Catch a Flight auditions for Gold Cup in Precisionist
ARCADIA, Calif. – Two months have passed since Catch a Flight finished third behind Shared Belief in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap.
During that time, trainer Richard Mandella has grown to appreciate the performance and what Catch a Flight may do in a spring campaign that begins in Saturday’s $100,000 Precisionist Stakes at Santa Anita.
“It was a great effort,” Mandella said of the Big Cap. “He’s trained very sharp.”
There is hope that the Precisionist will lead to a start in the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 27. The Grade 3 Precisionist is run at 1 1/16 miles, shorter than the Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles.
“I don’t see the distance being a problem,” Mandella said.
The Precisionist is the 10th race on an 11-race program that begins at 11:30 a.m. Pacific.
In the Big Cap, Catch a Flight finished 4 1/2 lengths behind Shared Belief and a head behind runner-up Moreno. On April 18, Moreno won the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic in West Virginia.
Catch a Flight, a 5-year-old Argentine-bred, is part of a field of nine in the Precisionist, a group that includes Blue Tone, who won the Santana Mile on March 29; Fury Kapcori, who won the 2014 Precisionist; and Mystery Train, second in the Grade 3 Mineshaft Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 21.
The race may not have nine starters. Trainer Peter Miller said on Thursday that Appealing Tale, who was seventh in the Santana Mile, is likely to be withdrawn in favor of the $100,000 American Stakes at a mile on turf May 9.
The absence of Appealing Tale would give Mystery Train a greater role as a pacesetter.
“There is still a lot of speed in there,” trainer Darrell Vienna said. “He could be one of many.”
Mystery Train was scheduled to start in the New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on March 28 but was withdrawn because of illness, Vienna said.
Fury Kapcori will be near the front. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Fury Kapcori was last of five as an even-money favorite in an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields on March 29, his first start since a sixth in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita last June.
Fury Kapcori has run well in his second races after a layoff in the past, leading to hope that he can rebound in the Precisionist. Fury Kapcori was a game second in the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar in August 2013 in his second start following a rest of more than seven months.
“I’m hoping he can track and run them down,” said Dan Ward, Hollendorfer’s assistant.
Desert Code: Bench Warrant fits well
Bench Warrant returns to his favorite course and distance in Saturday’s $75,000 Desert Code Stakes for 3-year-olds at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.
Trained by John Sadler, Bench Warrant is unbeaten in two starts on the hillside, winning an optional claimer Jan. 15 and the Baffle Stakes on Feb. 15. Bench Warrant was only fifth as the 5-2 favorite in the Pasadena Stakes at a mile on turf March 21, losing by 5 1/2 lengths to Papacoolpapacool. The form of that race was enhanced when Papacoolpapacool returned to win the La Puente Stakes on April 18.
The Desert Code drew a field of eight.
Diamond Majesty, McHeat, and Richard’s Boy have won the hillside turf course.
Richard’s Boy won his first three starts, including an optional claimer on the hillside in March, and was third in the Echo Eddie Stakes for California-bred sprinters on dirt April 4.
“He ran a very good race,” trainer Peter Miller said. “I think he’s got a big chance.”