Want Precocity? Don't Count Out Catalina Cruiser

Freshman sire Catalina Cruiser, a 9-year-old son of Union Rags, didn't make his first start until October of his 3-year-old year, but don't assume his first foals will not be capable of finding early success at the track, according to Lane's End's Bill Farish. "He is built like a fast horse even though he didn't start until later and was at his best later," he said. "There are other factors along the way that influence that. We would not be surprised at all to see him sire precocious 2-year-olds, and not only precocious but that can carry their speed going farther." Union Rags certainly did all of the above as a grade 1 winner at 2 and runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), who went on to win the Belmont Stakes (G1). Trainer John Sadler took his time with Catalina Cruiser. The colt won his debut going six furlongs at Santa Anita Park by 2 1/4 lengths. He would make his second start in May of his 4-year-old year and win gate-to-wire after setting brisk opening fractions of :21.95 and :45.04 going six furlongs. His final time was 1:08.64. Catalina Cruiser next jumped to graded stakes competition and captured the San Diego Handicap (G2) by 6 3/4 lengths and then the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) by 7 1/4 lengths. At 5, he would capture three more graded stakes that included consecutive editions of the San Diego and Pat O'Brien, along with the True North Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park. He contested the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) but finished unplaced. Catalina Cruiser was retired with a 7-0-0 record from nine starts and earned $711,100. Catalina Cruiser's first book of mares has the credentials to produce some early performers. His first dams collectively have the highest Class Performance Index for the freshman sire class at 2.66. The CPI is an earnings-derived index similar to the Average Earnings Index that indicates how good the mares were as racehorses. Spendthrift Farm's Omaha Beach has the sire class's highest first-crop CPI at 3.47. Among Catalina Cruiser's first mares, 23% were winners at 2 and among all the foals these mares have already produced that became runners, 21% won at 2. More significantly, these runners include 3.6% juvenile stakes winners—the fourth-highest percentage among freshman sires with more than 40 first-crop foals. The other top-ranked sires by this metric include Omaha Beach (7.7%), Yoshida (JPN) (4.8%), and Audible (3.9%). Farish said putting a priority on mares with 2-year-old form or a strong record for producing 2-year-old runners was not part of the strategy with Catalina Cruiser. "With any first-year horse, you want to give him a broad spectrum of opportunities," he said. "It is too early with any of them to know what is working, but he is passing along the looks of the Dixie Union/Dixieland Band line. They're solid-made individuals with muscular bodies. We love what we are seeing physically. There is really no reason that he cannot be as good as any other first-crop sire out there." Catalina Cruiser is among 10 North American freshman sires that have already had a starter as of April 22. Catalina Cruiser's first juveniles have gotten a solid reception at the 2-year-olds in training sales held so far, with 13 sold for an average of $125,462. His top seller to date is a $400,000 colt out of the Ghostzapper mare Special Code that consignor Tom McCrocklin sold to Martin Anthony during the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The sire is represented by 22 still entered in the upcoming OBS Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale that will be held April 25-28. These 22 include the following six that worked in :10 during the under tack shows: Hip 298, a filly out of the Congrats mare Dushlan, who is out of the More Than Ready stakes winner Miss Challenge. The filly is consigned by Randy Miles, agent. Hip 744, a filly out of multiple stakes winner Noblame (by Blame) who is consigned by James Layden, agent. Hip 758, a colt out of the Distorted Humor mare One Show Only, who is from the family of grade 1 winner and sire Bluegrass Cat and graded stakes winners Lord of the Game and Dramedy. He is consigned by Julie Davies, agent. Hip 949, a colt out of the Into Mischief stakes-placed winner She's Trouble, consigned by Top Line Sales, agent. Hip 1045, a colt out of the Super Saver stakes winner and stakes producer Super Allison. He is consigned by de Meric Sales, agent. Hip 1162, a colt out of Vasilisa, a Skipshot full sister to multiple grade 1 winner and millionaire Vasilika. He is consigned by Top Line Sales, agent. "I only have two Catalina Cruisers, but I really like them," said consignor Nick de Meric. "They do look more precocious. I think they are very balanced, athletic horses. They look to me as if they will come to hand very quickly."