Catch a Flight could be pointed to Champions Cup in Japan

DEL MAR, Calif. – Catch a Flight, second or third in three Grade 1 races in Southern California this year, could have an international campaign this fall.

Trainer Richard Mandella said Catch a Flight is under consideration for the $1,643,395 Champions Cup at 1 1/8 miles on a dirt track Dec. 6 at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan.

“We’ll look at that,” Mandella said.

Catch a Flight finished second to stablemate Beholder in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar last Saturday, closing from sixth of 10 to lose by 8 1/4 lengths.

“If the mare wasn’t in there, he’d have won the Pacific Classic,” Mandella said. “I think he thinks he did.”

Catch a Flight has won 10 of 18 starts and earned $773,329. Earlier this year, he was third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita, both at 1 1/4 miles. Catch a Flight has won three Grade 2 stakes this year, including the $200,500 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles July 25.

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Catch a Flight, a 5-year-old Argentine-bred owned by Julio Bozano, has not been nominated for the Breeders’ Cup. Mandella said it is unlikely that Catch a Flight will be made eligible for the Breeders’ Cup for the $200,000 nomination fee.

Catch a Flight is expected to make his next start at Santa Anita in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt Sept. 26, the opening day of the track’s autumn meeting.

The Grade 1 Awesome Again might draw Point Piper, the upset winner Wednesday of the $86,880 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at a mile.

Point Piper ($62) was the longest shot in a field of seven and won by a half-length over the 12-1 Global View in his stakes debut. Motown Men, the 8-5 favorite, finished third, a nose behind Global View. Point Piper ran a mile in 1:35.89 under jockey Mario Gutierrez.

The Brubaker was Point Piper’s second start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The 5-year-old previously raced in Ireland, Texas, Kentucky, and Louisiana in the last two years for Aidan O’Brien, Jerenesto Torrez, Mike Maker, and Oscar Modina. For O’Brien, Point Piper had one win in five starts.

On Thursday, Hollendorfer said Point Piper had trained well on dirt in recent months, and the decision to try the Brubaker was made after the horse finished eighth in an optional claimer on turf.

“I think we’ll try another dirt race,” he said.

Owned by a partnership, Point Piper has won 4 of 15 starts and earned $106,725.

The Awesome Again is the top race for older horses at the Santa Anita autumn meeting.

“We might take a look at that,” Hollendorfer said.