Catalina Cruiser dominant again in Pat O'Brien Stakes win

Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes was as much about the horses that didn’t run in the Del Mar feature as those that did.

Following the scratches of champion Roy H and last-out Grade 1 winner Ransom the Moon, among others, Catalina Cruiser asserted his dominance. Proving his breakout stakes debut was no fluke, the 4-year-old John Sadler trainee made easy work of three remaining runners.

"He is something," said jockey Drayden Van Dyke. "I said he was one of the best horses I’ve ever been on. He just might be the best. He’s a cruiser, for sure.”

Narrowed from eight that entered, the Pat O’Brien field of four also included Battle of Midway, the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner found subfertile when sent to stud at WinStar Farm. This was his first race back, and the 4-year-old likely needed it.

After clicking through a half mile on the lead in 44.82 seconds, Catalina Cruiser inched away from Battle of Midway in the stretch. When asked by Van Dyke, the son of Union Rags really opened up the margin, going on to finish 7 1/4 lengths clear while completing seven furlongs in 1:22.13.

The victory earned Catalina Cruiser an expenses-paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, which will run around one turn at Churchill Downs. Sadler stablemate Accelerate is an anticipated top choice in the Classic, and the connections of Sadler and owner Hronis Racing intend to keep them separated.

Sadler mentioned the Pegasus World Cup as a long-term goal for Catalina Cruiser.

"He’ll be a little more seasoned and mature by then," the trainer said. "They chose to press him early today, they figured that was their best chance, but he looked good turning for home and you know he’s going to finish because he’s such a nice horse."

Catalina Cruiser stretched out to 1 1/16 miles to dominate last month’s Grade 2 San Diego Stakes, also at Del Mar, when he burst onto the scene. But his first two career races, also wins, came around one turn.

Ransom the Moon and Roy H, who finished 1-2 in last month's Bing Crosby, both skipped this spot to remain fresh for their ultimate goal, the Breeders' Cup Sprint. In their absence, Vorticity and Threefiveindia rounded out the running order.