Catapult's upset in Eddie Read caps Sadler's weekend

DEL MAR, Calif. – You get only one chance to make a first impression every summer at Del Mar, and trainer John Sadler made his this weekend.

Sadler sent out Catalina Cruiser to win the San Diego on Saturday, and on Sunday added another Grade 2 victory, this time on turf, when the longshot Catapult rang up a 21-1 surprise in the $251,725 Eddie Read Stakes.

Both of those winners were in concert with jockey Drayden Van Dyke, who also got off to a terrific start during week one.

Sadler won another race earlier on the card Sunday – with a 74-1 bomber - and has four wins through the first week of the meet. That has propelled him to third place all time among trainers at Del Mar, with 448 victories. He started the season one behind Ron McAnally, and now trails only Bob Baffert – who won one race on Sunday and now has 481 wins - and the late Mike Mitchell.

“I’m very proud of that,” said Sadler, who grew up in the Long Beach area near Los Angeles. “I’ve always had good meets here. Being a Southern California guy, it means a lot to me.”

Catapult ($44) is a fairly recent arrival to Sadler’s barn. After making his first 12 starts on the East Coast for trainer Chad Brown, he was sent to Sadler earlier this year. In his first start for Sadler, Catapult finished second in a one-mile optional claimer on June 17 at Santa Anita behind Sharp Samurai, who went off as the 3-1 favorite in the Eddie Read. Catapult was seven times the price Sunday.

“He shouldn’t been that big a price if Sharp Samurai was the favorite,” Sadler said.

Catapult settled into seventh in the 10-horse field the first part of the 1 1/8-mile race, then closed furiously in the stretch and caught Sharp Samurai in the shadow of the wire to win by a neck, with pacesetting Prime Attraction only a head farther back in third.

Bowies Hero was fourth and was followed, in order, by Multiplier, Next Shares, True Valour, Fashion Business, Itsinthepost, and Hunt.

Catapult was timed in 1:46.07 on the firm course, with a final three furlongs in less than 35 seconds.

Catapult, 5, is a son of Kitten’s Joy who is owned by the Woodford Racing LLC of Bill Farish and partners. Like with Catalina Cruiser, he was purchased as a yearling by bloodstock agent David Ingordo.

Catapult has now won five times in 14 starts, but this was significant in that it was his first victory in a graded stakes race. He earned $150,000 on Sunday to bring his career total to more than $500,000.