Catalina Cruiser has first workout of year

ARCADIA, Calif. – The two-time stakes winner Catalina Cruiser had his first workout of the year at Santa Anita on Tuesday, going three furlongs in 37.80 seconds. Trainer John Sadler timed Catalina Cruiser in 37 seconds, with a half-mile gallop-out in 49 seconds.

Sadler said he is targeting a late-spring comeback for Catalina Cruiser, who was sixth as the 9-10 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3, his only loss in five starts. Catalina Cruiser was rested through the winter in anticipation of “the big stakes” in the second half of the year, Sadler said.

“We ran some tests on him, and we kicked him out,” Sadler said.

Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Catalina Cruiser won two Grade 2 races at Del Mar last summer – the San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles in July and the Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs in August.

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Two juvenile stakes scrapped

Santa Anita has scrapped plans to run two $75,000 stakes for 2-year-olds in June as announced in February and will begin running maiden races for juveniles in the second week of May.

Racing secretary Steve Lym said last weekend that the 2-year-old division may not be ready as early as projected because of a wetter-than-normal winter. Originally, the track planned to offer the first 2-year-old races on April 18-19, two weeks earlier than last year.

“I’ve been looking at the work tab,” Lym said. “I think the 2-year-olds are a little behind.”

The Landaluce Stakes for fillies and the Santa Anita Juvenile were scheduled for June 23. With those races now removed from the calendar, the first 2-year-old stakes in Southern California will be run at the Del Mar summer meeting – two $100,000 races for statebreds in late July and early August and two Grade 2 races at six furlongs in early August.