Cathkin Peak will wait, might run in Oceanside at Del Mar
As recently as last weekend, Cathkin Peak was considered a candidate for Saturday’s $100,000 Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita. A training setback ended those plans and has led trainer Phil D’Amato to point Cathkin Peak to the Del Mar summer meeting.
“He has a minor issue,” D’Amato said Friday, without elaboration.
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The Singletary Stakes is run at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds. D’Amato does not have a starter in the race.
Cathkin Peak could start in the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds on July 16 at Del Mar. An Irish-bred gelding, Cathkin Peak won his first two starts in California, including the Eddie Logan Stakes at a mile on turf on Dec. 27.
In his lone start this year, Cathkin Peak was second to Rock Your World in the Pasadena Stakes at a mile on turf on Feb. 27. Cathkin Peak was even-money and finished 2 1/4 lengths behind Rock Your World, who won the Santa Anita Derby on April 3 and is scheduled to start in the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Hockey Dad, eighth in a field of nine in the Grade 2 Lexington Stakes on April 10 at Keeneland, is a candidate for the Oceanside, trainer Doug O’Neill said.
Hockey Dad is in the midst of a two-week farm break. Hockey Dad won an allowance race on turf for California-breds on Feb. 27 at Santa Anita and was third by a length in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks Stakes on March 27 at Turfway Park.
The D’Amato-trained Say the Word, who won the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf on April 17 at Keeneland, will race at Santa Anita or Belmont Park later this spring in a race at 1 1/4 miles on turf. D’Amato said the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on May 29 at Santa Anita or the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes on June 5 at Belmont Park are under consideration.