HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Seminole Chief was feeling so good Saturday morning that trainer Jack Sisterson had the horse gallop at the Palm Meadows training center before putting him on a van to Gulfstream Park for the Appleton Stakes later in the day.
“We had to put a saddle on this horse this morning, he was feeling that well,” Sisterson said. “He wanted to do it, we allowed him to do it.”
Seminole Chief was still feeling well late Saturday afternoon as he parlayed a perfect stalking trip under Dylan Davis to win the $165,000 Appleton Stakes by three-quarters of a length. Portofino was second by a nose over Abrumar, who was a half-length better than Major Dude, who had a troubled trip.
Seminole Chief won for the fifth time from nine starts. He has now won twice on turf, once on Tapeta and once on dirt.
“I think he’s a good horse over any surface,” Sisterson said.
Though he had won from mid-pack last out, Seminole Chief, with Davis subbing for an injured Tyler Gaffalione, stalked the pacesetting Portofino through fractions of 23.45 seconds for the quarter, 47.20 for the half and 1:10.80 for six furlongs. Seminole Chief battled with Portofino until inside the eighth pole before edging away late.
“Dylan knew there was a bit of speed, but if there was no speed we could go forward,” Sisterson said.
Seminole Chief, a son of Girvin owned by Brad Grady and David Grund, covered the mile over firm turf in 1:33.91 and returned $9.40 to win.
While Seminole Chief had an unimpeded trip, Major Dude, the even-money favorite, had a difficult trip under Irad Ortiz Jr. He got bumped at the break and was last, was steadied multiple times, altered course in the stretch and got beat 1 1/2 lengths.
“We might have got a bit fortunate, Major Dude, something happened to him,” Sisterson said. “I don’t want to win a race when things like that happen. It’s unfortunate for those connections.”
Sisterson said Seminole Chief could be a candidate for the $350,000 Opening Verse Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 1 as a prelude for the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita later this summer.
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