Constitution’s Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Catching Freedom got a very favorable draw when he was assigned post position 4 for Saturday’s $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1).
The bay colt, trained by Brad Cox for Albaugh Family Stables LLC, began his career last October at Churchill Downs when he won his debut by 3 ¾-lengths. He made his first appearance in a stakes on New Year’s Day in Oaklawn Park’s Smarty Jones S., winning by 2 ½-lengths. Then after a troubled third in the Risen Star S. (G2), he came back to win Fair Grounds’ marquee race for 3-year-olds on March 23.
Since arriving at Churchill in early April, Catching Freedom has thrived in his works, most recently on April 27, when he posted a near-bullet five furlongs in :59 1/5.
Flavien Prat, who rode Catching Freedom in the Louisiana Derby, will be aboard this coming Saturday.
Catching Freedom may be Constitution’s marquee horse this week, but the WinStar stallion will be represented by no less than seven stakes entrants during the first four days of May at Churchill, including the duo of Webslinger and Never Surprised in the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) in the race just before the Derby.
