Sadler, Van Dyke team again in Pat O'Brien Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – John Sadler and Drayden Van Dyke, the hottest trainer and jockey at Del Mar last weekend, will team anew in two of the three stakes this weekend, including with Catalina Cruiser in what is shaping up as a terrific Grade 2, $200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes on Saturday.

Catalina Cruiser, winner of the San Diego Handicap in his last start and unbeaten in three starts, will turn back to seven furlongs for the Pat O’Brien, which is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

The Pat O’Brien will include last year’s champion male sprinter Roy H as well as Ransom the Moon, who is coming off a 2 1/4-length victory over Roy H in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby going six furlongs on July 28.

Also under consideration for the Pat O’Brien is Battle of Midway, who has not raced since winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile here last fall. He subsequently was sent to stud, but was put back in training after being found to be subfertile.

Flavien Prat has been working Battle of Midway, but is the regular rider for Ransom the Moon and is committed to Ransom the Moon for the Pat O’Brien. As of Monday, no decision had been made on who would ride Battle of Midway if he goes in the Pat O’Brien.

Paco Lopez will fly in to ride Roy H.

Sadler and Van Dyke also will be aligned on Sunday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes with True Royalty, who worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 on Monday morning. Others under consideration for that one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies include Just Grazed Me, Lemoona, Royal Descendant, Thirteen Squared, Well Hello, and Wicked Storm.

Sadler and Van Dyke joined forces on Sunday to win two races, including with Catapult in the Del Mar Mile, part of a record-equaling seven-win day for Van Dyke. Sadler last Saturday won the meet’s richest race, the Pacific Classic, with Accelerate.

Van Dyke rides Shivermetimbers for Jerry Hollendorfer in the supporting feature on Saturday, the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile. Shivermetimbers worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 on Monday morning.

Tatters to Riches, also possible for the Shared Belief, also worked five furlongs on Monday. He went in 1:00.40 for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Cool Bobby, Daddysprize, and Yulong Warrior are among the others under consideration for the Shared Belief.

◗ The unbeaten Dream Tree (1:00.40) and Moonshine Memories (1:00.20) both worked five furlongs Monday at Del Mar in preparation for the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga on Sept. 2.