Cathkin Peak Rallies to Eddie Logan Score
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Cathkin Peak surges past Commandar Khai late to take the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Making only his second start in the U.S. after a winning debut effort at Del Mar Nov. 29, Cathkin Peak rallied three-wide down the lane to capture the Dec. 27 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Sent off at 4-1 in a field of seven juveniles, the Alhebayeb gelding broke second to last early on and was taken well off the pace under Flavien Pratt.
As expected, Commander Khai spurted to the early lead and rolled through swift fractions of :22.59 and :45.74. The Twirling Candy colt was tracked in second by morning line favorite Beer Can Man, a last out winner of the Nov. 29 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar. Full of run, Commander Khai hit the six-furlong marker in 1:09.51 and put away Beer Can Man on the far turn, a clear 2-lengths in front as the field turned for home.
Cathkin Peak had steadily picked off his rivals around the turn and was set to drive under strong left-handed urging with a quarter-mile to run, overhauling Commandar Khai in deep stretch to register a 1-length victory. Beer Can Man held on for third to complete the trifecta.
Cathkin Peak clocked the mile on a firm turf course in 1:33.80. He paid $10.40, $5.00, and $3.40.
"He's such a neat horse," said trainer Phil D'Amato. "Ever since he arrived, he hasn't done anything wrong and he keeps getting better and better. Flavien seems to fit him like a glove."
Owned by Sterling Stables, Michael Nentwig, and CYBT, Cathkin Peak was previously owned and trained by JP Murtagh and purchased for $18,632 as a yearling at the 2019 Goffs Sportsman's Yearling Sale.The bay started once in his native Ireland, finishing fourth in a maiden weight-for-age contest at Navan.
Cathkin Peak is now 2-for-3 and with the winner's share of $46,680, increased his earnings to $81,672.
He was bred by G. Kinch and is the second stakes winner out of the unraced Footstepsinthesand mareDrumcliffe Dancer, who is the dam of listed stakes winner El Astronaute. Drumcliffe Dancer produced a colt by Kessaar earlier this year.
Named in honor of Santa Anita’s beloved “Footman,” the Eddie Logan honors the memory of the man who manned his shoeshine stand at Santa Anita from the track’s opening on Dec. 25, 1934 until shortly before his passing at age 98 in January, 2009.