his third year as a trainer, entering three Calumet Farm starters Aug. 29 in the $300,000 Forego Stakes Presented by America's Best Racing (G1) at Saratoga Race Course is an experience he calls "humbling."

"I got a lot of help to get here," said Sisterson, a longtime assistant to Doug O'Neill who notched his first grade 1 win this month with Calumet's Vexatious in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1). "To have three horses in a grade 1 stakes is humbling, and I'm thankful for the support people have given me. I couldn't do this alone. The list would be 100 pages long of all the people who have helped me."

In sending out Everfast, Lexitonian, and True Timber, Sisterson has a trio who figure to be formidable in the seven-furlong stakes that also attracted grade 1 winners Whitmore, Mind Control, Firenze Fire, and Complexity.

Each of the three Sisterson starters owns a runner-up finish in a grade 1 stakes and is coming into the race in a manner that has filled him with optimism.

"We may be longshots in the race, but the horses are doing well and are up for a test like this. It wouldn't surprise me if one wins and all three run well," Sisterson said. "It's our second year at Saratoga, and each year our horses have blossomed there."

Everfast might be the best known off his second-place finish behind War of Will in last year's Preakness Stakes (G1). As a 3-year-old, he was considered a late-running router for trainer Dale Romans, but since he was moved to Sisterson's barn this year, he has displayed more speed and been effective in one-turn tests. Sisterson added blinkers to the son of Take Charge Indy 's equipment, but he says that did not spark the turnaround.

"We didn't add blinkers for speed. He was getting to the front and then idling," he said. "It was to keep him focused. He picked up the speed on his own and that led me to believe we could cut him back in distance."

In his first start for Sisterson, the 4-year-old Everfast lost by a neck in an April 18 allowance race at Oaklawn Park and then was a solid second behind Owendale—who was third in the 2019 Preakness—in the flat mile Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs. Sisterson admits he then erred in trying Everfast on turf when he finished ninth in the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T). 

After that, Sisterson returned Everfast to the main track for a seven-furlong allowance race Aug. 1 at Saratoga and was treated to a drought-busting 2 1/2-length score for Everfast's second win in 19 starts and first since his debut at 2.

"We thought if he ran well at Saratoga, the Forego would be a consideration and he has trained great since that win. He's 4 and could have a bright future at seven furlongs or a mile," said Sisterson, who says he's pointing Everfast toward the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Lexitonian was also at Saratoga and was entered in the July 25 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) after the son of Speightstown  won a May 29 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs in fast time. But after Lexitonian was scratched at the starting gate, Sisterson shipped him to California for the Aug. 1 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar. A loss by a nose in the six-furlong test continued a strong form cycle heading into Saturday's race.

"He ran a great race in the Bing Crosby," Sisterson said about the winner of four of 13 starts. "I was asking a lot shipping him to Saratoga and then to California, but he was very game and is training forwardly. We expect a big race from him."

True Timber entered Sisterson's barn this year after original trainer Kiaran McLaughlin retired to become the agent for jockey Luis Saez. In his first start for him, the Mineshaft  6-year-old was third in a July 12 allowance optional claimer at Keeneland, and Sisterson is hoping the runner-up in the 2018 Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) will take a step forward.

"He's pretty much known for racing for Kiaran," Sisterson said. "Hopefully we can do some things so that people will associate him with us."

Whitmore, a 7-year-old Pleasantly Perfect gelding, looks like the one to beat in the Forego as he searches for the second grade 1 win in a career that features 14 victories in 35 starts with earnings of $3,196,350.

Owned by Robert LaPenta, Head of Plains Partners, and trainer Ron Moquett, he is coming off a game second-place finish in the Vanderbilt when Volatile controlled the pace in a four-horse field and scored by 1 1/4 lengths.

The winner of the 2018 Forego, the late-running Whitmore should get a much better setup in a field of 11.

Mind Control, a 4-year-old Stay Thirsty  colt owned by Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables, was third in the Vanderbilt, a half-length behind Whitmore. Mr. Amore Stable's homebred Firenze Fire was another neck back in fourth.

Klaravich Stables' Complexity, the winner of the 2018 Champagne Stakes (G1), took a July 2 allowance optional claimer in his most recent start, beating fellow Forego starter Win Win Win by 2 1/4 lengths.

Complexity is trained by Brown, who also entered Fortin Hill.

Entries: Forego S. Presented by America's Best Racing (G1)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 29, 2020, Race 8

• Grade I
• 7f
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:07 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Everfast (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Jack Sisterson	30/1
2	2Whitmore (KY)	Luis Saez	120	Ron Moquett	7/2
3	3Lexitonian (KY)	Jose Lezcano	118	Jack Sisterson	10/1
4	4Funny Guy (NY)	Joel Rosario	118	John P. Terranova II	9/2
5	5True Timber (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	118	Jack Sisterson	20/1
6	6Complexity (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Chad C. Brown	4/1
7	7Win Win Win (FL)	Javier Castellano	118	Michael J. Trombetta	12/1
8	8Firenze Fire (FL)	Junior Alvarado	122	Kelly J. Breen	8/1
9	9Majestic Dunhill (KY)	Manuel Franco	118	George Weaver	20/1
10	10Mind Control (KY)	John R. Velazquez	120	Gregory D. Sacco	6/1
11	11Fortin Hill (IN)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Chad C. Brown	6/1