Catching Freedom Rallies from Last to First to win Louisiana Derby

March 23rd, 2024 by Bob Ehalt

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Fair Grounds, Catching Freedom, Louisiana Derby, Brad Cox

Catching Freedom swept past the field in the stretch to win the $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. (Bentley Breland/Eclipse Sportswire)

Catching Freedom rallied eight-wide on the final turn and surged in the stretch to a last-to-first one-length victory in the $1 million Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby going 1 3/16-miles at Fair Grounds on March 23.

"What a finish," said Jason Loutsch, racing manager for Catching Freedom's Albaugh Family ownership group. "To race that wide and still finish like that, amazing. He had to cover a ton of ground."

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A rallying third in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at 1 1/8 miles in his previous start for trainer Brad Cox, Catching Freedom assured his connections of a spot in the field for May 4 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve by picking up 100 Derby qualifying points. He now tops the leaderboard with 125 points.

For the connections, the victory brought back memories of a year earlier when Cox and the Albaugh family sent out the run for the roses favorite, Angel of Empire, but had to settle for third.

"We're so excited to get back to the Kentucky Derby with another horse who should be a major player," Loutsch said. "I hope he comes back well and if he does, it will be an exciting six weeks."

The victory was the third in five starts for Catching Freedom. Two starts back, he rallied from eighth in a field of nine to take the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, but Saturday's journey was far more adventurous. Catching Freedom and jockey Flavien Prat were last on the backstretch in the field of 11 behind a moderate :48.33 half-mile pace before they launched their wide trip to the winner's circle.

"I wanted to cry on the backside. It was awful. He was dead last," Cox said. "It turned out to be a big performance. He's bred for a mile and a quarter, and I think he showed today that he can do it."

As expected, 2-1 favorite Track Phantom set the pace in the Louisiana Derby, leading by about a length through an opening quarter of :23.49 and six furlongs in 1:12.54 on the fast track.

He was chased early by Common Defense, but the biggest threats came from the rear of the pack.

While maiden winner Tuscan Gold pressured the leader from third on the turn, the drama was unfolding in the center of the racetrack where Catching Freedom and Honor Marie were circling into contention on the far outside from 11th and ninth, respectively, after six furlongs.

Track Phantom, who was hustled to the lead from post 12, still led at the eighth pole but was shortening stride as Catching Freedom and Honor Marie surged past him with a sixteenth left and battled to the wire. Catching Freedom, the 3-1 second choice on the tote board ($8.60), prevailed by a length in 1:56.16.

Honor Marie took second by three-quarters of a length over Tuscan Gold and punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby with 50 more qualifying points. Tuscan Gold picked up 25 points. That was the first batch of points for the son of Medaglia d'Oro who was making his third career start.