Classical Cat, an impressive winner of the one-mile Eddie Logan on turf Dec. 30 at Santa Anita, might switch surfaces and take a shot on the Triple Crown trail for trainer Phil D'Amato.
Classical Cat won his debut sprinting on dirt at Del Mar in August and headed straight to the Del Mar Futurity (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track and finished off the board. Subsequently switched to the grass, Classical Cat won an entry-level allowance at Santa Anita on Oct. 23 prior to his victory in the Eddie Logan.
“We have options,' D'Amato said of Classical Cat. “A possible allowance on turf, possibly the next dirt stake for 3-year-olds here, or the El Camino Real at Golden Gate the second week in February.”
The next two-turn stakes in Santa Anita's 3-year-old dirt series is the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 4. The El Camino Real, which is contested on synthetic Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields, is Feb. 11.
“Those are my three options, I'm just going to kind of play it by ear with him,” D'Amato said.
A Kentucky-bred son of Mendelssohn out of Conquest Strate Up, by Not Bourbon, Classical Cat has won three of four starts and banked $146,300 for owner Michael House. He was purchased by Buffolo Bloodstock for $65,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale, where South Point Sales Agency consigned.
The post ‘We Have Options’: Classical Cat Could Switch Surfaces To Join Triple Crown Trail In Robert B. Lewis appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
