Catch a Flight much improved since coming to California

Catch a Flight, the winner of Saturday’s $200,750 Californian Stakes for older horses, is a changed horse since his American career began last winter.

The Grade 2 Californian was Catch a Flight’s third win in his last four starts, and second consecutive stakes win. The victory makes him the early favorite for the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 27.

Trained by Richard Mandella, Catch a Flight was third in a Group 1 on turf in Brazil in April 2014, but has improved significantly since arriving in California.

“He’s really developing as a fighter and a tactical horse, very professional,” Mandella said.

Owned by Julio Bozano’s Haras Santa Maria de Araras, Catch a Flight was third in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7 behind Shared Belief and Moreno. After an eight-week break, Catch a Flight won the first stakes of his career in the Grade 3 Precisionist Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on May 2.

Mandella said on Sunday the decision to skip a race such as the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap in Arkansas on April 11 was worthwhile.

“We want to stretch the year out,” Mandella said. “I didn’t think at the time he was up to that.”

In the Californian at 1 1/8 miles, Catch a Flight was third early and fought for the lead with Moreno in early stretch before taking command. Catch a Flight won by a half-length over Moreno, the winner of the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic in West Virginia on April 18.

“It takes a quality horse to stick it out with Moreno,” Mandella said. “He dug and dug.”

Gary Stevens was aboard Catch a Flight, and was left impressed by the 5-year-old horse’s performance.

“He’ just now starting to figure out American racing,” Stevens said after the race. “I think he’s still improving and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.”

Moreno held second in the Californian, finishing 3 1/2 lengths in front of Hard Aces, who was fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap and sixth in the Oaklawn Handicap. Moreno and Hard Aces are candidates for the Gold Cup at Santa Anita, along with Motown Men, who won the Tiznow Stakes for California-breds on May 23.

Hard Aces won the Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds in January and has earned a shot at the Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

“He was a good closing third and I was happy with that,” trainer John Sadler said. “It was a good effort.”