True North confirmed for Catalina Cruiser

ARCADIA, Calif. – Catalina Cruiser, the top sprinter-miler in California last summer, will make his 2019 debut in the Grade 2 True North on June 7 at Belmont Park trainer John Sadler said Tuesday.

Sadler nominated Catalina Cruiser and Cistron, both owned by Hronis Racing, to the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

“I’m going to run Cistron here and save Catalina for New York,” Sadler said. “I’d like one more work [for Catalina Cruiser].”

Catalina Cruiser won his first four starts, including three smashing wins last year that earned triple-digit Beyers. Last summer at Del Mar, he won a pair of Grade 2’s – the 1 1/16-mile San Diego and seven-furlong Pat O’Brien. He finished sixth as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in his most recent start.

Recent works by Catalina Cruiser at Santa Anita have been outstanding. He worked six furlongs in 1:13.80 at Santa Anita on Monday.

“He worked unbelievable,” Sadler said. “There’s a chance he could come back better.”

A 5-year-old by Union Rags, Catalina Cruiser has won four of five starts.

Sadler also plans to ship Campaign to Belmont for the Grade 2, 1 1/2-mile Brooklyn Invitational on June 8. Campaign won the Grade 3, 1 1/2-mile Tokyo City on April 20 at Santa Anita.

Cistron, front-running upset winner of the Grade 2 Kona Gold last out, will face a relatively small field Saturday in the Triple Bend. Others aiming to the seven-furlong race include American Anthem, Kanthaka, Nero and The Hardest Way.