Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Catalina Cruiser tops a field in flux

Catalina Cruiser will put a perfect race record on the line when he starts as the probable favorite in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 3, but the field he will face is in flux with 10 of the 16 horses pre-entered Monday also pre-entered in a second Breeders’ Cup race.

The group includes multiple Grade 1 winner City of Light, the potential second choice, who also is pre-entered in the Classic. The Dirt Mile is City of Light’s first preference in a non-binding designation, as it is for Bravazo, also pre-entered in the Classic, and Firenze Fire and Seven Trumpets, who also are pre-entered in the Sprint.

The Sprint is the first preference for Dirt Mile pre-entrants Limousine Liberal, Promises Fulfilled, Warrior’s Club, and Whitmore, while the Classic is the first preference for Lone Sailor and Seeking the Soul.

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Awesome Slew, Dak Attack, Giant Expectations, Isotherm, and Trigger Warning complete the pre-entries for the Dirt Mile, a one-turn race at Churchill Downs that will have a maximum of 14 starters and two also-eligibles. Trigger Warning and Dak Attack were not selected into the field, but could get in with six pre-entrants listing another Breeders’ Cup race as their first preference. Final entries are Monday.

The brilliant Catalina Cruiser long has targeted the Dirt Mile, in part because his owner, Hronis Racing, and trainer, John Sadler, have the probable Classic favorite in Accelerate. Catalina Cruiser has won his four starts by a combined 18 1/2 lengths, among his wins the Grade 2 San Diego around two turns at 1 1/16 miles and the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien at seven furlongs – both at Del Mar.

“We have a very good one-two punch,” Sadler said. “We considered taking [Catalina Cruiser] to the Woodward after he won the San Diego, but we opted to stay home because it was a Win and You’re In in the Pat O’Brien. The plan always has been for him to go in the Dirt Mile this year with Accelerate in the Classic, then when Accelerate goes to stud next year, this horse will get a chance at some of those races Accelerate won this year.”

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Catalina Cruiser equaled his best Beyer, a 107, in the San Diego. He came back one start later and earned a 103 for his 7 1/4-length victory in the Pat O’Brien. Catalina Cruiser broke from the rail, was part of a rapid pace, then separated himself from the field.

“Just brilliant,” Sadler said. “The track was pretty slow down there and he made it look fast.

“We probably haven’t seen the best of this horse yet.”

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The decision to train Catalina Cruiser up to the Dirt Mile following the Pat O’Brien on Aug. 25 was deliberate.

“This horse runs very fast numbers and a big horse running that fast, you’re best off to space [their races],” Sadler said. “He’s a very good work horse.”

Sadler said Catalina Cruiser is set to work Saturday and fly out Sunday. Drayden Van Dyke has the mount in the Dirt Mile.