Catcho En Die surprises in Stars and Stripes

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. averages close to two wins a day here at Arlington. New York-based trainer Naipul Chatterpaul was looking for his second win in 2018. Jockey and trainer came together with an Argentine import named Catcho En Die, who led all 1 1/2-miles of the Grade 3, $100,000 Stars and Stripes Stakes here Saturday.

It was just the second graded stakes win for Chatterpaul, whose first such victory came when Mission Approved, claimed for $35,000, won the Grade 1 Manhattan in 2011. Chatterpaul and Sotirios Sakatis claimed Catcho En Die for $40,000 on April 21. Catcho En Die finished fifth in the Grade 1 Man o’ War and a close 10th in the Manhattan before being stretched to 1 1/2 miles for the first time and capturing the Stars and Stripes.

“I’ve been known as a claiming trainer,” said Chatterpaul. “I’ve been looking at the horse for quite some time, but that’s my job – looking at horses to claim. Both those last two races, he had problems. I expected him to win or place in one of those.”

Catcho En Die, a Group 1 winner over 1 1/4 miles on turf in Argentina, broke from post 2 Saturday, and with an inside draw, Valdivia saw an opportunity.

“There was no pace today and for whatever reason the course is a little speed biased, which it never is,” Valdivia said. “I just took advantage of a paceless race and a good post. If I had a different post, I don’t think I’d have done it.”

Catcho En Die ($19.20), mildly prompted by Harlan Strong, set splits of 24.72 seconds, 49.72, 1:13.34, 1:40.26, and 2:04.68. His last quarter-mile was easily his fastest, a wind-aided 22.68 seconds, according to official timing, for a final clocking of 2:27.51. Canessar, coming hard up the rail under Feargal Lynch, was gaining through the final furlong, but Catcho En Die just held him off to win by a neck. Soglio had aim on the winner the entire homestretch but settled for third, beaten a neck by Canessar.

“He’s trying to get out, but I’m talking to him, guiding him around,” said Valdivia. “When they came to him, he kept finding.”

Arklow finished another 2 1/2 lengths back in fourth after racing wide without cover around the third turn and getting fanned even farther out into the course turning for home.

Catcho En Die is a 6-year-old gelding by Catcher in the Rye and the Engrillado mare, Lola Grill. He raced three times in Argentina during 2016 then didn’t start for the better part of two years, returning to the races at Gulfstream for trainer Bill Mott. This was his fifth win from eight starts, and Chatterpaul said he plans to send Catcho En Die here next month to start in the Arlington Million.