FRANK E. KILROE MILE ON SANTA ANITA LAWN

 RIVER BOYNE & CATAPULT HEAD SATURDAY’S GRADE I, $400,000  FRANK E. KILROE MILE ON SANTA ANITA LAWN




RIVER BOYNE & CATAPULT HEAD SATURDAY’S GRADE I, $400,000 FRANK E. KILROE MILE ON SANTA ANITA LAWN 
FIRST POST TIME FOR 10-RACE PROGRAM SATURDAY SET FOR 1 P.M. 

Although he was the beaten favorite in his most recent start, Irish-bred River Boyne, who has won six out of his seven career turf starts at Santa Anita, will vie for favoritism in Saturday’s Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile (turf) with Kentucky-bred Catapult, who should relish a return to firm ground for John Sadler.  The Kilroe, one of four graded stakes on Saturday, has attracted a field of six older horses.

RIVER BOYNE

Owner:  Red Baron’s Barn, LLC & Rancho Temescal
Trainer:  Jeff Mullins

A game head winner of the Grade II Mathis Brothers Mile two starts back on Dec. 26, this 4-year-old colt was forced to steady a furlong out in the Grade III, one mile turf Thunder Road on Feb. 9, and finished fourth, beaten 1 ¼ lengths as the 3-5 favorite on a turf course that was listed as “good.”  With regular rider Flavien Prat away to ride in Dubai, Drayden Van Dyke will try his hand for the first time on River Boyne, who has three wins and a second from five starts at one mile on turf.

CATAPULT

Owner:  Woodford Racing, LLC
Trainer:  John Sadler

A winner of two Grade II turf stakes three and four starts back at Del Mar this past summer, this 6-year-old full horse by Kitten’s Joy was a close second in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile two starts back on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.  Keen in the early stages, Catapult finished fourth, beaten 4 ½ lengths over a yielding turf going 1 3/16 miles in the Grade I Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park.  The leading money earner in the field with $1,448,359, Catapult, who will be making his 18thcareer start, is 10-3-4-1 at one mile on turf.

OHIO

Owner:  Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Bruce Treitman
Trainer:  Michael McCarthy

Claimed for $50,000 six starts back on June 10 and a subsequent $28,000 claiming winner in his next start on Aug. 19, this 8-year-old Brazilian-bred gelding is enjoying a resurgence of late, with his most recent start resulting in a close second place finish in the Grade III Thunder Road Stakes here on Feb. 9, which came on the heels of a 6 ½ length tally in a minor one mile turf stakes at Turf Paradise Jan. 12.

THE GRADE I FRANK E. KILROE MILE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 5 of 10  Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

Hunt–Brice Blanc–120
Ohio–Ruben Fuentes–120
Desert Stone–Geovanni Franco–120
Catapult–Drayden Van Dyke–122
Next Shares–Kent Desormeaux–124
River Boyne–Rafael Bejarano–122
First post time for a 10-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m.  For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.