Catapult Just Gets By Sharp Samurai in Eddie Read
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Catapult wins the Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar
Catapult finished 1 3/4 lengths behind three-time graded stakes winner Sharp Samurai in an optional-claiming allowance June 17 at Santa Anita Park, but it came with context.
Woodford Racing's 5-year-old son of Kitten's Joy was making his first start for trainer John Sadler and suffered a poor trip, but he still finished well to get second.
There was no trouble for Catapult July 22 at Del Mar in the $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes (G2T), however, as he closed from sixth in the final furlong to nip Sharp Samurai at the wire in a neck victory.
Catapult raced in seventh early under jockey Drayden Van Dyke, about five lengths off pacesetter Prime Attraction through a quarter-mile in :23.75, a half in :47.65, and six furlongs in 1:11.00, while Sharp Samurai pressed the pace in second.
Prime Attraction dug in late and only finished a head behind Sharp Samurai, but Catapult was traveling best late on the outside and hit the wire in 1:46.07 for 1 1/8 miles on firm turf.
"I could see there wasn't a whole lot of speed in the race, so I wanted to stay up relatively close," Van Dyke said. "He was in a nice rhythm—moving just like I wanted him to. Then, when I wheeled him out, he went. He catapulted me."
Sharp Samurai may have had to move a touch earlier than needed in the final turn, as Multiplier came up alongside the top pair three wide in the final bend, but he still nearly eked out his fourth graded victory.
"He was super, super game today," said Sharp Samurai's jockey, Gary Stevens. "He gave me all he had. The winner was just best this time."
Another three-quarters of a length behind Prime Attraction came Bowies Hero in fourth. He was followed by Multiplier, Next Shares, True Valour, Fashion Business, Itsinthepost, and Hunt to complete the order of finish.
Catapult was previously trained by Chad Brown on the East Coast, where he was a stakes winner and placed in three other stakes, including a second in the 2017 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) at Laurel Park.
"This is a nice horse," said Sadler, who won four races and two graded stakes from eight starters during the weekend at Del Mar. "He comes from the East Coast, where he had good form last year. The owners gave him a little time off at the end of last year and decided to try him here in California."
Bred in Kentucky by Breffni Farm, out of the Storm Cat mare Gata Bella, Catapult has a 5-3-1 record from 14 starts and $501,384 in earnings. He was a $350,000 purchase out of the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.