Catlaunch Is The Favorite For George Lewis Memorial Stakes At Thistledown

CLEVELAND - The 1 1/8 mile George Lewis Memorial Stakes is set for this Saturday at Thistledown, and veteran Catlaunch will take to the track trying to claim his 38th career win putting him over the Million dollar earnings mark if he outruns his competition.

The stars seem to be in line for Catlaunch having drawn the inside post which suits his lead-off running style.  Plus, he is no stranger to the racecourse with 15 of his 37 wins coming off the Thistledown track.

Last year Bold Captain took the Memorial title after Catlaunch drifted in his lane and gave up his lead.  He almost repeated that performance during the Gendelman last month after drifting and giving up ground, but won by 3/4 lengths.

The competition from the inside rail out is as follows:  PP1 - Catlauch, jockey L. Gonzalez, Trainer  Ivan Vazquez  Odds:  Even  1/1        PP2 - Hephaestus, jockey Neal De Sousa,  Trainer Larry Ellers   Odds: 15/1  He as been in the money his last 6 races but is jumping up in class.  His last win was off the turf.      PP3 - Busha  jockey Houghton, Trainer Mike Rone  Odds 6/1  Has not been in the money his last 4 races but may be able to make up some ground here.       PP4 -Chapin Ridge,    jockey Ramos, Trainer Peggy Schroeder   Odds 20/1            PP5 - Heisman Star ,  jockey Marc Cardoso   Trainer, Nancy Thornton   Odds  15/1,           PP 6 -Raise The Reward  jockey Rosario, Trainer Tim Hamm   Odds  8/1  Has the third best speed at the distance for this race.              PP7 -Beau Mec   jockey Skerrett , Trainer Jeff Radosevich   Odds 6/1.  Almost beat Catlaunch in the six furlong Rowland Memorial in May.  Distance may pose a problem here.      PP 8 -  Powerball Too    jockey Figueroa, Trainer Ivan Vazquez,   Odds 10/1      PP 9-Ramblin Mike  jockey Rosario,  Trainer Jake Radosevich  Odds  9/2  There's a lot to like here with class rating and speed, but after 19 races at Thistledown only claims 1 win at that track.