Catholic Boy, already a graded stakes winner on the turf, added the $250,000 Remsen S. (G2) on Saturday when the 2-year-old More Than Ready colt powered to a 4 3/4-length win in the 1 1/8-mile contest on the main track.
With four starts to his credit for owner Robert LaPenta, Catholic Boy has three wins and has earned $314,000. His only blemish is a length and a half loss in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) a month ago.
The Remsen was the first main track start for Catholic Boy. Breaking from post five in the 10-horse field, the bay colt was in a good spot in fifth before advancing three-wide around the far turn. As he swept to the front with a quarter-mile to run, jockey Manny Franco took a quick peek back for any closers, but no one was moving as good as the winner, who scampered away in the late stages, stopping the timer in 1:52.50, good for an excellent Beyer Speed Figure of 91.
“We were really happy with how he exited the Breeders’ Cup and, to us, he galloped out very well in that race and indicated that he wanted more ground,” said winning trainer Jonathan Thomas. “I don’t have any idea of what race we’ll look at next. If we were going to pump the brakes and give him a little breather it’s certainly the right time of year. He’s going to go back to Bridlewood (in Florida), my main training hub, and probably get a couple of quiet weeks and we’ll go from there.”
Following his maiden debut win July 20 on the Gulfstream Park turf, Catholic Boy then won Saratoga’s grassy With Anticipation S. (G3) before the Breeders’ Cup. He also earned on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) series.
Pedigree Notes from the TDN:
Catholic Boy is by versatile international sire More Than Ready, who was represented by two Breeders’ Cup winners last month in GI Sprint victor Roy H and undefeated TDN Rising Star and GI Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Rushing Fall. Catholic Boy’s dam Song of Bernadette, a half-sister to SW Return to Paradise, produced a Super Saver colt Apr. 10, 2016 and a Carpe Diem filly on the same exact day this year. She was bred back to GI Preakness S. winner Exaggerator.
