Short but Competitive Field Lines Up for Pasadena

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Short but Competitive Field Lines Up for Pasadena
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Cathkin Peak returns to the winner's circle after the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Fresh off a big first-out maiden score sprinting, John Sadler's Rock Your World stretches out and rates top billing among six sophomores going one mile on turf in the Feb. 27 $100,000 Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Proven at the distance, Phil D'Amato's rapidly improving Irish-bred Cathkin Peak, a winner of the one mile turf Eddie Logan Stakes Dec. 27, and John Shirreffs' Red Flag, a last-out fourth in the Dec.19 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), both rate huge chances and figure to be well backed in a short but very competitive field.

A $650,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Rock Your World exploded off the turn for home in his maiden victory and went on to win in-hand Jan. 1 at Santa Anita. The Candy Ride colt blazed the six furlongs on the turf in 1:08.47. Owned by Hronis Racing and David Michael Talla, Rock Your World was bred by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and his wife, Deborah.

Rock Your World will break from the 5 spot in the Pasadena with rider Umberto Rispoli aboard.

A respectable fourth in his five furlong turf debut over soft ground in his native Ireland on Aug. 29, Cathkin Peak was purchased privately and made his U.S. debut for D'Amato at Del Mar Nov. 29, rallying to take a one mile turf maiden special weight. After hesitating at the break the Alhebayeb gelding collared the pace-setting Commandar Khai in deep stretch to remain undefeated in the U.S.

Flavien Prat retains the mount on Cathkin Peak.

The biggest question mark in Saturday's Pasadena would appear to be the Shirreffs-trained Red Flag. The Kentucky-bred son of Tamarkuz returns back to the turf after a disappointing effort in the Los Alamitos Futurity. The chestnut broke his maiden second time out sprinting on the grass Oct. 10 at Santa Anita Park. Dismissed at 10-1 in the Nov. 15 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar, he responded with a freakish 7 1/4 length victory, defeating grade 2 winner Spielberg in the process.

Owned by Jerry and Tina Moss, Red Flag tuned up for the Pasadena with a sharp 5-furlong breeze in :59.80 Feb. 20 over the Santa Anita main track.

Apprentice jockey Ricky Gonzalez will again pilot Red Flag.

Mac Daddy Too, Harlan Estate, and Commander Khai enter the Pasadena off third, fourth, and sixth place efforts, respectively, in the Feb. 5 Baffle Stakes at Santa Anita.


Entries: Pasadena S.

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, February 27, 2021, Race 8

  • STK
  • 1m
  • Turf
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo
  • 4:26 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Mac Daddy Too (PA) Abel Cedillo 120 Doug F. O'Neill 10/1
2 2Cathkin Peak (IRE) Flavien Prat 124 Philip D'Amato 8/5
3 3Red Flag (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Ricardo Gonzalez 120 John A. Shirreffs 3/1
4 4Commander Khai (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Juan J. Hernandez 120 Richard Baltas 5/1
5 5Rock Your World (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate UMBERTO RISPOLI 120 John W. Sadler 2/1
6 6Harlan Estate (ON) Ruben Fuentes 120 Peter Eurton 12/1