Catch a Flight Collars Appealing Tale Late to Win San Diego

Catch a Flight rallied powerfully to prevail by a head in the San Diego Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar. (BENOIT photo)
Catch a Flight reeled in Appealing Tale just before the finish line to win the $200,000 San Diego Handicap on Saturday at Del Mar and record his third graded stakes victory this year.
A 5-year-old horse by Giant’s Causeway, Catch a Flight was given a perfectly timed ride by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. He raced in fourth early, launched his winning bid in the stretch and collared the runner-up in the final strides.
“I had real confidence in him today. I worked him the other morning and he went great,” Stevens said. “He’s doing so good. He’s run [in the U.S.] seven times now against good horses and he’s shown up every time. He’s a treat.”
Catch a Flight won the Grade 3 Precisionist Stakes and the Grade 2 Californian Stakes in May. He entered off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes on June 27.
“We got the great set-up today and I rode him better [than last time in the Gold Cup when he finished third],” Stevens said. “I think this race should set him up nicely for the [$1-million TVG] Pacific Classic [on Aug. 22].
Trained by Richard Mandella for owner Haras Santa Maria de Araras, Catch a Flight improved to 10 wins from 17 starts and boosted his career bankroll to $573,239.
“He won a lot of races in Brazil, not against the highest competition, but it gave him a good bit of experience. He came here and he just keeps getting better and better,” Mandella said. “He was meant to sit back, but it looked like they were kind of getting away from him at the last turn and I was a little worried. But I guess they used themselves enough that he caught them. The Pacific Classic is next.”
The San Diego would have been the first stakes victory for Appealing Tale, who had previously placed five times in stakes races. He entered off a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes on June 27 and came up just short again for trainer Peter Miller and owners Gary and Cecil Barber.
Bayern, the winner of the 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic, faded to third after challenging Appealing Tale for the early lead. Sent off as the 7-to-5 favorite, Bayern lost for the third time in as many starts. His Grade 1-winning stablemate Hoppertunity finished fourth as the second betting choice.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
CATCH A FLIGHT

BENOIT photo