Catalina Cruiser Could Face Two BC Winners in O'Brien

The field for the $200,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) Aug. 25 at Del Mar won't be as full as it appears in the entries, but the quality should be there to challenge Hronis Racing's undefeated Catalina Cruiser, who could not have been more impressive in his first graded stakes try July 21 in the San Diego Handicap (G2).

Although Catalina Cruiser won his first two races at sprint distances, trainer John Sadler thinks the Union Rags  colt's ideal distance is likely a bit longer than the O'Brien's seven furlongs, but he still feels he has the best horse in the race.

BALAN: Catalina Cruiser Powerful in San Diego Victory

"He's probably best at a mile to a mile and an eighth," Sadler said. "I guess if everything goes wrong (he might be vulnerable), but he should still be the best horse. We're not going to put him in there if we don't think he can win. ... If there's one knock, it's that he's got the worst post (on the rail), but he should be able to overcome it."

The Pat O'Brien drew a field of eight that is expected to be shortened significantly. Sadler said he does not intend on running Hronis' other runners, Horse Greedy and St. Joe Bay, and only entered the pair in case he decided to scratch Catalina Cruiser.

Phil D'Amato also entered three but already said he will withdraw last-out Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) winner Ransom the Moon , because he felt the timing of the Pat O'Brien, in relation to the Breeders' Cup, was not ideal. His other two horses, Vorticity and Threefiveindia, are multiple graded stakes-placed and will be "game-day" decisions.

If he does go in the Pat O'Brien, Amerman Racing's Threefiveindia will make his first start for D'Amato since moving from the East Coast in the spring. Previously with trainer Chad Brown, the son of Street Hero placed in the Gallant Bob Stakes (G3) and Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) as a 3-year-old in 2016 and finished fourth, beaten only three-quarters of a length, in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) and second in the Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) in 2017.

"He kinda always knocked on the door against graded stakes company in years past and hit the board in some big races, but never quite got the job done," D'Amato said. "I've had him and he's trained very well, and we're looking to see what we have."

The classiest of challengers to Catalina Cruiser are on the outside in Roy H and Battle of Midway, who both won Breeders' Cup races in 2017.

Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen's Roy H was a convincing winner in the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), was named champion sprinter of 2017, and won his 2018 debut in the Feb. 3 Palos Verdes Stakes (G2), but he hasn't shown his best punch in two starts since. In both the Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored By Gulf News (G1) and Bing Crosby, the 6-year-old More Than Ready  gelding got in a position to win as the favorite but came up short (third and second, respectively).

The Pat O'Brien will be Roy H's first start at seven furlongs, and Rockingham Ranch's Brian Trump said a decision will be made Saturday morning on whether to run Roy H in the Pat O'Brien or wait for another race.

Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm's Battle of Midway, the Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner, brings his own questions to the Pat O'Brien. The 4-year-old Smart Strike colt was retired to pursue a stallion career in 2018, then returned to training because he was "subfertile."

BALAN: Battle of Midway Getting Closer to Racing Return

He has worked steadily for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer since his return to training, with his last drill a six-furlong breeze in 1:12 4/5 Aug. 18. Battle of Midway raced at seven furlongs once during his 3-year-old season, when he finished a well-beaten third in the San Vicente Stakes (G2). He went on to finish third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and won the Affirmed Stakes (G3) and Shared Belief Stakes before his Dirt Mile score at 14-1.

Entries: Pat O'Brien S. (G2)

Del Mar, Saturday, August 25, 2018, Race 7

• Grade II
• 7f
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:05 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Catalina Cruiser (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	121	John W. Sadler	8/5
2	2Vorticity (KY)	Tiago Josue Pereira	119	Philip D'Amato	20/1
3	3Threefiveindia (KY)	Joseph Talamo	119	Philip D'Amato	15/1
4	4Roy H (KY)	Paco Lopez	123	Peter Miller	3/1
5	5Ransom the Moon (ON)	Flavien Prat	123	Philip D'Amato	5/2
6	6Horse Greedy (KY)	Stewart Elliott	119	John W. Sadler	20/1
7	7St. Joe Bay (FL)	Tyler Baze	119	John W. Sadler	10/1
8	8Battle of Midway (KY)	Mario Gutierrez	123	Jerry Hollendorfer	8/1