Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Catalina Cruiser, City of Light to meet at last

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Catalina Cruiser and City of Light are the kind of horses who simply stand out. Come out any morning to watch horses train in Southern California, and they’re the ones who constantly tout themselves, big, strong colts who look like locomotives even when they gallop, let alone when they have a workout.

Catalina Cruiser is a chestnut-colored colt with plenty of chrome on his massive frame, most notably a wide blaze that begins above his eyes and runs all the way down to his nose. He and Justify, the Triple Crown winner, could pass for kinfolk.

City of Light is a dark bay who gives off the aura of someone you wouldn’t want to cross.

They’ve been circling each other for months at Santa Anita and Del Mar, but their campaigns, until now, have kept them apart. What seemed inevitable, though, is finally happening. The two best milers in the country not named Mind Your Biscuits at last will have a showdown Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs.

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The Dirt Mile drew a field of 10, but was reduced to nine on Friday morning when Awesome Slew was scratched owing to a minor illness, according to trainer Mark Casse. The two stars wound up at opposite ends of the starting gate. Catalina Cruiser drew the outside post, which could have been a problem if this race were around two turns, but since Churchill Downs has a chute that affords one-turn miles, he’s ideally drawn.

“That’s a great post for him,” said his trainer, John Sadler, who has carefully guided Catalina Cruiser to a perfect 4-for-4 record. “Going a mile, can’t ask for better. Tactically the way it came up, it’s a good draw.”

That’s because City of Light landed the rail, a position from which he announced himself to the world when he won the Grade 1 Malibu last Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. Michael McCarthy, who trains City of Light, said the draw dictates tactics.

“It takes the guesswork out of it,” said McCarthy, who said City of Light will be sent under Javier Castellano. “Got no choice. But he’s certainly fast enough.”

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City of Light in the past 12 months has used his keen speed to win not only the Malibu, but the Grade 1 Triple Bend going seven furlongs and the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap, in which he sent Accelerate, the favorite in the Classic later Saturday, to his only defeat of the year.

After failing to handle 1 1/4 miles when third in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita, City of Light was aimed for the Forego at Saratoga as a prep for the Dirt Mile. He finished second in that race after taking the scenic tour toward Yaddo on the far turn.

Back at Santa Anita, City of Light was trained straight into the Dirt Mile, a layoff of more than two months during which he has turned in several sharp workouts.

Catalina Cruiser is the horse Sadler accurately used to refer to as “the best horse no one has heard of.” They know him now. With only a maiden win in October 2017 to his credit entering the year, he won an allowance at Santa Anita, then this summer at Del Mar crushed his rivals in the San Diego and then the Pat O’Brien. He has won his four starts by a combined 18 1/4 lengths, an average of more than 4 1/2 lengths per race.

“We haven’t seen his best yet,” Sadler said.

Like City of Light, Catalina Cruiser has not raced since Aug. 25; they have the exact same layoff entering this race. And like City of Light, Catalina Cruiser consistently has posted fast drills that often are the best of the day at the distance.

There are eight others in the race, including late threats Seeking the Soul, who won the Ack Ack over this track and distance Sept. 29, and Firenze Fire, who has thrived around one turn his entire career and ran the best race of his life in the Dwyer, a one-turn mile at Belmont this summer.

“I think this is his best distance,” said his trainer, Jason Servis. “I just hope the track doesn’t favor speed.”

Seven Trumpets chased Firenze Fire in the Dwyer and then the Gallant Bob at Parx Racing last time out. He returns to Churchill Downs, where he is 3 for 3. He has never won a stakes race.

“He keeps knocking on the door. I hope one day someone will answer,” said his trainer, Dale Romans.

Bravazo, runner-up in the Preakness and Haskell, is facing elders for the first time.

Giant Expectations was third in the Ack Ack behind Seeking the Soul.

Isotherm, third in the Awesome Again last time out, has not won in nine starts since February 2017.

Trigger Warning was third in the Pennsylvania Derby in his last start.