Catalina Cruiser looms large in San Diego Handicap

DEL MAR, Calif. – The field is small and the odds are short, which might make one of the biggest horses at Del Mar look even larger on Saturday when he starts favored in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap.

Catalina Cruiser, a 1,278-pound beast, will be odds-on in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego, which he won last year. Six entered, but Higher Power is likely to scratch to run Sunday on turf. Dr. Dorr may also scratch following a workout his trainer said was “too fast.”

That leaves Catalina Cruiser, trained by John Sadler, as the controlling speed over Peter Eurton-trained stablemates Core Beliefs and Draft Pick, and longshot Mongolian Groom.

The $200,000 San Diego is the second start back for Catalina Cruiser, who overcame adversity winning the Grade 2, 6 1/2-furlong True North last month at Belmont, his first start in seven months. He got hot in the pre-race, did not break particularly well, was sandwiched inside and between runners, rallied outside, hit full stride late and won by a half-length going away.

“For me, the scary part is this year he’s better, and he’ll be better [Saturday],” Sadler said. “He’s had a race, he’s had decent spacing, and he obviously likes this track.”

Catalina Cruiser won a pair of Grade 2’s at Del Mar last summer, and five of six overall. Sadler and owner Hronis Racing hope to make him a Grade 1 winner next out running seven furlongs in the Forego on Aug. 24 at Saratoga, or at 1 1/4 miles in the Pacific Classic on Aug. 17 at Del Mar.

Joel Rosario rides Catalina Cruiser.

Sadler also entered Higher Power, but only as a backup. Plans call for Higher Power to run Sunday on turf in the $85,000 Wickerr Stakes.

Dr. Dorr also is likely to scratch, trainer Bob Baffert said.

Said Baffert of Dr. Dorr’s half-mile work on Wednesday: “I worked him, and he worked a little bit too fast. I wanted to go 49; he went 47. He missed it by 10 lengths.” Clockers gave Dr. Dorr a time of 47.20 seconds.

Core Beliefs adds blinkers, drew outside the favorite, and is the most likely to provide pace pressure.

Trainer Peter Eurton is cognizant of the pace scenario, which benefits Catalina Cruiser.

“I can’t let him get it all by himself,” Eurton said. “If Core Beliefs breaks well, I have no reservations tagging along with [Catalina Cruiser].”

Core Beliefs won a Grade 2 at Fair Grounds in March. Eurton excuses his sixth-place finish last out in the Grade 1, 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

“I don’t think he wants to be shoved early into the race like that,” Eurton said.

Flavien Prat has worked Core Beliefs, whom Eurton said seems “more focused” with blinkers.

Draft Pick, a Grade 3 runner-up, will rally from behind along with Mongolian Groom.

The San Diego is race 4 on a 10-race card.