When the winner of the Qatar Racing Breeders ‘Cup Sprint (G1) 2021 Hello West try to defend that title in this year’s race on November 5 at KeenelandCoach Wayne Catalano believes his running style could help as the six-time test will be his first warm-up in more than four months.
Aloha West completed serious preparations for his Breeders’ Cup on October 31 in Keeneland when he made the half mile in: 47 2/5 on a good track.
“That’s what you want to see,” Catalano said. “He worked very well. He worked well, and he hardly drank. So I was happy. He went: 47 2/5 and galloped in 1:01 3/5 so that’s perfect.
“We don’t want to be any faster than that. He just goes: 58-and-change. We’re just trying to get the job done.”
Catalano is forcing jobs for his 5-year-old son Spin hard because he hasn’t raced since rallying from Wednesday to win Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes on July 2 at Churchill Downs. Catalano and Aron Wellman, owners of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, chose to give Aloha West a break from that effort, followed by third place on May 7 in the Churchill Downs Stakes presented by Ford (G1) and first place. June 11 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park.
About four weeks before his upset win in last year’s Sprint at Del Marwhere he beat the ultimate champion sprinter Jackie’s Warrior , Aloha West finished in a close second in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. While Catalano would prefer a similar route this year, he is confident his horse is on the right track and thinks his running style could allow him to make a big effort later. when fired.
“When you only have to run three-eighths of a mile, that helps. Given his running style, he only ran the last three-eighths,” said Catalano. “He won’t have to do all the work. Of course he’ll have to run, but he won’t have to do half a mile of five-eighths.”
Aloha West worked five times in Kentucky in October, officially winning his ticket back to Sprint with a five-shot on: 58 3/5 October 25 in Keeneland. He closed a busy month on the move on Monday, once again earning the fastest bullet of the seven long-distance works.
Catalano said on Monday that Aloha West can hit about 90% fitness. He hopes that might be enough with the aforementioned running style.
“Here’s what we’re doing (this year). It’s Breeders’ Cup time, and he’s probably going to be a stallion, so we’ll take a shot and start,” Catalano said. “He’s pretty good. He’s in good form. We’re getting very close to being ready for our race.”
