Aloha West Delivers Final Tune-Up Ahead of BC Sprint

When 2021 Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Aloha West   attempts to defend that title in this year's race Nov. 5 at Keeneland, trainer Wayne Catalano believes his running style could help as the six-furlong test will be his first start in more than four months.

Aloha West wrapped up his serious Breeders' Cup preparations Oct. 31 at Keeneland when he worked a half-mile in :47 2/5 on a good track.

"That's what you want to see," Catalano said. "He worked very well. He worked good, and he's barely drinking. So I'm happy. He went :47 2/5 and galloped out in 1:01 3/5 so that was perfect.

"We don't want too much faster than that. He just went :58-and-change. We're just squeezing in the works."

Catalano is squeezing in works for the 5-year-old son of Hard Spun   because he has not raced since rallying from fourth to win the Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes July 2 at Churchill Downs. Catalano and Aron Wellman, of owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, opted to give Aloha West some rest after that effort, which followed a third-place finish May 7 in the Churchill Downs Stakes presented by Ford (G1) and a fourth in the June 11 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park.

About four weeks ahead of his upset victory in last year's Sprint at Del Mar, where he defeated eventual champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior  , Aloha West finished a close second in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. While Catalano would have preferred a similar path this year, he's confident his horse is heading in the right direction and thinks his running style could allow him to deliver a big effort off the layoff.

"When you only got to run three-eighths-of-a-mile, that helps. With his running style, he only runs the last three-eighths," Catalano said. "He's not going to have to do all the work. Of course he's going to have to run, but he's not going to have to make a half-mile of five-eighths run."

Aloha West worked five times in Kentucky in October, officially punching his ticket back to the Sprint with a bullet five-furlong breeze in :58 3/5 Oct. 25 at Keeneland. He closed out the busy month with Monday's move, which again earned a bullet as fastest of seven works at the distance. 

Catalano said Monday that Aloha West is probably around 90% in terms of fitness. He hopes that might be enough with the aforementioned running style.

"This is what we're doing (this year). It's Breeders' Cup time, and he's probably going to go be a stallion, so we'll take a shot and here we go," Catalano said. "He's pretty good. He's in good shape. We're getting very close to being ready for our race."