Cathkin Peak takes Eddie Logan in stakes debut
ARCADIA, Calif. - Cathkin Peak closed from sixth in a field of seven to win his stakes debut, and remained unbeaten in two starts in the United States, in Sunday’s $80,150 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita.
The win was overshadowed by a fatal injury sustained by race favorite Ebeko in early stretch.
Cathkin Peak ($10.40) challenged pacesetter Commander Khai in the final furlong and won the one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds by a length, finishing in 1:33.80. Jockey Flavien Prat had Cathkin Peak in sixth for the first half-mile and advanced steadily with a wide rally to reach contention in the stretch.
Commander Khai, who was third in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes, set a solid pace of 22.59 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.74 for a half-mile, leading by as many as two lengths. Commander Khai held second, finishing 2 3/4 lengths clear of Beer Can Man, the winner of the DeMille at Del Mar on Nov. 29 in his stakes debut.
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Beer Can Man was beaten 3 3/4 lengths, and was followed in the order of finish by Big Fish, Party Game, and Barrister Tom.
Ebeko was trailing the field when he sustained an injury to his left foreleg. He could not be saved, according to track stewards. Ebeko won the Zuma Beach Stakes here in October, was ninth of 14 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 6 and was fourth in the DeMille.
Cathkin Peak, an Irish-bred gelding, began his career in Ireland with a fourth-place finish in a maiden race at Navan in August. Now owned by the partnership of Sterling Stables, CYBT, and Michael Nentwig, Cathkin Peak won his American debut in a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 29 with Prat aboard.
“He’s trained like a good horse since he came here,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “I don’t know how fit I had him in the Del Mar deal. Flavien gets along with him very well. He’s got a good demeanor and horses like that tend to get better as you go along.”
Cathkin Peak, by the Dark Angel stallion Alhebayeb, earned $46,680 and has career earnings of $81,672. D’Amato said the $100,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf on Feb. 27 is a possibility for Cathkin Peak.