‘Cruiser’ Difficult to Oppose in O’Brien Defense

[Wandering Eyes]

Hronis Racing’s once-beaten Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags) figures a warm favorite as he goes out in defense of his title in the GI Pat O’Brien S. at Del Mar, a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 2.

The 5-year-old chestnut is undefeated in four tries around one turn, including this race 12 months ago in which he defeated Battle of Midway (Smart Strike), who was making his first appearance since winning the previous year’s Dirt Mile, by 7 1/4 lengths. Out of sorts when sixth as the 9-10 chalk in the 2018 Dirt Mile, Catalina Cruiser was the determined winner of the GII True North S. on the eve of the GI Belmont S. June 7 and comes off a second consecutive victory in the GII San Diego H. Connections land here after taking a pass on last week’s GI TVG Pacific Classic and having decided against a ship to Saratoga for Saturday’s GI Forego S.

New York-bred Giant Expectations (Frost Giant) posted a 9-2 score in the 2017 O’Brien, but has been on the road for a good portion of this year. Third to the late Battle of Midway and ‘TDN Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense) in Santa Anita’s GII San Pasqual S. in February, the chestnut made two appearances at Oaklawn, finishing a close third in the Mar. 16 Essex H. and fifth in the GII Oaklawn H. the following month. He returned to state-bred restricted company for the first time in two years last time, going down by a nose to the talented Pat On the Back (Congrats) in the May 27 Commentator S. going Belmont’s one-turn mile.

American Anthem (Bodemeister) is four-for-six at seven-eighths and was third in the 2017 GI H. Allen Jerkens S. The bay is two-for-three at the seaside oval, including a 3/4-length allowance tally July 20.

Jalen Journey (With Distinction), the top-priced offering during the horses-of-racing-age section at Fasig-Tipton July, gave a solid account of himself in his local debut, a third in the GI Bing Crosby S. going a furlong shorter July 27.

 

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