Catalina Cruiser gets BC Dirt Mile berth with Pat O'Brien win

DEL MAR, Calif. - The margins of victory keep increasing for the undefeated Catalina Cruiser.

After winning his stakes debut in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles by 6 3/4 lengths on July 21, Catalina Cruiser won Saturday’s Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs by 7 1/4 lengths at Del Mar.

Catalina Cruiser ($2.40) was in control on the backstretch. Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Catalina Cruiser dueled with early pacesetter Threefiveindia for the first quarter-mile before taking the lead with more than three furlongs remaining.

Catalina Cruiser led by 3 1/2 lengths with a furlong to go and was timed in 1:22.13.

“Once you get him going, it’s hard for him to stop,” Van Dyke said. “He’s very smart, super talented for how big he is.”

The win in the $196,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes had greater significance than the first-place purse of $120,000 earned by owners Pete and Kosta Hronis. Catalina Cruiser earned a fees-paid berth for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

In the Pat O’Brien, Catalina Cruiser easily defeated Battle of Midway, the winner of the 2017 BC Dirt Mile here last November. Battle of Midway was sent to stud in Kentucky last winter, but was put back in training in the spring when he was found to be subfertile.

The Pat O’Brien was Battle of Midway’s first start since the BC Dirt Mile. Flavien Prat rode Battle of Midway, who was third for the first half-mile before advancing to second.

“We knew we were up against an odds-on favorite and we needed a race,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “Flavien said he got a lot out of it.”

Vorticity finished third, 5 3/4 lengths clear of Threefiveindia. The race had a reduced field because of the withdrawals of Horse Greedy, Ransom the Moon, Roy H, and St. Joe Bay. Ransom the Moon and Roy H were first and second in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs on July 28 and were withdrawn from the Pat O’Brien in favor of sprint stakes in September and October, their trainers said. Roy H was the champion sprinter of 2017.

Catalina Cruiser, a 4-year-old colt by Union Rags, has earned $303,600 from four wins.

Trained by John Sadler, Catalina Cruiser won his debut in a maiden race at six furlongs at Santa Anita last October. Catalina Cruiser did not race last winter or in the early spring, and won an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at six furlongs in his comeback at Santa Anita on May 19.

Catalina Cruiser is Sadler’s fourth stakes win in the last eight days. He won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic for Hronis Racing with Accelerate on Aug. 18, earning a fees-paid berth for the BC Classic. The following day, Catapult won the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile to confirm his status as a contender for the BC Mile. On Friday, Shenandoah Queen won the restricted Tranquility Lake Stakes for fillies and mares.

“I’m really appreciative of the horses I have,” Sadler said. “We have a lot of plans to make for the Breeders’ Cup. Tomorrow, I can start the process.”