Catapult targeting rich Pegasus World Cup grass race

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – John Sadler has the Pegasus World Cup in mind for Accelerate and is eager to try Catapult in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup grass race that also will be run at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26.

Catapult was an unlucky loser of the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Saturday at Churchill Downs, getting caught in the shadow of the wire by Expert Eye and at the time making Sadler 0 for 44 in the Breeders’ Cup. Catapult returned on Sunday to California, and Sadler said he will be prepared for the Pegasus grass race.

“It’s at a mile and an eighth, which is within his range, and I think he’ll be dynamite on that turf course. Nice and firm, like he likes in California,” Sadler said Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.

Vibrance pointing to Starlet

Vibrance, who finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Friday, will be pointed to the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos on Dec. 8, trainer Michael McCarthy said Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.

McCarthy had five runners in this year’s Breeders’ Cup, representing one-sixth of his 30-horse stable, an incredible achievement that was topped by City of Light’s victory in the Dirt Mile. All five were scheduled to return to California on Monday.

Axelrod, who finished ninth in the Classic, “ran great for an improving 3-year-old going up against older horses in one of the toughest races on the planet,” McCarthy said.

Paved, 12th in the Filly and Mare Turf after getting bounced around in tight quarters heading into the first of the race’s three turns, “got all cut up,” McCarthy said. “Things never went her way.”

Liam the Charmer, 12th of 13 behind superstar filly Enable in the Turf, will be pointed to the Seabiscuit at Del Mar’s fall meeting.

“As big as he is, the ground was bottomless for him” on Saturday, McCarthy said.

:: Want to get the latest news with your past performances? Try DRF’s new digital PPs