Catalano not afraid of Built's outside post in Lecomte

A trainer with a horse entered in the Lecomte Stakes related a recent conversation with another Fair Grounds horse person, the conversational companion suggesting connections of the 3-year-old colt Built might scratch the horse from the Lecomte because he drew poorly in post 13.

Built’s trainer, Wayne Catalano, reached Tuesday by phone, never mentioned the possibility of scratching.

“He seems to have a lot of talent. If you’re going to be a good horse, you’re going to have to overcome obstacles,” Catalano said.

The Grade 3, $250,000 Lecomte should answer the question of whether Built truly is a good horse. The trend line suggests he is.

Built debuted at Ellis Park in a sprint race won by the brilliant East Avenue, springboarding from that fourth-place finish to notch a sharp Keeneland maiden score going seven furlongs. Catalano and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners patiently waited about 10 weeks for the 1 1/16-mile Gun Runner Stakes. Built won by 6 3/4 lengths with a 92 Beyer Speed Figure, a definitive win, but one open to interpretation.

Built seized an early lead and set a slow pace, his TimeformUS pace number at the half-mile a mere 95, favorable circumstances that aided his cause, but everything after that feels very interesting. Built began building speed at the three-eighths pole, going his third quarter-mile in 24.54 seconds, more than a second faster than any of his opponents. He went his fourth quarter-mile in 23.50, a rare display of late speed from a 2-year-old in a dirt route race, before jockey Jareth Loveberry eased up in the final half-furlong.

“I had a 3-year-old once get his last eighth in 11 and change. His name was Crypto Star,” Catalano said.

That flying finish came when Crypto Star won the Arkansas Derby in 1997. The race before, he captured the Louisiana Derby, and Crypto Star went on to finish fifth as the lone Kentucky Derby starter of Catalano’s long training career.

Catalano recalls how fast Crypto Star came home 28 years ago but as of Tuesday knew few specifics about Saturday’s competition.

“I’m not looking at it. I’m just messing with the horse. When it gets close enough, I’ll take a good look at it,” he said.

Catalano has given Built two very easy works since the Gun Runner. Tuesday, Built, by Hard Spun, galloped two miles. Catalano typically eschews galloping seriously over a sloppy track but has done so with Built through a spell of wet weather in New Orleans.

“You’ve got to train these good horses. I keep giving him what he can do. He’s licking the feed tub clean, and that’s a good thing,” Catalano said.

Lecomte entrant Admiral Dennis will be scratched in favor of a Monday allowance race, moving Built one starting-gate stall closer to the rail. Seattle Road also could be scratched, though he’s drawn outside Built.

“My main goal is to get to the Kentucky Derby. We’ll find out how we get there from Saturday,” Catalano said.

Sounds like Built is running.

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