Founder Willing Winner In Tale Of The Cat

OCEANPORT, NJ – Jeff Drown and Don Rachel’s Founder overcame steadying hard at the start and rallied from the rear to prove a willing winner of Saturday’s $100,000 Tale Of The Cat Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Paco Lopez, Founder won the 1 1/16-mile firm turf route by 1 1/4 lengths as the even-money favorite in the field of seven 3-year-olds.

Pacesetter It Can Be Done took second over Hot Blooded, while Eamonn headed It’s a Gamble for fourth.

King of Dreams and Fifty Sheas Ofgrey completed the order of finish.

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“I was trying to stay closer than I was because there was a lot of speed and I didn’t want to be too far back on this grass course,” Lopez said. “I was a little surprised at (It Can Be Done) and the speed of the race, but I knew my horse had a lot left and I waited to make my move when there was enough room. It was my first time riding the horse, and I know riding for Chad Brown, he likes to come from off the pace, so I wanted to wait as long as I could and the horse had a lot left to make the last run.”

Doubleoseven and Main Track Only entry Spun and Won scratched.

Founder’s win, his first in a stakes, improved his record to 7-2-1-1 with $139,522 earned. Drown and Rachel purchased the Upstart colt for $600,000 as an unraced juvenile.

“He’s not much on speed, but he has a good kick at the end,” said assistant trainer Luis Cabrera. “All Chad said before the race is to make sure he warms up good because he has plenty of ability.”

Founder returned $4.20 to win, $3 to place, and 42.60 to show. It Can Be Done brought back $4.40 to place and $3.20 to show. Hot Blooded paid $6.40 to show.