Catalina Cruiser Heads East for True North Stakes

After finishing off the board in his first start outside Southern California to close his 2018 season, Catalina Cruiser will give the road another try in a scheduled seasonal debut June 7 in the $250,000 True North Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park.

The 6 1/2-furlong True North for older horses is one of three stakes sprints that will be offered on the Friday Belmont card. It will be joined by the $250,000 Bed o' Roses Invitational Stakes (G3) at seven furlongs for older fillies and mares, and the $150,000 Tremont Stakes for juveniles at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Last year Catalina Cruiser secured victories in the San Diego Handicap (G2) and Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar by a combined 14 lengths as he extended his career perfect mark to four races. Favored in the one-turn Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, Hronis Racing's Catalina Cruiser raced wide and finished a well-beaten sixth.

While Catalina Cruiser will be making his first start as a 5-year-old Friday, trainer John Sadler has the son of Union Rags  well prepared through nine works since April 9, including a sharp half-mile move in :47 3/5 June 2 at Santa Anita Park.

Looking for a more immediate bounce back Friday will be Whitmore, who enters off a fifth-place finish in the May 4 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) for owners Robert LaPenta, Head of Plains Partners, and Ron Moquett, who also trains the 6-year-old Pleasantly Perfect gelding.

Last year Whitmore finished a close second in the True North, just a neck behind winner Imperial Hint. The Churchill Downs Stakes ended a seven-race stretch where Whitmore had finished first or second. Moquett is looking forward to a better effort in the expected field of 10.

"It was an odd race," Moquett said of last year's edition. "We did a lot of moving around the turn instead of down the stretch. I was a little shook up about it, but at the same time he's come back safe and sound and healthy, and we'll move forward."

In the Bed o' Roses, Lael Stables' Chalon will try to extend an impressive streak of her own that has seen the 5-year-old Dialed In  mare finish first or second in eight straight races. That stretch includes a final 2018 effort in which she just missed winning the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) and an impressive 2019 debut where she drew off late to post a two-length score in the Skipat Stakes May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.

The expected field of seven also includes last year's Test Stakes (G1) winner Separationofpowers, for owner Klaravich Stables and Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown. In her 2019 debut, Separationofpowers finished third in the May 11 Vagrancy Handicap (G3) at Belmont.

In the Tremont, Designated Hitters Racing's Rookie Salsa will try for a second stakes win before the official start of summer. The son of Two Step Salsa  is 2-for-2 and scheduled to start on the outside in Friday's expected field of eight after posting a clear, upset victory in the May 1 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill.

"He's coming along very good," trainer Jeremiah O'Dwyer said. "He's shown improvement with each start and has continued to move forward in the mornings. I was a little surprised he was so high of a price at Churchill (27-1), maybe the bettors didn't have much faith in us against some bigger named trainers, but he proved himself. When I purchased him as a yearling, he looked to act mature, so we had no qualms about shipping him and he's proven himself on the road so far."

Entries: Bed o' Roses Invitational S. (G3)

Belmont Park, Friday, June 07, 2019, Race 5

• Grade III
• 7f
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 2:58 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Saguaro Row (KY)	Joel Rosario	119	Michael Stidham	15/1
2	2Mybigitalianfriend (FL)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	117	Jason Servis	10/1
3	3Chalon (KY)	Javier Castellano	119	Arnaud Delacour	2/1
4	4Pacific Gale (KY)	Joe Bravo	115	John C. Kimmel	5/2
5	5Dawn the Destroyer (KY)	John R. Velazquez	119	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	5/1
6	6Spring in the Wind (ON)	Luis Saez	115	Anthony T. Quartarolo	15/1
7	7Separationofpowers (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	Chad C. Brown	5/2

Entries: Tremont S.

Belmont Park, Friday, June 07, 2019, Race 7

• STK
• 5 1/2f
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 2 yo
• 4:09 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Theitalianamerican (NY)	Joel Rosario	116	Gary C. Contessa	10/1
2	2Maven (KY)	Dylan Davis	121	Wesley A. Ward	7/5
3	3Now Is (KY)	John R. Velazquez	116	Philip A. Gleaves	20/1
4	4Fore Left (KY)	Mario Gutierrez	121	Doug F. O'Neill	5/2
5	5Federale (FL)	Luis Saez	116	Philip A. Gleaves	30/1
6	6Dixie Mo (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	116	Wesley A. Ward	10/1
7	7Memorable (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	121	Steven M. Asmussen	8/1
8	8Rookie Salsa (FL)	Angel Suarez	121	Jeremiah O'Dwyer	4/1

Entries: True North S. (G2)

Belmont Park, Friday, June 07, 2019, Race 8

• Grade II
• 6 1/2f
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:42 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Bon Raison (KY)	Javier Castellano	120	Carlos F. Martin	30/1
2	2Stan the Man (KY)	Dylan Davis	120	John P. Terranova II	10/1
3	3Catalina Cruiser (KY)	Joel Rosario	124	John W. Sadler	5/2
4	4Nicodemus (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	Linda Rice	8/1
5	5Strike Power (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Mark A. Hennig	8/1
6	6Recruiting Ready (KY)	Luis Saez	124	Stanley M. Hough	6/1
7	7Whitmore (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	124	Ron Moquett	7/2
8	8Do Share (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	124	Michael J. Maker	5/1
9	9Gold for the King (NY)	Manuel Franco	122	Charlton Baker	15/1
10	10Mr. Dougie Fresh (KY)	Jose Lezcano	120	Jason Servis	15/1