Catapult returns to mile distance for Kilroe

ARCADIA, Calif. – Catapult left Del Mar last summer with two graded stakes wins and the status of leading turf miler in California. Catapult continued his run of good form with a second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in November, and then ran fourth in the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at 1 3/16 miles at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26.

Trainer John Sadler thinks turning Catapult back to mile for Saturday’s Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita gives the 6-year-old a good chance to start a new winning streak.

“In my mind, his status hasn’t diminished,” Sadler said.

Catapult is part of a field of six in the $400,000 Kilroe Mile, the fifth race on a 10-race program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. Catapult’s main rivals are Next Shares, who won the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile at Keeneland last October; River Boyne, a five-time stakes winner; and Ohio, who was second in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf on Feb. 9.

Also in the field are Hunt, the winner of the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile last May but winless in three subsequent starts, and Desert Stone, who was fifth in the Thunder Road Stakes.

KEY CONTENDERS

Catapult, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: 98-100-104

◗ Owned by Woodford Racing, Catapult was beaten a half-length by Expert Eye in the BC Mile at Churchill Downs. In the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, Catapult led on the far turn, but faded to finish 4 1/2 lengths behind winner Bricks and Mortar.

“He didn’t get the right trip,” Sadler said. “He had to go too early. There was no pace.”

◗ Catapult tends to run from off the pace, a style that led to consecutive wins in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar last July and the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile last August.

◗ Drayden Van Dyke, who was aboard for the wins at Del Mar and the BC Mile, regains the mount from Joel Rosario, who rode Catapult in the Pegasus World Cup Turf.

Next Shares, by Acharcharch
Last 3 Beyers: 86-99-89

◗ Next Shares has won three of his last five starts, but has been comprehensively beaten in the two other races – a 13th in the BC Mile and a seventh in the Pegasus World Cup Turf. On Jan. 5, Next Shares won the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles here by a nose.

◗ In the Pegasus World Cup Turf, Next Shares raced in traffic on the first turn and finished 11 3/4 lengths behind winner Bricks and Mortar.

“It wasn’t the best trip in the world,” trainer Richard Baltas said.

River Boyne, by Dandy Man
Last 3 Beyers: 91-95-96

◗ The winner of three graded stakes last year against 3-year-olds, River Boyne was an unlucky fourth in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes. He raced in traffic in the final furlong before finishing 1 1/4 lengths behind winner True Valour as the 7-10 favorite.

◗ River Boyne, who runs as a stalker, has had two workouts this month on the training track. The disruption of racing from March 3 until Friday has made for a less-than-ideal preparation, trainer Jeff Mullins said Wednesday. He expressed concern that the interruption to training on the main track earlier this month and days of training lost to wet weather could have an effect on the outcome of the Kilroe.

“It might not be the best horse that wins,” he said. “It could be the luckiest.”