Claiborne to Stand Catholic Boy Upon Retirement

[Wandering Eyes]

Claiborne Farm has purchased an interest in Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), a Grade I winner on both dirt and turf and who won the GII Dixie S. at Pimlico Race Course on Preakness Day in his 2019 debut. He will stand at the farm upon his retirement from racing, they announced via press release.

“What an incredible horse. What an incredible effort,” said Robert LaPenta, who campaigns Catholic Boy in partnership with Madaket Stables, Siena Farm, and Twin Creeks Racing Stables. “Six and a half months off—(the Dixie Stakes) was not an easy race, and he made us proud.”

A Graded stakes winner at ages 2, 3 and 4, Catholic Boy won three of his four starts as a juvenile. His two-year-old victories included the GIII With Anticipation S. on turf, as well as the GII Remsen S. on dirt. He has won at five different tracks on both the East and West Coasts from 7 1/2 furlongs to 1 1 /4 miles.

In 2018, Catholic Boy became just the third American 3-year-old in history to win Grade I races on dirt and turf, preceded only by two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome and Secretariat, who also retired to Claiborne. Those wins came in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. and the GI Runhappy Travers S., both at a mile and a quarter. His 104 Beyer figure in that race marked the fastest speed figure of any 3-year-old colt over 10 furlongs in 2018, according to Claiborne.

Catholic Boy was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding and is out of the Bernardini mare Song of Bernadette, who was sold in foal to War Front for $2.3 million at last year’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale. She was purchased by Bridlewood Farm. (See the TDN video feature on Song of Bernadette.)

“He’s just such a gifted horse,” said trainer Jonathan Thomas immediately after the Dixie. “I would have been happy coming here and running a good second or third and galloping out well. But he has it in him to win. It was great to see. Sometimes turf is a little easier on them coming back and that was the plan we utilized.” Thomas speculated that the GII Suburban at Belmont might be his next start.

“He was great,” said jockey Javier Castellano of the win. “He’s a super horse. You can do whatever you want. He can be on the pace, he can come from behind. I like the way he did it. Coming off a layoff since the Breeders’ Cup, that’s a long time to put in a good race like he did. It was a great performance.”

Catholic Boy’s record currently stands at 11 starts with seven wins–six of them graded–and earnings of over $1.9 million.

Claiborne’s Walker Hancock added, “A graded stakes winner on both dirt and turf at two, and Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf at three, makes him one of the most versatile and unique stallion prospects on the market. Plus, being a son of More Than Ready opens him up to breed to a very wide variety of mares. We are thrilled to stand him at Claiborne Farm upon his retirement.”

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