Catching Freedom may be rounding back into form
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Catching Freedom is looking to catch hold of his old form in a $141,000 allowance/optional-claiming race that serves as the nominal feature on Friday’s program at Churchill Downs.
This 1 1/16-mile race is for 3-year-olds and up who have never won three times other-than, or who have never won four races. Despite a lofty résumé amassed early last year, Catching Freedom, who is trained by Brad Cox for Albaugh Family Stables, still meets those conditions. The 4-year-old colt put together a solid string of races in early 2024, winning the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn, finishing third in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds, and then rallying to win that track’s Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. He was fourth in the Kentucky Derby, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths, and then was third in the Preakness Stakes.
Since then, Catching Freedom has been looking to get back into a rhythm. Coming out of the Triple Crown campaign, he was fourth in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby before getting an extended break until February, when he was seventh in the Grade 3 Mineshaft Stakes.
For the first time since that early 2024 run, Catching Freedom now seems to be rounding back into form as he makes his third start off a layoff, all in allowance/optional-claiming company. After finishing a non-factor sixth on Sept. 28 at Churchill, he gave a much more forward effort Oct. 24 at Keeneland, making the lead before finishing second to Generous Tipper, another runner with stakes form. Catching Freedom’s 95 Beyer Speed Figure was his best since he earned three 97s in a row last year, starting with the Louisiana Derby. His two works since that effort have been sharp, indicating he may be poised to take another step forward.
Capital Idea won his first two starts off a layoff after switching to Bill Mott’s barn. Last out, he finished third in Catching Freedom’s allowance/optional-claiming effort, suggesting he fits with this group.
Not This Boy has ventured into stakes company, both last year and this year, with success for Billy Cowans. He was an allowance winner earlier this year at Churchill with a 100 Beyer before finishing second by a head to Hit Show – the Dubai World Cup winner who has since won the Grade 3 Fayette – in the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes with a 103 Beyer. Next-out winner Jokestar was third.
Not This Boy came back to finish third against solid allowance foes Sept. 28 at Churchill with a 98 Beyer, perhaps bouncing a little.
◗ Friday’s 10-race card also includes a $127,000 allowance for 2-year-olds who have never won two races, going a mile on the turf; a $120,000 maiden special weight for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf; and a $92,000 restricted maiden special weight, for 2-year-olds who sold or were bought back for $65,000 or less in their most recent trip through a sale ring.
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