Pacific Classic still possible for Catalina Cruiser

DEL MAR, Calif. – Catalina Cruiser has yet to race beyond 1 1/16 miles, but he will be strongly considered for the meet’s premier race, the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic on Aug. 17, following his victory on Saturday in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, trainer John Sadler said.

Catalina Cruiser got a Beyer Speed Figure of 98 in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego, which he won for the second straight year. He equaled his career-best Beyer Speed Figure, 107, in last year’s race. This year’s race was run over a fast but dull main track, which Sadler thought tamped down Catalina Cruiser’s performance.

“The track is so slow it’s kind of hard to gauge it,” Sadler said. “He ran slower than last year, but I think he’s better than last year. He didn’t win any style points. He didn’t win by 10.”

Sadler said he’s “tempted for sure” regarding the Pacific Classic, the Grade 1, $1 million race that he won last year with Accelerate, who like Catalina Cruiser is owned by Kosta and Pete Hronis. Catalina Cruiser bypassed the Pacific Classic last year and won the seven-furlong Pat O’Brien a week later.

Catalina Cruiser has now won six times in seven starts. His lone loss came in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last fall at Churchill Downs, in which he finished sixth of nine.

Sadler also trains distance specialist Gift Box, who won the Santa Anita Handicap earlier this year and was second in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita, both at 1 1/4 miles. He too has been under consideration for the Pacific Classic, but Sadler at his barn on Monday morning said Gift Box was not doing quite as well as he had hoped and postponed a workout scheduled for that morning.

Sadler said he might have to end up waiting with Gift Box until Santa Anita’s fall meeting two months hence.