Q-RACING BLOG - TIRELESS GRIT

By Ty Wyant

    Link Newcomb’s 8-year-old warhorse Cattail Cove is truly remarkable. He hasn’t been retired, like most racehorses his age; instead he is still racing at a high level and winning – and doing it with more than 50 career starts, a testament to not only his speed but also his durability.

A warhorse, in racing parlance, is a horse who has made more than 50 career starts. By the very definition, a warhorse has to be not only talented, but also sound and gritty enough to withstand the rigors of an extended campaign.

In 2024 and/or 2025, there have been 26 warhorses who have made an official start. The horse with the most starts is Geral DeWitt’s Agoutis Snowplow, a 2013 gelding by Agouti who has made 87 starts to date in his career. 

As one of the few, Cattail Cove is doing a rare thing with exceptional style. In his latest start on March 18 at Los Alamitos, he was a late-running winner of the $35,000 Moonist Stakes and marks a three-win streak that began on December 21 in the First Down Dash Handicap (G3).

 “He knows where the finish line is,” Newcomb said. Cattail Cove’s finish line knowledge was obvious in the Moonist Stakes when he rallied to win the 400-yard stakes by a head. The jockey only needs to stay out of Cattail Cove’s way. The 8-year-old has it under control.

The gelding was third in the 2022 running of the Moonist Stakes and then second in the 2023 edition. He did not compete in the 2024 Moonist. He has moved up a position in the latest three renewals in which he contested.

A $62,000 purchase at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, the Dr. Steve Burns-bred Cattail Cove was the recipient of the 2022 Moonist Award. It is an honor presented by the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association to a stakes or allowance class horse racing in California. He is certainly a deserving winner.

Sired by Favorite Cartel, Cattail Cove is out of the Separatist mare Katie Katella, a mare who has produced the earners of more than $2 million. Among his siblings are Grade 1-placed Katella Deli (by Foose, $502,252). Katie Katella herself is a daughter of blue hen Oh La Proud, making her a sister to champions Flame N Flash, Hawkinson and Hawkish, as well as producer Look Her Over, among others. 

During his remarkable 53 race career, Catttail Cove has amassed 11 wins, 13 seconds and 11 thirds while earning $761,545. He won his maiden in his career debut, run in three allowance races, and all of the other starts have come in stakes or trials. He has two starts at Ruidoso Downs – a second in his All American Derby trial and a third in the All American Invitational – and all the rest of his starts have come at Los Alamitos. Just think about that and remember his latest start was a win in a stakes race.

A year-by-year look shines additional light on Cattail Cove’s amazing career:

2019 (2-year-old)

Cattail Cove earned $316,417 when he was second in the $1,903,275 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (G1). He finished third in the $365,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity (RG2).

2020 (3-year-old)

He was third in the $100,000 Los Alamitos Invitational and fourth in the $1,062,350 Los Alamitos Super Derby.

2021 (4-year-old)

He had knee chips removed at the start of the year and returned to racing in June. He was second in the $25,000 California Breeders Sprint Stakes and the $25,000 First Down Dash Handicap (G3). He scored third-place finishes in the $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap (G1) and the $15,000 Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Handicap (a trial race for the Champion of Champions). 

2022 (5-year-old)

He won the $25,000 Independence Day Handicap (G3) and the $20,000 Azure Three Handicap. He was second in the $35,000 Kaweah Bar Handicap (G3) and finished third in the $100,000 Spencer L. Childers California Breeders Championship (RG1), the $35,000 Moonist Stakes and the $20,000 Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Handicap.

2023 (6-year-old)

He won the $25,000 Independence Day Handicap (G3) and a $25,000 handicap at Los Alamitos. He was second in the $40,000 Moonist Stakes and the $20,000 Flight 109 Handicap. He finished third in the $100,000 Spencer L. Childers California Breeders Championship (RG1).

2024 (7-year-old)

He won the $30,000 First Down Dash Handicap (G3). He was second in the $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap (G1) and the $100,000 Spencer L. Childers California Breeders Championship (RG1), and third in the $40,000 Kaweah Bar Handicap (G3).

2025 (8-year-old)

Won the Moonist Stakes in his only stakes appearance this year.
 

Cattail Cove lives in the first stall at trainer Juan Aleman’s barn. It’s a home he has had since his 2-year-old season.

“He takes care of himself,” Newcomb said. “He really likes his job. He’ll tell us when he wants to retire.”

The Newcomb family has a farm in Oklahoma and that’s where the horse will retire when the time comes. “I’ll pay to build him a barn,” Newcomb said. Cattail Cove has the barn cost covered. 

 “He has been a total blessing. I know I won’t have another horse like him,” Newcomb said.