21:36 Santa Anita

Saturday 2 November 2019

All17:0717:4218:1718:5519:3320:1020:5421:3622:2023:0023:4000:44

Race 8 - Breeders' Cup Sprint (Grade 1)

Off time: 21:38 | Winning time: -

(1)

Catalina Cruiser⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Joel Rosario| T: John Sadler| OR: 120| D

4/1

Has five Grade 2 wins to date and well worth a crack another crack at this level, despite disappointing when favourite in this race last year (blew chance at start). Finds more for pressure and a danger to all from an ideal draw for his tactics.

Form: 116-111

(2)

Hog Creek Hustle²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Mike Smith| T: Vickie Foley| OR: 110

25/1

Very smart hold up performer when everything drops right, as seen when winning a Grade 1 at Belmont in June but may find this all happening too quick for him back at 6f.

Form: 482125

(3)

Firenze Fire³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Irad Ortiz Jr| T: Jason Servis| OR: 115| D

11/1

Grade 1 winner as a juvenile and only narrowly denied by re-opposing Imperial Hint in a Grade 1 at Belmont last time out. Best recent form is at this trip and a reproduction of his latest effort should see him in the mix.

Form: 315422

(4)

Mitole⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Ricardo Jr Santana| T: Steven Asmussen| OR: 121| D

7/4

A three-time Grade 1 winner already this season but got outpaced in behind Imperial Hint when tackling this trip at Saratoga in July. Well in control when beating Firenze Fire last time out and less exposed than many.

Form: 111131

(5)

Engage²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: John Velazquez| T: Steven Asmussen| OR: 105| D

20/1

Got the better of Whitmore in a Keenland Grade 2 last time out on just his second start for this yard. More on his plate against these rivals but going the right way at least.

Form: 244-411

(6)

Shancelot²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Jose Ortiz| T: Jorge Navarro| OR: 122| BF| D

15/8

Grade 2 winner at Saratoga in July but a beaten odds-on favourite twice since, albeit by small margins. Should have more to give if he settles better and less exposed than some.

Form: 11132

(7)

Whitmore²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Flavien Prat| T: R Moquett| OR: 112| D

22/1

Runner-up in this race last year and back to something like his best when second to Engage last time out. Will be doing all his best work in the finish again no doubt but needs them to go too hard in front.

Form: 2-12582

(10)

Matera Sky²¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Yutaka Take| T: H Mori| D

28/1

Produced a huge performance when runner-up to multiple winner of this race (X Y Jet) in Dubai on World Cup Night. Hasn't been in the same form since but a repeat of his Meydan effort would give him solid claims.

Form: 1425-02

Non-Runners

(8)

Landeskog⁴²

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: Doug O'Neill J: Abel Cedillo

(9)

Imperial Hint³⁵

Weight: 9-0| Age: 6

T: Jr Luis Carvajal, J: Javier Castellano

Forecasts

Mitole (7/4), Shancelot (15/8), Imperial Hint (4/1), Catalina Cruiser (4/1), Firenze Fire (11/1), Landeskog (12/1), Engage (20/1), Whitmore (22/1), Hog Creek Hustle (25/1), Matera Sky (28/1)

It’s not always an advantage to have stall one on the dirt track here but CATALANIA CRUISER has excellent gate speed and he could be hard to peg back given his main rivals are drawn wide. Imperial Hint arrives in excellent form and is certainly a threat and if they go too hard on the front end, that ought to bring Whitmore and Hog Creek Hustle into the picture, two runners who will thrive on a coming off a fast pace.