Sadler weighing Catalina Cruiser's Breeders' Cup options

Catalina Cruiser remains on pace for a start in the Breeders’ Cup next month at Santa Anita, but the race in which he will run is still being decided, trainer John Sadler said Monday.

Catalina Cruiser has won three Grade 2 races in his three starts this year – all at different distances. They include the Pat O’Brien at Del Mar, which earned him a Win and You’re In berth for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 2. He’s since been working regularly at his base of Santa Anita.

“We’re looking at two races,” Sadler said, referring to the Dirt Mile and $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint. “We haven’t decided. We’re looking at speed figures on the other horses and sorting out the probable fields.

“He’s training brilliantly.”

Catalina Cruiser, a 5-year-old son of Union Rags who is owned by Hronis Racing, earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 104 for his victory in the Pat O’Brien, a seven-furlong race Aug. 24. Prior to that start, he won over 1 1/16 miles in the San Diego Handicap in July at Del Mar and over 6 1/2 furlongs in the True North in June at Belmont Park.

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Catalina Cruiser is the 3-1 favorite on the early Dirt Mile line set by Daily Racing Form handicapper Brad Free. Free has him at 15-1 on the early line for the Sprint.

Catalina Cruiser last worked Saturday, breezing five-eighths in 1:00.80.

“He’s just training super,” Sadler said. “Three more works before the Breeders’ Cup.”

Sadler said a decision on what race Catalina Cruiser will start in could be made by the end of the week in order to tie the horse’s final works toward either the six-furlong distance of the Sprint or the two-turn trip of the Dirt Mile.

Sadler also left open the possibility of cross-entering in the Dirt Mile and Sprint, with pre-entries due Oct. 21. The Sprint, which also runs Nov. 2, will have a maximum gate of 14. The Dirt Mile will be capped at 12 starters, according to the Breeders’ Cup.