Team player Cat Burglar can get the win for himself in Santana Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – By the time Cat Burglar and Dr. Dorr run in the Santana Mile on Saturday at Santa Anita, it will be past midnight in the United Arab Emirates, where West Coast and Mubtaahij were entered in the $10 million Dubai World Cup.

All four are trained by Bob Baffert, and if West Coast or Mubtaahij give Baffert his fourth Dubai World Cup victory, perhaps Cat Burglar deserves credit for the assist.

Cat Burglar, likely favorite in the Santana Mile, is a reliable veteran who has won six races and $534,100 from 21 starts. He also is a valuable utility player – a workmate for the stars.

West Coast, before shipping to Dubai, worked twice in company with Cat Burglar. Mubtaahij also worked in company with Cat Burglar early this month. So, if Cat Burglar wins the Santana Mile, perhaps West Coast and Mubtaahij deserve credit for an assist.

Cat Burglar tops the five runners entered in the Santana Mile, a $75,000 dirt race that he won a year ago. With a runner-up comeback under his belt, expectations are the 8-year-old will improve in his second start back.

“He needed that race,” Baffert said early this week from Dubai. “He’s a big, heavy horse and he really needed it. He’s doing well, so hopefully it’s a good spot for him.”

Santa Anita is always a good spot for Cat Burglar, whose 11 starts here include six wins and four seconds. Drawn outside with a pressing style, he should get a cozy trip racing in the clear.

If he misfires, Baffert has backup. Dr. Dorr stretches to a route after upsetting stablemate Ten Blessings in an allowance sprint early this month. Ten Blessings was scheduled to start favored Friday in race 8. The question for sprinter Dr. Dorr is two turns.

“We stretched him out, just to see if he’ll stretch,” Baffert said. “It looks like a good spot for him.”

Dr. Dorr, gelded last summer, ran the race of his career last out and enters the Santana Mile with the top last-start figure in the field, a 99 Beyer.

Three others entered the Santana Mile. They are likely pacesetter Air Vice Marshall, runner-up in two recent second-level allowance races; dropper The Lieutenant; and last-out $40,000 claiming winner Clear the Mine.

The Santana Mile is race 4 on a 10-race card.