Catalina Cruiser to Run in Breeders' Cup Sprint

Trainer John Sadler announced Oct. 20 at Santa Anita Park that Hronis Racing's Catalina Cruiser  will run in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) as opposed to the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

The 5-year-old son of Union Rags  won a fees-paid berth into the Dirt Mile with a repeat victory in the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) Aug. 24 at Del Mar. He was sixth in last year's Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs, his only loss in eight starts.

Sadler also named jockey Luis Saez to ride Medallion Racing and Keith Abrahams' Selcourt in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). The Tiz Wonderful mare worked a half-mile in :47 4/5 Oct. 19, third-fastest of 60.

Sadler won last year's Classic with Accelerate .

Working for Sadler Sunday morning was Woodford Racing's TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) contender Catapult, who traveled a half-mile in :48 3/5 on a fast main track. Assistant trainer Juan Leyva was aboard Catapult, runner-up in last year's Mile.

Trainer John Shirreffs sent out HS Stable and Martin and Pam Wygod's Paradise Woods for a six-furlong drill on the main track Sunday. The Sept. 29 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) winner was timed in 1:13 3/5 with Abel Cedillo in the irons. The Zenyatta victory gave her a Breeders' Cup Challenge berth to the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). She is expected to have her final breeze next Saturday.

Also working Sunday on Santa Anita's main track was Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Wicked Whisper, who is targeting the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) after taking the Oct. 6 Frizette Stakes (G1), also a Breeders' Cup Challenge event, at Belmont Park. The Steve Asmussen trainee went five furlongs in 1:03 3/5.