Catalina Cruiser gets it done in Pat O'Brien

DEL MAR, Calif. – Catalina Cruiser edged Giant Expectations by a head after an epic stretch duel in Saturday’s Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar, a milestone win for the 5-year-old horse and trainer John Sadler.

Catalina Cruiser earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 and won the $200,351 Pat O’Brien Stakes for the second consecutive year. Catalina Cruiser is unbeaten in four starts at Del Mar, all stakes. He won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles last year and on July 20.

The Pat O’Brien Stakes was Sadler’s 75th career stakes win at Del Mar, moving him into sole possession of third-place on the all-time list behind Hall of Famers Bob Baffert (130) and Ron McAnally (77). Sadler, 63, was tied with the late Hall of Famer Charlie Whittingham going into Saturday’s program.

Through most of the stretch run, Giant Expectations appeared the more likely winner.

Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, 7-2 Giant Expectations rallied five wide on the turn to take the lead. He led by a head with a furlong remaining when Catalina Cruiser rallied on the inside to win narrowly under jockey Flavien Prat.

Sent off as a heavy favorite, Catalina Cruiser ($3) was timed in 1:22. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 104.

“At the quarter pole when I asked my horse, Giant Expectations was quicker, but my horse fought back,” Prat said.

Catalina Cruiser won his fifth stakes in the Pat O’Brien. He was always near the front and was four wide on the turn before moving toward the inside for the stretch duel.

“It was a game effort,” Sadler said. “He takes a while to get going. I knew he’d battle.

“He lost a lot of ground. It was a game effort.”

Giant Expectations finished 4 3/4 lengths in front of 5-1 American Anthem, who was followed by Jalen Journey, Seven Trumpets, and Chief Cicatriz. Lieutenant Dan was withdrawn early Saturday.

The Pat O’Brien was almost the first graded stakes win for Giant Expectations since the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita in December 2017, a span of six graded stakes and eight races overall.

“That’s brutal,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “That’s tough to swallow. I can’t take anything from John’s horse.”

Catalina Cruiser has won 7 of 8 starts and earned $691,100 for owners Pete and Kosta Hronis. By Union Rags, Catalina Cruiser’s only loss was a sixth as the 9-10 favorite in the BC Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs last November.