D'Angelo has another speedster in Stewart Manor entrant Catalonia

Jose D’Angelo trains two of the fastest horses in the world, so when he says Catalonia, who runs in the $150,000 Stewart Manor on Friday at Aqueduct, is quick, it’s a statement made by someone with a real frame of reference for judging speed

“She’s so fast,” he said.

Last weekend at Del Mar, D’Angelo won both the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with Bentornato and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with the 3-year-old filly Shisospicy. He’s based in South Florida, but has a small string of horses in New York and it includes Catalonia.

She is part of a field of 12 for the Stewart Manor, a six-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-old fillies. The race shares a card with the $150,000 Central Park for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Catalonia exits the Grade 3 Matron on Oct. 2 at Aqueduct. She broke on top, contested the pace, and finished fourth. Catalonia was beaten a total of two lengths in the six-furlong turf sprint, in which she was ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr.

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“I’ve changed the blinkers, and I think it’s going to help her,” D’Angelo said of employing a less severe cup for Friday. “I’m using blinkers that are more open so she can see more of the other horses. Ricardo told me last time the other horses surprised her, so with these blinkers I think she’s going to improve.

“She tried to fight when she saw that they got past her, but it was late.”

Catalonia began her career at Gulfstream Park. She won her maiden in her second start, which marked her turf debut. Catalonia set fractions of 21.20 seconds for the opening quarter and 43.52 for the half-mile in the five-furlong sprint. She won in a blazing 55.35.

Javier Castellano has the mount on Friday from post 12.

“She’s going to go to the lead for sure,” said D’Angelo.

D’Angelo, 35, on Tuesday afternoon was returning to South Florida, and over the next few days is scheduled to welcome Bentornato and Shisospicy back home.

“I’ve looked at the replays more than 100 times and the horses never lose – they win again,” he beamed. “Just like dreams come true.

“When you make plans, and you work hard for that, good things happen. We planned these races for these two horses early this year. We picked all the races [leading up to them] and all the places they trained, and it worked perfect. When you have a good horse and you make the right [decisions for them], they’re going to show up for you.”

D’Angelo hopes that is the case Friday for Catalonia. Her chief rivals appear to be Should’ve, who will break from the rail one start after finishing third in the Matron; Sweet Montreal, the unbeaten winner of the Joseph A. Gimma; Lit Ship, who is cutting back to one turn after running a close fifth in the Grade 2 Jessamine at Keeneland; and consistent runners Hark Theangelssing and Believe in Magic.

Catalonia is a daughter of Discovery winner Protonico.

“She’s small, but fast – and pretty,” said D’Angelo.

Central Park

Attfield will move to two turns for the first time when he starts from the rail in the Central Park. He’s part of a field of eight. The group includes the multiple stakes-placed Jutland and local maiden special weight winner Noble Dynasty.

Attifield won his debut in a maiden special weight sprint Aug. 29 at Saratoga and was flattered when runner-up Schwarzenegger returned in his next start to win the Indian Summer at Keeneland. Schwarzenegger finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Attfield came out of his maiden win to finish third in the Grade 3 Futurity on Oct. 3 at Aqueduct. He makes the move to two turns off a nice series of works for trainer Tom Morley. Attfield is by Vekoma, whose stakes wins included the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap and Grade 2 Blue Grass.

Santana has the mount on Attfield, who has used closing tactics in his sprint races. Attfield could be closer to the front on Friday, given the rail draw and two starts in sprints.

Noble Dynasty won his maiden at this 1 1/16-mile distance Sept. 13, then came back and ran fifth in the Grade 2 Pilgrim Oct. 3 at Aqueduct. He is from the female family of champion Royal Delta. Junior Alvarado has the mount for trainer Bill Mott.

Jutland was second in the Laurel Futurity at 1 1/16 miles on turf in his most recent start Sept. 27. Honey Dutch invades off a runner-up finish in an entry-level allowance at a mile on turf Sept. 28 at Churchill Downs.

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