Cistron likely to target dirt races going forward
Cistron is likely to race on dirt in coming months, even though he recorded a sharp win in his first start since July in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita.
Cistron’s presence in the $101,000 San Simeon Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs was a matter of convenience. The race appeared on the calendar at a time that fit the 6-year-old horse.
“We don’t think the grass is his best surface, or that was his best distance,” trainer John Sadler said Sunday. “I think he won because he was the best horse in the race. We accomplished what we wanted to.”
Cistron ($10.80) closed from third under jockey Victor Espinoza to catch 1-2 favorite Bound for Nowhere in the final strides, winning by a head. Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Cistron had his first start Saturday since a win in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs on dirt at Del Mar. Cistron earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with the win in the Bing Crosby, but did not start in the November race after he was diagnosed with a back injury the preceding month.
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Cistron could be pointed to major dirt stakes for sprinters in Southern California. Sadler said the uncertainty surrounding racing in many parts of the nation because of the coronavirus outbreak may affect plans. Santa Anita is currently racing without spectators and with a very limited number of personnel allowed to attend the racing. Even owners are excluded for the time being.
“The way things are going globally, I think we’ll play a lot at home,” Sadler said.
Cistron has won 6 of 28 starts and earned $760,719. The San Simeon was his first stakes win on turf. He was second in the 2019 San Simeon and had been second or third in seven other turf stakes. Earlier in his career, Cistron won the 2017 Northern Spur Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park.
“He’s a versatile horse,” Sadler said. “He was a stakes winner around two turns. He’s a Grade 1 winner sprinting. We’ll see how things come up.”