Catalina Cruiser rolls to dominant San Diego Handicap win

Half the field for Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Antonio Handicap scratched before post time, and to some extent, it seems they were just getting out of Catalina Cruiser's way.

The John Sadler trainee, running in the recognizable Hronis Racing silks, took to the front and opened up his margin late to win stylishly by 6 3/4 lengths at Del Mar.

A 4-year-old by Union Rags, Catalina Cruiser is lightly raced. Now 3-for-3, he cost $370,000 at auction.

"We always felt that he wanted to run two turns, so the fact that he was so brilliant sprinting is a really good sign," Sadler said. "He's a big horse, built for a distance and bred for a distance."

Accelerate will train up to another race, likely the Aug. 25 Pacific Classic going 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar. Sadler said he'll point Catalina Cruiser elsewhere.

"I think this horse is probably not ready for a mile and a quarter in his fourth start," the trainer added. "We're not going for the Kentucky Derby."

Catalina Cruiser won going six furlongs last October in his debut, then returned to win at the same distance in May heading into the San Diego. Sadler was looking for allowance conditions for his horse but instead wound up with another graded winner.

The colt finished up 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.95 under jockey Drayden Van Dyke after clicking through opening fractions of 23.07, 47.20 and 1:11.64 from the inside post.

It was well back at the wire to a pair of Bob Baffert trainees filling the board, Dr. Dorr in second and Dabster in third. Other runners were Two Thirty Five and Harlan Punch, who dropped out heading into the turn.

Catalina Cruiser broke an even money favorite and returned $4.60 to win.