Del Mar news: Sadler updates on Accelerate, Catalina Cruiser
Edwards Going Left is the horse to beat in Sunday’s $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes. And if you’re in need of reasons why that’s the case, trainer John Sadler has them.
“He won it last year. It’s a good distance for him. And he’s going against California-breds rather than open company,” Sadler said Saturday morning from Santa Anita. “He’s a legitimate favorite who has trained well for the race.”
The 4-year-old gelded son of Midnight Lute, Edwards Going Left, of course, isn't the only stable star. Sadler also provided an update on his three divisional champions from the summer meeting: Horse of the Meeting Accelerate, top sprinter Catalina Cruiser and top grass horse Catapult:
Accelerate will begin light training and eventually breezing at Santa Anita in December for his final race, the $9 million Pegasus World Cup on January 26 at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Catapult will be on a similar schedule targeting the inaugural $7 million turf race on Pegasus World Cup Day.
Catalina Cruiser is being given time off for a planned return to racing in the spring. There is “an excellent chance” Sadler said that Catalina Cruiser and Catapult will race at Del Mar in the summer of 2019.
As for Edwards Going Left, the Hronis Racing Inc. color-bearer has one win and has been off the board only twice since winning last year's Cary Grant. Both came against top sprinters in Del Mar's Bing Crosby (G1) and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1).
“He’s well spotted,” Sadler said. “There are some good horses, but no Roy H or Ransom the Moon.”
The field from the rail: Tough But Nice (Geovanni Franco, 12-1), Touching Rainbows (Flavien Prat, 5-2), Edwards Going Left (Tyler Baze, 2-1), Solid Wager (Drayden Van Dyke, 4-1), Brandothebartender (Joe Talamo, 20-1), Minoso (Gary Stevens, 30-1), Shades of Victory (Martin Pedroza, 12-1), Ann Arbor Eddie (Mario Gutierrez, 5-1) and Grecian Fire (Rafael Bejarano, 10-1).
Miller starts the road to 2,000 wins
Trainer Peter Miller notched win No. 1,000 in his 31-year career on Friday when Drayden Van Dyke guided Haydens Havoc to a 1 ½-length victory in the third race.
The victory touched off a winner’s circle celebration in which Miller was joined by his wife Lani and sons Jacob, 6, and Seth, 4, initially and later by Del Mar officials who presented him with a sign commemorating the event.
“It’s a great accomplishment,” Miller said. “It took a lot of years to get there and a lot of hard work. I’ve got a great team behind me, from my family to the people who work for me in the stable, to the owners. I’m thankful to them all.
“Lets see if we can get another 1,000.”
To that end, Miller has five entered on the eight-race Saturday card.
The wave of eight graded stakes over the final eight days of the meeting and while nominations aren’t commitments to run, even a glance at the ones scheduled next week triggers thoughts of intriguing possibilities.
Grade 3, $100,000 Red Carpet, Handicap, Thursday, November 22 – Escape Clause tries to extend her winning streak to 10.
Grade 2, $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup, Friday, November 23 – Beach View, last seen winning the 1 1/2 –mile Cougar II Handicap here on dirt in July, tries the distance on the turf.
Grade 3, $100,000 Jimmy Durante Stakes, Saturday, November 24 – Doug O’Neill has three nominated the most interesting, at least on paper, being Irish-bred Cedars of Lebanon, making her U.S. debut after wins in her native land in September and October.
Grade 2, $200,000 Seabiscuit Handicap, Saturday, November 24 – Hunt, recovered from a minor illness that kept him out of the Breeders’ Cup returns to battle invaders from the East and overseas.
Grade 3, $100,000 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes, Sunday, November 25 – Trainer Geoge Weaver and owners Jim and Susan Hill, who shipped in to win the Jimmy Durante last year with Daddy Is a Legend, try to do it again with maiden Noble Nebraskan.
Grade 3, $100,000 Native Diver, Sunday, November 25 – Battle of Midway. Enough said.