Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
‘Cruiser’ to BC Dirt Mile next
DEL MAR, Calif. – The undefeated and untested Catalina Cruiser is unlikely to race again until the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 following his 7 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar.
Trainer John Sadler said Sunday that a 10-week gap between races could work in favor of Catalina Cruiser, who will leave the Del Mar summer meeting as a two-time stakes winner.
“With him, I could wait,” Sadler said. “He runs so well fresh.”
Catalina Cruiser was timed in 1:22.13 in the Pat O’Brien. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 103.
Catalina Cruiser is owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, who also own Accelerate, the winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 18 and a leading contender for the BC Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.
Accelerate, trained by Sadler, is scheduled to start in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 29 in his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup. Sadler wants to keep Accelerate and Catalina Cruiser apart.
Catalina Cruiser, 4, has won all four of his races, including the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles here July 21 by 6 3/4 lengths.
After the BC Dirt Mile, the $16 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26 is a long-term goal for Catalina Cruiser, Sadler said.
Battle of Midway finished second in his first start of 2018 in the Pat O’Brien. Battle of Midway was sent to stud in Kentucky last winter but was found to be subfertile and resumed training in the spring.
“The race should do him some good,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “The horse kept trying the whole way.”
Hollendorfer said the BC Dirt Mile is a possibility for Battle of Midway.
Only four ran in the Pat O’Brien after eight horses were entered. The two most prominent scratches were Ransom the Moon and Roy H, the first two finishers of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on July 28.
Ransom the Moon is pointing to the Grade 3 Frank De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel on Sept. 15 as a prep for the BC Sprint. Roy H, the champion sprinter of 2017, is a candidate for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 6.
Van Dyke closes on riding title
With three wins Sunday, including a meet-leading ninth stakes victory among jockeys, Drayden Van Dyke is heading into the final six days of the Del Mar season holding a four-win lead over Flavien Prat in his quest for his first riding title here.
“I don’t want to count my eggs before they’re hatched,” Van Dyke said. “I’m just trying to stay focused and ride every race the best I can.”
Van Dyke has won five stakes in concert with trainer John Sadler, including with True Royalty in the Torrey Pines on Sunday. They also combined to win the Pat O’Brien on Saturday with Catalina Cruiser, who gave them a San Diego victory earlier in the meet.
While Sadler has won more money than any trainer this meet, it is Peter Miller who is running away with the training title, a lead he extended with four wins on Sunday. He has 28 wins this meet, 12 clear of second-place Doug O’Neill. Sadler is third with 15. Miller was the winningest trainer here in the summer of 2012, and tied in 2014 with Jerry Hollendorfer.
No rush for Tatters to Riches
Jeff Mullins was a bundle of nerves before Tatters to Riches won the Shared Belief on Saturday, but he was relieved the 3-year-old not only won the race but came out of it in good condition. Now the trainer will have plenty of time to map out a campaign focused on his 4-yearold season.
There will be starts before 2019, but nothing obvious at the moment. Tatters to Riches won his first time going two turns on Saturday, and Mullins believes that’s his future, but there are no stakes races on dirt exclusively for 3-year-olds at the fall Santa Anita meeting. The options include running against older horses, or moving to turf – neither ideal – so Mullins acknowledged “we might have to go out of town.”
Tatters to Riches was off for 11 months owing to a hind ankle fracture before winning his comeback earlier in the meet. He then came back in 21 days for the Shared Belief. He is now 3 for 4.
“I want to give him time to recover from this, get up to Santa Anita, get settled, and figure out where we’re at,” Mullins said.
Cecil Peacock dies at 91
Cecil Peacock, who owned Santa Anita Derby winner Brother Derek, died recently at his home in Calgary, Alberta, at age 91.
“Just a great guy,” said Dan Hendricks, who trained Brother Derek, the fourth-place finisher to Barbaro in the 2006 Kentucky Derby.
“Great owner, and lucky as hell. He had such a great attitude,” Hendricks said.
“I remember when we drew post 18 for the Derby. I was devastated. He said, ‘Well, someone had to be 18.’ And when I told him how costly it would be to run in the Derby, he said, ‘Well, we’ll just have to make it a party.’ Great guy.”