Catalina Cruiser to Lane's End

Catalina Cruiser | Sarah K. Andrew

Hronis Racing's Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags–Sea Gull, by Mineshaft) will stand at Lane's End Farm upon retirement, the farm announced Wednesday moring. A son of leading cumulative fourth-crop sire Union Rags, Catalina Cruiser is seven-for-eight lifetime, with five graded stakes wins.

Catalina Cruiser is the quintessential American dirt horse,” said Lane's End's Bill Farish. “He's exactly what we're looking for. Tough, with speed and the ability to carry that speed. He reminds me of stallions like Quality Road, Twirling Candy and Liam's Map. They all had tremendous speed and were classy enough to win graded stakes going two turns.”

Breaking his maiden on his debut, Catalina Cruiser won his first-level allowance going six furlongs in 1:08.64, earning a 107 Beyer Speed Figure. He then matched that Beyer figure stretching out to a mile and a sixteenth in his stakes debut, scoring by 6 3/4 lengths in the GII San Diego H. before cutting back to seven furlongs to defeat reigning GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero Battle of Midway (Smart Strike) by a resounding 7 1/4 lengths.

In his 2019 debut on Belmont Day in the GII True North S., Catalina Cruiser set a stakes record, stopping the timer in 1:14.85 for the 6 1/2 furlongs and has since successfully defending his titles in the San Diego and Pat O'Brien.

“This horse has raw talent” said trainer John Sadler, “He's always been a 'wow' horse. He's shown it from the very beginning and has proven it on the racetrack.”

Bred in Kentucky by W. S. Farish, Catalina Cruiser was a $370,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by David Ingordo.

“He was raised on the farm and he was always a standout,” said Ingordo. “His sire is coming off of a huge September sale and this horse is one of Union Rags's best physicals. He has tremendous commercial potential.”

Out of the Mineshaft mare Sea Gull, Catalina Cruiser is a half-brother to graded stakes winner and Grade I-placed Eagle, from the immediate female family of successful stallion and influence of speed Mt. Livermore.

Catalina Cruiser will make his next start in the Nov. 2 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. His stud fee will be released thereafter.

 

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.