Catholic Boy Rewards Connections’ Faith in Travers

[Wandering Eyes]

CATHOLIC BOY (c, 3, More Than Ready–Song of Bernadette, by Bernardini) was ruled out of this year’s dirt Classics after bleeding badly in the GI Florida Derby, and regrouped with victories in the GIII Pennine Ridge S. and GI Belmont Derby in his two subsequent appearances. Possessed of a horse with renewed confidence, the bay ridgling was given a chance back on the main track in Saturday’s GI Runhappy Travers S. and validated connections’ decision with a convincing defeat of pacesetting Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) and Bravazo (Awesome Again). Used hard from the 10 hole by Javier Castellano, Catholic Boy showed good early speed, enough to cross down into the two path, where he clocked Mendelssohn through a quarter in :23.16 and a half in :47.81. Given his cue at the 2 1/2-furlong pole, Catholic Boy reeled in the front-runner in upper stretch and pulled readily clear to score with ease. Bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich III and John D Fielding, Catholic Boy was offered as a short yearling at the 2016 Keeneland January Sale and was originally led out unsold, but was purchased post-RNA from the Taylor Made consignment by trainer Jonathan Thomas, agent for Robert LaPenta’s Whitehorse Stable, for $170,000. Catholic Boy marks the sixth Travers winner for Javier Castellano, a streak that began with the 7 1/2-length score by Catholic Boy’s broodmare sire in 2006. The winner is kin to a yearling filly by Carpe Diem and a filly foal by Exaggerator. Lifetime Record: 9-6-1-0. O-Robert V LaPenta, Madaket Stables LLC, Siena Farm LLC & Twin Creeks Racing Stable; B-Fred Hertrich III & John D Fielding (KY); T-Jonathan Thomas.

 

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