Katonah joining O'Neill's brigade for Dubai voyage
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Katonah, winner of the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita in January, but only sixth of eight in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 1, has been invited to the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 5.
Katonah, who races for Ron Arakelian 3d’s R3 Racing, was offered earlier this week in the Fasig-Tipton March digital sale, but was not sold.
“It looks like the current owner will keep him,” trainer Doug O’Neill said on Thursday.
A 6-year-old gelding by Klimt, Katonah has won 5 of 18 starts and earned $481,680. The win in the San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles ended a five-race losing streak since the Pleasanton Mile at the Alameda county fair in Northern California in July 2023.
In the Big Cap at 1 1/4 miles, Katonah raced off the pace throughout and was beaten 21 3/4 lengths by Locked, who won by a record 8 1/2 lengths.
“The winner ran off the screen,” O’Neill said.
Katonah’s loss “wasn’t him,” O’Neill said. “He came out of it in great shape.”
The Dubai World Cup will be Katonah’s most prestigious race.
“It will be interesting and it’s an honor that he got invited,” O’Neill said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for him.”
The list of candidates for the Dubai World Cup is led by Forever Young, who was third in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2024 and won the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 22.
The Dubai World Cup will be Katonah’s third start at 1 1/4 miles. Last August, Katonah was seventh of eight behind stablemate Mixto in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar.
Mixto, unraced since a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25, has also been invited to the Dubai World Cup and will be ridden by Frankie Dettori.
In addition, O’Neill has the 4-year-old Raging Torrent as a candidate for the Group 2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai on April 5 with Dettori booked to ride.
A rider for Katonah has not been finalized, O’Neill said.
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