Catching Freedom stretches to marathon in Pig Trail

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Brad Cox is shaking things up with Catching Freedom on Sunday, sending the millionaire three turns in the $135,000 Pig Trail overnight stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The race, which is for 4-year-olds and up who have not won a stakes in 2025-26, will be run over 1 1/2 miles. It is part of a 12-race card that features the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel.

The Pig Trail, which is named for a winding stretch of road that leads to the home of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, drew a field of six. The group includes Batten Down, who earlier in his career won the Grade 3 Ohio Derby.

Catching Freedom is looking for his first win since he captured the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in 2024. From that race, he went on to run a close fourth in the Kentucky Derby and a good third in the Preakness. But getting back in the win column has eluded the talented 5-year-old in his last nine starts – although there have been some close calls.

“I’m just trying something new with him,” Cox said. “I feel like based on how he trains, he should be able to handle the distance. We’ll see. It’s a question mark. We’ll see.”

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Catching Freedom will be reunited with Flavien Prat on Sunday when he starts from post 4.

“I think we’d just like to break and kind of let him get in a good, comfortable rhythm going that far,” Cox said. “Flavien has done a good job on him. Obviously, he won the Louisiana Derby on him and rode him in the Kentucky Derby. He does get along with the horse really well and he is a little tricky. He’s a little funny horse to get along with, I do believe.”

Catching Freedom enters the Pig Trail off a third-place finish in an allowance Feb. 7 at Oaklawn. The Beyer Speed Figure of 89 that he earned is the best last-race number in the Pig Trail.

“As an older horse, he’s trained really well, maybe even better than he trained leading up to his debut and then his Triple Crown trail through the Derby and Preakness,” Cox said.

Catching Freedom, who is 3 for 14 in his career for earnings of $1.4 million, races for Albaugh Family Stables.

Batten Down, who also is 5, started his season last out with a third-place finish in a Jan. 16 allowance at Gulfstream Park. Earlier in his career, he won his maiden over 1 1/4 miles. Batten Down is a son of Tapit and champion Close Hatches. John Velazquez has the mount from post 6 for trainer Bill Mott.

Booth makes his return

Booth, who emerged as the top sprinter of the Oaklawn meet last season, winning the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap and Grade 3 Whitmore, makes his 5-year-old debut in the third race. The allowance over six furlongs also drew $1.6 million earner Tejano Twist.

Booth is making his first start since July, when he was second by a nose in an Ellis Park stakes won by Banishing. Banishing returned in his next start to win the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic. Booth, meanwhile, has been working along for his return.

“Oaklawn is where he’s done his best running and obviously, we’re very happy to have him back in at Oaklawn,” trainer Steve Asmussen said.

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