Catholic Boy

Catholic Boy began his career with back-to-back victories on the grass, the second coming in the Grade 3 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga Race Course to punch his ticket to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He finished fourth in the Juvenile Turf, closing gamely from of the pace after a bit of trouble to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind winner Mendelssohn.

After the Breeders' Cup, Catholic Boy made his first start on the main track a successful one, when he shook free in the stretch to a 4 3/4-length victory in the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes. In his 3-year-old debut, Catholic Boy battled gamely in the stretch with Flameaway but settled for second, beaten by a half-length. In his final prep race on the Kentucky Derby trail, Catholic Boy finished fourth in the Grade 1 Xpressbet Florida Derby. He bypassed the classics and took his talents back to the turf.

Returning to the grass for the $200,000, Grade 3 Pennine Ridge Stakes, Catholic Boy set the pace before he was passed in the stretch by heavily favored Analyze It. He fought back gamely in the stretch, however, and reeled in that previously undefeated opponent for a stunning victory.

In the Grade 1, $1.2 million Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes, Catholic Boy again set the pace with Analyze It tracking from second. Analyze It seized command near the top of the stretch and appeared to put away Catholic Boy, but much like in the Pennine Ridge the game More Than Ready ridgling would not be denied and fought back galantly on the inside to prevail in another thrilling photo finish.

After back-to-back graded stakes wins on the grass, Catholic Boy’s connections made the decision to send the gutsy colt back to dirt for the $1.25-million Runhappy Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets on Aug. 25 at Saratoga Race Course. He stalked pacesetter Mendelssohn from second into the final turn and put him away in early stretch, surging well clear to a career-defining victory.

Catholic Boy targeted the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs for his next start, where he was sent off as the 5.10-1 third betting choice. He endured a rough start, getting bumped a few times after the break, and was eased by Javier Castellano to finish 13^th of 14.

Jonathan Thomas gave the multiple Grade 1 winner a long break and brought him back for the May 18, 2019, Grade 2 Dixie Stakes on the Preakness Stakes undercard at Pimlico. Catholic Boy responded with a driving half-length win under Castellano to push his career record to seven wins from 11 starts, and his fifth turf win from six starts. 

Catholic Boy returned to dirt for his next start, but disappointed as the 1.30-1 favorite when beaten 4 ½ lengths by Preservationist in the July 6 Grade 2 Suburban Stakes. He then moved back to turf for the Oct. 14 Grade 3 Knickerbocker Stakes at Belmont Park and finished fourth at 11-10 odds.