Catalina Cruiser posts first work since San Diego win

DEL MAR, Calif. – The undefeated stakes winner Catalina Cruiser worked a half-mile in 48 seconds on Friday at Del Mar, moving closer to a start in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 1.

Friday’s workout was the first for Catalina Cruiser since an emphatic win by 7 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles here on July 21 in his stakes debut.

Trainer John Sadler said he timed Catalina Cruiser galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Friday.

“His energy level looks right,” Sadler said. “He’s very relaxed.”

Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Catalina Cruiser has won three starts – a maiden race at Santa Anita last October and an optional claimer at six furlongs there on May 19.

Hronis Racing and Sadler have the multiple stakes winner Accelerate as the leading contender for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic here on Aug. 18, and plan to send Catalina Cruiser to the $750,000 Woodward Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.

“The timing is perfect,” Sadler said. “That’s the number one race on his chart.”

In other notable works on Friday, City of Light, the winner of three graded stakes since Christmas, worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds. Trained by Michael McCarthy, City of Light is scheduled to start in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 25.

Skye Diamonds worked five furlongs in 1:00.60. She won the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes at Del Mar in 2017 and is set to start in the same race on Aug. 12.

Pavel, the winner of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 9, worked five furlongs in 1:01.60. Pavel rates as a leading contender for the Pacific Classic.