Catch a Flight Outduels Moreno in Californian
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Haras Santa Maria de Araras' Catch a Flight claimed his second straight graded victory May 30, outdueling favored Moreno in the stretch to win the $200,000 Californian Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park .
The 5-year-old son of Giant's Causeway stalked the pace, two lengths back in third, while early leader Big Cazanova set fractions of :22.86, :46.94, and 1:10.51 through six furlongs, with Moreno just off the frontrunner in second.
Moreno, a winner last time out in the Charles Town Classic (gr. II), and jockey Cornelio Velasquez took the lead momentarily in the final turn of the 1 1/8-mile test, but could not hold off the drive from Catch a Flight and Gary Stevens, who prevailed by a half-length. The pair hit the wire at 1:47.73 on a fast dirt track.
"On paper, knowing these two horses' records, it looked like a match race between the two of them and that's how I wanted to ride it," Stevens said of his off-the-pace trip. "It worked out where Big Cazanova went up there and kept Moreno occupied down the backside."
Under Flavien Prat last time out, the Richard Mandella trainee rallied similarly to capture the Precisionist Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita May 2.
BALAN: Catch a Flight Secures No. 2,000 for Mandella
"We figured to be off of those two," Mandella said. "Then it was whether he could catch them or not. When (Stevens) goosed him at the quarter pole, he responded pretty quickly."
Moreno's trainer, Eric Guillot, wasn't as happy with how the race played out.
"You try to separate yourself, but it's hard to separate when you have a longshot setting :46 and change fractions... He ran good, but that's why I hate running for ($200,000)," Guillot said. "But he runs just as good for $2 million with $400,000 for second as he does for second for $40,000. The plan is to run back in the Gold Cup (gr. I, June 27), unless something comes along with a little bit more money—a little bit more prestige... Hopefully there's no cheap speed in there."
Off at 2-1 odds, the winner paid $6.60, $3.20, and $2.80 across the board. Moreno brought $2.60 and $2.40, while Hard Aces, 3 1/2 lengths back, delivered $3.60 to show.
Catch a Flight was bred in Argentina by Estacion de Montas La Mission S. A. and Tupacireta S.R.L.A.G. out of the Lode mare Callaia. He now has an 8-0-3 record in 15 career starts and a 3-0-2 mark in five U.S. races since shipping in from Brazil in 2014. His career earnings sit at $393,239.
Blue Tone finished an even fourth, followed by Sammy Mandeville, Lideris, Big Cazanova, and Bailoutbobby, to complete the order of finish. You Know I Know was scratched.